Baldur’s Gate 3: Should you insert Volo’s Ersatz Eye in BG3?

One of the potential methods for getting the Mind Flayer tadpole out of your skull in Baldur’s Gate 3 involves Volo, a bard you meet during Act One with a knack for finding trouble. If you rescue Volo, he will join your camp and offer a dangerous method of removing the parasite: crude eye surgery. Should you take him up on his offer?

How to rescue Volo and unlock eye surgery in Baldur’s Gate 3

During Act One, head west to the Blighted Village until you stumble across the Goblin Camp. Once you’re there, look for Volo in the middle of the campsite and chat with him.

Volo will be escorted back to his cell in the Shattered Sanctum, where you’ll have to free him. To do that:

1. Head north from the campsite and open the Heavy Oak Door.
2. Enter it and walk down the corridor.
3. Eventually, Warrior Trinzas will approach you.

You’ll be faced with a choice—convince her to grant you access by successfully rolling Deception, Detect Thoughts, Illithid Wisdom, or Intimidation dialogue choices, or defeat her and her guards. It’s a tough fight, so the first option is wiser.

Once you’ve done that: 

1. Walk ahead to the room with True Soul Gut, then take a right up the stairs. 
2. Take a left, then your second right into the room with Gribbo and a caged Volo. 
3. You can use your Illithid power, a Deception check, or an Intimidation check to convince Gribbo to free Volo. You can also offer 250 gold or more to buy Volo from Gribbo. 
4. After releasing him, speak to Volo and ask him to return to your campsite.

Meet him at the campsite and tell him about the Mind Flayer parasite inside your brain. He’ll start looking at ways to help you. Take a long rest and interact with him again.

Should you let Volo operate on your eye in Baldur’s Gate 3?

After a long rest, Volo will tell you about a “brilliant technique” he’s researched, in which he will attempt to extract the parasite from behind your eye. This can be easy to turn down since nothing Volo says inspires confidence, but you should let him carry out the operation.

You will have several opportunities to stop him while he’s operating, and you might consider it because of how unpleasant it is, but it is worth it in the end.

What happens if you let Volo operate on your eye?

If you let Volo continue and finish the operation, he won’t be able to remove the parasite. Still, he does replace the eye he knocked out with Volo’s Ersatz Eye, which permanently lets you see Invisible creatures. However, many of your companions will disapprove of the operation, likely because it is hazardous.

If you stop Volo while he’s operating, he will leave camp and not return, meaning the upgraded eye will be lost to you forever.

Now that you know everything you need to know about deciding whether or not you should insert Volo’s Ersatz Eye in BG3, you are free to make your educated decision. Enjoy!