The Necromancy of Thay is one of the most mysterious books you can find in BG3. Found in Act I, it holds many cruel secrets and spells one may consider to be... unnatural. However, before you can even peer into the abyss this particular book holds, you'll first need a way to open it, and doing so isn't that easy. Still, as a Drow Wizard (Necromancy Subcass) in my BG3 playthrough, I have managed to unseal and decipher some of what this book of death contains. If you would like to dabble in the dark arts as well, then here's how you, too, can open it.
How to open the Necromancy of Thay in BG3
The key requirement that you are prompted with when you attempt to open the Necromancy of Thay is a special purple amethyst gem. It isn't where you found the book in the first place, but it is not far from it. You're looking for a location called The Whispering Depths. It sits under the overworld and can only be entered through a few cavernous methods.
Related: Baldur’s Gate 3: How To Perform Non-Lethal Attacks in BG3
The easy route is through the Blighted Village. The village is located Northwest of the Overgrown Ruins and is filled with goblins and ogres you'll need to get through with violence or wordplay.
Once you've reached the village, head to the center. You're looking for a specific well. This well, when clicked on, will send you underground into the Whispering Depths.
The Whispering Depths are full of hostile creatures, including a very dangerous Phase Spider Matriarch boss. You'll need to either sneak around the cavern or kill the spiders within to get your hands on the key. Regardless of what tactic you use, search the area and look for a purple gem sitting on the cavern floor. This is the key to opening the Necromancy of Shay.
Once you have it, attempt to open the book from your inventory. You'll be given the option to insert the gem.
Related: How to get rid of Bloodless in BG3
What do you get for opening the Necromancy of Shay?
Opening the book is just the first step. You'll need to win two skill checks to reap the first reward from the book. The second check is more difficult than the first, so be sure to have a party member with Guidance available to make the process easier. Succeeding these two checks rewards you with the permanent ability to speak with the dead, which can lead to further rewards depending on who you talk to.
You may notice I said 'first' reward. That is because the Necromancy of Shay offers many secrets that I don't even have full access to yet. There are further requirements to reach deeper into its well, requirements I have yet to discover. However, once I do, I will keep you updated on everything it offers me. I fully intend to learn all there is to learn about Necromancy, so if you're like me, then stay tuned.
For more quality guides and useful information, check out Baldur’s Gate 3 Karlach Build Guide – Best Stats and Subclass right here on Pro Game Guides.
Darrus is a creative-minded individual with a passion for all things gaming. As a seasoned Game Guide writer that has been writing for the past 10+ years, and an active Narrative Designer for 5, he charges headfirst into the line of fire, taking on anything the industry has to offer him. The RPG genre is his home base.