Should you assist the strange ox in Baldur's Gate 3 Act 3?
Players of Baldur's Gate 3 will come across the enigmatic character The Strange Ox on their path. The Strange Ox clearly has a sinister secret even if it protests as an average farm animal. Whether the players assist The Strange Ox in reaching Baldur's Gate or stop it in its tracks rests with them.
Assist The Odd Ox
Just outside the Lower City, in Rivington, sits an abandoned shack containing the Strange Ox. Offering to turn into an apple and ride in the player's pack until they pass the Basilisk Gate, it asks for the player's assistance breaching the city walls. It promises relief in exchange. Accepting the offer, players can bring The Strange Ox into the city where it changes back into its natural form and leaves behind the Boon ring of Shifter. This ring gives aficioners creatures not found in their natural state. The Strange Ox vanishes then returns in the last stretch of the game to provide strength against the Netherbrain. It turns into a rainbow of species, including a Phase Spider and a Minotaur, a great friend.
The Possible Dangers
Players have to think through the consequences of bringing The Strange Ox into Baldur's Gate. The flashback of the Strange Ox exposes historical terrible crimes. Although it would assert to have no violent goals, players should be careful about its actual driving force. It might switch on the innocent onlookers or the player. Furthermore, The Strange Ox's compliments of Cyric, a chaotic evil god in Faerun, questions its goals and implies that it might cause violence in the future.
Slaying The Strange Ox
Players can choose to face The Strange Ox about its actual nature instead of supporting it. This will start a fight whereby The Strange Ox changes into a potent oeze. Killing this oeze completes the mission and gives the player a Hat of Fire Acuity, gemstones, and the Shapeshifter's Boon ring among other things. Though it removes a possible ally in the last battle, this choice offers more physical benefits. Although it is a wary approach, morally dubious.
The Decision is Yours.
The player decides whether to assist or kill The Strange Ox ultimately. Trusting The Strange Ox means running the danger of its possible violence. Though it removes a strong ally and condemns a creature based on presumptions, Killing The Strange Ox offers more rewards. Believing it would be good for the city or just wanting to add more anarchy to the planet, players could also choose to assist The Strange Ox.
