Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 are playable Characters that you can hire to assist you in your adventures! Companions are an important gameplay aspect for BG3 that advance the story of the game and offer their own unique quests. They have their own Background, Race and Class that can complement your Character’s abilities and assist you in combat. The way you interact with them but also your actions while playing the game, determine how much they like you or not. It is possible to romance most Companions if they approve you enough. It is also possible to leave your party or even attack you if they disagree with the way you play BG3!
Table of Contents
- All Companions
- Origin Companions
- Astarion
- Gale
- Karlach
- Lae’zel
- Shadowheart
- Wyll
- Story Companions
- Halsin
- Minthara
- Minsc
- Jaheira
- Hirelings
- Who is the Best Companion
- Companions Tier List
- Origin Companions
All Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
Companions in BG3 are divided in three categories, depending on their importance for the story but also how you can recruit them. The available Companion Categories in BG3 are:
- Origin Companions
- Story Companions
- Hirelings
Origin Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
There are six available Origin Companions and are the most important Companions for the story of BG3. You can recruit all six of them early in the game. It is also possible to pick an Origin Character to play Baldur’s Gate 3 with, instead of making a custom character. The Dark Urge is a special Origin Character that you can pick as your character but is not available as a Companion! The Six Origin Companions are:
- Astarion
- Gale
- Karlach
- Lae’zel
- Shadowheart
- Wyll
Astarion Companion in BG3
Astarion is a Vampire High Elf Rogue Companion with the Charlatan Background. An excellent option to complement your party, if you are in need of a stealthy character with high Dexterity. You can find and recruit Astarion after the prologue in the area around the crashed Nautiloid!
Gale Companion in BG3
Gale is a Human Wizard Companion with the Sage Background. You can set him up as a powerful spellcaster in order to assist your party with ranged support. You can find and recruit Gale by investigating an Ancient Rune Circle near the Roadside Cliffs. If your investigation is successful you can recruit Gale. If you fail the investigation you will also lose the opportunity to recruit him.
Karlach Companion in BG3
Karlach is a Zariel Tiefling Barbarian with the Outlander Background. A powerful melee character that can decimate enemies in close combat. You can find and recruit Karlach in the Risen Road North East of the Blighted Village.
Lae’zel Companion in BG3
Lae’zel is a Githyanki Fighter Companion with the Soldier Background. Another powerful melee character that can assist you in combat. You will first meet Lae’zel inside the Nautiloid and group in order to escape. After the prologue you can find her being a prisoner of two Tieflings near the Roadside Cliffs. You can free her there and recruit her for your party.
Shadowheart Companion in BG3
Shadowheart is a High Half-Elf Cleric Companion with the Acolyte Background. She can be valuable to your party with her heals and support skills. You will first encounter Shadowheart inside the Nautiloid where you will have the option to save her. If you save her she will join your party temporarily, along with Lae’zel and help you escape. After the prologue you will find her near your starting location and you can hire her there as Companion.
Wyll Companion in BG3
Wyll is a Human Warlock Companion with the Folk Hero Background. A strong melee, spellcaster hybrid that can complement your party well in combat. You will first encounter Wyll in front of the Emerald Grove during the Goblins attack. You can recruit him after the fight, inside the Grove.
Story Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
Story Companions are special characters that you can hire as Companions by advancing the game’s story. In total there are four Story Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Halsin
- Minthara
- Minsc
- Jaheira
Halsin Companion in BG3
Halsin is a Wood Elf Druid Companion with the Outlander Background. When you arrive in the Emerald Grove in Act 1, the Druids will ask you to find Halsin, which is held as a prisoner in Goblin Camp. When you find him he will ask you to defeat all Goblin Leaders in order to save the Grove. By completing this task, Halsin will join your camp and follow you in Act 2. To recruit him as a Companion you will also have to complete the “Lift the Shadow Curse” quest in Act 2.
Minthara Companion in BG3
Minthara is a Drow Paladin Companion with the Noble Background. She is one of the Goblin Leaders in Act 1 and in order to recruit her you will have to assist her or at least not kill her. If Minthara is alive at the end of Act 1, you will have the option to recruit her as a Companion when you reach the Moonrise Towers in Act 2.
Minsc Companion in BG3
Minsc is a Human Ranger Companion with the Folk Hero Background. A good addition to your party if you are looking for a non mage ranged character. You can find and recruit Minsc in Act 3 in the Lower City Sewers.
Jaheira Companion in BG3
Jaheira is a High Half-Elf Druid Companion with the Soldier Background. You will first encounter Jaheira in the Last Light Inn, in Act 2 but can only recruit her after you defeat Ketheric Thorm.
Hirelings Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
Hirelings are characters you can hire to fill party slots and assist you in combat in BG3. Use them to replace Origin and Story Companions or even create a full party only with Hirelings. You will gain access to Hirelings once Withers joins your Camp. You can find Withers inside the Dank Crypt near the crashed Nautiloid in Act 1.
They come in different Classes and Races so you can pick the more appropriate for the party you wish to make. In total there are twelve(12) Hirelings you can get from Withers:
- Eldra Luthrinn – Gold Dwarf Barbarian
- Brinna Brightsong – Lightfoot Halfling Bard
- Zenith Feur’sel – High Elf Cleric
- Danton – Mephistopheles Tiefling Druid
- Varanna Sunblossom – Wood Half-Elf Fighter
- Sina’zith – Githyanki Monk
- Kerz – Half-Orc Paladin
- Ver’yll Wenkiir – Lolth-Sworn Drow Ranger
- Maddala Deadeye – Human Rogue
- Jacelyn – High Half-Elf Sorcerer
- Kree Derryck – Duergar Warlock
- Sir Fuzzalump – Rock Gnome Wizard
Who is the Best Companion in Baldur’s Gate 3
The Best Companion in Baldur’s Gate 3 is Shadowheart! A valuable Cleric that can assist your party with heals and support spells. Shadowheart is an important member of almost every party that will keep you alive with her support spells and heals throughout your game. If you plan to play a Cleric yourself then Astarion and Karlach are the best Companions to use thanks to their unique gameplay. Astarion can deal massive damage from stealth while Karlach is a fearsome Barbarian that can destroy enemies with ease.
In general, all story Companions(Origin and not-Origin) can be valuable for your party. This depends on the Class you are playing, the skills you have chosen and what you need to create a strong but balanced party in Baldur’s Gate 3. Depending on whether you decide to play as a ranged or melee character, different Companions will offer different gameplay options and assist you in combat.
Companions Tier List in Baldur’s Gate 3
This is the final Companions Tier List in BG3, depending on their Class, gameplay and special characteristics.
S Tier
- Shadowheart
- Astarion
- Karlach
A Tier
- Lae’zel
- Gale
- Minthara
B Tier
- Wyll
- Halsin
- Minsc
C Tier
- Jaheira
FAQ – Companions Baldur’s Gate 3
Who is the Best Companion team in Baldur’s Gate 3?
The Best Companion team in BG3 is Shadowheart as Healer, Karlach as Melee, Astarion as stealth rogue and Gale as Spellcaster!
What is the Best Hireling Companion in BG3?
The Best Hireling you can add to your party in BG3 is Zenith Feur’sel, the Cleric! This is because of the heals and support spells he can offer to your party.
Can you get all Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
You cannot hire all available Companions at the same time in Baldur’s Gate 3. This is because of the decisions you make in game, that will exclude some of them from joining your party.
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