Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 are quite a complicated bunch. Most of them come with tons of burdens and all of them need constant comforting. But you need this odd assortment of companions to make your ventures successful. Considering how Baldur’s Gate 3 is a party-based RPG, you are only as strong as your companions. So, understanding them and learning how to work with them is crucial.
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How to choose your Companions?
Gameplay in Baldur’s Gate 3 is split into two— real-time exploring and turn-based combat. So, it is essential for you to have a balanced team to deal with both aspects. Real-time events include several checks for all character attributes i.e., abilities, proficiency, and skills. Having a team that collectively has all these stats leveled up is therefore prudent to ace the checks.
Then there is combat. This is again determined by the virtual rolling of the dice. So, balance in all aspects of combat is crucial. This balance, of course, depends on what your combat style is going to be. Battles in Baldur’s Gate 3 are ruthless and you cannot expect any mercy from the game or the enemies it spawns. If you are playing in Balanced or Tactician mode, expect a higher level of difficulty in all your battles.
Also Read: Ultimate Guide To All Baldur’s Gate 3 Origin Characters
While all companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 can be recruited by various means, you can only have a party of 4 including your main character. This poses an even greater challenge and puts a great deal of emphasis on team management. So, the best strategy when it comes to choosing your party is to prepare before each venture.
Doing some research before venturing out to a level is a good idea to choose the best party. That will also keep your gameplay fresh. But having a complete balance is also a great way to go and can aid in leveling up your core team faster.
So, here’s a look at all Baldur’s Gate 3 companions and what they can bring to your party.
Astarion
Race/Class: High-Elf, Rogue
Strengths: Stealth skills, his fiendishly charming demeanor
Weaknesses: he has low physical stats
Astarion is the game’s de facto jester. He is the life of your party. Don’t let his charming and whimsical demeanor fool you though; he is quite the sly trickster with a twisted mind. You’ll encounter him very early in the game and that will give you an idea of his intentions. He is a good rogue character with some impressive stealth stats which will allow you to take on a more silent approach to things. He is also quite handy when it comes to providing access to rather forbidden places.
Having Astarion in your party also makes your journey a joyous one filled with humor and some classic vampire spawn trickery.
Gale
Race/Build: Human/Wizard
Strengths: Versatile Spellcaster, easy approval
Weaknesses: Is quite needy
Gale offers that ray of hope in a world filled with evil monsters and villains who are out for your blood. This wizard is an arcane master, at least that was he thought, till his ambitions led to a terrible accident that has now turned him into a threat of nuclear holocaust proportions. If you overlook that little mishap, Gale is a great wizard to have in your party. Gale’s versatility makes him a great addition to any type of team composition you want to go with.
Stealth and combat capabilities are both equally bolstered by the addition of Gale to your team.
Lae’zel
Race/Build: Githyanki/Fighter
Strengths: Unmatched melee skills
Weaknesses: Has a broken funny bone (don’t tell her that though she’ll literally break yours)
This Githyanki outcast is a great fighter who is loyal to a fault once befriended. While her ultimate goal is to appease her Githyanki queen and get back to her tribe, she doesn’t mind sparing a little of her time to save the world. Lae’zel is a must-have companion for a combat-based party. She has some impressive melee stats and her subclass options allow for a great fighter build as the game progresses.
Getting along with Lae’zel is not all that easy, given her grumpy nature. Also, it would be in your best interest to refrain from telling her any jokes.
Karlach
Race/Class: Teifling/Barbarian
Strengths: Great melee and armor stats
Weaknesses: Lacks useful stats for real-time gameplay
Karlach is a seasoned warrior who can mow through an entire armada should the need arise. This Tiefling was once enslaved in the Nine Hells to fight the war. The horrors of war have left her with a bitter vengeance toward the person who was responsible for her nightmare. Karlach is a great tank build with great heavy weapons attributes.
Halsin
Race/Class: Wood Elf/Druid
Strengths: Can transform into a bear, gets some really useful support spells at higher levels
Weaknesses: He is a druid
This wood elf is quite an interesting character to have in your party. Halsin adds all the advantages to your party that come with being a shapeshifter. As a matter of fact, when you first encounter him in Druid Grove, he is ironically trapped in his bear form. Having Halsin as your companion can create an interesting journey in your playthrough. His abilities though are best utilized when assigned as a healer or a support character.
Jaheira
Race/Build: Human/Druid
Strengths: Is quite versatile and can switch from druid to fighter
Weaknesses: You need to multiclass to use her as a full-time companion
Jaheira is yet another returning Baldur’s Gate character from the Baalspawn saga. She can be encountered in Act 1 and is both a druid and a fighter. Since there is already a full-druid companion, Jaheira could make a great option for multiclassing. Her stats could favor a powerful fighter build. No matter what path you choose with Jaheira, she can be a valuable ally who’ll have plenty to offer both in combat and real-time exploration.
Minsc
Race/Class: Human/Ranger
Strengths: Great melee and ranged skills, great dialogue options
Weaknesses: Is lost in his own world
Fans of the franchise will be delighted to see this returning Baldur’s Gate 1 character. Minsc is an incredible human ranger who can take you on a journey of a lifetime while you are still camping. Despite seeming a few sandwiches short of a picnic, Minsc is a valuable ally in battle. Unlike other ranger builds, Minsc is quite an able warrior capable of going to the frontlines. Battle prowess aside, Minsc and his delightful hamster Boo are bound to make great company.
Minthara
Race/Class: Drow/Paladin
Strengths: Combat specialist with impressive overall stats
Weaknesses: You need to pursue an evil storyline
Recruiting Minthara as your companion requires a moral choice that is not necessarily upright. There are some dire consequences to choosing Minthara which include losing the opportunity to recruit at least 3 companions. If you choose to go down a path that could lead to the destruction of two communities, you gain access to a very powerful paladin. Minthara is the only Paladin companion so far in the game and her stats and strength are great reasons to turn evil for a great combat-ready party.
Shadowheart
Race/Class: Half Elf/Cleric
Strengths: Versatile Cleric with support and healing powers, whimsical dialogue especially around Astarion
Weaknesses: Is quite crafty and dislikes Lae’zel which can affect approval rating with a combat build
Shar’s most faithful disciple is a powerful cleric who wields some great spells. Shadowheart is a must-have character for any party composition. Her versatility makes her the ideal companion for both combat and real-time events. She can be encountered very early in the game and her company can prove most advantageous from the start. She has an impressive selection of spells that make her a great healer and a support character.
Having Shadowheart as a companion can also add a certain element of mystery as you pursue her unique backstory.
Wyll
Race: Human/Warlock
Strengths: Great caster, capable of melee combat as well
Weaknesses: His story is intertwined with Minthara
Make way for the blade of the frontier! This human warlock makes the most impressive entrance which could fill Legolas’ elf eyes with envy. The cinematic first encounter with Wyll will give you an idea of what this warlock can do. He is proficient enough to fill multiple roles in your party when the need arises. His best use in combat though is as a spellcaster. Wyll’s fiend backstory lets him turn into a demon at one point.
