While the big bosses inBaldur’s Gate 3provide big, climactic battles to the game’s storyline, the few random encounters live in annoying infamy. Fromfear-inducing meenlockstoteleporting meazels, it is often the unexpected fights that prove the most vexing for players time and time again.

Chief among these overworld encounters known for their aggravating mechanics are the death shepherds - undead that can make their fight last for what feels like forever by constantly reviving their allies. Although they may make their fight seem everlasting, there are a few tricks to defeating them once you know what you’re up against.

The death shepherds' locations as shown on the overworld map in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Where To Find The Death Shepherds

The death shepherds areone of the first encounters in the Mountain Pass. They are patrollingnear the teleport waypointin the Rosymorn Monastery Trail(X: -95 Y: -118).

If you have the quest “Find the Githyanki Crèche,” the death shepherds can be foundon the trail on the way to the quest markeron your map.

Karlach and Shadowheart near a cliffside fighting undead in Baldur’s Gate 3.

How To Prepare For Death Shepards

Unfortunately, due to the nature of the fight, there are not many items or potions that can help you prepare. However, knowing whatpassive abilities the death shepherdsand their allies have will help youtake a few precautionsbefore the fighting begins.

First of all, the death shepherds have a passive ability thatgrants nearby undead resistance to Piercing, Bludgeoning, and Slashing damage. Making sure you have a caster in the fight is critical touse elemental damage to overcome this resistance.

Astarion using Counterspell on a large skeleton in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Having a caster is also important forusingCounterspellon the death shepherds, so be sure to come with that prepared.

This next trick is a bit more niche but still helpful. The ghouls in the fight have thechance to Paralyze whenever they use their Claws, with one interesting exception:elves are immune to this effect. Consider using this to your advantage when deciding who is in melee with the ghouls.

A large skeleton with a sword standing near a cliff in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Lastly, the ghast in the fight has a passive ability thatgrants nearby undead resistance to Turn Undead -the cleric feature that incapacitates undead. Be sure tosave your Channel Divinitiesfor later in the fight.

Fighting The Death Shepherds

With your preparations made and strategies planned, it is time to take down the death shepherds once and for all.

HP: 42

Clouds of dust and stink on a battlefield in Baldur’s Gate 3.

AC: 16

STR: 14

A large ghast emitting a stinking cloud in Baldur’s Gate 3.

DEX: 12

CON: 14

Tav looting an opulent chest in a cart in Baldur’s Gate 3.

INT: 10

WIS: 14

CHA: 5

-Deals 2d4 Necrotic damage

-Range of 18m

-Raise a fallen undead with half its hit points

Greatsword

-2d6+2 Slashing damage

In Tactician and Honour Mode, the death shepherds' HP increases to 54, and No Rest For The Wicked returns undead with their full hit points.

In addition to this, the death shepherd isresistant to Bludgeoning, Piercing, and Slashing damage,as well asimmune to Poison damage.

The key to defeating the death shepherds isknowing the order in which to attack. In total, there are seven foes to face:two death shepherds, four ghouls, and one ghast.

You’ll first want toget rid of the death shepherd’s Necrotic Veil, which makes themresistant to nearly all damageas long as they have at least one of their twenty temporary hit points. Clearing this effect will becritical for finishing them off later.

Once that is done, you will want tofocus fire ononeof the death shepherds.Taking out one is easy enough, especially since they lose their resistances once their temporary hit points are gone.

With only one death shepherd remaining, it will beeasy to use oneCounterspelleach turnto keep the living one from using No Rest For The Wicked.

Once one death shepherd is defeated,focus your attacks on the ghast; not only does it deal a lot of damage, but its bonus action feature Stench cancause you to lose your action, and its passive makes itharder for your cleric to Turn Undead.

Send in a high-Constitution character to deal with the ghast, or use powerful ranged attacks anddo your best to avoid itsStinking Cloudto keep your actions safe.

The spell Gust of Wind can help clear the Stinking Clouds, as well as keep the ghast away from your party members.

With the ghast gone and only one death shepherd remaining, the ghouls become easy to take care of. Either use abig area of effect spellto wipe them or useTurn Undeadnow that they don’t have resistance. Finally, eliminate the last death shepherd and emerge victorious!

Death Shepherd Rewards

Luckily, there are quite a few rewards for defeating the death shepherds, chief among them being theopportunity to freely explore the Mountain Pass.

But don’t worry; there is loot as well. Next to the death shepherds is an opulent chest with somegold pieces and a few potions. The death shepherds also have decent armor and weapons you can loot.

Finally, there are several half-devoured bodies in the clearing that have armor, loot, andhints as to what is to comeas you explore the Mountain Pass and all its mysteries.