Unlock Shovel Quasit in BG3

Baldur’s Gate 3 offers a rich tapestry of companions, summons, and quirky allies that can dramatically shift your adventuring strategy. Among these, Shovel the quasit stands out as a fan-favorite familiar due to her sharp wit, stealth prowess, and combat utility. This diminutive demon brings sarcasm, invisibility, and fear-inducing attacks to your party, making her an invaluable asset especially in the early game. Whether you’re a seasoned player or new to Faerûn, recruiting Shovel isn’t just about power—it’s about embracing her rude, crude personality that injects humor into tense moments.

In this comprehensive guide, we’ll walk you through every step to obtain her summoning scroll, deploy her effectively, and even secure her as a permanent fixture for non-magic classes. Expect detailed location breakdowns, dialogue choices, combat tips, and advanced tactics to maximize her potential. By the end, you’ll have Shovel digging up victories for your squad.

Why Shovel Deserves a Spot in Your Party

Quasits are minor fiends from the lower planes, known for their cunning and malice. Shovel elevates this archetype with personalized flair. Her abilities include:

• Invisibility at Will: Turn unseen to scout, steal, or set up ambushes without detection.
• Scare Attack: Frighten foes, forcing them to waste turns fleeing in terror.
• Poison Sting: Deliver debilitating venom that slows enemies.
• Cheeky Dialogue: Her banter provides comic relief and subtle hints during quests.

Unlike generic familiars from the standard Find Familiar spell, Shovel is unique. Summoning her nets the ‘Rude, Crude, and Full of Attitude’ achievement, a badge of honor for completionists. She’s particularly shine in Act 1, where scouting Blighted Village or the goblin camp benefits from her stealth.

Navigating to Blighted Village: The Starting Point

Your journey begins in Act 1, shortly after escaping the nautiloid. Head west from the Emerald Grove toward the Blighted Village, a ruined settlement overrun by goblins and plagued by a necromantic curse. This area ties into the ‘Necromancy of Thay’ questline, which you’ll naturally encounter while progressing the main story.

Fast travel to the Blighted Village waypoint if unlocked, or trek on foot via the muddy roads. Beware goblin patrols—use high ground or invisibility potions to slip past. The village features dilapidated homes, a windmill, and central apothecary that’s your prime target.

Step-by-Step: Infiltrating the Apothecary’s Secrets

Locate the apothecary directly beside the waypoint—a crumbling building with shattered windows. Enter and loot the ground floor for potions and alchemical ingredients. Proceed straight to the rear, where a wooden hatch beckons at approximate coordinates X:33, Y:374.

1. Descend to the Basement: Drop through the hatch into the alchemist’s dimly lit workspace. Expect minor traps or spiders—dispatch them swiftly.
2. Spot the Boxes: In the corner, three crates obscure a wall lever. Interact to shove the top crate aside, revealing the switch.
3. Pull the Lever: This triggers a nearby cabinet to slide open, unveiling a secret passage.
4. Traverse the Tunnel: Follow the narrow path to an underground meadow dotted with mouldering caskets.

Upon arrival, undead stir—skeletons and zombies emerge. A cleric’s Turn Undead or area-of-effect spells clear them efficiently. Prioritize the rightmost casket as you enter; it harbors the Scroll of Summon Quasit without spawning extra foes. Other coffins yield lesser loot but trigger fights.

Summons and Dialogue: Bringing Shovel to Life

With the scroll in hand, decisions branch based on your party’s composition. This consumable item offers two paths:

• One-Time Use: Cast directly for an immediate summon and achievement pop. Ideal for quick gratification.
• Permanent Acquisition: Hand to a wizard like Gale. Right-click to scribe into their spellbook for 50 gold, granting repeated summons.

Using the scroll initiates a dialogue with Shovel. She appears in a puff of brimstone, quipping sassily. Key choices shape her loyalty:

“Well, aren’t you a sight? Name’s Shovel. Fork? Basket? Pick one, meatbag.”

Select options affirming her name as Shovel (typically 1,1,1 sequence). Post-summon, dismiss and resummon after passing the talking mirror in the Necromancy room for deeper integration. This locks in ‘Find Familiar: Cheeky Quasit’ as a level 1 Conjuration spell.

Advanced Trick: Permanent Shovel for Any Class

Non-wizards face a hurdle—scribed spells tie to wizard levels. Exploit this with Withers at camp:

1. Respec a party member (e.g., your main) to Wizard (Storm Sorcery works too).
2. Return, cast the scroll (not scribe) to summon and dialogue through.
3. The spell slots into your book as ‘Cheeky Quasit.’
4. Respec back to original class—Shovel persists!

This method, shared across communities, bypasses class restrictions. Save beforehand to avoid mishaps.

Mastering Shovel’s Combat Role

In battle, command Shovel via her action menu:

• Stealth Scout: Invisibility for positioning Help actions (+advantage on attacks).
• Fear Monger: Target squishy casters; frightened foes can’t approach.
• Bonus Utility: Mage Hand-like object interaction without risking your party.

She dies easily (low HP), so resummon as needed. Pair with summons like Shadowheart’s Spirit Guardians for chaos.

Common Pitfalls and Pro Tips

Avoid these errors:

• Misclicking dialogue renames her, losing uniqueness.
• Forgetting to fight undead before looting—traps activate.
• Scribing too early on non-permanent characters.

Pro Tip: Use Shovel to eavesdrop on goblin leaders pre-invasion for quest advantages.

Shovel in Late Game and Builds

She scales modestly but excels in rogue/wizard multiclasses. In Honour Mode, her scout saves wipes. Integrate into ‘summon spam’ builds with Conjure Woodland Being.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can non-magic classes keep Shovel forever?

Yes, via the respec exploit outlined above.

What if I sell the scroll?

Vendors won’t restock it—reload a save.

Does Shovel work in multiplayer?

Yes, but only the caster controls her.

Is there a Shovel-like familiar elsewhere?

No, she’s exclusive to this scroll.

Honor Mode viability?

High—perfect for safe scouting.