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While the tabletop game incarnation of Dungeons and Dragons likes to give each player only 1 character to control, so they can put all their time and effort into embodying and role-playing them accurately, Baldur’s Gate 3 gives you the option to take control of several characters. With the added depth of it being a video game, this approach delivers a notably different, role-playing experience.
One character will serve as your primary character, while the others will be companions that will join you on your journey. These companions come in many forms, each armed with their own specific races and classes to take advantage of throughout your playthrough of Baldur's Gate 3.
What Are Companions?
Companions are the other members of your party that will aid you in your journey throughout your playthrough. No one character can be a master of all skills unless you’re rolling a Bard-Rogue Multi-class. Each character will have different skills they outperform the others in, with some companions being better suited for stealthily navigating a room riddled with traps for them to disarm, while another will tap into their vast knowledge of the arcane to remove magical locks and reveal information to make accomplishing your goals more easily. Having a party of diverse skill sets will allow you to overcome any and all obstacles that lie in your path.
How Do You Get Companions?
Once you start your journey, you will encounter several options of other characters that you will be able to set as your companions. You may even recognize some of them from the character creation. These Origin characters each have their own story that starts at the very beginning of the game, and they can also be made into companions after you start. Conversely, some companions will not be Origin characters, so you will not have the option to have them as your Player Character.
Who Are The Companions?
There are presently 10 companions to choose from, 6 of which are Origin companions.
|
Name |
Race |
Class |
Description |
Origin |
|
Astarion |
High-Elf |
Rogue |
Astarion is a vampire spawn. This will lead them to many tough choices that could include feeding on their companions while they are trying to rest. |
Yes |
|
Gale |
Human |
Wizard |
Gale is a wizard that wishes to be one of the greatest of all time. This time may be short-lived as he has a bomb in his chest that is ticking down to a cataclysmic explosion. |
Yes |
|
Lae'Zel |
Githyanki |
Fighter |
Lae'Zel is a Githyanki, a race that was once enslaved by the Mindflayers. She is one of the earliest companions revealed for the game. |
Yes |
|
Shadowheart |
High Half-Elf |
Cleric |
Shadowheart is a disciple of the Goddess Shar. She struggles with her faith and powerful magic she cannot control. |
Yes |
|
Wyll |
Human |
Warlock |
Wyll made a deal with a devil and gained great power in doing so. |
Yes |
|
Halsin |
Wood-Elf |
Druid |
Players will encounter Halsin as a prisoner with the option to free him and help him fight against the Goblin encampment in Act 1. |
No |
|
Minsc |
Human |
Ranger |
Minsc is one of the returning characters from past Baldur's Gate games. |
No |
|
Minthara |
Drow |
Paladin |
Minthara is a ruthless member of the Drow race. She will be me while she is plotting an attack on the Grove of which Halsin is a part of. This gives players choices to make between who will be an enemy and who will be an ally. |
No |
|
Jaheira |
Half-Elf |
Druid |
Jaheira is one of the returning characters from past Baldur's Gate games. |
No |
|
Karlach |
Tiefling |
Barbarian |
Karlach is a former prisoner that was forced to fight in the Blood War. Her story is one rich in revenge and bloodshed. |
Yes |
Which Companions Should You Choose?
A well-balanced party is vital. You should not have an entire party focused on melee damage and high health, nor an entire party focused on the opposite. You want to have a good balance that lets you tackle any situation the game may throw at you. This comes down to party composition and what skills each one can cover whenever you need it.
For example, Astarion is a Rogue, which will help them cover a lot of skills and makes the spread more manageable. Clerics, Druids, and Paladins all provide healing options and support for the party, but Paladins cast their magic from Charisma rather than Wisdom. This means a Paladin can handle being the "face" of the group and do all the talking. Another great party option would be the Warlock, who also casts their spells with Charisma. And finally, both the Cleric and Druid, who make Wisdom their primary stat, will have higher perception checks that can reveal items and objects you may otherwise overlook, providing new ways to approach a problem.