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Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsFree Scan →Fix the driver behind crashes, sound loss and screen glitchesFind Drivers →In Act One, the cleanest way to get explosive powder for the Grymforge cave-in is to find Philomeen, the gnome hiding past the docks, and talk her down. She may give you a Runepowder Vial, which can clear the rubble. The order matters: if you clear the cave-in before speaking with her, she leaves, and the vial is lost. If you want a fallback, Grymforge also has a concealed room with two Smokepowder Satchels, and Barcus’s backpack may hold a third satchel.
Getting the Runepowder Vial from Philomeen
The quest is called Find Explosives on the bg3.wiki Find Explosives page. It is an Act One quest that starts when you talk to Brithvar in Grymforge or to Lunkbug near the cave-in.
Reaching Philomeen’s hiding place
Philomeen’s hiding place is beyond the docks. The walkthrough describes moving east across rocks, then either opening a locked door or bypassing it. Her dialogue can turn hostile or lead to an explosion if you handle it badly, so take your time with her.
Making the deal
Once she has calmed down, tell her you need help with the trapped gnomes. She says her Runepowder Barrel is more than you need and offers a Runepowder Vial instead. Accept the deal to receive the vial. If you refuse, she becomes hostile.
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You can also try to steal the Runepowder Barrel while she is distracted in dialogue. The walkthrough warns that she may ignite it if she spots you or if you fail dialogue checks, so treat this as a risky alternative rather than the default plan. The barrel’s item page states that using it on the rubble kills Barcus Wroot and his gnome companions. The same page says Philomeen never willingly gives up her barrel.
The hidden Smokepowder reserve in Grymforge
If you miss the vial or want a second option, Grymforge has a hidden stash of Smokepowder Satchels. You can find it without any dialogue checks, but you will need a Perception check at one point.
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Finding the map
Near the campfire in Philomeen’s room, look for a backpack holding a hand-drawn map. The map marks X -539, Y 464. Reading it marks the reserve on your map.
Opening the concealed room
- Return to the docks, where the gnome corpses lie.
- Search the room below and to the left of the stairways, near the duergar and the gnome slave.
- Make a Perception check. On success, it reveals a wall button.
- Press the button to open the concealed room. It holds two Smokepowder Satchels and a heavy chest.
How many satchels you need
The quest walkthrough says roughly two Smokepowder Satchels can clear the rubble. It also lists other options: one satchel in Barcus’s backpack from the Rescue the Gnome quest, a Smokepowder Barrel, and force-damage spells. If your only goal is to free the trapped gnomes, you do not need explosive powder at all.
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Other explosive powder sources across the game
Several items in the game have similar names but behave differently, so keep them apart. The table below lists where each one comes from, as the wiki pages report it.
| Item | Where the wiki places it | Quantity | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Runepowder Vial | Given by Philomeen during the Find Explosives quest | One, through the deal | Cannot be bought or crafted through Alchemy, according to its item page |
| Runepowder Barrel | One beside Philomeen; two in Angleiron’s Cellar | Three in total, if you keep Philomeen’s barrel | The two cellar barrels remain whether or not you steal Philomeen’s barrel; the cellar opens after the Rescue Wulbren quest |
| Runepowder Bomb | Given by Wulbren when you start Avenge the Ironhands, or found on a desk in his room in Angleiron’s Cellar | Not stated | Listed on the Runepowder Bomb page |
| Smokepowder Satchel | Two in the concealed Grymforge room; one in Barcus’s backpack | Three in total | Named in the Find Explosives walkthrough |
| Smokepowder Barrel | Act One: Zhentarim Hideout, the Blacksmith’s house cellar, and the Shattered Sanctum. Act Three: Felogyr’s Fireworks and the tracks in front of the Steel Watch Foundry | Not stated | These are examples from the Smokepowder Barrel page; the page does not claim to list every barrel in the game |
How the explosives compare
The figures below come from the item pages on bg3.wiki. The wiki does not say which game patch its numbers match, so if a value looks different in your game, check your version before assuming an error.
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| Item | Damage | Blast radius | Throw range | Dexterity save |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Runepowder Vial | 5d4 + 18 force (23–38) | 6 m | 18 m | DC 12, halves damage |
| Runepowder Barrel | 10d8 + 40 force (50–120); average 85 | 18 m | Not applicable (placed, not thrown) | DC 12, halves damage |
| Runepowder Bomb | 10d8 + 40 force (50–120) | 18 m | Not stated | DC 12, halves damage |
| Smokepowder Barrel | 4d4 + 18 force | 6 m | Not stated | Not stated |
Ignition and safety
The Runepowder items deal force damage and can injure party members and nearby NPCs, so check positioning before you use them. The Smokepowder Barrel works differently. Ordinary damage creates a Smokepowder surface, and fire damage makes the barrel explode.
The Runepowder Vial is a single-use throwable and is inert unless it is destroyed. Its item page also flags one object or environment interaction as unverified, so do not rely on that interaction when planning a puzzle.
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Choosing the right option
- Want the cleanest result for the cave-in: talk to Philomeen first and accept her vial deal. Do not clear the rubble until you have finished with her.
- Missed Philomeen or her dialogue went wrong: use the concealed Smokepowder room. It has two satchels, and you can add the satchel in Barcus’s backpack.
- Want more explosive power later: the two Runepowder Barrels in Angleiron’s Cellar stay available regardless of what you do with Philomeen’s barrel.
- Only need the gnomes freed: explosives are optional, so you can skip them entirely.
Philomeen’s barrel is the most powerful item in the Grymforge area, but it is also the riskiest to take. Stealing it means you can lose the trapped gnomes and the vial, while the safer routes keep both options open.
Keep in mind that the satchels in the concealed room and Barcus’s backpack are one-time pickups. The wiki’s walkthrough notes give no way to restock them in Grymforge.
If you are still choosing between these items, the item pages linked above list the numbers and the locations in full.
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