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Baldur's Gate 3 is full of interesting characters that are worth trying hard to make them your allies. Some characters you find that can be allies are great people, others are evil and heartless. This gives you the opportunity to role-play your character as much as you want.
Overall, there are 10 different allies you can find and invite them to join you on your adventures. There are some that will automatically join you after speaking to them while others will need you to complete some specific quests. Here's all the companions you can obtain and where they are located.
Updated by Erin Rice on August 25, 2023: This update includes more information regarding how to find Minsc. It also added which quests allow you to recruit which character.
Lae’zel - Free Lae'zel
Lae’zel is the first companion you will find. She is first met on the Nautiloid Ship. When you meet her, she will ambush you and try to kill you. Once she learns that you aren’t turning into a Mind Flayer, she will recruit you to help her escape the ship. Once the ship crashes, you can find her near Druid’s Grove, captured by Teiflings. All you need to do is tell them you will take care of her.
Lae’zel is a Githyanki Fighter. She comes from a Soldier Background and gains Inspiration from showing smart tactics and bravery. One issue with Lae’zel is that she isn’t the easiest to get along with. She hates Shadowheart, and will cause a bit of fighting among your companions. However, the more you get to know her, the more you will understand why she makes the choices she does.
Shadowheart - Rescue The Illithid's Captive
Shadowheart is the second companion you will find in the game. She is also on the Nautiloid Ship. You will find her within a Mind Flayer pod. If you let her out then, she will join your party right away. Otherwise, you will need to find her once the Nautiloid Ship crashes. You can find her on the beach or within Druid’s Grove, depending on the options you picked.
Shadowheart is a Human Cleric Trickster. She comes from an Acolyte Background and is a follower of Lady Shar, the Mistress of the Night. She will want to partake in the religious aspects of the game for Inspiration. She will fight with Lae’zel more than anyone else. However, if you play as a relatively decent person, she will agree with most of your decisions.
Astarion - Investigate The Beach
Astarion is probably the third companion you recruit. It turns out he was also on the Nautiloid Ship and will be rather close to its crashed remains when you wake up on the beach. If you travel to the crashed ship that is near Druid’s Grove you will easily find him. You will find him whining about needing someone to deal with the creature that is near him.
Astarion is a Wood Elf Rogue whose Background is a Charlatan. This means that he loves to get into trouble and mess with people. If you love bending the truth and turning people against each other, you and Astarion will get along fine. At first, he seems like a whiny noble. However, once you learn more about him, you will understand why he is the way he is.
Gale - Rescue The Trapped Man
Gale is the next companion you will meet (though depending on how you search the beach after the Nautiloid crash, he could be before the others). He can be found stuck inside the Waypoint near Druid’s Grove. Once he is free, he will tell you that just like you, he also has a Mind Flayer Tadpole stuck in his mind that he needs to get out. He will join your cause to stop them.
Gale is a Human Wizard with a Background as a Sage. This means that he will gain inspiration when you learn about new things and use that knowledge to better the world around him. He is a genuinely good guy who wants to see the good in things. If you try to do what is right, most of the time, Gale is going to agree with whatever you decide.
Wyll - Find A Cure
Wyll is the next companion you will meet, and he is met directly after you meet the others. He can be found in Druid’s Grove and is one of the people you will see during the cutscene when those in the Grove are trying to kill the many Goblins that are attacking them. After the battle, he can be found in a cave within the Grove, teaching Tiefling children.
Wyll is a Human Warlock whose Background is a Folk Hero. This means that anytime you do a deed that would be what a legendary hero would do, Wyll will gain Inspiration. He is another good guy who made a tragic choice that cost him his life and family. The more you get to know him, the more you will understand the choices that he has made.
Karlach - The Blade Of The Frontiers
Karlach can be recruited at the same time as all the other members of your party. She can be found between the Druid’s Grove and the Blighted Village. She is being hunted by someone known as Anders (and it turns out Wyll as well). If you help her get rid of the men hunting her, she will join your party. Be aware, things can get messy if you meet her with Wyll in your party.
Karlach is a Barbarian Tiefling. Her Background is that of an Outlander, meaning she is used to being alone and an outcast. Doing things that resemble this lifestyle will give Karlach Inspiration. She is another person who is a pretty decent person. She’s arguably the best character you can find in the game. Her personality and fun nature make her a great addition to the group.
Halsin - Save The First Druid
Halsin is the main Druid that oversees Druid’s Grove. The only problem is, he is missing. In order to find Halsin, you will want to help the Druids in the Grove take on the Goblins. Halsin can be found in the Goblin’s camp, held prisoner. He will be in the form of a bear, and can do amazing things. If you want to rescue him, you will need to fight all the Goblins in the room. That way, you can safely get him out.
Halsin is a Wood Elf Druid. While his Background is unknown, he is a Druid. Therefore, if you want his approval, you will need to work as one with nature. You don’t want to make any choices that go against the natural order of the world, otherwise, Halsin will be extremely upset. These actions are also how he obtains his Inspiration. He is a pretty great follower for anyone who wants a tank.
Minthara - Raid The Emerald Grove
Minthara is one of the Absolute’s Chosen and is a leader within the Goblin Camp. Many players will not know that she is an option as a follower in the game due to what you need to do in order to obtain her as a follower. If you want Minthara in your party, you will need to side with the Goblins rather than Druids. This means that you will need to kill everyone in the Grove. Minthara is found in the Goblin’s Camp.
Minthara is a Drow Paladin. This means that she can be a pretty power ally if you choose to align with her. She is a member of the Absolute’s Cult, so you will need to be pretty evil if you want to win her approval. She loves seeing innocents suffer and the Absolute worshiped. If you want to keep her around, you’ll need to be playing as someone evil.
Jaheira - Defeat Ketheric Thorm
Jaheira is one of the many people you will meet when you enter into the Shadow Cursed Lands in Act 2. She can be found in the Last Light Inn, the only place in the area that is protected from the Shadow Curse. She is set on protecting those at the Inn and putting a stop to the Absolute’s terror. If you want to recruit her, you will need to ensure that Shadowheart does not kill the Nightsong.
Jaheira is a Half Elf Druid. Just like Halsin, if you want to gain Jaheira’s approval, you will need to think like a Druid. You do not want to do anything that causes issues with the true idea of nature. Once you save the Nightsong and finish Act 2, you have the option of inviting Jaheira to stay in your camp permanently. This allows her to continue helping you.
Minsc - The High Harper
Minsc is one of the returning characters from past Baldur's Gate games. Interestingly, despite Baldur's Gate 3 taking place 100 years after Baldur's Gate 2, Minsc, the Human Ranger, is very much alive and well. Unfortunately, he won't be obtainable as a companion until the last part of the game.
At the beginning of Act 3, you will be told by Jaheira that she knows Minsc and needs your help to save him. You will both need to come up with a plot to save him. Once you find the guild in the Undercity, you will learn that Minsc is planning a heist at the Counting House. Intercept him there to learn that a doppelganger pretending to be Jaheira has him fooled. You will need to stop him from believing the doppelganger.