BG3 Strange Ox Explained

The Strange Ox in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a strange “NPC” that you might encounter in the Druid’s Grove. Those of you that can speak with animals, and/or has a high enough Arcana score, will find out that there’s plenty wrong with this bovine. For one, its moos are clearly a humanoid doing an ox impression. Also, you’ll find out that the ox is going to Baldur’s Gate “no matter what.” What in the name of Mystra is going on? Let’s find out.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Strange Ox

First off, making a successful Arcana roll when interacting with the Strange Ox in Baldur’s Gate 3 can help figure out why its presence is making you so uneasy. Unfortunately, it doesn’t tell you what the thing really is. However, (slight SPOILERS from here on out) we were able to suss out that the creature has Blindsight and Darkvision, which is really weird. Also, after we killed it just to see what would happen, it exploded in a shower of acid and left behind a Shapeshifter’s Boon Ring, which grants you an extra d4 to all checks while shapeshifting and disguising yourself. It should work really well with the Mask of the Shapeshifter, if you own one. Also, don’t forget to loot a stack of hay near the Strange Ox, you can find some interesting items.

So, what does all this tell us about the Strange Ox in Baldur’s Gate 3? Well, it’s clear that it’s not a bovine at all; it’s something or someone trying to get into Baldur’s Gate in disguise. We haven’t been able to solve the mystery “properly,” so we don’t know all of its secrets. If you have been able to uncover what the Strange Ox actually is (my money is on a Mephit), let us know in the comments. It could be a potential ally, though I can’t imagine how a creature that explodes into acid could be of a good alignment. Also, it didn’t revert to its real form when attacked; that bears mentioning. We’ll have to come back to the ox at some point and try to figure it out.

UPDATE: You can use Speak with Animals on the Strange Ox in Baldur’s Gate 3, but the creature will still refuse to give you any details beyond wanting to go to Baldur’s Gate at any cost. Now, how do you get Speak with Animals? For one, you can find the NPC called Wyll near the oxen. He’s a warlock that you can recruit to your party, and he has the Speak with Animals spell. Alternatively, you can keep visiting the vendors around the Grove and find one that sells the Speak with Animals potion.

UPDATE 2: You can talk to the strange ox in Baldur’s Gate 3 in Act II. The creature will be in the pens in the Last Light Inn. You can find it at these coordinates X: -31, Y: 169. You can have another chat with it. If you push the strange ox far enough, it will lose its cool and reveal its true form: an acid ooze of some sort. You will then have to fight. It’s not a super-tough fight, but it is kinda sad ultimately. All the ooze wanted was to live the life of a cow, which I find adorable.

UPDATE 3: In Act III, you can meet the strange ox in BG3 once more in the east part of Rivington. Talk to it again (you’ll have to pass a Nature or Persuasion check) and learn the rest of the story. Yet again, you’ll have the chance to make it mad and fight it. Alternatively, you can agree to smuggle the creature into Baldur’s Gate, upon which it’ll turn into an apple. Amazingly, it won’t cause any mischief. Not only that, but it will join you at the final battle.