How to Beat Commander Zhalk

Commander Zhalk is an optional boss in Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3) in the Act 1's Prologue. Read on to learn how to beat him and where you can find him in the game!

How to Beat Commander Zhalk

How to Beat Commander Zhalk
Recruit all companions (Us, Lae'zel, and Shadowheart) Play on Explorer Difficulty to beat it easily Attack using higher accuracy moves Assist the Mind Flayer by providing healing and buffs Save before and during the fight to try again if you fail

Recruit All the Companions

Recruit all of the characters and creatures, Us, Lae'zel, and Shadowheart, if you want to beat Commander Zhalk. They have several skills to help you with combat, like healing spells, attack and armor buffs, and more!

Players on Shadowheart Origin playthrough may have a difficult time defeating Commander Zhalk, as you won't get to meet a temporary replacement character for her. Lae'zel, on the other hand, will have her temporary replacement character during the playthrough, covering the lack of one more party member.

Play on Explorer Difficulty

Commander Zhalk will have less HP and is easier to hit on Explorer Difficulty. Change it on the options menu to nerf him down if you're set on getting his Everburn Blade and getting a few more XP. You can change the difficulty anytime, even during combat.

Attack using Higher Accuracy Moves

Check all the attack moves with higher accuracy to hit Commander Zhalk. You can use the Guiding Bolt spell from Shadowheart to boost your chances of striking him. You can also try to move behind his back to increase the accuracy of your attack.

Throw Environmental Traps to deal additional damage

There are environmental traps you can pick up and throw against Commander Zhask. However, do this with caution as most of them will explode and cause the ground to burn in an area. Make sure that all your characters are not within or they'll take damage as well.

Assist the Mind Flayer in the Fight

You can apply buffs and healing to the Mind Flayer to help it survive a bit longer while fighting Commander Zhalk. Using Healing Word, Second Wind, and Shield of Fate on the Mind Flayer will make it survive the fight.

However, don't overdo so you can beat it quickly later on, as it will turn its back against you once Commander Zhalk is defeated.

Save and Reload if you Fail

Beating Commander Zhalk also requires luck, so try to save the game before and as you fight him. Saving at those times will let you go back and fight him again quickly.
How to Save / Quick Save

Where to Find Commander Zhalk

At the Helm in the Prologue

Commander Zhalk is at the helm fighting a Mind Flayer in the Prologue. It will be the only time you will encounter him, and he will vanish from the game afterward, even if you didn't kill him.
Escape the Nautiloid Walkthrough (Prologue)

Baldur's Gate 3 Related Guides

List of All Bosses

Act 1 Bosses

All Act 1 Bosses
Auntie Ethel	Bulette	Ch'r'ai W'Wargaz
Commander Zhalk	Dror Ragzlin	Flind
Grym	Kagha	Lump the Enlightened
Minthara	Nere	Owlbear
Phase Spider Matriarch	Priestess Gut	Spectator

Act 2 Bosses

All Act 2 Bosses
Ch'r'ai Tska'an	Balthazar	Fist Marcus
Gerringothe Thorm	Kar'niss	Ketheric Thorm
Malus Thorm	Thisobald Thorm	Yurgir

Act 3 Bosses

All Act 3 Bosses
Ansur	Auntie Ethel	Cazador Szarr
Dominated Red Dragon	Lord Enver Gortash	Lorroakan
Mystic Carrion	Orin the Red	Raphael
Sarevok	Steel Watcher Titan	Viconia DeVir
The Unbreakable Will of the Netherbrain