Unless you’re playing a four-player multiplayer campaign and have no room in your party for more characters, companions are essential in Baldur’s Gate 3. Since you need companions on your three-act journey, you’ll benefit from knowing who the best companions are. After reading this guide, I know you’ll be confident in selecting the best companions in Baldur’s Gate 3.
All Baldur’s Gate 3 Companions Ranked
The best companion in Baldur’s Gate 3 is Shadowheart. Unless you already have a Cleric, Shadowheart is the best companion because she improves even the best party compositions. Having a character on your team that specializes in buffs, heals, and debuffs always comes in handy. Plus, her storyline is one of the game’s best.
There are 10 main companions to recruit in Baldur’s Gate 3. While they’re all amazing in their own way, here’s our ranking of them from best to worst.
1. Shadowheart
Recruited on the beach immediately after completing the prologue aboard the Mind Flayer ship. She’s a Cleric of Shar with a gap in her memories, and her struggle with her faith is one of the most engaging quests in the game. Plus, she’s God’s favorite princess and the most interesting girl in the world.
2. Astarion
Found west of the crashed ship standing in an open area. Recruited after scaring the boar away and talking to him. He pulls a knife on you and then immediately tries to sweet-talk his way out of things, which sums up his personality perfectly.
3. Karlach
Recruited after finishing the Hunt the Devil sidequest. Wyll is supposed to kill her as a part of his Warlock pact, but let’s be real here: Killing Karlach is one of the worst mistakes you can make in Baldur’s Gate 3. She’s everyone’s favorite fiery ADHD fiend for a reason, and her combat skills as a Barbarian make her one of the strongest party members in the game.
4. Minsc
Found in the sewers in Act 3 during Jaheira’s companion quest. To recruit him and his lovable hamster Boo, you need to use non-lethal damage during your initial encounter with him instead of killing him. He’s another returning character from the older Baldur’s Gate games, and he’s just as great here. Like a golden retriever, he’s a little stupid but he’s endlessly loyal. He’s just a blast to be around, and that’s all it takes to make a fantastic party member.
5. Lae’zel
Found on the north side of the starting area after leaving the Mind Flayer ship. Talk to the two Tieflings guarding the cage holding Lae’zel (and for extra credit, I recommend doing a Persuasion or Intimidation check to scare them away without killing them). Free Lae’zel by shooting the bottom of the cage, talk to her, and she’ll join your team. Lae’zel is bland and basic at first, but she’s one of the deepest characters in the game if you put up with her initial coldness.
6. Minthara
Found and recruited at the Shattered Sanctum in Act 1. You have to slaughter the Druid Grove to recruit her, but it’s worth it if you’re playing a character that leans closer to the evil side. A victim of bugged dialogue and romance scenes, Minthara is one of the best characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 now that Larian Studios has fixed her. Sure, she’s bloodthirsty and violent, but we all have our hobbies.
7. Gale
Found northeast of where Astarion is found after leaving the Mind Flayer ship at the start of the game. Look for a rune in a rock wall. Pull Gale out of the portal and talk to him to recruit him. He’s a loveable doofus who needs to eat shoes to survive, but it’s hard to look into those big brown eyes and say no. He’s the game’s most passionate lover and its friendliest face.
8. Jaheira
Found and recruited at the Last Light Inn in Act 2. A returning hero from the original Baldur’s Gate games, Jaheira won’t be as appreciated by newcomers. Even if you’re unfamiliar with her original adventures, though, she’s the camp mom who keeps a stern watch over the rest of the party. There’s a lot to love about Jaheria, especially if you’re playing as the Dark Urge.
9. Wyll
Found in the Druid Grove in Act 1. Go through the gates into the central encampment and head straight to the training grounds. There, talk with Wyll to recruit him to your team. Wyll is one of the blander companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, but his struggle with his patron Mizora is a classic Warlock tale. As the son of a nobleman, he carries himself politely and speaks softly. If you take the time to get to know him, however, you’ll find that there’s more to him than meets the eye.
10. Halsin
Recruited after saving the Druid Grove in Act 1. He’ll stick around at your camp for a while but won’t fully become a playable party member until later in the game. By the time Halsin joins your party, you’ve likely already found your main group of friends. He’s got a lot of interesting stuff going on, but he’s mainly there to help guide your group through the Shadow-Cursed Lands. His romance scenes are great, though.
Baldur’s Gate 3 Companion Strengths and Weaknesses
| Companion | Strengths | Weaknesses |
|---|---|---|
| Shadowheart | Powerful Cleric healing/support spells, good for Religion and History checks. Also has great Constitution for tanking hits for the party. | Low Charisma and Intelligence. |
| Astarion | High Dexterity for great Stealth, Sleight of Hand, and Sneak Attacks. Also has Darkvision and Fey Ancestry. | Low Strength and Charisma. |
| Lae’Zel | Great Fighter abilities that hit hard with her high Strength, and has a high Constitution for staying alive. As a Githyanki, can Misty Step, Enhance Leap, and Mage Hand. | Low Charisma and Intelligence. |
| Karlach | Can consume Soul Coins to grant a bonus during combat, has high Strength, and high Constitution. Is also resistant to Fire damage. | Low Intelligence and Charisma. |
| Minthara | Has high Charisma and Strength, and decently high Dexterity and Constitution. As a Paladin, Minthara can support her allies while still being a heavy hitter. Also already has some Illithid Powers. | You must work with the Goblins and betray the Druid Grove to recruit. |
| Gale | Excellent spellcaster who can learn Spell Scrolls permanently. Is also Proficient in Arcana and History. | Low Strength and Wisdom, and has low HP. |
| Jaheira | A Circle of Spores Druid with high Constitution and Wisdom. Also has decently high Strength and Charisma. | Low Intelligence. |
| Wyll | Gains access to great Warlock spells and can regain spell slots during Short Rests. Also has high Charisma and Constitution. | Low Strength, Intelligence, and Dexterity. |
| Halsin | A strong Druid companion who can Wild Shape. Has high Wisdom and Strength scores. | Low Dexterity and Charisma. |
| Minsc | High Dexterity and Wisdom. Is a Ranger with the companion Boo, a miniature giant space hamster he can throw at enemies. | Only accessible in Act 3, and has low Intelligence and Charisma. |
| Hirelings | One Hireling available for each class, perfect for whatever class you’re missing. You can also change your Hirelings’ appearances. | They aren’t companions you can befriend or romance, and you must pay Gold to hire them. |
How to Get Hirelings in BG3
While you can respec every Origin character and companion in Baldur’s Gate 3 to make the perfect party composition, doing that will muddle their story. For example, turning Wyll from a Warlock who gets his power from a demon to a regular Ranger will drastically change his quests, which is no fun. Instead, you can recruit hirelings!
Related: How to examine enemy weaknesses and resistances in Baldur’s Gate 3
There are 12 hirelings in Baldur’s Gate 3, one for each class. Every hireling has a predetermined name, backstory, race, and appearance, but you can customize their appearance thanks to a patch from Larian Studios. If you want a custom Baldur’s Gate 3 party, then this is how you get one. Building the best party composition isn’t hard when you use hirelings, but you won’t get a fun set of individual character questlines as you do with the other main Origin and companion characters.
Now that you’ve got a team of solid, dependable companions, consider reading our guide on how to romance every one of them.
