Baldur’s Gate 3: How to recruit every companion in BG3
Unless you’re playing with a full team of four friends in co-op, then one of the highlights of Baldur’s Gate 3 will be the cast of companions. Each companion has their own individual storyline – which just might be your highlight of the game – and if you don’t recruit them you just might miss out on it entirely, on top of the companions themselves, each of which could be essential for your team compositions in the future.
You won’t be able to recruit all companions in a single playthrough – the decisions you must make will exclude certain party members from joining you forever – so you need to think pretty hard about which party members you want to hang out with most before you get to that point. Wouldn’t you know it, this list is perfect for just that purpose! Make sure to read through below – and be prepared for some minor spoilers – as we break down how you can recruit every companion in BG3.
How to recruit Astarion – BG3
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Astarion is one of the first potential companions you’ll interact with following the crash of the Nautiloid vessel, and he can be found just North of the beach you land on. Play nice with him, and he’ll join your party. Astarion’s a Rogue and is best played from the shadows to stack Critical Hit bonuses. For more details, check our guide on how to recruit Astarion.
How to recruit Shadowheart – BG3
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Shadowheart is another early addition – to win her favor early, you can be sure to free Shadowheart from the Nautiloid pod. She’ll automatically be friendly with you when you encounter her on the beach near where you wake up. Shadowheart’s a Cleric, so she can learn heals in addition to a few vicious spells. If you like her as much as I do, you’ll want to know how to romance Shadowheart in BG3.
How to recruit Gale – BG3
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Gale is another early companion, and can be found just North of the crash site – quite close to Astarion, actually. You’ll see a magic portal on the wall here, and if you interact with it, you can pull Gale out, having him join your party. Gale’s a Wizard, making him a decent long-range fighter and support character. For specific details, check our guide on how to recruit Gale.
How to recruit Lae’zel – BG3
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You’ll also meet Lae’zel on the Nautiloid, the sharp-tongued Fighter. Lae’zel will attack you and almost always join you in solidarity thanks to your shared condition. After the crash, you can find her in a cage just North of the crash site, captured by two Tieflings. Make sure to save her to get her in your party. As a Fighter Lae’zel will get bonus attacks and access to more Action Points in battle, making her fierce. If you like that in a woman, you might be curious about how to romance Lae’zel.
How to recruit Wyll – BG3
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After escaping the crash site and heading North you’ll come across the Emerald Grove entrance, and a band of goblins are just about to attack. Wyll will be part of the skirmish, on the druid’s side, of course. Following the battle head inside Emerald Grove and you can find Wyll near the training dummies. If you join his quest to hunt the “Hellspawn” you can invite him to your recruit your party. For more details, check our how to recruit Wyll guide.
How to recruit Karlach – BG3
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Karlach is a powerful Barbarian, and she’ll be more than willing to join your party – assuming you haven’t caused any trouble for her fellow Tieflings at the Emerald Grove, that is. Wyll is actually hunting Karlach, but you can convince him to stop. Help Karlach take care of the people pursuing her, and she’ll join your party.
How to recruit Halsin – BG3
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Halsin is a complicated person to actually recruit – he’ll join your camp easily enough, but fighting alongside you in battle is another thing entirely. First you’ll need to save the Emerald Grove by speaking with Nettie, and then meeting with Halsin at the Goblin Camp jail. Free him and defeat the Goblin Leaders in order to have Halsin join camp, at least for now.
Once you reach the Shadow Cursed Lands in Act 2, you can speak with Art Cullagh, who is in a bed, sick, at the Last Light Inn. Pass some checks here to get Art to mention “Thaniel,” whom Halsin is searching for. Report back to Halsin and he’ll ruch to Art’s side, kicking off a chain of quests to save the Shadow Cursed Lands. If you complete them and save Thaniel, Halsin will join your party for the adventures going forward.
How to recruit Minthara – BG3
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Minthara is one of the toughest party members to recruit, because it seems so obviously like the “bad” decision. In fact, it’ll ensure Wyll and Karlach leave your party, and it’ll also make recruiting Halsin impossible.
Not only will you need to give Minthara the location of the Emerald Grove – this must be before Kagha completes the rite – and help her slay the Tieflings and Druids inside, but you’ll also need to follow her orders afterward, being escorted to Moonrise Towers by her goblin troupe.
Once you finally manage to reach Moonrise you’ll need to convince people not to kill her, and getting out alive will be a challenge too. But if all succeeds, she’ll return to your camp with you, where you can finally recruit her. After all of that effort, it’d be a shame not to learn how to romance Minthara, right?
How to recruit Jaheira – BG3
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Jaheira is a classic Baldur’s Gate character, and you’ll meet her leading the defense of the Last Light Inn in Act 2. As long as you’re thorough in completing the quests in this area, and keeping Jaheira herself alive, she’ll offer to aid you in assaulting Moonrise Towers. Before the final encounter with Ketheric Thorm, make sure to tell Jaheira to face the man alongside you. As long as she survives and Thorm meets his end, she’ll be willing to permanently join your party after.
How to recruit Minsc – BG3
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Once you reach Act 3 you’ll hear a lot of chatter about a certain “Stone Lord” taking control of the criminal underworld in that area – spoiler alert, but that Stonelord bloke is actually Minsc, another character that DnD and Baldur’s Gate fans will recognize.
If you take Jaiheira to the Guildhall you’ll learn more about the Nine-Fingers and the Stone Lord, leading to the Aid the Underduke quest. From the Guildhall you’ll learn that the Nine-Fingers plan to ambush the Stone Lord at the Counting House. Talk your way into the vault to find Minsc in there, where he’ll escape into the sewers.
Find him in the sewer and battle him, ensuring that the final blow is dealt with a non-lethal attack. Jaheira will approve of this, and you can get an option to have Minsc join your party as a companion permanently.
