To save the Iron Throne prisoners, prepare before docking, split your party across the prison’s wings, and get every freed character to the ladder before the difficulty-based timer expires. The countdown is 8 turns on Explorer, 6 on Balanced, and 5 on Tactician or Honour. You do not need to save all thirteen Gondians to advance their quest, and whether Duke Ravengard or Omeluum is present depends on earlier choices.
How to reach the Iron Throne
The Iron Throne is an underwater prison in Act Three. Reach the submersible beneath Flymm Cargo; progress through Save the Gondians or Avenge the Drowned can lead you to it. See the [BG3 Wiki’s Save the Gondians guide] for the quest connection and [Iron Throne encounter guide] for the prison layout.
Before going, check the state of your quests if you hope to rescue Ravengard. The party must have attended Gortash’s coronation, and defeating Gortash first destroys the prison. When Wyll is involved, the Mizora camp interaction before entering also matters; Wyll does not have to accept her new pact to save his father. The [Rescue the Grand Duke quest reference] describes the relevant story outcomes.
What to prepare before docking
The escape timer begins when the submersible docks. Finish dialogue and preparation before that point: the encounter reference recommends readying spells, equipment, and long-lasting elixirs in advance. Omeluum’s dialogue can delay the countdown until the conversation ends. You can also enter turn-based mode before leaving the submersible to manage short-duration effects more carefully.
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- Bring lockpicking tools or prepare Knock if you want to open the locked western connections; the listed lockpicking difficulty is DC 25.
- Consider mobility options such as Misty Step, Dimension Door, Fly, Longstrider, Haste, or Potions of Speed. These are tactical suggestions, not requirements or guarantees.
- Decide who will cover the east before entering if Ravengard may be present, and plan for the possibility that he needs protection as well as a route out.
How many turns do you get?
The timer depends on difficulty, according to the BG3 Wiki encounter page. A prisoner counts as saved only after reaching the ladder into the sluice chamber.
| Difficulty | Escape turns after docking |
|---|---|
| Explorer | 8 |
| Balanced | 6 |
| Tactician | 5 |
| Honour | 5 |
Freed Gondians run toward the exit on their own, but they are unarmed and will not fight the Sahuagin. Opening cells is only part of the rescue: where possible, keep enemies from obstructing or attacking the escapees, and leave their route to the ladder clear.
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A flexible route through the prison
The prison layout rewards parallel movement rather than sending the whole party down one corridor. Its western wing holds six Gondians; the east has two Gondians and may contain Ravengard; other prisoners are in the central and southern areas. Omeluum, if present, is in the southern lab area. Assign characters according to their starting position, access, mobility, and which named targets you need to reach.
- Send the fastest or best-equipped characters toward separate wings. Split up so one character can work west while others cover the east and central or southern cells. Adjust assignments if a target is absent in your run.
- Open cells and address nearby Sahuagin. Use actions efficiently, but do not assume freed Gondians can defend themselves. Occupying or eliminating enemies near their route can help them reach the ladder.
- Use mobility to bridge distance or return quickly. Spells and consumables such as Dimension Door, Misty Step, or a Potion of Speed can help a character cover ground; choose according to your party’s resources rather than treating any one route as mandatory.
- Keep an exit lane open. Freed hostages head for the ladder themselves, so avoid blocking the path with party members or leaving threats in the way.
Western wing
The west contains six Gondians and connects through locked doors. A character with lockpicking capability can attempt the listed DC 25 checks, while Knock is another option. Account for the time and actions those doors may cost when deciding who goes west.
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Eastern area and Ravengard
The eastern area holds two Gondians and may hold Duke Ravengard, depending on the story state. If he is there, prioritize getting him moving and protecting him: he has low hit points, and if Wyll broke his pact, Mizora’s spiders and restraint effect can complicate the escape. The quest reference lists healing, fire resistance, Sanctuary, Invisibility, and mobility spells such as Dimension Door or Haste as possible tools. Sanctuary does not prevent Spiderling Burst.
Southern lab and Omeluum
Omeluum’s appearance depends on prior quest outcomes; do not assume it will be in every playthrough. If it is present in the southern lab, use the Help action to free it. Omeluum can teleport itself and one ally to the submersible, which can reduce the distance that pair must travel on foot. See the [Retrieve Omeluum quest reference] for its conditional availability and rescue ability.
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What happens if you do not save everyone?
Rescuing Gondians advances Save the Gondians and connects to the Steel Watch Foundry. You do not need to save all thirteen to ally with the Gondians. Saving all thirteen grants an inspiration reward for Folk Hero characters, according to the quest reference.
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