Best Baldur’s Gate 3 Companions, Ranked

Baldur’s Gate 3 is one of the best RPGs ever for many different reasons, including the amazing companion characters that players interact with. Each BG3 companion is incredibly unique and has their own associated story beats that help flesh them out as deep and interesting characters. Having a fun crew of adventurers captures the essence of Dungeons & Dragons in the Forgotten Realms setting.

There are more than a dozen possible companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, and while they are all great in their own right, some are clear standouts among the cast. Larian Studios proved that they are talented at making strong characters with complex motives, all with intertwining stories. The companion characters are the backbone of the game, and without them, Baldur’s Gate 3 would likely not have been as well received as it was.

Updated on November 5, 2024, by Lynette Guzman: Fans cannot get enough of Baldur’s Gate 3 characters, and the community is full of inside jokes about their favorite party members and NPCs. In Patch 7, Larian even introduced a way for players to recruit Alfira, a fan-favorite bard, as a temporary party member. Though Alfira never makes it to full companion status, Baldur’s Gate 3 has plenty of fantastic options. This list was expanded to include even more of BG3’s best companions and updated to follow CBR’s current formatting standards.

15 Withers Can Help Players In Various Ways

The Mysterious Skeleton Has Deep Connections to BG3 Lore

While not a Baldur’s Gate 3 companion that can follow the player into battle, Withers will stay in the player’s camp throughout the game, offering many useful services. Paying Withers can resurrect other companions that have died in battle, letting the player save resurrection scrolls. Withers can also let characters change their class so that players can optimize their builds or respec into a class they might want to try out. He can also let players summon hirelings for additional companions if a player wants more characters to fill roles that might not be filled in different party compositions.

Withers can be found early in BG3, resting in a coffin in the Dark Crypt in Act 1. Withers will simply ask the player “What is the worth of a single mortal life?” The player’s answer does not matter and Withers will take interest in the player and move to their camp. Withers is not forthcoming with his story and offers little context for why he is helping the party on their adventure. However, some cutscenes hint at Withers’ true identity, and it seems like he is much more powerful of a character than he lets on. Though useful, there are more companions that players build a relationship with in BG3, which is why Withers lands at the bottom of this list.

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14 Us Is a Secret but Useful Companion

Players Can Adopt a Cute and Creepy Intellect Devourer Ally

An easily missable Baldur’s Gate 3 companion, Us can be found in the second room of the Nautiloid in the Prologue. If the player makes the correct choices, Us will follow them until the end of the tutorial. At first, it seems like Us is only a temporary companion for the BG3 tutorial. However, underneath Moonrise Towers in Act 2’s Mindflayer Colony, Us can be found and freed once again to join the player.

Us is an intellect devourer, a particularly hideous-looking brain with four legs and tentacles. Players can use the action “Summon Us” to bring Us along with the party outside of camp. Us has 55 HP, a high amount for a summoned companion, and multiple psychic abilities. While players see Us in their intellect devourer form, Us tells the player that it appears as a kitty to those who are unaware of their true form.

13 Shovel Is a Quasit Who Brings Levity to the Party

BG3 Players Can Also Rename This Fey Familiar to Fork or Basket

Find Familiar is a useful spell that lets players summon a fey creature to join their party for combat or overworld activities in Baldur’s Gate 3. One special familiar that BG3 players may encounter on their adventure is Shovel, a quasit who takes joy in murderous acts on behalf of their allies. Shovel is a feisty and fun addition to the party, with specific dialogue lines that make her stand out compared to other familiars in the game.

Though wizards typically have access to the Find Familiar spell, other BG3 classes can also permanently add Shovel to their group. In Act 1, players can find the Scroll of Summon Quasit in the Apothecary’s Cellar at the Blighted Village. Speak to Shovel as a wizard, warlock or sorcerer, and enjoy all the silly one-liners when she is around. If needed, Gale is a great option as a wizard who can summon Shovel by casting the Find Familiar: Cheeky Quasit spell to use in combat for her invisibility and attack skills.

12 Owlbear Cub Provides All the Cuteness

BG3 Players Can Rescue and Raise an Adorable and Lethal Pet

Baldur’s Gate 3 players who explore every nook in the game will likely encounter an Owlbear Cave where they can acquire a new pet follower: the Owlbear Cub. The key to getting this adorable beast to join the party is to spare the cub after initiating an interaction with the Owlbear mother. Later in Act 1, BG3 players will find the Owlbear Cub in a goblin camp and must outsmart the goblins in a game of Chicken Chase to save the cub.

Once the Owlbear Cub is recruited, he will eventually join the camp and remain there for players to interact with him. The cub develops a sweet sibling relationship with the dog, Scratch, and players can pet both of these lovable pets in camp. However, Act 3 is where this beast shines, and the grown-up Owlbear will join the party as the Armoured Owlbear to fight in the final Baldur’s Gate 3 battles. Though not a traditional companion, the Owlbear Cub is one of the best BG3 characters for players who want to raise a cub into a strong fighter.

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11 Jaheira Returns as a Companion Once Again

The Leader of the Harpers Has a Strong Connection to Baldur’s Gate

Jaheira returns from Baldur’s Gate II and is a recruitable companion to aid players in the next installment of Baldur’s Gate adventures. Jaheira is the leader of the Harpers, a group dedicated to fighting evil in Faerûn. As a druid, Jaheira has access to many powerful spells and the ability to wild shape into various animals. This combination of spells and wild shapes makes Jaheira a formidable combatant, able to take down foes quickly.

Jaheira is found in Act 2, leading the Harpers stationed at Last Light Inn. Jaheira and her crew are investigating Moonrise Towers, with her goals overlapping with the players. After raiding Moonrise Towers, Jaheira will join the player on their journey to stop the Absolute. She will then become a companion to be used in Act 3. Though players also have Halsin as an earlier druid option for their party, Jaheira has a legacy for fans of the franchise.

10 Minsc Brings a Companion of His Own

Matthew Mercer Embodies a Key Baldur’s Gate Character

Returning from Baldur’s Gate II, Minsc brings his furry friend Boo along with him to join the player’s party. Minsc is found in the sewers of the city of Baldur’s Gate, where he is being manipulated by a group of Bhaal cultists. Players need to defeat the cultists, but be careful to keep Minsc alive and only use nonlethal attacks to knock him out. After some convincing, Minsc will join the BG3 party.

Minsc’s default class is a ranger, and he brings along his miniature giant space hamster, Boo. As a ranger, Minsc specializes in controlling the battlefield through ranged attacks and spells that can hinder movement. Boo can only speak to Minsc, though. Even using a Speak With Animals spell will not allow players to talk to Boo. Minsc and Boo make for a dynamic duo, giving the player two companions in one, easily landing them in the top 10 best companions in Baldur’s Gate 3.

9 Scratch Is the Most Loyal Companion

BG3 Players Can Pet the Dog and Play Fetch With Scratch

The best boy in Baldur’s Gate 3, Scratch is the player’s loyal pet throughout their entire journey. Scratch can be found early in Act 1, waiting for his owner to wake up. Unfortunately, players can tell right away that Scratch’s owner won’t be getting up anytime soon. Passing some skill checks will allow the player to send Scratch to their camp and meet him later. As one of the best dogs in video games, Scratch is loyal and brings joy to any Baldur’s Gate 3 party.

Scratch will occasionally fetch items to give to the player. One of the items that Scratch can bring players is a small ball. While it may seem useless outside of throwing for Scratch to grab and bring, the ball allows the player to summon Scratch as a familiar. Scratch has a small amount of HP, and does not do much damage, but he can give the help action, making him great for running around the battlefield and supporting other companions. If Scratch dies in battle, he is not gone permanently. After taking a short rest in BG3, he can be summoned again.

8 Minthara Is the Perfect Companion for Evil BG3 Runs

The Nightwarden True Soul Is Devoted to the Absolute

Many Baldur’s Gate 3 players will encounter and kill Minthara to help the Druid Grove, no questions asked. However, siding with this Lolth-Sworn drow opens up a branch of the storyline that is perfect for a nefarious playthrough in service of the Absolute. To recruit Minthara, BG3 players must keep her alive in Act 1 by either aligning with her to take down the Druid Grove or knocking her out with non-lethal attacks. Later in Act 2, players can help Minthara escape the Moonrise Towers and let her join the party.

Minthara is a romanceable companion in Baldur’s Gate 3, which offers special cutscenes as players progress through the relationship. Though she does not have a personal companion questline like the BG3 origin characters, Minthara provides a paladin option for players to use in their party. Her abilities are useful as a support role to heal and buff allies while unlocking some of the more evil story beats in Baldur’s Gate 3.

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7 Wyll Is the Origin Character Who Changed the Most From Early Access

The Blade of Frontiers Has an Intertwined Story With Karlach

Wyll Ravenguard appears early in Act 1 to heroically save the Druid Grove from attacking goblins unless players choose him as a playable character. Wyll is the son of Grand Duke Ulder Ravenguard and has a complicated relationship with his father as he seeks to do the right thing to help Baldur’s Gate. This Baldur’s Gate 3 companion may not be the most popular selection compared to fan favorites like Shadowheart or Astarion, but Wyll’s quest line offers a lot of touching moments.

The primary arc involves tensions with another excellent origin character, Karlach. As a warlock, Wyll is bound by a pact with Mizora, who made him a deal to save Baldur’s Gate years before the events of Baldur’s Gate 3. Wyll’s choices with Mizora throughout the story impact his arc as he deals with the consequences. BG3 Early Access players will notice that Wyll had a new voice actor at launch due to more attention devoted to rewriting his character arc for a compelling storyline.

6 Gale’s Quest Ends in Two Extreme Ways

The Wizard of Waterdeep Carries an Explosive Secret

A charming wizard from Waterdeep, Gale Dekarios is quick to befriend players and is eager to join their adventuring party in Baldur’s Gate 3. However, if players want, they can ignore Gale, and leave him to die stuck in a portal if they want. As a wizard, Gale is adept at using spells to control the battlefield through various means. Plus, Gale comes with a fluffy companion, Tara, who resembles a cat and was conjured by Gale when he was ten years old after his parents refused to get him a pet kitten.

Gale is possessed by a Netherese orb, an incredibly powerful magical artifact that needs magical items to consume, or its arcane hunger will cause Gale to explode like a nuclear bomb. Gale’s quest involves the goddess Mystra, who controls the magical weave. She tasks Gale with detonating the orb to destroy the Absolute, both of which are threats to Mystra’s power. Gale can follow Mystra’s wishes and sacrifice himself for the greater good, or Gale can combine the power of the Crown of Karsus with the Netherese orb to become a god himself.

5 Halsin Is a Lovable Druid With an Important Backstory

Players Fell in Love with Halsin Before BG3’s Launch

Halsin is an Archdruid who became one of the most popular Baldur’s Gate 3 companions after Larian’s Panel from Hell showcase in July 2023. Players spend the beginning of Act 1 on a mission to find and rescue Halsin from imprisonment at a goblin camp. Alternatively, players may side with the Absolute and leave Halsin to his demise. However, Halsin is a companion worth saving because his abilities as a druid can be powerful for any BG3 party, and his backstory plays a major part in Act 2 of the game.

One reason he had a spotlight leading up to BG3’s launch was because Halsin is a romanceable BG3 companion. As a druid, players have a unique dialogue option that involves an intimate scene with Halsin’s wild shape bear form. Though he does not have a separate quest line, Halsin is involved in major story beats for the Druid Grove in Act 1 and the Shadow Curse in the Underdark in Act 2. Due to his charming character dialogue and integral relationship to the main events that unfold, Halsin makes a good case for ranking fifth on this list of best BG3 companions.

4 Astarion Can Become a Vampire Lord

Neil Newbon Brings a Complex BG3 Origin Character to Life

Despite trying to kill the player when first encountered, Astarion becomes a Baldur’s Gate 3 companion early into the game. While trying to hide his dark secret, BG3 players quickly uncover the secret that Astarion is a vampire spawn. True to his sneaky nature, Astarion’s starting class is a rogue, excelling at hiding in the shadows to take out enemies.

Astarion needs some convincing before he reveals his backstory, as it is quite a touchy subject. Throughout the game, Astarion will allude to his past, and how he came to be a vampire. This leads the player to his companion quest where Astarion will confront his vampire master, Cazador, once and for all. This leads to Astarion with a consequential choice of either taking the high road and stopping Cazador’s ritual to become a vampire lord or taking Cazador’s place and becoming a vampire lord himself.

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3 Karlach’s Heart of Gold Is Actually an Infernal Engine

The BG3 Tiefling Barbarian Demonstrates Resilience and Hope

The most optimistic character in the game, Karlach is a loyal friend until the end. Starting as the barbarian class, Karlach can go into a rage to deal extra damage and activate useful effects. Combining Karlach’s rage with her unique ability to consume soul coins makes her lethal to hoards of enemies. Karlach also has some unique interactions with Wyll, who previously hunted her in the hells of Avernus.

Karlach has one of the most tragic Baldur’s Gate 3 backstories out of all the companions. She has a consistent history of being used by people for her strength and combat skills. Karlach was sold by Enver Gortash to the Archdevil Zariel, and consequently, her heart was replaced with an infernal engine. Outside the heat of Avernus, Karlach finds her engine is overheating and will combust soon. Karlach’s quest is a race against time to get revenge on Gortash for his betrayal and to enjoy her freedom before it is too late.

2 Shadowheart Can Embrace or Forget Her Past

The Daughter of Darkness Faces an Important Choice

Shadowheart is one of the earliest companions found in Baldur’s Gate 3, and players encounter her first on the Nautiloid and then immediately on the beach after the ship crashes. Her default class is cleric, which makes Shadowheart very versatile in battle, allowing for both support and damage as a party member. Shadowheart is also one of the most popular romance options in BG3.

Shadowheart starts as a devout follower of Shar, the goddess of night. She aspires to become a Dark Justiciar, a militant follower of Shar who carries out the most important tasks for Sharrans. Her own personal companion quest sees Shadowheart either question or fully embrace her religion, depending on the player’s choice. One ending to Shadowheart’s quest sees her renounce her faith and embrace Selune, goddess of the moon. Meanwhile, another ending has her become Mother Superior of the Sharrans after cleansing the temple of corruption.

1 Lae’zel Has a Massive Character Arc

The Githyanki Warrior Is Worth Investment for BG3’s Story

The first companion who joins the player on their journey is the Githyanki warrior Lae’zel. Helping players escape the Nautiloid, Lae’zel wants to rid herself of her mindflayer parasite and return the mysterious artifact to the Githyanki for her goddess, Vlaakith. Lae’zel starts the game as a fighter, making her a well-rounded combatant who deals high damage while being able to tank many enemy attacks for the party.

Lae’zel’s quest ties directly into the main quest of the game, with players discovering that the mysterious artifact is a prison for Orpheus, the Githyanki Prince and true leader of the Githyanki. Lae’zel goes through the biggest transformation of all the companions, shedding her rigidness for a more independent and caring personality. Once players invest in Lae’zel’s arc, they are rewarded with a satisfying character arc in her blossoming story. Due to her strengths in combat and narrative, Lae’zel tops this list of the best Baldur’s Gate 3 companions.

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a role-playing video game developed and published by Larian Studios. It is the third main installment in the Baldur’s Gate series.

Platform(s)

PC , macOS , PS5 , Xbox Series X

Released

August 3, 2023

Developer(s)

Larian Studios

Publisher(s)

Larian Studios

Multiplayer

Local Multiplayer

Engine

Divinity 4.0

ESRB

M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence

How Long To Beat

100+ Hours

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