Baldur’s Gate 3 is filled with companions you meet along your three-act journey, including a dog called Scratch. Though most are party members that can join the player character, others are mere companions that remain at camp. Scratch is one such camp campaign, but plenty of items, such as balls and a dog collar, can be given to this valuable party member. There is also a hidden collar that can be found deep within the Underdark.
Scratch is a potential animal companion in BG3 that you can meet early on in Act One that remains in camp. Once you have escaped the Nautiloid and likely encountered the refugee camp, you can spot Scratch shortly after. Aside from being a good boy, Scratch can provide plenty of use for the camp. During later acts, the dog companion can bring the player random items, ranging from small amounts of silver to potions. You first need to find Scratch himself to recruit this doggy companion and his collar.
Related
How To Recruit Jaheira In Baldur's Gate 3
Returning in Baldur's Gate 3, the High Harper Jaheira is a potent ally when she joins the party, but recruiting her can be a little tricky.
How To Find Scratch In BG3
Scratch's Collar Location
Scratch is found in Act One of BG3 to the right of the Blighted Village entrance gate. Cross over the bridge that connects the village to the village, and take a sharp right just before you run into the goblins waiting to ambush you. In the woods, you will quickly find a dog pacing around a seemingly dead man. If you interact with Scratch, you can attempt to adopt the dog yourself. Having the Animal Handling skill will obviously make this even easier, but overall it's not a difficult thing to accomplish.
Scratch isn’t the only animal companion found in Act One. Later, you can also find the Owlbear Cub at the Goblin Camp in BG3.
An even easier way to convince Scratch to join you is to use his dog collar. You don’t have to do much searching, as the collar is already on Scratch. If you pass the Perception check, which should have a fairly low DC, you can call out the dog’s name and quickly earn Scratch’s trust. After this, you only need to give Scratch your scent. If you navigate this conversation properly and earn Scratch’s trust, he will join your camp two nights later.
Aside from the original collar, there are a few other items that Scratch will provide for you. After Scratch has spent enough time at your camp, he will eventually bring you a ball. If you use the throw action on the ball, then Scratch will catch and return it.
Be warned, getting this ball back isn’t easy, as you need to pass a Strength, Sleight of Hand, or Animal Handling check to get it back. Scratch also tends to find items around your campsite, which can vary in usefulness. Overall, Scratch is one of the easier and more valuable members to pick up in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Level Up Gaming has a quick and easy-to-follow tutorial on connecting with Scratch and getting him to join as one of your companions.
You're Gonna Have To Dig
There is another dog collar that can be found hidden away in the Underdark of Baldur's Gate 3 which has a fun little Easter Egg for any player that has it equipped. Fast travel over to the Sussur Tree and head south until you reach a plateau. There will be a stone tombstone there that can be interacted with. Doing so will dig up the bones of a dog with its old leather collar.
So far no one has discovered the exact story about the buried dog, but there are letters scattered around the Underdark that indicate the dog was named Myrna and lived with the owner of the Arcane Tower, Lenore. When Myrna passed away, she was buried as a loving companion.
The collar can be equipped by any member of the party as an amulet but doesn't come with any special stats or abilities. However, if you head over to the third floor of the Arcane Tower, there is a level that is mostly broken floors and a random bed. In the northeast corner of this room, you can find a small button. Interacting with the button while the collar is equipped will make it vibrate and produce a small amount of food that flows into a bowl below it.
This is the only known use of the dog collar and it doesn't affect gameplay in any other way, it's just a fun Easter Egg.
How To Put The Dog Collar On In BG3
A Simple Inventory Swap
Sadly, equipping the dog collar to Scratch isn't actually possible, but it can be equipped by any party character as easily as any other gear interaction. Select the character you wish to interact with and press the inventory button. You can then adjust items and weapons as you wish.
A recent patch went into effect that removed the ability for Scratch to equip some weapons. It was a fun little interaction that added to the role-playing flavor of the game as a whole.
In a real-life game of Dungeons and Dragons, we would absolutely change around a dog companion's collar. Even if it meant nothing changed, it's fun to think about the stories surrounding this mysteriously buried dog. There is no real benefit in wearing Myrna's collar, so the choice is completely up to the player. The only real possible use is to help remember the memory of a previous dog's adventure throughout the Underdark in Baldur's Gate 3.
Video Source: YouTube/Level Up Gaming
Baldur's Gate 3
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Platform(s)
- PC , Stadia , macOS , PS5 , Xbox Series X
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- How Long To Beat
- 30 Hours
