Baldur’s Gate 3 features a rich character customization palette with 11 races and just as many classes. The game even features a unique Dragonborn race that is available in the full release. But choosing from so many Baldur’s Gate 3 origin characters with several traits and skill tiers can be a confusing and tiresome affair.
So, we’ll have to look at some of the preloaded Origin characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 that you can pick right away without much fuzz. It is worth mentioning that all these origin characters except for one are companions that you could recruit in-game with some impressive backstory quests and dialogues.
Pro tip: If you have just started playing the game, our beginner tips for Baldur’s Gate 3 will come in handy.
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Astarion
The pale elf trickster Astarion has quite the backstory. According to lore, he used to be a vampire spawn that prowled the night serving a sadistic master for centuries until someone snatched him away. Whoever had the gall to do that apparently also taught him to walk in broad daylight. His new life has clearly turned him into a pompous git who can’t keep his daywalker mouth shut.
Needless to say, Astarion is one of the most whimsical characters you’ll find in the game. He is quite the skilled rogue character for those looking to play such a build. Favoring stealth most of the time, the pale elf is not averse to rolling up his sleeves and putting up his fists while making some remarks that prove he is more British than vampire spawn.
Astarion is a good origin build for those looking to play stealth but want the added advantage of a tough character that can hold their own should things go south. However, you would be missing out on an incredible companion who is bound to keep the journey lively. Astarion in his demeanor is quite reminiscent of Spike the Vampire from Buffy.
Lae’zel
Baldur’s Gate 3’s no-nonsense Githyanki fighter Lae’zel likes to chop down enemies first and ask questions never. She is the first companion you will meet in the game apart from ‘Us’. Lae’zel’s demeanour is obvious from the start and shows how dedicated she is to the task at hand. She is a consummate warrior as her lore suggests and is a great option to play with a fighter build.
Lae’zel’s melee stats and features are quite impressive. She starts with the Great Weapon Fighting feature which is quite handy early game and her armor stats are quite high as well. If recruited as a companion Lae’zel’s backstory involves getting her back to the Githyanki tribe from which she was banished. While she’s not the most pleasant people to be around, don’t ever try telling her a joke.
Gale
Gale is a wannabe wizard who wants to be the greatest wizard Faerûn has ever known. But the Netherese Destruction orb in his chest suggests he would have been better suited to work with Oppenheimer. Needless to say, he is literally a ticking time bomb who can go off at any time. His precarious predicament aside, Gale is quite the wizard with a wide range of spells at his disposal.
Choosing Gale as your main character can prove a tricky experience though. While Gale’s wizardry prowess may make him a great choice for a battle mage build focusing on evocation, his brittle nature puts him at a disadvantage, especially with the 18-meter range of attack. It is best to deploy Gale at a safe position behind your toughest warriors. So, a better build for Gale would be going down the Abjuration path.
If you choose to keep Gale as a companion, you end up with a scrawny Tony Stark with a surprisingly positive demeanor but without all the riches. His questline will be a tough one though, because you’ll be too busy focusing on the not-so-subtle references of the characters his creation was clearly inspired by.
Wyll
Wyll is a human who used to be a noble blade before he made a deal with the devil. Wyll is proof that warlocks are way better at using the dark arts destructively than the feeble wizards. This warlock’s abilities are not just limited to conjuring either; he has a wide range of skills and traits which make him quite versatile. However, his eldritch powers are worth sticking to the warlock build.
Also Read: All Baldur’s Gate 3 Companions & How to Choose the Best
While an able mage fighter, Wyll is also adept at speech checks with some impressive persuasion and intimidation stats. Wyll is an ideal choice for those looking to multiclass as well, though you’ll need to experiment with the stats overlay early game. If chosen as a companion Wyll comes with a dark backstory that involves getting rid of his patron fiend. His attributes though are bound to complement with any party setup you choose.
Shadowheart
Shadowheart is a high-elf cleric who purloined her way to infamy, eventually becoming one of Shar’s dark disciples. Her dark past haunts her as she is constantly on the run to put it behind her. There is a lot of mystery surrounding this mage. Her proficiency in illusion-related spells makes her an ideal contender for a support character. She is also a good healer.
Shadowheart is a great companion, especially during early game. Her unique skill tree is a must-have for your party. She is also quite stealthy with some impressive stats. Her original cleric build is worth investing into and will provide access to some powerful features and cantrips later in the game. Her guiding bolt and guidance spells are essential in tipping the scales in your favor both in combat and in real-time events.
Shadowheart’s questline is also quite interesting, and the build-up begins almost immediately after you rescue her aboard the Nautiloid.
Karlach
This Tiefling barbarian is a hell spawn whose existence is a constant reminder of the eternal conflict between bad and worse. Karlach is a femme fatale who is in constant search for love or lust. Despite her somewhat deceptive softer side, this ‘one-horned’ Tiefling is a great barbarian build. Although not much is known of her at this point, she can be a handful in combat, and it is best to have her on your side.
Her backstory seems to be associated with the archdevil of Avenis, Zariel. She is also on a quest to take revenge upon the person who sold her to Zariel in the first place. Karlach will be a barbarian tiefling playable origin character upon release.
The Dark Urge
This origin character apparently embodies the ‘Darkest recess of the Moral spectrum’, one where you start copying concepts from other video games. The Dark Urge is a dragonborn whose slate has been wiped clean if you choose to play this character. This origin character is completely customizable, although as the name suggests, there is an underlying backstory which will unfold as you progress.
The best part about selecting The Dark Urge is the moral choice of whether to give in to the dark urges or refrain from them. This character offers a unique way of playing Baldur’s Gate 3, which could prove more exciting than any of the other origin characters or your own custom character.
