Baldur’s Gate 3 – House Of Hope Guide

Venturing from mortal realms directly into the infernal fires of Avernus presents unique challenges that demand thorough preparation.

The House of Hope represents one of Baldur’s Gate 3’s most demanding endgame dungeons, located deep within Act 3. Similar to numerous optional content segments, this entire experience can be missed without comprehensive exploration. Our detailed walkthrough examines the dungeon’s layout, strategic approaches, and character alliances available throughout your journey. Important advisory: this content contains significant narrative revelations.

Raphael’s infernal domain in Avernus requires completion of Helsik’s ritual at the Devil’s Fee establishment in the Lower City. Critical reminder: fast travel to camp becomes disabled. You must utilize the ritual portal for return transit to the shop. Consequently, ensure your party is optimally equipped. We strongly recommend including arcane casters (or appropriate scrolls) capable of casting Greater Invisibility, Hunger of Hadar, and substantial radiant damage spells.

Meeting Hope

Fundamentally, the House of Hope serves as the prison residence of its namesake, Hope herself. Imprisoned through Raphael’s machinations, her liberation becomes possible after securing the Orphic Hammer. Initially, you’ll need to succeed in conversation skill checks to extract valuable intelligence.

She will magically transform your attire to match the distinctive garments worn by debtors—damned souls consigned to hell through infernal pacts. While disguised as debtors, the dungeon’s inhabitants remain non-hostile toward your party.

Don’t lose hope, Hope.

Exploring the House of Hope

The House of Hope presents a simultaneously haunting and magnificent environment. During your reconnaissance, you’ll discover these key locations:

• A portal chamber positioned to your right provides access to multiple realms. While you won’t journey to Neverwinter, it offers intriguing lore regarding devilish travel capabilities.
• The hatch adjacent to the portal chamber entrance accesses Hope’s prison. Remember, the Orphic Hammer remains essential for her liberation, making this area inaccessible initially.
• The Mystic Force Curtain blocks passage temporarily—defer concern until later progression.
• An Inert Infernal Gem embedded in a wall requires DC10 Wisdom and DC20 Intelligence checks to unveil a concealed chamber. Inside awaits the Helldusk Helmet (very rare), Staff of Spellpower (very rare), and Mol’s Contract.
• Important Note: For players who accepted Raphael’s proposal during Deal With the Devil, we haven’t verified if this hidden room contains Tav’s Contract. Our testing didn’t pursue narrative branches stemming from that decision point.

Gallery

Left: Portal Chamber; Right: Hope’s Prison.

The Archive and the Orphic Hammer

Upon reaching the western sector of this infernal dungeon, Hope will brief you concerning the Archivist. Succeeding in relevant skill checks reveals the Archivist’s fear toward Zariel’s inquisitor, Verillius Receptor. This intelligence provides a conversational approach to impersonate the inquisitor, effectively neutralizing the Archivist as a threat.

Three exceptionally valuable artifacts await discovery here:

• Orphic Hammer (legendary) – inflicts 4-13 damage; provides advantage on spell saving throws; +3 weapon enhancement; Unshackling Strike capability. Exercise patience—immediate acquisition remains impossible. We detail the precise theft methodology shortly.
• Amulet of Greater Health (very rare) – elevates Constitution to 23; grants advantage on Constitution saving throws.
• Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength (very rare) – increases Strength to 23; +1 Strength saving throws. Players who negotiated Helsik’s bargain must secure this specific item for her.

Critical Advisory: Refrain from collecting any items presently. Strategic planning becomes essential due to the chaotic developments that initiate once aggression commences.

Gallery

Left: Archivist dialogue; Right: Orphic Hammer.

Haarlep and the Boudoir

The Archivist provides an invitation granting Boudoir access. You may now traverse the Mystic Force Curtain. A restorative pool completely replenishes HP, spell slots, and ability charges, equivalent to performing a full long rest. You’ll encounter Haarlep, an incubus representing the game’s pseudo-Raphael romantic encounter.

Our comprehensive guide referenced above contains exhaustive details regarding potential outcomes, including character mortality. Essential summary:

• Permitting Haarlep to utilize your physical form as disguise while retaining mental autonomy reveals the safe’s position (concealed behind artwork left of the bed). Haarlep additionally provides the necessary key for access.
• Alternatively, resisting Haarlep initiates combat with imp reinforcements. Victory yields the safe key.
• However, surrendering complete control over heart and soul results in… comprehensive consequences across multiple dimensions.

You need the key from Haarlep.

The Escape

Access the secure container and examine its contents. The documentation provides the specific incantation required when engaging with the Orphic Hammer. Execution sequence:

• Before acquiring the Orphic Hammer, apply Greater Invisibility to one party member and pilfer the Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength alongside the Amulet of Greater Health.
• Interact with the Orphic Hammer and respond with: “Give me my heart’s desire.”

Prior to corridor re-entry, ensure all party members utilize/cast Greater Invisibility. Then proceed with maximum velocity toward the eastern sector containing the prison access hatch. This methodology should facilitate evasion of adversaries, including a fiery spherical projectile traversing the area reminiscent of Raiders of the Lost Ark cinematography.

Indiana Jones and the House of Hope.

How to Rescue Hope

Liberating Hope requires descending through the hatch into the prison complex. Optimal strategy involves individual character control—ensure party separation and maintain concealed positioning. Essential methodology:

• Hope’s emancipation necessitates destruction of two restraint crystals through Orphic Hammer strikes.
• Both crystalline structures receive protection from Observers (Beholder-type entities). Counterintuitively, the flanking imps present greater threat due to Eldritch Blast capability. The spell can displace units, potentially causing fatal plunges.
• Highly mobile characters or those possessing advanced Illithid Powers can employ Fly/Misty Step to reach one crystal. Our Four Elements Monk specialist successfully incapacitated one Beholder while summoned entities and arcane casters eliminated imp threats.
• After neutralizing remaining hostile forces, proceed with crystal destruction.

Take out the hostiles, while being careful with your team’s positioning. After that, you can destroy the crystals.

Boss Fight: How to Beat Raphael

Following Hope’s liberation, return to the primary area and bypass all hostile entities. Your objective remains reaching the entrance chamber. Verify all party members’ presence before portal interaction, as Raphael materializes immediately.

He receives support from Yurgir, the Orthon encountered during the Gauntlet of Shar. Successfully passing a DC30 Persuasion check enables convincing the Orthon to unexpectedly betray Raphael.

The Orthon hears voices in his head. That’s just you passing a Persuasion check to have him as an ally.

For the Raphael confrontation, maintain multiple backup saves. The devil possesses 666 HP by default. He demonstrates exceptional evasion capability (approximately 10% hit probability or lower). This defensive superiority stems from empowerment provided by four Soul Pillars positioned in room corners. Additional adversaries include Korilla and multiple cambion reinforcements.

Our successful engagement methodology:

• Soul Pillars require destruction, with radiant magic representing the most efficient methodology.
• Our recommendation involves enemy concentration via Black Hole Illithid spell (minimum two castings from separate characters).
• If Yurgir allies with your party, he executes frontal concussive blasts similar to Thunderwave, forcing adversaries toward perimeter barriers. He demonstrates considerable durability and possesses poison/life drain offensive capabilities.
• If Wyll participates, employ Hunger of Hadar to impair and damage opponents. Additional spellcasters should continue bombardment with area-effect magic.
• Hope possesses Cleric spell capabilities, making her retention valuable for healing support. Similarly, you can activate Divine Intervention: Sunder the Heretical.
• At 60% health threshold, Raphael transitions to demonic form, granting enhanced melee assault patterns. Beyond this phase, the engagement becomes an endurance contest. Maintain Raphael’s impairment through Hunger of Hadar, while bombarding him with spells, radiant damage, and projectile attacks.

The goal in this battle is to keep Raphael cornered, while your squishy glass cannons and healers chill further back.

Legendary Rewards

Upon Raphael’s defeat, you’ll acquire these exceptional rewards:

• Helldusk Armor – Acquired from Raphael’s remains. Provides 21 AC; automatic wearer proficiency; successful saving throws inflict three-turn burning status on attackers; fire damage resistance/immunity to burning; universal damage reduction of 3 points; Fly spell capability.
• Gloves of Soul Catching – Awarded for Hope’s successful liberation. Grants 1-10 force damage to unarmed strikes; restores 10 HP per unarmed hit once per turn; you may sacrifice this healing for advantage on subsequent attack rolls or saving throws; +2 Constitution (maximum 20).
• Gather Your Allies: Yurgir – The Orthon provides tactical superiority during the final confrontation; truly an exceptional combat partnership experience.

This concludes our comprehensive examination of the House of Hope dungeon. Upon departure, remember to deliver the Gauntlets of Hill Giant Strength to Helsik (presuming you established prior arrangements with her).

Baldur’s Gate 3 contains overwhelming quantities of activities and concealed content. You’ll undoubtedly participate in an adventure requiring extensive time investment. For additional strategic guidance, consult our Complete Guide to battlefield operations.

For weapon optimization strategies, our Weapons Unlock guide provides comprehensive armament analysis.

Advanced character development approaches appear in our specialized Class Guide covering all available specializations.

No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Baldur’s Gate 3 – House Of Hope Guide Master Raphael's infernal domain with strategic preparation, stealth tactics, and boss fight optimization