Who is the mysterious Strange Ox in Druid Grove? – Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 has a variety of weird and strange creatures just roaming around, but one of the strangest and most intriguing creatures that you’ll come across in your journey is the Strange Ox. As the name suggests, the creature is an ox, but there’s more to it than meets the eye.

The Strange Ox is a mysterious NPC creature in Baldur’s Gate 3 that can be found roaming around Druid Grove. There are around three oxen there, but what makes it stand out is that it moos a bit differently than the others.

You won’t actually know what’s off until you interact with it and run an Arcana check, which will prompt the narrator to comment on something being off about it. When you speak to the Strange Ox and listen to its “Moo”, you’ll realize that its moo sounds more human than the others.

1. How to solve the Strange Ox puzzle in Baldur’s Gate 3?

To communicate with the Strange Ox, cast the Speak with Animals spell or use an Animal Speaking potion. Some classes, such as Druids, Warlocks, etc., already have the ability to cast the spell, but if your class doesn’t have it, then use an Animal Speaking potion.

You can also recruit an NPC called Wyll near the oxen to your party, and he’ll provide you with the Speak with Animals spell. Otherwise, simply visit the vendors around the grove, and you’ll eventually find one that sells the Animal Speaking potion.

When you first speak to him, he’ll say it’s “quaint” that you’re addressing a humble ox like him. You’ll get two different sets of four dialogue options based on your race and Arcana level. You might get:

• [Arcana] The ox makes you uneasy. Try to discern why.
• A fine-looking beast you are.
• Ugh. Hideous cow.
• Leave.

Or you might get:

• [Arcana] There’s something strange about this ox. What is it?
• Haven’t you ever met someone who could speak to oxen?
• Did you come from Elturel with the others?
• Leave.

No matter which set you get, choose the first option to run an Arcana check. If you manage to pass it, then you’ll know that the ox “isn’t what it appears to be.” You’ll then be presented with three options, which are:

• There’s more to you than meets the eye. Care to explain?
• Whatever your secret is, it’s yours to keep.
• Leave.

Select the first option, and it’ll prompt the ox to say that you’re “incapable”. After that, you’ll be presented with three more dialogue options:

• [Persuasion] Come on, old chap. I’m a devil for gossip.
• [Intimidation] Out with it, cow, or you’re going to regret it.
• [Deception] Fine. I heard the tieflings are going to butcher one of you for food, so your secret will die with you.

Now here comes the important part. You can choose either a Persuasion or Deception check to proceed, and if you’re successful at any of them, then the ox will reveal that he’s going to Baldur’s Gate regardless of the Tieflings. Upon inspection, you’ll find out that he has both Blindsight and Darkvision passives, which is unusual, but he’s a Strange Ox after all.

The funny thing is, you can kill the ox in the first Act itself, but I don’t suggest doing that since he’ll pop up in later acts too, where he’ll reveal his true identity. But if you end up killing him, then you’ll receive a Shapeshifter’s Boon Ring, which grants an 1d4 bonus to checks while you’re shapeshifted and disguised, and an acid explosion, which I don’t think you want, so use ranged attacks to kill it.

2. About Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate III is a role-playing video game developed and published by Larian Studios. It is the third main game in the Baldur’s Gate series, based on the Dungeons & Dragons tabletop role-playing system.

A partial game version was released in early access format for Windows, macOS, and the Stadia streaming service on 6 October 2020., followed shortly by a release on the PlayStation 5 on 6 September 2023.