Your Baldur’s Gate 3 companions round out your party. They’ve got spells and skills, and they provide a lot of banter as you go forth in your adventure. Our guide discusses how you can recruit all companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, with additional notes on their classes and locations.
Table of Contents [hide]How to Recruit All Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3ShadowheartAstarionGaleLae’zelWyllKarlachHalsinMintharaMinsc and Jaheira
How to Recruit All Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
We’ve organized our Baldur’s Gate 3 companions guide based on when you’ll be able to recruit your teammates once the campaign proper has started (i.e. after the prologue aboard the Nautiloid). Having a full party as you go along is a good idea. Not only will you be able to make use of their class features, but you’ll also gain more Inspirations in case characters have the relevant backgrounds.
Shadowheart
Race: High Half-ElfClass: Cleric (Trickery Domain)Background: Urchin
Shadowheart is probably the first Baldur’s Gate 3 companion that you can recruit. She can be freed while you’re aboard the Nautiloid. You’ll have to grab a key from a corpse in an adjacent room, then use it to open a chest near her pod. The rune here lets you interact with the controls to her pod, but you still need to use Illithid Wisdom.
Shadowheart can be found in three locations once you start the campaign proper:
If you freed her in the Nautiloid, she’ll be fairly close to your character at the beach crash site.If you didn’t free her, keep going north along the coast. You’ll spot her at the entrance to the Dank Crypt.Lastly, if you forgot to do either of the two options above, you’ll meet her in the Druid Grove.
Shadowheart romance guide – Her heart might be part of the shadow, but you can make her see the light.
Astarion
Race: High ElfClass: RogueBackground: Noble
You’ll meet Astarion to the east of the initial crash site (after you eliminate the Intellect Devourers/brain creatures). If you succeed in a Perception check, you’ll realize that he’s going to waylay your character. You can still convince him to join up.
Gale
Race: HumanClass: WizardBackground: Sage
Keep going north of the crash site and you’ll see the Roadside Cliffs waypoint. You’ll meet Gale here.
Lae’zel
Race: GithyankiClass: FighterBackground: Soldier
Lae’zel is one of the first Baldur’s Gate 3 companions that you’ll meet (she joins you before your first battle on the Nautiloid). However, you do need to look for her after the vessel has crashed. Keep going north of where you found Gale, and you’ll spot a couple of Tieflings that have this Githyanki warrior imprisoned in a cage.
The Persuasion or Deception replies here will make the Tieflings go away. Make sure the Tieflings have left the area, then use a ranged weapon to shoot the cage and free Lae’zel.
Wyll
Race: HumanClass: WarlockBackground: N/A
Wyll can be found in the Druid Grove. He’s in the training area helping out some kids.
Karlach
Race: Asmodeus TieflingClass: BarbarianBackground: N/A
Karlach is in the wilderness area between the Druid Grove and Blighted Village. Go west from the Druid Grove and cross the bridge to the Blighted Village. Instead of entering it, go north until you see a dog named Scratch. Use your jump action to cross to the opposite side of the river. Follow the short eastern path and you’ll see a wounded Karlach.
This starts a quest called Hunt the Devil. Karlach is being hunted by a group of Paladins led by Anders. If you side with the Paladins, you’ll have to kill this Tiefling Barbarian. If you side with Karlach, then you’ll have to eliminate Anders’ squad.
Karlach recruitment guide – Here’s how you can recruit Karlach for the launch build.Karlach romance guide – Find the secret to her infernal heath.
Halsin
Race: Wood ElfClass: DruidBackground: N/A
Halsin is the leader of the Druid Grove. In earlier patches, he’ll meet up with you in their sacred place. Now, though, you’ll first see him as you make your way to the Goblin Camp and Shattered Sanctum. Inside the Shattered Sanctum, keep going to the northeast and enter the door to the Worg Pens. There, you can battle the Goblins to free a bear, who eventually reveals himself as a shapeshifting Halsin.
You can have Halsin tag along, but this will make all the Goblins in the Shattered Sanctum turn hostile. Later, you’ll have to protect the Druid Grove from the Goblin attackers.
Halsin recruitment guide – Halsin joins your team once you’ve completed his tasks.Halsin romance guide – And, yes, you can even romance him while he’s in Bear Form.
Minthara
Race: DrowClass: PaladinBackground: N/A
Minthara is one of the leaders of the Goblin army opposing the Tieflings and Druids. You can talk to her in the Shattered Sanctum (i.e. there’s a ladder that leads to her chambers near the door to the Worg Pens and Halsin).
Minthara is planning to raid the Druid Grove. To side with her, you’ll need to provide the location via dialogue. This is followed by a battle where you slaughter everyone in the Druid Grove. Do note that this is an “evil” action that will make some companions angry. For instance, Halsin won’t help you out even if you free him, since you’ll end up killing all the Druids and Tieflings. Wyll, meanwhile, won’t have anything to do with you due to the atrocities that you’ve committed.
Minthara romance guide – Minthara can be romanced during the first act.
Minsc and Jaheira
Minsc and Jaheira are Baldur’s Gate 3 companions that can eventually join your merry band. They’re returning characters from previous games. Minsc is a Human Ranger, and Jaheira is a Half-Elf.
Jaheira recruitment guide – Jaheira can be found in Last Light Inn during Act 2. She won’t join you until you’re almost done with the chapter.Minsc recruitment guide – You’ll have a run-in with Minsc during Act 3, and you need to make him come to his senses.
In any case, that’s all you need to know about all the companions in Baldur’s Gate 3. We’ll keep you posted in case of major changes, so stay tuned.
We have many more guides to help you through Baldur’s Gate 3, including romance options, quest guidance, build suggestions, and more. Find everything in our Baldur’s Gate 3 hub.