Finding the Puzzle
The moon puzzle is on the floor of the Defiled Temple, which is located beneath the Goblin Camp in Act 1. To reach it:
- Enter the Shattered Sanctum inside the Goblin Camp
- Find Priestess Gut's quarters (northeast area)
- Go through the door behind her room into the Defiled Temple
- The puzzle is the circular floor panels in the center of the room
You're in the Defiled Temple. The puzzle is the four circular panels on the floor. Each one has moon phase symbols. You need to rotate them so all the dark moons (new moons) align on the south panel.
How the Puzzle Works
The floor has four rotating stone panels arranged in a diamond pattern. Each panel has moon phase symbols (full moons, half moons, new/dark moons). You can rotate each panel by clicking on it.
Goal: Align the panels so all the black circles (new moons) are on the bottom (south) panel.
Step-by-Step Solution
The exact solution depends on the starting position, but the consistent method is:
Here's the sequence — rotate the panels in this exact order. I'll call them by position: Top, Left, Right, Bottom. Each click rotates the panel one position.
From the default starting position:
- Rotate the bottom panel once
- Rotate the right panel three times
- Rotate the bottom panel once
- Rotate the left panel twice
After these rotations, all the dark moon symbols should be aligned on the south panel, and the passage opens.
If that doesn't match your layout
The puzzle can be in a different starting position if you've already clicked panels. The general principle is:
- Full moons (white circles) go to the top
- New moons (black circles) go to the bottom
- Waxing moons go to the right
- Waning moons go to the left
That rotation didn't match? Your panels might be in a different starting position. Look at the bottom panel — you want all four black circles there. Try rotating the right panel until a black circle moves to the bottom, then adjust from there.
The Shortcut
If puzzles aren't your thing, there are two ways to skip this entirely:
- Strength check (DC 20): The locked door next to the puzzle can be forced open. Barbarians and high-Strength fighters can handle this easily.
- Lockpicking (DC 20): A Rogue with high Sleight of Hand can pick the lock on the same door.
Both skip the puzzle and still give you access to the Underdark passage below.
Summary
The Defiled Temple moon puzzle is one of BG3's most searched puzzles because the rotation mechanic isn't intuitive. Four rotations in the right order opens the path to the Underdark. Or just break down the door. Let Sidekick AI walk you through it in real-time so you don't need to alt-tab to a guide mid-rotation.