If you want a better chance at taking Gortash’s Netherstone, you need to disable the Steel Watch Foundry, but the process isn’t easy. So we’re here to help you infiltrate the Steel Watch Foundry and end the watchers for good around the city.
How to Enter the Steel Watch Foundry in BG3
The Disable the Steel Watch quest takes part in Act Three of Baldur’s Gate 3, and it’s quite complex. That’s because the Steel Watch Foundry is the birthplace of all those giant steel guardians protecting the city and Lord Gortash. So you’ll want to head to the Steel Watch Foundry if you want to get rid of all those clunky automatons.
You can find the Steel Watch Foundry on the southwestern side of the Lower City in Baldur’s Gate 3. If you head west from Flymm Cargo and follow the industrial road with tracks, you will reach the main Foundry building. But to enter the building itself, we recommend going through the Water Queen’s House, which is just slightly south of the Foundry.
Go to the northwestern edge of the Water Queen’s House and get ready to jump to the small strips of land in the water. We used Turn-Based Mode for my party and had Gale activate a Flight spell for the squad. Then, we had them each take turns flying to the dock on the other side.
There is one Steel Watcher on the dock that you can easily take down without alerting the rest of the area. Rip the clanker apart and then lockpick the main doors just ahead. Or you can head to the right as a small animal and use the vent behind the locked gate. Either way, you will need to lockpick the main doors or use the small cart lift to enter.
How to Disable the Steel Watch Foundry in BG3
To disable the Steel Watch Foundry, you need to find Zanner Toobin and convince him to help you destroy the building. He can be found in the security office of the Foundry, which is the locked room on the western wing. You can either lockpick the doors, or you can use a key from the Black Gauntlet enforcer overseeing the Gondians in the main room.
When you speak to Zanner Toobin, he will tell you that Lord Gortash has their families locked away. Not only will the motivator devices kill any of the Gondians in the Steel Watch Foundry with a collar, but they will also destroy all their loved ones. In other words, Zanner won’t help until you can free the Gondians from captivity.
He doesn’t know where they are, but you’re in luck because we do. You can head directly east of the Steel Watch Foundry to Flymm Cargo. This is the start of the quest to free the prisoners in the Iron Throne.
How to Save the Gondians in Baldur’s Gate 3
In order to save the Gondians, you need to look for the hidden hatch in Flymm Cargo and head underground. The hatch is found under some crates inside of Flymm Cargo on the northwestern wall. Jump down the hatch and then make your way to the engine room with a lonely dwarf and a giant submersible.
The dwarf named Redhammer the Deviser works for Gortash, but you can convince him that you were sent to inspect the Submersible. Make sure you pass one of the dialogue checks, or the dwarf won’t help. Upon success, you can jump into the brass pod and make your way to the Iron Throne.
Gortash will catch on immediately and warn you to turn back, or he will blow up the underwater prison. No matter what, you need to dock anyway and get ready for a tight deadline. As soon as the submersible docks, you have eight turns to free all the Gondians from their cells.
I recommend sending one party member to the eastern hallway, one to the western, and two to the southern hallway. There are no prisoners to the north or down when you enter the Iron Throne. Every action counts in this quest, so splitting up is your best bet.
There are a total of eight cells with prisoners inside, six of which hold Gondians and one holding Duke Ravengard. Each cell is locked by a Sturdy door, but you should be able to open them by pulling a small level on the wall next to each cell door. There’s also one Gondian strapped to a chair.
You can use projectiles to open the cages too, so make sure to utilize Dash or Mage Hand as much as possible. Free the Gondians, and they will dash their way back to the submersible on their own. You’ll also have to contend with an increasing number of Sahuagin getting in your way each turn.
Don’t worry if the Gondians don’t all survive. We lost a few on our way back, but as long as Obelia survives, you should be fine. However, if any prisoners in the Iron Throne die, you’ll see their dead bodies float up to the water after you leave, forcing you to face a guilty conscience. Either way, leave the Iron Throne and head back to the Steel Watch Foundry.
How to Destroy the Steel Watch Foundry in BG3
Head back to Zanner Toobin to destroy the Steel Watch Foundry finally. Now that the Gondians are saved, you can enter the main room and join in the new battle. All the Gondians are fighting back, including Zanner Toobin. Ensure that he survives and speak to him to get started on disabling the Steel Watch Foundry in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Take Zanner back to the Security Room and go down the stairs. Yet another battle is happening, and as long as Tanner Zoobin survives, it won’t be difficult. Just watch for the motivator devices dropping during the fight and use an action to turn them off as soon as you can, or Toobin will die.
If Toobin dies, you can still communicate with his body, assuming it’s in good condition. Use the Speak With Dead spell, which will allow you to communicate with the deceased. Once you’ve established contact, inquire about how to destroy the Steel Watch. Toobin will reveal that you must enter a code, Nebelun, into the Neurocitor. If you don’t have the spell, or Toobin’s body is beyond communication, there are other ways around this obstacle, which we will explain momentarily…
Once the room is clear, you can head down the stairs to the next set of doors. These lead to the Titan Steel Watcher. But before you leave, make sure to craft the Hellfire Engine Crossbow, which could potentially come in handy in the upcoming fight.
How to Craft the Hellfire Engine Crossbow BG3
Amongst the chaos of battle, you might’ve seen an interactable table near the stairs leading to the above ground floor (coordinates X: -325, Y: -134). Now that the chaos of battle is over, you’ll have the opportunity to use this table and craft the Hellfire Engine Crossbow before heading further and disabling the Steel Watch Foundry.
To craft the Hellfire Engine Crossbow, you’ll need the following items which can be found scattered around the Foundry’s ground floor:
- Watcher Crossbow Blueprint: Find this item on a table in the West Wing security office where you first met Zanner Toobin (coordinates X: -330, Y: -157).
- Steel Watcher Arm: This item is lying on a table with a plaque labeled “Steel Watcher Arm Unit” to the southeast (coordinates X: -280, Y: -165).
- Targeting Module: This item is lying on a table with a plaque labeled “Watcher Targeting Module” to the west (coordinates X: -357, Y: -157).
Once you’ve gathered all your materials, head back over to the crafting table and interact with it to slot in each item and combine them. The table should then spit out your new Hellfire Engine Crossbow.
Hellfire Engine Crossbow Stats
The Hellfire Engine Crossbow is a very rare Heavy Crossbow with the following properties:
- Weapon Enchantment +2.
- Damage: 1D10+2 Piercing.
- Range: 18m.
- Special Skill: Lightning Arrow.
- Weapon Actions: Piercing Shot, Braced (ranged), Reposition Malefactor.
- Weight: 8.1 kg.
- Value: 960 gold.
How to Destroy the Steel Watch Titan
Now that you have a new crossbow and the floor is clear, head on over to the stairs that lead to the Titan Steel Watcher. Zanner will stay behind for the time being. That may seem annoying, but trust us, trying to keep him alive against four Steel Watchers is much worse. Do what your party does best and destroy the watchers, along with the massive Titan.
When besting the Steel Watch Titan, your team will need to be composed of major strength. We recommend Karlach or Lae’zel. Shadowheart is a great addition to the team as well since she can heal.
Take out the Steel Watch Titan with lighting spells after getting rid of its buffs.
Focus the Steel Watch Minions first and foremost as they will tear your party apart before you lay a hand on the big guy. Give either Karlach or Lae’zel Haste and then eradicate the titan’s temporary health. Whittling down the Titan takes time, but using Haste on one of your heavy-hitting party members will definitely help you get through this tough fight.
Now that the final guards are down, you can disable the Steel Watch Foundry. Let Zanner Toobin know you’re ready to proceed, and he will set the whole building up to explode.
If Zanner Toobin died during your battle with the many Steel Watchers, you can still obtain the passcode to disable the Steel Watch Foundry and complete the quest by reading a book called The Many Faces of Gond. You’ll find this book either on Zanner’s body or on the bookshelf by the surgery table within the Steel Watch Foundry.
Your party will then promptly run out, and the Steel Watch Foundry will go up in flames. Gortash will be vulnerable once again, and you’ll be able to claim the next Netherstone.
On the topic of our favorite Lord, find out if you should side with Gortash or not in Baldur’s Gate 3.
