The Iron Flask is a powerful item that can be acquired in Baldur’s Gate 3, though powerful does not always mean friendly. This magical artifact can be located during Act 1, but it poses an important question, should you even open it?
How to find the Iron Flask in Baldur’s Gate 3
The Strongbox that holds the Iron Flask is part of an early game quest called Missing Shipment. You can pick up the pursuit in several ways, but to progress to the next step, you must head to the cave at (X:33 and Y:603). Be aware that many Gnolls are attempting to assault two traders in the cave and will need to be dealt with.
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Once the area is clear, speak with the traders, and you can talk your way into delivering the Strongbox. Be aware that opening the Strongbox is a one-way street, and if you attempt to provide it to Zarys after picking the lock, the entire group will turn hostile. However, you can only get the Iron Flask by picking the box open, so make sure you’re happy with your choice.
How to Use the Iron Flask in BG3
The Iron Flask can be opened anytime by interacting with it in your inventory. Double-click the Iron Flask and choose the dialogue option to remove the stopper. This will summon a Spectator, a magic-wielding weaker version of the famed Beholder.

This monster is a powerful foe who will quickly take down a low-level party. However, it provides a hefty amount of xp, so taking it down could give you an early-game boost if you can overcome the challenge.
Another option is to summon the Spectator in the middle of a difficult battle. It will attack and be attacked by everything in sight, so if you can keep your party out of the main combat, much of the work can be done for you, leading to a (hopefully) easier fight.

Finally, you could feed the Iron Flask to Gale, as the Flask itself counts as a magical artifact.
Now you know what to do with the Iron Flask, why not find out how to break Sturdy Walls and get into even more places you shouldn’t be?