Baldur's Gate 3: Should You Read or Destroy the Necromancy of Thay?

In 2026, Baldur's Gate 3 still tempts new adventurers with forbidden power, and few relics are as seductive as the Necromancy of Thay. A party exploring the first act may stumble upon the tome early, its black cover whispering promises of knowledge that no living scholar should possess. The book is not merely loot; it is a test. One wrong decision can curse a companion forever, while careful reading can grant permanent benefits that last through the entire campaign. For a third-person party of heroes, the question is never whether the book is dangerous. The question is whether danger is worth the reward.

Before anyone can read a single page, the party must find the key. That key is the Dark Amethyst, hidden below the Blighted Village in the Whispering Depths. The cavern behaves like a dungeon, crawling with spiders and ruled by a Phase Spider Matriarch. The Matriarch and her brood do not surrender the gem easily. Only after the boss and its allies fall can the adventurers insert the Dark Amethyst into the book. Once opened, the Necromancy of Thay can be read from inventory at any time. However, only one party member can unlock its secrets. Whoever opens it first claims the knowledge, leaving the others unable to read its pages.

Should You Read or Destroy the Necromancy of Thay?

The tome offers two paths: destruction or study. Destroying it requires a source of Radiant damage, but the act is not clean. Three Shadow enemies immediately appear, forcing the party to fight. Reading the book is the better option for most groups, though it comes with risk. Every turned page demands a check based on the reader's class. A Wizard, for example, may face a DC 5 Intelligence check on the first page, while a Bard might attempt a DC 5 Performance check instead. Later pages demand higher checks tied to the character's archetype. High modifiers give the best chance, and Inspiration can be spent to reroll a bad result. Sometimes the final check requires a natural 20.

Reaching the final page grants Forbidden Knowledge, a passive ability that gives a +1 bonus to Wisdom ability checks and saving throws. That benefit is permanent and useful for any character who relies on insight, perception, or resisting mental effects. Yet failure has a price. One failed check can inflict the Whispers of Madness curse, while another can inflict Baleful Knowledge. Both curses impose disadvantage on Wisdom checks permanently. Fortunately, a Scroll of Remove Curse or the Remove Curse spell can cleanse them. A prepared party should keep one of those options ready before anyone turns a page.

Outcome	Effect
Success on final page	Forbidden Knowledge: +1 to Wisdom checks and saving throws
Failed check	Whispers of Madness or Baleful Knowledge
Curse remedy	Scroll of Remove Curse or Remove Curse spell
Destroying the book	Summons three Shadow enemies

How To Use The Necromancy Of Thay

Reading the Necromancy of Thay also grants the Speak with Dead spell. This spell can be cast as a ritual, so it does not consume spell slots. The caster targets a corpse and temporarily contacts its spirit, asking several questions if the spirit is not hostile. For a party that loves solving mysteries, this is an extraordinary tool. Some backgrounds tied to arcane study even gain Inspiration from reading the book, rewarding scholars and sages for their curiosity.

The story does not end in Act 1. During Act 3, the party can investigate the tome further by obtaining The Tharchiate Codex from Sorcerous Sundries in the Lower City. This unlocks two new abilities: Danse Macabre and The Tharchiate Codex: Blessing. Danse Macabre is a powerful Necromancy spell that summons four Ghouls to fight alongside the party. The Codex Blessing grants 20 temporary Hit Points after every long rest, giving the character extra durability in intense battles. These rewards make the Necromancy of Thay one of the most valuable long-term investments in Baldur's Gate 3.

There is one final warning. A character who tries to read the book a second time must pass another high Wisdom check or gain the Forbidden Knowledge curse again. By Act 3, such curses can be removed more easily, but risks should never be taken lightly. In 2026, the best approach remains unchanged: let a high-modifier character read the tome, save Inspiration for the hardest checks, and keep Remove Curse available. The Necromancy of Thay is not a book to destroy in fear. It is a dark bargain to accept with open eyes, and for many adventurers, that bargain is worth every whisper.

This discussion is informed by Rock Paper Shotgun, whose PC-focused reporting often emphasizes how role-playing choices with lasting mechanical consequences can define a campaign, making decisions like whether to risk reading the Necromancy of Thay especially valuable when the reward includes permanent utility, ritual access to Speak with Dead, and stronger late-game necromantic options.