In Baldur’s Gate 3, the Strange Ox is one of many interesting critters and NPCS that can be encounters throughout your journey.
However, this Ox is a little more ominous than many of the other animals hanging around, and your actions against the creature can have different outcomes, depending on the choices you make.
If you’re wondering what to do with the Strange Ox in Baldur’s Gate 3, this guide has you covered with everything you’ll need to know about the animal across all three Acts of the game.
Table of Contents
Where to Find the Strange Ox in Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3
Players can first encounter the Strange Ox during Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3. The Strange Ox will be located inside Emerald Grove, being cared for by one of the Tiefling refugees alongside two regular Ox. Here is the exact location in Emerald Grove where you can find the Strange Ox.
When approaching the Strange Ox, all party members will attempt a DC 10 Insight check. Upon a success, the party members will notice that something about this particular ox seems off. Players can interact with the Strange Ox by pressing the talk button.
However, unless you have a party member with access to the Speak With Animals Spell (either through their selected Spell list or via a Scroll), then you won’t get much interaction out of the creature.
Upon gaining access to the Speak With Animals Spell through whatever means best suits you, you can now speak directly to the Strange Ox in Emerald Grove. Upon doing so, players will be able to undergo a DC 10 Arcana check to investigate the peculiar aspects of the ox.
By passing the check, players will now have confirmation that this Strange Ox is not the creature that it appears to be. Following this, the player can try and pass one of the following checks to learn the Strange Ox’s secret:
- DC 10 Intimidation
- DC 10 Persuasion
- DC 10 Deception
If successful, the Strange Ox will reveal that it is heading to the city of Baldur’s Gate, but refuses to provide any further information.
Note: It is recommended to avoid attacking the Strange Ox in Emerald Grove at all costs. If attacked, nearby Tieflings can also become hostile, resulting in a massive battle and loss of certain NPCs.
Where to Find the Strange Ox in Act 2 & What to Do
In Act 2, players can encounter the Strange Ox again. This time, it will be located within a stable at Last Light Inn. This is the same stable in which Dammon is operating a makeshift forge. The exact location of the Strange Ox has been indicated on the map screenshot below:
You can now once again use Speak With Animals to talk with the Strange Ox, and must pass one of the following checks to continue your conversation:
- DC 14 Persuasion
- DC 14 Perception
- DC 14 Nature
If you pass this check, the Ox will show you some shocking images of bloody limbs and corpses – a complete horror scene, so to speak. If you pressure the Strange Ox further to reveal its true identity, it will become aggressive and threaten the party. You can now either choose to end the conversation or force more questions upon the creature.
If you continue pushing questions, the Ox will now grow even angrier, stating that all he wanted was ‘a bit of hay, a good brushing, and a clean stall. The simple life’. Following this, it reveals its true form, which is a large ooze-like creature, and you are immediately thrown into battle against it.
If you defeat the ooze, you will be able to loot the Shapeshifter’s Boon Ring. However, there is an opportunity to earn this item later, as well as encounter the Strange Ox again.
So if you want to learn more about the creature, it is recommended that you do not push with additional questions. Instead, you can choose to tell the Ox that its secrets are safe. Following this interaction, there is nothing else to do with the Strange Ox until later on in the game.
Where to Find the Strange Ox in Act 3 & What to Do
Lastly, players can encounter the Stange Ox again once they enter Act 3. This time, the ox can be found within a stable at Rivington, at the location below:
Once again, casting Speak With Animals will let you converse with the peculiar creature. Upon doing so, the Strange Ox will reveal that he is actually rather delighted to see you.
You have two options. The first is to question the Strange Ox about its identity yet again. This, much like at Last Light Inn, will lead to it reverting to ooze form, becoming hostile, and triggering the battle. If you defeat the Strange Ox in battle here, you can now claim the Shapeshifter’s Boon Ring.
Alternatively, you can follow other conversation paths, which will lead to the Ox requesting your help. He wants to get into the city of Baldur’s Gate, but is finding that difficult in the form of an ox.
Strange Ox Quest Guide: Help the Devilish Ox
If you choose to accept the Ox’s request for help, it will shapeshift into an apple that you can then pick up. All that you need to do now is make it into Lower City. Upon doing so, the ox will immediately respond, “Oh-ho! Thank you for the lift, my friend. Thank you very much indeed. Ta-ta!”
The Help the Devilish Ox quest will now be complete, and you will be able to obtain the Shapeshifter’s Boon Ring. If you see this quest through, you will be able to summon the Strange Ox for the final fight against the Elder Brain, where it will take its true form.
This means that ultimately, the best path is to see the Strange Ox through all three Acts of the game, and complete his quest after encountering him at Rivington. Doing so will enable you to both get the loot you would have obtained via killing the creature and make an additional ally to have by yourself in the final boss fight.
