How to Get Volo's Ersatz Eye

This is a walkthrough on how to get Volo's Ersatz Eye in Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3). Find where Volo is, if the Ersatz Eye is permanent, and how it works in seeing invisible enemies.

Side Quest Details

Journal Entry
Rescue Volo
Recommended Level	Lv. 3
Result	Success: Volo's Ersatz Eye
Location
Shattered Sanctum (Goblin Camp) X: 105, Y: 461

Benefits of Volo's Ersatz Eye

Ersatz Eye Grant Permanent See Invisibility

Volo's Ersatz Eye is a passive feature that gives permanent See Invisibility to one chosen character. This has absolutely no drawback.

See Invisibility allows you to see invisible creatures at up to 9m. Invisible creatures have the chance to resist this effect with Dexterity Saving Throws.

This eye can be earned by saving Volo from the Goblin Camp and letting him attempt to pull out the Mind Flayer Parasite from your eye.

See Invisibility Effects

Can Be Given to Any Party Member

Volo's Ersatz Eye can apply to anyone at the camp who you choose to go through his operation.

Take control of a character you wish to have the Ersatz Eye. Have them ask Volo about his research and allow him to operate.

Volo will only give the Ersatz Eye once. Once given, it is permanent and non-transferable with the chosen character for the rest of the playthrough. Choose wisely!

How to Get Volo's Ersatz Eye

Ersatz Eye Side Quest
Search for Volo in the Goblin Camp Free Volo from his prison cell in Shattered Sanctum Let Volo operate on your eye in Camp

Where to Find Volo

Find Volo at the Goblin Camp

Goblin Camp Map and Location
Goblin Camp X: 104, Y: 413

The Goblin Camp can be accessed early on by simply heading west from the Blighted Village. You will have pass through several dialogue checks, however, unless you choose to fight (which is several times harder) at low level.

Having a party of Lv. 3 members is recommended for this side quest in case fights break out along the way.

Talk to Volo at the Camp Square

Upon arriving at the Goblin Camp, Volo can be first seen performing for the goblins at the center of the camp. Head over to the platform and initiate a dialogue with him.

Picking any dialogue option except leave will result in Volo being taken back to his cell inside the Shattered Sanctum by goblins.

Nearby Owlbear Cub Quest

If you are following the Owlbear Cub questline, the cub should also be present here provided you have taken one Long Rest after confronting its mother in the Owlbear Nest.

Obtaining the Owlbear Cub for your camp leads to potential party member approvals when you interact with it in certain ways.

How to Get the Owlbear Cub

How to Free Volo

Finding Volo
① Enter the Shattered Sanctum ② Get Past Warrior Trinzas ③ Find Volo's Cell ④ Persuade or Kill Gribbo

Enter the Shattered Sanctum

Shattered Sanctum Entrance
Heavy Oak Doors (Goblin Camp) X: 105 , Y: 461

To access the Shattered Sanctum, head to north of the Goblin Camp and enter through the Heavy Oak Doors. No need to mind the guarding Ogre at the side.

Get Past Warrior Trinzas

NPC Dialogue
Warrior Trinzas: State yer business, now. (Rune Glows)
Dialogue Options	Dialogue Results
[ILLITHID] [WISDOM] (DC2)] I'm not here to talk to a lowly guard.	Success: Granted entry. Failure: Starts battle.
[DECEPTION (DC15)] I've got an audience with the one in charge.	Success: Granted entry. Failure: Sent off.
[INTIMIDATION (DC15)] You don't need to know about my business. Move.	Success: Granted entry. Failure: Sent off.
[DETECT THOUGHTS (DC9)] Probe her thoughts.	Success: Gain dialogue option to grant entry. Failure: Starts battle.
They seem ready to attack - be the one to strike first.	Result: Starts battle.

Choosing to Detect Thoughts is one of the easiest to succeed in above after the Illithid option.

Upon entering the Shattered Sanctum, go down the hallway until you are stopped by Warrior Trinzas.

Succeeding in the non-violent dialogue options with her will have her grant you passage!

You can opt to fight and defeat the guards, which is much harder than trying to persuade her.

Find Volo's Cell

Volo in Shattered Sanctum
Shattered Sanctum X:334 , Y: 8

Once past Warrior Trinzas, head over to the main room and climb up the stairs to the right. No need to worry about being questioned by the inhabitants here for the moment.

Volo's cell can be next to Abdirak's Bloodied Shrine. It is guarded by the goblin Gribbo.

Persuade or Kill Gribbo

NPC Dialogue
Gribbo: Then catch one of your own!
Dialogue Options	Dialogue Results
I've taken a shine to this one. How much do you want for him?	Success: Pick the option to pay 250 Gold. Gives the key to Volo's cell. Failure: You can safely offer other prices. If you have no coin to offer, you will be brought back to the previous dialogue options.
[ILLITHID] [WISDOM (DC2)] Set him free.	Success: Frees Volo. Failure: Starts battle.
[DECEPTION (DC10)] He looks weak. Sick, even. He won't last long in there.	Success: Frees Volo. Failure: Sends you off.
[INTIMIDATION (DC10)] I'm done talking. Open the cage or you'll be sorry.	Success: Frees Volo. Failure: Sends you off.
[DETECT THOUGHTS (DC9)] Read her thoughts.	Success: Gain dialogue option to free Volo. Failure: Starts battle.
Leave.	Result: You cannot convince Gribbo anymore after this.

Keep in mind that leaving the conversation right after asking her about her plans for her 'pigeon' will cause her to just send you off the next time you talk to her.

If one of the dialogue skill checks are successful, Gribbo will give you the key to the cell. Talk with Volo and ask him to join you at camp.

Alternatively, you can kill Gribbo to obtain her key to Volo's cell. Before doing this, close the door, then hit her first. As long as the door is closed, you are less likely to get caught in the act.

A goblin, Tracker Tozad, checks the cells periodically. Etiher you can free Volo and get out of the room as soon as you can, or you can Hide and ambush him when he gets inside.

How to Obtain the Ersatz Eye

Obtaining the Ersatz Eye
① Find and Talk to Volo at Your Camp ② Visit Volo Again After a Long Rest ③ Commit to the Operation

Find and Talk to Volo at Your Camp

Above is Volo in a camp set inside the Shattered Sanctum.

If you tell Volo to come to your camp once he is free, he can be found at the camp when you return there.

Talk to Volo about the mind flayer parasite in your head, and then let him begin his research in how to extract it.

You do not need to take rests to see him. However, sometimes he may not appear on your first return to your camp. Feel free to take as many Long Rests until he appears there.

Visit Volo Again After a Long Rest

If Volo has started on his research previously, he should be ready to give the Ersatz Eye the next time you talk to him after completing at least one Long Rest.

Be ready to choose a character who you want to get the Ersatz Eye, as that item will be permanently bound to that character for the rest of the playthrough.

When you are ready to get the Ersatz Eye, ask Volo about his research and you will lie down on the operating table. Choose the dialogue option that does not result in your character resisting. If you change your mind, you can always order Volo to stop the operation.

Commit to the Operation

Warning: the scene and accompanying sound effects may be highly disturbing.

Once Volo has started working on your eye, the only way to get the Ersatz Eye is to commit to the operation until the end.

Ordering Volo to stop at any point in the operation before he pulls out his pick axe will give you the Bleeding Eye condition. This is mostly harmless, as it lasts for only about a few seconds in camp. You can attempt the operation again.

The final step in the operation Volo is pulling out an ice pick to use on your eye. Proceed with this to finally acquire Volo's Ersatz Eye. Once the eye has been given, Volo will leave the camp.

Baldur's Gate 3 Related Guides

List of All Side Quests

Prologue Side Quests

All Prologue Side Quests
How to Free the Intellect Devourer	How to Free Shadowheart

Act 1 Side Quests

Druid's Grove Quests

Druid Grove Quests
How to Steal the Sacred Idol	Should You Save The Goblin Sazza?	How to Avoid Tiefling Pickpockets
Save the Refugees	How to Save Nadira	How to Save Mirkon
How to Save the First Druid Halsin	How to Open the Stone Slab	Request Help from Nettie
How to Investigate and Expose Kagha	Save Arabella	-

The Risen Road Quests

The Risen Road Quests
Find the Missing Shipment	How to Rescue the Grand Duke
Rescue the Trapped Man	How to Free Oskar Fevras

Blighted Village Quests

Blighted Village Quests
How to Beat the Goblins: Blighted Village	How to Open the Necromancy of Thay	How to Recruit the Ogres
How to Finish the Masterwork Weapon	That Barn: Avoid Killing Buthir	Rescue the Gnome and Stop the Windmill

Goblin Camp Quests

Goblin Camp Quests
How to Get Volo's Ersatz Eye	Defiled Temple Puzzle
Find the Nightsong	Ask the Goblin Priestess for Help

Nautiloid Crash Region Quests

Nautiloid Crash Region Quests
Dank Crypt Guide	The Dying Mind Flayer	Auntie Ethel Quest Guide
How to Get Owlbear Cub	Spiderling Nest Guide-	How to Open the Selunite Chest
How to Get Scratch	Should You Heal Pandirna	Underground Passage Guide

Underdark Quests

Underdark Quests
Arcane Tower Guide	Defeat the Duergar Intruders	Save the Grymforge Gnomes
Find the Adamantine Forge	Deliver Nere's Head	How to Find the Mushroom Picker
How to Cure the Poisoned Gnome	Help the Cursed Monk	Omeluum Location

Mountain Pass Quests

Mountain Pass Quests
Steal a Githyanki Egg	How to Beat Gremishkas	How to Access Guardian of Faith Room
Dawnmaster Puzzle Guide	Where to Find the Githyanki Creche	-

This section is currently under construction. Check back later for updates!

Act 2 Side Quests

Last Light Inn Quests

Last Light Inn Quests
Seek Protection from the Shadow Curse	Rescue the Tieflings	Rescue Wulbren
How to Lift the Shadow Curse: Where to Find Thaniel	Find Zevlor	Help He Who Was
Investigate the Selûnite Resistance	-	-

Gauntlet of Shar Quests

Gauntlet of Shar Quests
Gauntlet of Shar: All Trials and Umbral Gems	Kill Raphael's Old Enemy

Mind Flayer Colony Quests

Mind Flayer Colony Quests
How to Solve the Necrotic Laboratory

Act 3 Side Quests

Rivington Quests

Rivington Quests
Investigate the Suspicious Toys	Solve the Open Hand Temple Murders	Find the Missing Letters
How to Get to Wyrm's Rock Fortress	How to Find Dribbles the Clown	-

Lower City Quests

Lower City Quests
How to Get to the House of Hope	How to Get to Cazador's Palace	Rescue Orin's Victim
Aid the Underduke	How to Get to the House of Grief	Investigate the Murders