Welcome to the ultimate guide for the Statue of Riddles in Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn! This iconic puzzle from the Spellhold Asylum dungeon has challenged adventurers for decades with its eleven cryptic statues and matching items. Perfect for BG2 veterans, newcomers, and anyone who loves classic RPG puzzles 🎮🗿
Many players have shared their frustration and solutions for this puzzle on forums like GameBanshee and Ironworks Gaming, making it one of the most memorable riddles in gaming history 📱✨
This guide features all eleven riddles from the Asylum Dungeon, their solutions, the reasoning behind each answer, and the rewards you’ll earn for completing this legendary puzzle 🎯
Moreover, understanding these riddles makes your journey through Spellhold much smoother 🎉
The Statue of Riddles encourages creative thinking while celebrating one of the greatest RPGs of all time 🌟
At the same time, it creates memorable moments for every Baldur’s Gate player 😊
Puzzle Overview 📋🔍
Location: Spellhold Asylum Dungeon, Level 1 (Bodhi’s Hunt Level 1)
The Setup: In the Statue Riddle Room, you’ll find eleven statues arranged in a circle and a chest in the center containing various items . Each statue presents a riddle, and you must place the correct item into the bowl held by each statue. The items are:
- Grinning Skull
- Hourglass
- Mirror
- Statue of Gagged Man
- Sword Medallion
- Sun Medallion
- Sundial
- Jar of Water
- Pair of Worn-out Boots
- Golden Circlet
- Star Medallion
Note: There is also a letter in the chest that doesn’t count toward the puzzle .
The Riddles & Solutions 🧩🗡️
Starting with the statue to the right of the entrance, going clockwise :
Riddle 1 💀
Riddle: “Try to defeat me but try in vain. When I win, I end your pain.”
Solution: Grinning Skull ☠️
Explanation: This riddle is about death. The skull is universally associated with death, which ends all pain .
Riddle 2 ⏳
Riddle: “I have two heads but one body. The more I stand still, the faster I run.”
Solution: Hourglass ⌛
Explanation: An hourglass has two bulbs (“heads”) connected by one neck. When it “stands still” (is placed upright), the sand runs fastest from one end to the other .
Riddle 3 🪞
Riddle: “Always I do tell the truth, yet cannot speak. Look to me and see what really is.”
Solution: Mirror
Explanation: A mirror provides an accurate reflection of reality and never lies, but it cannot speak .
Riddle 4 🔇
Riddle: “Name me and so shall you break me.”
Solution: The Gagged Man (representing Silence)
Explanation: As soon as you speak (“name” silence), silence is broken .
Riddle 5 ⚔️
Riddle: “I will save your life, but yet you can die by me. I settle disputes yet not with words.”
Solution: Sword Medallion 🗡️
Explanation: A sword can protect you or kill you, and disputes are settled with a sword rather than words .
Riddle 6 ☀️
Riddle: “To those within the dungeon I am joy. To those fully beneath my gaze, I can be Hell.”
Solution: Sun Medallion 🌞
Explanation: Sunlight is a joy for prisoners in a dark dungeon, but the sun in a desert can be deadly to those under its direct gaze .
Riddle 7 ⏰
Riddle: “I have seen the mountains rise. I have seen the fall of Netheril. You shall die but still shall I march on.”
Solution: Sundial
Explanation: The sundial represents Time. Time continues marching on regardless of events, outlasting any individual .
Riddle 8 💧
Riddle: “Here, in this place, you swallow me. Yet, if I were more, I would swallow you.”
Solution: Jar of Water
Explanation: You can drink (swallow) a small amount of water, but an ocean (more water) could swallow you .
Riddle 9 👢
Riddle: “Two brothers we are, great burdens we bear, all day if we are bitterly pressed; yet this will I say – we are full at day, and empty when we go at rest.”
Solution: Worn-out Boots
Explanation: Boots (“two brothers”) bear the burden of a person walking in them all day. They are “full” with feet during the day and empty at night when removed for rest .
Riddle 10 ⭕
Riddle: “No beginning. No end. I am a symbol of the world’s cycles.”
Solution: Golden Circlet (Golden Circle)
Explanation: A circle is continuous with no identifiable beginning or end, symbolizing cycles .
Riddle 11 ⭐
Riddle: “At night I come without being fetched, at day I am gone without being stolen.”
Solution: Star Medallion ✨
Explanation: Stars appear at night on their own and disappear during the day without being taken .
Complete Item Order 🗺️
Starting with the statue to the right of the entrance, going clockwise :
- Grinning Skull
- Hourglass
- Mirror
- The Gagged Man
- Sword Medallion
- Sun Medallion
- Sundial
- Jar of Water
- Worn-out Boots
- Golden Circlet
- Star Medallion
Alternative Starting Directions: Some guides note that “nearly all the items are positioned in the correct order” in the chest, meaning the first item in the chest goes to the first statue . However, you should still verify each riddle individually.
Coordinates for Precise Placement (from one guide):
- x815 y1110: Grinning Skull
- x850 y1145: Hourglass
- x735 y1225: Mirror
- x650 y1285: Gagged Man
- x590 y1250: Sword Medallion
- x510 y1200: Sun Medallion
- x435 y1150: Sundial
- x400 y1110: Jar of Water
- x485 y1050: Worn Out Boots
- x600 y970: Gold Circlet
- x665 y995: Star Medallion
How to Place Items 🎮
Each statue holds a bowl. To place an item :
- Step up to a statue and click on the bowl (as if to pick something up)
- This brings up your inventory in the right-side panel
- Clicking on the correct item moves it into the statue’s bowl
Tip: Press the <TAB> key to highlight all containers in the room, making it easier to find the statue bowls . (Note: TAB key only works with the expansion installed.)
Rewards 🏆💰
When you correctly solve all eleven riddles :
- 20,000 Experience Points for each party member
- Dusty Rose Ioun Stone
- Sapphire Stone (used later in the portal room )
For the Stone Face Riddle Room (a separate puzzle in the same dungeon), answering twelve riddles correctly gives :
- Ring of Regeneration
- 5,000 XP per party member
Stone Face Riddle Answers (top row, left to right): Ice, Fire, A Coffin, A Candle, Darkness, Stars
Stone Face Riddle Answers (bottom row, left to right): Shadows, A Sponge, Breath, Fish, A Secret, A Hole
Frequently Asked Questions About BG2’s Statue of Riddles ❓
What is the Statue of Riddles in Baldur’s Gate II? 🗿
The Statue of Riddles is a famous puzzle in the Spellhold Asylum dungeon in Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn. Players must match eleven riddles to the correct items found in a chest .
Where is the Statue of Riddles located? 📍
It’s located in the Spellhold Dungeon, Bodhi’s Hunt Level 1 (AR1512 in the game files) .
How do I solve the Statue of Riddles puzzle? 🧩
Match each item from the chest to the correct statue based on the riddle it gives. The complete order is: Grinning Skull, Hourglass, Mirror, Gagged Man, Sword Medallion, Sun Medallion, Sundial, Jar of Water, Worn-out Boots, Golden Circlet, Star Medallion .
What is the reward for the Statue of Riddles? 🏆
You receive 20,000 XP, a Dusty Rose Ioun Stone, and a Sapphire Stone .
Is there another riddle puzzle in Spellhold? 🤔
Yes, there’s also the Stone Face Riddle Room with twelve riddles about abstract concepts, rewarding a Ring of Regeneration and 5,000 XP .
Why is this puzzle so memorable? 🎮
The Statue of Riddles is iconic for its clever wordplay and the challenge of interpreting cryptic clues, making it a standout moment in one of gaming’s greatest RPGs .
Conclusion 🌟
The Statue of Riddles from Baldur’s Gate II stands as one of the most beloved puzzle challenges in RPG history. Moreover, it demonstrates the clever writing and thoughtful game design that made BG2 a timeless classic. 🗿
Whether you’re a veteran player returning to Spellhold or a newcomer experiencing this iconic puzzle for the first time, these riddles test your wit and reward your perseverance. Finally, save this guide for your next playthrough and enjoy one of the greatest RPG puzzles ever created! 🎮🏆
