All Ornate Mirror Answers in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3): Including Balsam Ointment

Completing every Baldur’s Gate 3 sidequest is an awfully tall order, but don’t let the Ornate Mirror and its tricky Balsam Ointment question throw you off. You’ll need to pass its test or risk losing access to the Necromancy of Thay questline.

It’s not a hard conversation to navigate, but the fancy furniture is kind of a jerk, so here’s a quick list of all Ornate Mirror answers for those worried about passing its vibe check.

Where is the Ornate Mirror in BG3?

Upon reaching Act 1’s Blighted Village, enter the building next to the glowing Waypoint and search for a wooden hatch behind the bar. Climb down into the cella൩r, proceed to the back northernmost wall, and flip the lever hidden behind a few crates.

Follow the tunnel, hugging along the wall curving right, and you’ll encounter the Ornate Mirror. It’s not too hard to find, and the space is small, so take a moment to snoop around, picking up more items and assorted junk.

Interacting with the Ornate Mirror triggers the usual Skill Checks, so save before proceeding. It’ll lock you out of the secrets it guards if you answer incorrectly.

Every BG3 Ornate Mirror Answer

The BG3 Ornate Mirror is no normal mirror; it’s a spooky spectral gateway blocking your path forward. For my playthrough, I chose a half-drow, half-elf warlock, and some prompts here reflected as much. Nonetheless, we’ll use answers that any class or character can use.

Before you begin, you’ll have options for bypassing Baldur’s Gate 3’s Ornate Mirror answer section entirely. If you have high Charisma or Strength, you can attempt to pass DC 15 checks to threaten to destroy the mirror. You can also read the Dark Journal, the location of which we’ll discuss later, and impersonate Ilyn Toth using a DC 15 Persuasion Check.

If you decide to go through with answering the Ornate Mirror’s questions, your conversation will begin with a few unfriendly introductions. Pick the following answers to get by this initial stage:

• 1. Tell it your name.
• 1. Yes, an ally! I’m an ally of your master’s.

The Mirror gets a little testy, asking more questions, but we’ve got all Ornate Mirror answers ready, including the one about what Balsam Ointment is for. Hint: it’s for cleaning wounds. Here are all of the Ornate Mirror answers in BG3:

• Question: What do you of the zulkir known as Szass Tam?
  • 2. Szass Tam is a foul, wretched creature OR A foul lich. May he die a thousand more deaths.
  • Note: Passing an Intelligence (History) Check here revealed Szass Tam was a “powerful lich in Thay who made deals with dark gods.” The check determines which answer you see, but it’s always the second one.
• Question: Tell me, why might one use Balsam Ointment?
  • 2. To clean a wound?
• Question: If you could see anything in me, what would it be?
  • 2. I’d look for whatever spell will rid me of this worm in my head.

Depending on your character’s class, you’ll encounter answers for these questions that, although worded differently, lead to the same correct result. For example, if you’re playing an Origin character like Gale or Lae’zel, you’ll find answers for the Balsam Ointment and third questions that are viable for this mini quiz.

Similarly, If you’re playing as classes like wizard, ranger, or bard, you’ll find class-exclusive answers you can use instead of the ones listed above. Generally speaking, as long as they’re similar to the ones above, you’re free to select those instead.

Once you complete the Ornate Mirror’s Q&A session, you’ll be free to proceed into the laboratory and discover the room’s biggest secret, the Necromancy of Thay. When you’re done here, maybe consider heading northwest for another quest, Rescue the Trapped Man.

How to discover the Ornate Mirror answers

In BG3, you can read various books around the Apothecary’s home and cellar if you’re interested in learning more about Szass Tam, Balsam Ointment, and other miscellaneous lore pieces. While many of these books have flavor text, a few reveal some important details, including the answers to the Ornate Mirror questions:

• The Apothecary’s Ledger inside the house reveals the existence of the cellar.
• The Healer’s Log in the cellar that Balsam Ointment was used to clean a splinter wound before bandaging it.
• The Dark Journal in the casket at coordinates (X-667, Y: -316) tells the story of someone being chased by the Zulkirs, implying distaste for them.

Alongside notes and books, you can find multiple alchemical ingredients and potions throughout the Apothecary’s house. The cellar, in particular, has items such as a Potion of Healing recipe book, Elixir of Poison Resistance, and several other items to help you create alchemy mixtures.