Stealthy Strategies for Acquiring Ansur's Legendary Gear Without a Fight in Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 remains a treasure trove of hidden content and secret encounters, even years after its initial release. Among the most significant and easily missed of these is the encounter with Ansur, the undead dragon slumbering beneath the city. This formidable foe guards two of the game's most powerful endgame items: the Helm of Balduran and Balduran's Giantslayer. While defeating Ansur unlocks major narrative revelations, the fight itself is notoriously challenging, especially for players attempting an honour mode run where a single defeat means permanent failure. However, resourceful adventurers have discovered ingenious methods to claim these legendary rewards without ever unsheathing a sword against the dragon, offering a safe path to power for those unwilling to risk their campaign.

The Peaceful Plunder of the Helm

The simpler of the two items to acquire stealthily is the Helm of Balduran. This legendary helmet provides crucial stun resistance, a lifesaver in the chaotic final battle against the Netherbrain's forces where mind flayers can stun-lock an entire party. Players, having learned from past honour mode failures, discovered a startlingly straightforward method. By carefully approaching Ansur's massive, dormant form in the Wyrmway, one can simply walk around the dragon's colossal corpse—as silent and unassuming as a shadow passing over a sundial—and lift the Helm from its resting place. This action does not trigger combat, allowing a party to claim a top-tier defensive item with zero risk. It's a tactic born of necessity, turning what was designed as a climactic boss arena into a simple treasure vault for the observant.

The Kobold Distraction for the Giantslayer

Acquiring Balduran's Giantslayer, the mighty greatsword, requires a bit more finesse but still avoids a direct confrontation. The key lies in a peculiar item found much earlier in the game: the wine barrel containing a trapped Kobold, located in the Githyanki Creche. This barrel, often dismissed as odd scenery, becomes the perfect tool for grand larceny.

The strategy is executed as follows:

1. Secure the Barrel: Retrieve the Kobold-in-a-barrel from the Githyanki Creche.

2. Position the Distraction: Sneak into Ansur's lair and throw the barrel near the dragon's body.

3. Create Chaos: The released Kobold will immediately draw Ansur's aggro, initiating combat between them.

4. Seize the Opportunity: While the dragon is distracted by the furious, tiny combatant—a spectacle as absurd as a titan being harassed by a determined hornet—a stealthy character can pickpocket the Giantslayer directly from Ansur's inventory.

This method bypasses the dragon's devastating lightning breath and powerful melee attacks entirely. It’s a brilliant workaround that transforms a legendary boss fight into a comical distraction, allowing the party to escape with the prize unscathed.

Alternative Combat Strategies (If You Must Fight)

For purists who wish to earn their loot through combat, or who seek the full narrative experience, several strategies can tip the scales in your favor:

• Invulnerability Spam: Stockpile Scrolls of Globe of Invulnerability. Casting these consecutively can make your party immune to Ansur's most devastating area-of-effect attacks.

• Monastic Control: Utilize a Monk character. Their high mobility, Stunning Strike, and ability to impose conditions can severely limit Ansur's action economy, interrupting his turns and controlling the battlefield.

• Elemental Preparation: Load up on Lightning Resistance potions and spells like Absorb Elements to mitigate his primary damage type.

Why Skip the Fight? Practical Advantages

Choosing the stealth route offers tangible benefits, especially in 2026's meta where optimized honour mode runs are highly valued:

Aspect	Fighting Ansur	Stealing from Ansur
Resource Cost	High (Potions, Spell Slots, Scrolls)	Very Low (One thrown barrel)
Campaign Risk	Very High (Total party wipe ends run)	Negligible
Time Investment	Long (Complex boss mechanics)	Very Short
Rewards	Helm, Sword, Story Beat	Helm and/or Sword
Best For	Narrative completion, XP	Safe power-gaming, Honour mode

Securing these items without a fight is like finding a master key in a dungeon designed by a locksmith; it elegantly bypasses intended obstacles. The Helm's stun resistance is particularly invaluable for the final battle, where control effects are rampant. The Giantslayer, with its damage boost against larger foes, turns the party's frontline into a dragon-slaying force in its own right.

These clever exploits underscore the incredible depth and player agency within Baldur's Gate 3. The game doesn't merely present obstacles but interactive systems that can be manipulated by creative thinking. Whether you choose to face Ansur's storm or slip through it like a ghost, these strategies ensure that his legendary treasures can fortify your party for the epic conclusion awaiting in the skies above Baldur's Gate. For adventurers looking to minimize risk and maximize efficiency, skipping this draconic dilemma is not just an option—it's a masterstroke of tactical play. 😉

The following breakdown is based on information from PC Gamer, a leading authority in the PC gaming community. PC Gamer frequently explores unconventional strategies and player-discovered exploits in RPGs like Baldur's Gate 3, highlighting how creative problem-solving—such as bypassing boss fights through stealth or environmental manipulation—can redefine the intended gameplay experience and offer new avenues for both challenge and efficiency.