The Hellion's Heart

Key takeaways

The quest is best handled as a continuing companion objective rather than a short standalone errand.

• Keep Karlach in the party Karlach is the subject of the quest, so recruit her and pay attention to her dialogue when new opportunities to address the engine arise.
• Find Infernal Iron Search major explored areas for Infernal Iron, including the Goblin Camp and Grymforge, then deliver it to Dammon.
• Protect Dammon Dammon must remain alive and accessible for later work on the engine. Decisions that endanger his settlement or remove him from the story can interrupt the quest.
• Expect multi-act progression The engine repairs are distributed across the campaign rather than resolved in one conversation, so return to Dammon when the story provides another opportunity.

Overview

The Hellion's Heart is Karlach's companion quest in Baldur's Gate 3. It follows the effort to stabilize and repair the infernal engine that has replaced her heart.

The quest begins with Karlach's central problem: the infernal engine inside her is malfunctioning, and ordinary treatment cannot solve it. The party must find someone with the knowledge and equipment to work on infernal machinery, making Dammon, a tiefling blacksmith, the key figure in the quest's progression. The task is not a single visit or a single item turn-in; it develops as the story moves between acts and new opportunities to help Karlach become available.

Infernal Iron is the practical requirement that connects the quest's exploration and its repairs. Pieces can be found in more than one location, including the Goblin Camp and the Grymforge, so players should inspect areas thoroughly rather than assume that the first missed piece permanently ends the quest. When one is available, bring it to Dammon and speak with him while Karlach is present or available to join the conversation.

Dammon's continued survival is essential because he is the recurring mechanic who can work on Karlach's engine. Protecting him and keeping access to him across the acts is therefore part of the quest's effective progression, even when the journal does not present it as a conventional combat objective. Completing the repairs keeps Karlach alive and gives her significant power improvements, while the quest also advances the larger companion narrative Our Fiery Friend.

Where this sits

Requirements

Progress depends on Karlach, Infernal Iron, and continued access to Dammon.

• RequiredRecruit KarlachKarlach must be available as the companion whose infernal engine is being repaired.
• RequiredLocate Infernal IronAt least one piece is needed for the repair process. The Goblin Camp and Grymforge are documented locations to search.
• RequiredFind DammonDammon is the tiefling blacksmith capable of working with Karlach's infernal machinery.
• RequiredPreserve Dammon's survivalLater repairs require Dammon to remain alive and available across the acts.
• RecommendedExplore thoroughlyChecking containers, side areas, and forge-related locations improves the chance of finding the required material.

Objectives

1. Help Karlach with her infernal engineInvestigate a way to repair the malfunctioning engine serving as Karlach's heart.
2. Find a mechanic who understands infernal machineryDammon is the recurring specialist who can examine and repair the engine.
3. Obtain Infernal IronSearch the game world for the material Dammon needs, including the Goblin Camp and Grymforge.
4. Bring the material to DammonReturn to Dammon with Infernal Iron so the repair can proceed.
5. Keep Dammon aliveProtect the NPC whose assistance is required for the quest's later stages.Optional
6. Continue Karlach's companion storyThe Hellion's Heart contributes to the larger Our Fiery Friend narrative.Optional

Walkthrough

1. 01

   Learn what is wrong with Karlach's heart

   Recruit Karlach and listen to her explanation

   Add Karlach to the party and speak with her about the condition of her infernal engine. Her dialogue establishes that the engine is malfunctioning and that the problem requires specialized help rather than an ordinary healing spell.

   Location: Where Karlach is recruited

   TipKeep Karlach available when speaking to potential helpers so the relevant companion dialogue can trigger.

2. 02

   Find Dammon

   Look for a specialist in infernal machinery

   The quest points toward a skilled mechanic rather than a normal healer or merchant. Dammon, a tiefling blacksmith, is the important NPC to locate because he has the expertise needed to work on the engine.

   Location: The settlement or forge area where Dammon is available

   Watch outDo not treat Dammon as a disposable background NPC; his survival affects whether the quest can continue in later acts.

3. 03

   Obtain Infernal Iron

   Search the Goblin Camp for Infernal Iron

   Inspect the Goblin Camp and its accessible rooms, work areas, and containers for Infernal Iron. The material is easy to miss if the area is visited only for its main objective, so search before leaving if you still need a piece.

   Location: Goblin Camp

   TipUse the camp's side areas and loot containers rather than relying only on the most obvious path through the location.

4. 04

   Obtain Infernal Iron

   Search Grymforge for another source

   Grymforge is another documented location containing Infernal Iron. Explore its forge-related spaces and investigate available loot while pursuing other objectives in the area.

   Location: Grymforge

   TipIf one route or location has already been cleared, Grymforge provides an additional opportunity to look for the material.

5. 05

   Provide Infernal Iron to Dammon

   Return to Dammon with the material

   Bring the Infernal Iron to Dammon and discuss Karlach's engine. The conversation is the handoff that turns the exploration objective into actual progress on the repair.

   Location: Dammon's current forge or workshop

   Watch outIf Dammon is absent or dead, the expected repair conversation cannot take place there.

6. 06

   Repair Karlach's infernal engine

   Allow the repair to be completed

   Follow Dammon's conversation and let him work on the infernal engine. The repair is a story interaction, not a conventional combat encounter, so the important preparation is having Karlach and the required material available.

   Location: Dammon's workshop

   Checkpoint
7. 07

   Continue the engine repairs

   Revisit Dammon when the campaign advances

   The quest continues across the game's acts, and one repair does not represent the entire companion storyline. When Karlach raises the issue again or Dammon becomes available in a later area, speak with him to check whether more work can be done.

   Location: Dammon's later-act location

   Watch outMajor story transitions and events affecting Dammon's settlement can remove this opportunity, so resolve available conversations before moving on.

8. 08

   Advance Karlach's companion story

   Complete the companion thread

   Continue Karlach's broader companion narrative, Our Fiery Friend, after handling the engine objectives. The exact conclusion depends on the wider campaign and the choices made around Karlach and Dammon.

   Location: Across the campaign

   Missable

Mission mechanics

The Hellion's Heart uses an item-and-NPC progression loop. Infernal Iron is gathered during exploration, then presented to Dammon, who converts the material into progress on Karlach's engine. This means the quest can remain in the journal while the player pursues unrelated objectives, but it still rewards checking new settlements and forge areas for opportunities to continue.

The quest is also sensitive to world-state changes. Dammon is not merely a one-time vendor: he is the person who can assist throughout the game's acts. Keeping him alive and accessible is therefore a practical quest mechanic, while moving the story forward without speaking to him can leave Karlach's problem unresolved.

The repairs have a meaningful companion effect. Successfully helping Dammon keeps Karlach alive and provides significant power boosts, but the supplied material does not establish a fixed numerical bonus or a precise combat-stat change. This page therefore treats the reward narratively rather than assigning unsupported values.

There is no documented dedicated boss encounter for The Hellion's Heart itself. Combat may occur while reaching the Goblin Camp, Grymforge, or Dammon's locations, but those fights belong to the surrounding areas and should not be presented as a unique quest boss.

What works and what does not

Quest phases

1. 1

   Diagnosis

   Starts: Karlach joins the party and explains the engine problem.

   The quest establishes that Karlach's infernal engine is malfunctioning and needs specialized intervention.

   • Speak with Karlach after recruiting her so the companion context is clear.
   • Do not assume ordinary healing resolves the engine problem.
2. 2

   Material search

   Starts: The party begins looking for Infernal Iron.

   Exploration becomes the main task, with the Goblin Camp and Grymforge identified as places where the required material can be found.

   • Search side areas and containers while already exploring these locations.
   • Record which areas have been checked so later searches are more efficient.
3. 3

   Dammon's repair

   Starts: Infernal Iron is delivered to Dammon.

   Dammon uses his knowledge of infernal machinery to work on Karlach's engine.

   • Bring Karlach into the conversation when possible.
   • Check the surrounding area before leaving in case other companion dialogue is available.
4. 4

   Later-act continuation

   Starts: The campaign reaches another point where Dammon can assist.

   The quest remains tied to Karlach's broader companion narrative and requires continued access to its specialist.

   • Resolve available Dammon conversations before major transitions.
   • Treat his survival as a quest requirement even when no combat objective names him.

Choices and consequencesSpoilers

• Protect Dammon and preserve his access across the acts

  Karlach can continue receiving assistance with her infernal engine.

• Allow Dammon to become unavailable

  Later engine repairs may no longer be possible, interrupting this part of Karlach's companion narrative.

  Spoiler
• Search multiple locations for Infernal Iron

  The player has more opportunities to obtain the material needed for Dammon's work.

• Move on without addressing Karlach's engine

  The quest remains unresolved and Karlach's repair progression is delayed.

Checklist

• Recruit KarlachThe quest concerns her infernal engine.
• Speak with Karlach about the engineUse companion dialogue to establish the problem.
• Find DammonHe is the tiefling blacksmith who can perform the work.
• Search the Goblin Camp for Infernal IronOptional
• Search Grymforge for Infernal IronOptional
• Give Infernal Iron to DammonThis advances the repair rather than merely collecting the item.
• Check on Karlach after the repairConfirm the companion quest has progressed.
• Keep Dammon alive and accessibleLater stages depend on his continued involvement.
• Return to Dammon in later actsThe quest is not necessarily complete after the first repair.
• Continue Our Fiery FriendOptional

Failure conditionsSpoilers

• Dammon diesBecause Dammon is the primary NPC capable of helping with the infernal engine, his death can prevent later progression.
• Dammon becomes unavailable after a major story transitionIf the party leaves his settlement in a state that removes him from the campaign, the next repair opportunity may be lost.
• Infernal Iron is never obtainedWithout the required material, the party cannot provide Dammon with what he needs to continue the repair.
• The player leaves Karlach's companion story unresolvedIgnoring available conversations and repair opportunities delays or can jeopardize the quest's continuation.

Rewards

• Infernal engine repairs
  Dammon repairs Karlach's malfunctioning infernal engine when given the required Infernal Iron.
• Karlach power improvements
  Successful repairs provide Karlach with significant power boosts, though no fixed numerical values are established here.
• Companion-story progress
  The quest advances Karlach's larger companion narrative, Our Fiery Friend.

Characters in this mission

• KarlachCompanion whose infernal engine is the focus of the quest.

AftermathSpoilers

Trivia

• The quest's title refers to Karlach's infernal engine, which functions as her heart.
• Infernal Iron links areas with very different purposes, including the Goblin Camp and the Grymforge.
• Dammon's role is unusual for a companion quest because the same specialist can remain relevant across multiple acts.
• The Hellion's Heart is part of Karlach's broader Our Fiery Friend narrative rather than an isolated side activity.

Sources

• The Hellion's Heart — bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
• The Hellion's Heart guide — Fextralife — fextralife.com
• Video guide reference — youtube.com
• Karlach quest guide reference — VG247
• Community guide reference — youtube.com
• Community discussion reference — reddit.com

Relationships