In the full tradition of Larian Studios, Baldur's Gate 3 offers a rich selection of original Companions, practically a series of characters characterized by a deep narrative background and a long dedicated mission, which you can also use as protagonists with whom to face the adventure . If you take to the field with a character created from scratch, however, these will be none other than the members of your party, special PCs who will accompany you throughout the entire journey.
Each companion offers a series of special interactions, from the possibility of forming love relationships - the classic romances - up to some exclusive dialogues ready to emerge at certain moments of the campaign. Each of them, in fact, must be recruited in a particular way and becomes the protagonist of a quest closely linked to the background, almost always willing to raise the curtain on unique game sections and rewards. In the Baldur's Gate 3 companions guide we have collected everything you need to know about recruitment, the unique characteristics and exclusive missions present in the work.
To make the guide easier to read we have chosen to follow the exact order in which it becomes possible to recruit them in the game world, following the prologue and the crash of the Nautiloid. Each character will be accompanied by a brief description, the recruitment method and the secondary mission that characterizes him. Keep in mind that their mission may contain heavy spoilers for the entire narrative of Baldur's Gate 3, so only consult those sections if you're interested. Finally, in this guide we will not discuss love relationships, which you can instead find on the page dedicated to romance.
Below, however, you can find our guide to Baldur's Gate 3.
Shadowheart (Cuorescuro)
- Race: Half High Elf
- Class: Cleric (Deception Domain)
- Background: Accolito
Shadowheart is a Cleric of Deception and follower of the divinity Shar: this characteristic creates a sort of paradox, because if on the one hand she lives on divine powers - and is a person who is anything but bad - the entity she venerates is instead an incarnation of death and subterfuge. She is therefore a personality who, under a hard exterior, first hides a softer side and then a disturbing secret. Shadowheart, on the other hand, experiences a great evolution over the course of her mission.
Shadowheart is the first character you can recruit. She can in fact be freed already on board the Nautiloid, in the prologue, by taking a key from a body in the room next to the one where she is imprisoned. Once the Illithid vessel is abandoned, Shadowheart can be found in three locations once the main campaign begins:
- If you freed her in the Nautiloid she will be a few meters away from the protagonist at the beach disaster site.
- If you haven't freed her you will find her near the entrance to the Crypt just to the north.
- Finally, if you have never come across her because you took other paths, you will still meet her in the Druids' grove.
Shadowheart's mission
While traveling with Shadowheart, there are many occasions where you will notice his comments regarding Selune. By talking to her, he will be able to activate a Persuasion check (17), to make you reveal her true identity: she is actually a follower of Shar. At this point, whether you want to form a relationship with her or whether you want to continue her mission, the best thing to do is to trust her and accept her for what she is.
After rescuing the Druid Halsin and killing all the goblin leaders, Halsin will suggest that you head to the Underdark. He will also mention that there is a group of Shar's Chosen, which is of particular interest to our cleric. The next objective is to reach a secret path in the Underdark that leads to the temple of Shar. The Temple of Shar consists of a long and challenging series of puzzles that follow one after the other: first you will have to open the main door by turning off all the doors and activating the magic mechanism, after which you will have to recover four gems scattered in the corners of the map to access to the Inner Sanctuary, collect information and also a series of very interesting rewards.
Keep in mind that this is the pivotal moment in which you will move on to Act 2 of Baldur's Gate 3. As you continue your journey in this direction, all the locations you have explored up to this point will no longer be available. Therefore it would be good to close all pending matters.
The battle that follows, the one with Balthazar, ends with the most important choice of all regarding Shadowheart and the continuation of her mission: it will be up to you to decide whether or not to have her kill the prey that will consecrate her as Shar's chosen one.
If you allow him:
- Shadowheart will be dedicated to Shar
- Isobel will die
- Jaheira will die and will no longer be recruitable
- Blacksmith Dammon will die
- Art Cullagh will die and prevent Halsin from joining the party
If you don't allow it:
- Shadowheart will be dedicated to Selune and will also change its appearance
- The future battle with Ketheric Thorm will be easier
- Nobody will die
It goes without saying that the "best" choice is to prevent her from committing the murder.
astarion
- Race: High Elf
- Class: Thief
- Background: Nobile
Astarion is a vampire, and his slavery has been shaken by the influence of the Illithid parasite. In fact, he is the only character who sees the infection as a blessing, since it suddenly freed him of all the typical weaknesses of vampires, and apparently also from the influence of his lord. He is a deviant, cruel character, but also very funny and extremely loyal.
Astarion is encountered just east of the Nautiloid crash site, after taking down a couple of enemies. By passing a small Perception check it is possible to understand that he is about to ambush you, but it is still possible to convince him to join the group.
Astarion Mission
Astarion is a minor vampire on the run from his master, Cazador Szarr. During a random night, following a long rest, he will try to bite the protagonist to drink his blood, but the parasite will make him quickly apologize. He will then reveal to you that Cazador is looking for him and will ask for your help to keep him safe. From this moment on, by taking his side and indulging his vampiric impulses, you will always obtain approval from him.
Later a monster hunter named Gandrel will track down Astarion. You will have the option to help Astarion defeat Gandrel or let Gandrel kill Astarion. By choosing to help his companion, he will reveal to you that Cazador has engraved infernal runes on his back, which represents a heavy weak point that he wants to get rid of at any cost. This interaction marks the conclusion of Astarion's story in Act 1.
Gale
- Race: Human
- Class: Mage
- Background: Sapiente
Gale is a powerful human wizard originally from Waterdeep who embodies the goodness of the first fraction of survivors. He is - even though he is a wizard - the classic knight in shining armor who can't wait to help others in any way possible.
Gale is found directly north of the Nautiloid crash site, just continue until you locate the first fast travel point on the map, the one relating to the cliff. You will come across a magical portal from which an arm emerges, and at this point you will have two or three ways to free your trusted wizard.
- Important note: If you have the Dark Drive origin, imagining cutting off your arm in the portal will prevent Gale from joining your party.
Gale's mission
After you've taken Gale on your travels for a while, he'll start to open up more during camp dialogues. Knowing enough about his past, you will discover the secret he carries in his chest and his need to constantly get his hands on powerful magical artifacts. A thirst that will slowly become insatiable: continue to provide him with the artifacts he wants at regular intervals to help his condition and gain his approval at the same time.
The first time Gale dies, you gain access to a secret mission related to his background: "In Case of Death". This is a simple interlude quest in which you have to follow the instructions of a particular astral projection in order to bring your magician back to life, discovering one of his many secrets and preparing the ground for the evolution of the character. We therefore advise you not to try to keep Gale alive at any cost, because you could miss this step.
After giving him three magical objects, Gale will confess that his condition is worsening and the objects are not enough to control the "bomb" he carries with him. The quest will continue only when you meet his mentor Elminster, along the path that leads to Rosymorn Monastery. Once you meet him you will have to interact with him in the camp.
At this point the mission will change completely: Gale will be temporarily safe, so you won't have to give him any more artifacts; furthermore he will obtain an ability that if used essentially leads to game over, blowing up Gale and everything around him.
Towards the end of Act 2 you will have to fight Ketheric Thorm, and once you reach the Illithid Colony, there will come a time when Gale suggests blowing himself up to fulfill his task. If you choose this option you will witness a secret ending, complete with credits, but afterwards you can only reload a previous save. The best choice, after seeing the optional ending, is to suggest he find another solution.
Lae'zel
- Razza: Githyanki
- Class: Warrior
- Background: Soldier
Lae'zel is one of the first Baldur's Gate 3 companions you will meet, as he will join you aboard the Nautiloid during the prologue. She is a ruthless and rude character, mainly due to her Githyanki heritage, which makes her a creature capable of despising any form of weakness and loving any display of strength. Despite this, Lae'zel is extremely loyal and trustworthy, so much so that no matter how many good deeds you perform, she will never reach a point of no return where she will abandon your party. Sure, you might not strike up a romance with her, but she's a great companion to have by your side in battle.
To permanently recruit her, you need to search for her after the ship crashes. As you go north from where she meets Gale you will come across a pair of Tieflings who have imprisoned the Githyanki warrior in a cage. By overcoming Persuasion or Deception checks you will make the Tieflings move away: once they have moved away enough (be careful that they don't see you) you can use a ranged weapon to hit the cage and free Lae'zel.
wyll
- Race: Human
- Class: Warlock (the Unclean)
Wyll is a very particular character: despite the pact with an Unclean person who gave him the powers of a Warlock, he is a person with a big heart, who among other things is looking for a way to free himself from the pact that has bound him for years. years. Perfect for groups of positive characters, he makes a great addition and is one of the PCs who grows the most in terms of raw power towards the end of the adventure.
Wyll is met for the first time in the druid grove while he is busy helping some boys in the training camp, and by recruiting him the mission dedicated to saving the Tiefling refugees will begin. He will join the group, but for him to remain there it is a necessary and indispensable condition that you complete the aforementioned quest.
- Important note: siding against the Druids' grove will lead Wyll to definitively abandon the party without the possibility of recovering it.
Karlach
- Razza: Tiefling
- Class: Barbarian
Karlach is one of the first truly "optional" characters encountered in Baldur's Gate 3. This Tiefling is the most positive character present in the work, and despite appearances and her class she will be happy to take part in any group of good characters .
Karlach's recruitment method in Baldur's Gate 3 is a bit more complex and takes place at the beginning of Act 1. After eliminating the group attacking the Druid grove, you will have to proceed west. By crossing the stone bridge and immediately turning north, instead of entering the Village, you will find yourself in a small clearing where there is a dog that you can adopt in your camp. North of here there is a river that you can cross by jumping over rocks: towards the east you will come across Karlach.
- Important note: If you don't have room in the party, Karlach will be controlled by the AI in the next fight, so make sure to always keep her alive.
Karlach will ask you to eliminate Anders and his "false" Paladins. By completing this mission the Tiefling will become part of the group permanently.
- Important note: siding against the Druids' grove leads Karlach to immediately abandon the party without the possibility of recovering her.
Halsin
- Race: Wood Elf
- Class: Druid
Halsin is the First Druid of the Grove in Baldur's Gate 3, which essentially means he is the responsible leader of the community. As such, you can expect from him a good nature but equally ferocious when angry, as well as a particular attention towards nature and the weak.
However, when you reach the grove for the first time, Halsin will be discovered to be missing and you will be asked to bring him back. If you succeed, Halsin will leave the grove to travel with you, but be careful: he will not yet officially be part of your group; you will have to get very far into the game before you can actually recruit him. First of all you must free Halsin from the Goblin camp and fulfill his request to kill the leaders of the group.
- Important note: This choice will permanently prevent Minthara from joining your party.
Halsin Mission
At that point Halsin will appoint a new First Druid and will be willing to travel with you, but he will not officially join your ranks until the beginning of Act 2. In fact, you must reach the inn accessible from the first steps you take in the new Act, to which you will be granted access from Jaheira if and only if you helped the Tiefling refugees during the first act. Once inside you must reach the first floor of the inn, locating the wounded soldier called Art Cullagh. Interact with him and pass the checks necessary to at least hear the name "Thaniel". Once you hear the name, you can return to Halsin and tell him your findings.
- Important note: Any act that puts the inn in danger, such as Isobel's death, makes it impossible to recruit Halsin because it leads to the death of Art Cullagh. Be careful.
From this moment on, a long secondary mission will begin in which you must comply with Halsin's requests in order to bring back Art Cullagh's memories, recovering a Lyre in a nearby village. Once the mission is accomplished, Halsin will ask you for help one last time in his attempt to save Thaniel's life. If you decide to accompany him, be prepared for a rather challenging battle, especially if you are at low levels: you must protect the portal until the Druid re-emerges. Since it is essentially a "tower defense" section, being able to already count on spells like Fireball, probably already in Gale's arsenal, will make your life a lot easier. Once the mission is completed, Halsin will finally be available for recruitment permanently.
Minthara
- Race: Drow
- Class: Paladin
Minthara is one of the ruthless leaders of the Goblin army that opposes the Tieflings and Druids. She's a ruthless drow who's pretty out of control, and it's a miracle that she even managed not to break her oath as a Paladin. Minthara is in fact planning a raid on the Druids' grove.
To side with her, you will need to provide the location via the dialogue sequence. If you comply with her crazy requests, a battle will follow in which you will exterminate all the characters present in the grove.
- Important note: joining Minthara and attacking the grove will prevent Wyll and Halsin from joining your party, and if by chance you already have Karlach in your ranks she will also decide to abandon them forever.
Jaheira
- Race: Half-elf
- Class: Druid
Jaheira is the first recurring character of Baldur's Gate 3, in the sense that veterans of the brand will certainly remember her from past experiences. She is a firm druid, resolute and willing to fight evil in all its forms. She obviously possesses an extraordinary amount of valuable information, so she is an excellent addition to any group. Another thing to keep in mind is that she is closely linked to the Dark Drive origin, so if you started with a PC with this origin we advise you to absolutely recruit her.
You will first meet Jaheira just outside the doors of Act 2, specifically inside the inn. In fact, if you helped the Tieflings and Druids, she will be the one to allow you to enter. It goes without saying that there are different ways to reach this place, namely the Montano Pass and the Underdark: if you have passed through the Underdark we advise you to abandon the path you are following and instead explore north towards the inn.
It will take some time before you can actually recruit Jaheira: you will have to complete various missions in the region - so take your time - until you decide to assault Ketheric Thorm. It will only be then that Jaheira will leave with you on the expedition, but he will not yet be a full party member; take her as a temporary companion and continue the mission. Once the first battle with Ketheric is over, you will finally be able to officially add Jaheira to the party: just choose the dialogue option "Face Ketheric with me".
Very important notes:
- Please note that Jaheira can die in different ways during the Act, so pay attention: to recruit her it is essential to keep her alive, even in battle.
- Isobel's death in the inn leads to Jaheira's death
- If you kill Isobel as part of the Dark Drive origin, Jaheira will become hostile
- Completing the Shadowheart quest in the Temple of Shar can lead to Jaheira's death
The guide is constantly updated, so we suggest you add it to your favorites to get more details about the Companions and their exclusive quests.
Minsk
- Race: Human
- Class: Ranger
Minsc is the second recurring character of Baldur's Gate 3, since he was an irreplaceable sidekick for any fan of the saga. Minsc is a kind-hearted Rashemaar warrior who has had many adventures in the Sword Coast, to the point of being one of the Heroes of Baldur's Gate. He was famous for his bizarre habit of conversing with a hamster called Boo.
Minsc can be recruited very late, during Act 3 of Baldur's Gate 3, and is essential recruit and keep Jaheira alive. You will find it inside the sewers, in the area of the Abandoned Cistern accessible by following the mission assigned to you by Jaheira, below the metropolis of Baldur's Gate. Before you can recruit Minsc you will have to face him, and there are some things to take into account:
- Minsc must be shot down with a non-lethal shot, accessible from the passive skills screen
- Minsc's death will lead toabandonment of the group by Jaheira
After defeating all the enemies and knocking out Minsc there will be a dialogue sequence. Jaheira wants to save him, but the Emperor is convinced that his presence could endanger his plans: you will have to convince him to protect Minsc's mind from the Absolute. Once the conversation is over, Minsc and his hamster Boo will permanently join your group.
