MostBaldur’s Gate 3players will agree thatScratch is the best camp follower and familiar in the game, which makes this user’s discovery especially tragic. Encountered relatively early in the game,Scratch is not only an adorable characterto have hanging around camp buthe can be a valued assetwith theScratch’s Ballitem. Using it summons the hound to the user’s side where he can sniff out hidden items and objects, provide the “Help” action, or even remove several status effects including Prone, Entangled, Burning, Downed, and Ensnared to name a few.
Posting to Reddit, userjohnnyJAGshared an image illustrating that their Scratch had befallen an unfortunate fate:The dog somehow gained the status condition Shadow-Cursed Undead.
While he may not appear as such, this Scratch is mechanically a zombie; While Shadow-Cursed grants the familiar an additional 2d4+2 damage per attack, it also means his HP and Strength are reduced.What’s even sadder is the fact that he’s Hostile, meaning johnnyJAG would likely need to kill himto remove the condition, eliciting some very bleak responses from the rest of the party.
How Does Scratch Become Shadow-Cursed?
While the exact cause of Scratch’s condition is unknown, userLukostrelec17notes thatthey believe it to be a glitch, explaining that they encountered a similar incident. The fact that he’s hostile shattered the collective heart of theBaldur’s Gate 3with many suggesting that johnnyJAG simply reload the game to avoid having to kill the beloved familiar. To make matters worse, the user had yet to summon Scratch, meaning thatkilling the pet wouldn’t see him automatically return to camp or open up an opportunity to resurrect him.
Having to execute an undead Scratch may be one of the most tragic events that can occur in aBaldur’s Gate 3playthrough. Aside from reloading, there’s no real way to fix the problem if Scratch has yet to be summoned as a familiar. It’s recommended thatonce Tav gains access to Scratch’s Ball they use it soon after to prevent such incidents as the above glitch.
Easily-Missed New Baldur’s Gate 3 Feature Should Let It Win GOTY Two Years In A Row
Shadowheart and Scratch can now be seen interacting in the player’s camp, making the player’s safe haven feel more alive in Patch 7 than ever before.
Given that Larian Studios is winding down development onBaldur’s Gate 3, players shouldn’t expect a patch or hotfix addressing Scratch’s unfortunate condition. Fortunately,having the hound become a Shadow-Cursed Undead is extremely rare, but players should be aware of the dog whensummoning him into the Shadow-Cursed Lands. His tendency to hunt for treasure can often result in an untimely death and subsequently undead status.
