Baldur's Gate 3: How To Avoid Zaith’isk Permanent Debuff In BG3 – Location And Awakened Buff Explained - Collectible Guide (2025)

TL;DR (Key Takeaways)

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1. To avoid the permanent -1 ability score debuff from Zaith’isk the Githyanki in BG3, you need to pass a DC 15 Arcana check before interacting with the Zaith’isk artifact, then pass a DC 18 Arcana check to re-calibrate it instead of using it raw.
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2. There are 4 total hidden Zaith’isk-related collectibles scattered across 3 regions of Faerûn, 3 of which are missable if you progress past certain story points.
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3. If you get all collectibles and successfully re-calibrate the artifact, you gain the Awakened buff: +1 to all ability scores, 1 extra inspiration point per long rest, and 15% resistance to all psychic damage.
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4. You cannot reverse the permanent debuff after you trigger it without using a console command or mod – so don’t skip the Arcana checks.
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Direct Answer: How To Avoid Zaith’isk Permanent Debuff In BG3

If you clicked this guide, you’re probably panicking after hearing that the Githyanki artifact Zaith’isk gives a permanent -1 ability score debuff, and you want to know how to get the good Awakened buff instead. Here’s the 10-second answer: Never use the Zaith’isk artifact immediately after you get it. When prompted to interact, select the \"Investigate the device with Arcana\" option, pass a DC 15 Arcana check to spot the misaligned calibration gem, then select the \"Re-calibrate the gem\" option and pass a DC 18 Arcana check. This gives you the Awakened buff with zero debuff. If you skip the Arcana check and use it raw, you get the permanent -1 ability score debuff that can’t be removed in vanilla BG3.

But that’s just the base interaction. To get the full maximum power Awakened buff, you need to collect 4 hidden Zaith’isk shard fragments scattered across the map, which unlock an upgraded version of the buff that adds 1 extra AC and +2 initiative. This guide will walk you through where to find all collectibles, which are missable, how to beat every skill check, alternative strategies if you have a low Arcana character, and what you actually get for completing the full collection.

Overview: Total Zaith’isk Collectibles Count

There are 4 total Zaith’isk-related collectibles in Baldur’s Gate 3: 1 base Zaith’isk artifact, and 3 Githyanki calibration shards that upgrade the Awakened buff. All 4 are required to get the maxed-out buff. 3 of the 4 are missable: the base artifact from the Mountain Pass is locked out if you enter the Underdark first and progress the story past Act 1, and the two Act 2 shards are permanently gone if you finish the Moonrise Towers main quest before collecting them.

The table below breaks down what you get for every collection threshold:

Region-by-Region Breakdown: All Collectible Locations (Numbered Checklist)

Follow this checklist in order to avoid missing any collectibles. I reference the official BG3 complete map coordinates for exact positioning, so you can jump straight to each location.

Act 1: Wilderness / Mountain Pass – Collectible 1: Base Zaith’isk Artifact (X: 115, Y: 470)

Zaith’isk itself is found inside the Githyanki Creche outpost in the Mountain Pass region of Act 1. This collectible is permanently missable if you enter the Underdark first and progress past the Act 1 story point where Lae’zel asks you to go to the creche. If you complete the Underdark before visiting the creche, the Githyanki will have cleared out the outpost and taken Zaith’isk with them, so you can never get it. Always visit the Mountain Pass Githyanki Creche before finishing Act 1 through the Underdark.

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1. Travel to the Mountain Pass waypoint (X: -120, Y: 560).
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2. Head east through the pass until you reach the Githyanki outpost at (X: 115, Y: 470). You’ll encounter a group of Githyanki led by Zaith’isk, who is arguing with a captive Mind Flayer.
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3. Do not attack the Githyanki immediately (if you do, they’ll destroy the artifact before you can loot it). Instead, let the conversation play out until Zaith’isk presents the artifact and asks you to test it on the Mind Flayer’s tadpole.
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4. When the interaction menu pops up, do NOT select \"Use the device on the tadpole\". That’s what triggers the automatic debuff. Instead, select the \"Examine the device closely (requires Arcana)\" option.
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5. Pass the DC 15 Arcana check: this reveals that the calibration gem is misaligned, and the device is set to siphon power from your tadpole and your own nervous system.
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6. After passing the check, you’ll get a new dialogue option: \"Re-calibrate the gem to avoid siphoning your own life force.\" Select this option, then pass the DC 18 Arcana check. You now have the fully functional base Zaith’isk artifact, and you’ve already avoided the permanent debuff.
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Loot the artifact from Zaith’isk after the interaction (if you kill her, you can still loot it; if you let her leave, she’ll leave the artifact behind anyway after you pass the checks). Mark this collectible as collected on your checklist.

Act 1: Underdark – Collectible 2: First Calibration Shard (X: 140, Y: -210)

The first calibration shard is found in the Underdark, inside the Githyanki patrol camp that’s located just west of the Sussur Tree waypoint. This shard is not missable unless you kill all Githyanki in the area before looting their camp – the Githyanki here always carry the shard on their leader’s corpse.

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1. Travel to the Sussur Tree waypoint in the Underdark (X: 50, Y: -150).
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2. Head west-southwest from the waypoint until you reach the small Githyanki patrol camp at (X: 140, Y: -210). You’ll see two Githyanki fighters fighting a group of Hook Horrors here.
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3. Wait for one side to kill the other, or jump in and kill both Githyanki (they’ll attack you on sight anyway).
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4. Loot the Githyanki Calibration Shard 1 from the Githyanki Fighter Captain’s corpse. It’s hidden under the \"Junk\" tab, so don’t miss it.
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5. Right-click the shard in your inventory and select \"Combine with Zaith’isk\" to add it to the artifact. Your buff will automatically upgrade to the +1 initiative version once you activate the artifact later.
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Mark this collectible as collected.

See also: BG3 Act 1 All Underdark Hidden Items Guide (2025)

Act 2: Shadow-Cursed Lands – Collectible 3: Second Calibration Shard (X: -55, Y: 160)

The second calibration shard is found in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, just outside the entrance to the Gauntlet of Shar. This collectible is missable if you defeat Ketheric Thorm before collecting it – after Ketheric dies, the Githyanki scout that carries this shard despawns.

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1. Travel to the Gauntlet of Shar entrance waypoint (X: -75, Y: 140).
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2. Head north up the hill from the entrance to (X: -55, Y: 160). You’ll find a dead Githyanki scout half-buried in shadow here, next to a broken Githyanki skiff.
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3. Pass a DC 12 Perception check to reveal the scout’s hidden pouch. If you have a Rogue with Pass Without Trace, this is trivial – if not, just cast Guidance on your character with the highest Perception to pass.
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4. Open the pouch and loot Githyanki Calibration Shard 2.
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5. Combine it with Zaith’isk in your inventory to unlock the +5 Arcana bonus to Githyanki artifact checks.
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Mark this collectible as collected.

Act 2: Moonrise Towers – Collectible 4: Third Calibration Shard (X: 190, Y: 95)

The final calibration shard is found inside Moonrise Towers, in the restricted Githyanki prisoner wing. This is the most commonly missed collectible, because it’s hidden behind a locked door and despawns permanently after you defeat Ketheric Thorm.

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1. Enter Moonrise Towers through the main entrance, and travel to the prison level (take the elevator down from the main courtyard).
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2. Head east from the elevator to the restricted cell block at (X: 190, Y: 95). The door to the cell block is locked with a DC 18 Thieves’ Tool check. You can also get the key from Ketheric Thorm’s desk on the main floor, or use the Knock spell to open it without a key.
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3. Inside the cell block, you’ll find three Githyanki prisoners being experimented on by Absolute cultists. Kill the two Absolute cultist guards (don’t kill the prisoners).
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4. Talk to the lead prisoner, Kairi Stonetongue. She’ll give you the third calibration shard for free if you tell her you’re collecting parts to fix a Zaith’isk. If you attack her, she’ll destroy the shard before you can loot it – so don’t be a murder hobo here.
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5. Combine the shard with your Zaith’isk artifact to unlock the maxed-out Awakened buff.
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Mark this collectible as collected. You now have all 4 collectibles, and you’re ready to activate the artifact for the max buff with zero debuff.

See also: BG3 Act 2 All Moonrise Towers Hidden Collectibles Guide (2025)

Complete Checklist Table For All Collectibles

Use this table to check off each collectible as you go: I’ve included missable status, skill check DC, and exact coordinates for your complete map.

Zaith’isk: Awakened Buff Vs Permanent Debuff – Full Stat Breakdown

Most guides just say \"you get a good buff or bad debuff\" but don’t give the exact stat values. Here’s the full breakdown of both outcomes, so you can see exactly what you’re missing if you mess up:

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