Any attempt at a Baldur’s Gate 3 companions ranked list is a tough ask, not just because Larian crafted one of the best-written set of companions in any RPG, although that’s part of the challenge. You can so easily miss huge swathes of character development depending on the choices you make, even down to which character you play as, so how your allies develop often depends on how much time you invest in them – except in a few cases. Relationships are only part of the equation, though. Each companion has something to offer in battle and social interactions as well, though some add much more value to your party setup than others.
10
Jaheira
Jaheira definitely isn’t average – I just like alliteration sometimes, okay – but she does have the double disadvantage of joining your party late and being a second druid. Jaheira is essentially a Halsin variation, even down to her skill proficiencies. Instead of sharing a trauma bond with you in the Shadowlands like Halsin does, assuming you’re nice to him in Act 2, Jaheira’s big draw is her role in the first two Baldur’s Gate games.
That’s a pretty big draw if you played and enjoyed those classic Western RPGs, to be fair, and it’s refreshing to have a seasoned adventurer around as well, if only for a little while.
9
Minsc
Minsc also suffers from late-game syndrome and a reliance on nostalgia. He fills a Ranger-shaped gap in your party’s abilities, but by the time you find him in the city of Baldur’s Gate itself, you probably either multiclassed someone as a Ranger or worked around it with your preferred choice of Baldur’s Gate 3 classes. On the bright side, he’s proficient in several useful skills, including perception and stealth.
8
Halsin
Halsin got a lot of attention for his feral romance scene prior to Baldur’s Gate 3’s launch, but he’s more than just a bit of rough fluff. His outsider perspective on events adds a welcome extra layer of depth to major plot beats from the end of Act 1 on, thanks in part to his deeper knowledge and understanding of the world that he sees so differently from everyone else.
The downside is how long it takes for Halsin to properly join. You could spend upwards of 20 hours or more in Act 1 with him just as a casual-but-grateful bystander, and his big moment in Act 2 arrives fairly late in the story.
7
Minthara
Baldur’s Gate 3’s war criminal has a lot to offer, which is probably a good thing considering what you have to do to join forces with her. She’s proficient in persuasion, intimidation, and perception, which covers a lot of your important social and exploration moments, and she’s a strong Paladin with access to a suite of handy skills that turn battles in your favor. Her romance is completely unlike anything else in BG3, and her story has some strong points as well.
The thing is, most of Minthara’s story happens in Act 1 and at the end of Act 2. Getting to know her has a significant effect on how you approach the story and how it responds, but her actual role in it is less extensive than other companions’. At least, that’s how it was for me, though I played before a hotfix that adjusted some of her interactions.
6
Gale
It’s easy to miss what makes Gale special. He’s your main and best source for Baldur’s Gate 3‘s spells, and the price he demands for his magical battle services is a pair of shoes he can mystically nom on every couple of days, or maybe a jacket or some gloves. If his initial swagger puts you off and you don’t get to know him, he stays an arrogant wizard with a penchant for consuming clothes. If you dig a bit deeper, however, there’s a much more complex Gale under all that bravado.
His big mistake made him a bit sadder and wiser than most of the people you meet in the game, and there’s a warm sincerity in his interactions that makes it almost impossible not to like him, even if you stay on the platonic path.
If only his skills matched his personality. Most of Gale’s proficiencies don’t do a lot for you.
5
Lae’zel
Lae’zel is excellent to have around when you need to beat things over the head a lot, both in and out of battle. Fighters excel at physical violence in Baldur’s Gate 3, especially when they gain their extra attacks – but that’s pretty much all they can do. Lae’zel is proficient in intimidation, which is a perfect fit from a roleplaying perspective. Unless you’re playing as a no-nonsense character or trying out an evil run, though, intimidation won’t get you far in a lot of situations.
Whatever her limitations in conversation, it’s worth keeping Lae’zel around for her companion quests and deeper insight into the Githyanki’s role in Baldur’s Gate 3’s story. Lae’zel’s journey takes her from obedient follower to independent free thinker, albeit with some bumps and a lot of blood on the way. It’s a powerful tale, made even more memorable by Devora Wilde’s exceptional performance.
4
Shadowheart
Shadowheart is one of BG3’s more intriguing characters, a puzzle with ties to some of the deepest parts of the game’s lore – though not even she remembers them for most of your time together. Your bonding moments with Shadowheart runs the gamut from learning about friends she may have had while training as a Sharran acolyte to hearing her rant about Githyanki and watching her try to murder at least one of your friends. She’s a broken goth princess with more than a few extreme viewpoints, but there’s a current of kindness and humanity under the fractured shards of her personality that makes her one of the more well-rounded and relatable characters in your party.
Her default Trickery Domain fits her character well, but it’s such an odd choice for combat. You still get access to a range of Radiant spells, though, which is useful in Act 2, along with Guidance, one of the best spells in the game, and some handy support options.
If you really don’t like her, you can just make someone learn Guidance as a feat, and leave Shadowheart at camp. Or maybe put her in a box and watch the credits roll in under five minutes.
3
Wyll
Wyll is the only normal person in a camp full of slightly deranged companions, and even then, he’s got a literal devil on his shoulder to deal with. Wyll just wants to do good – actual good, not the murdering, torturing kind of good that early access Wyll preferred – and while his story has a tame start, it ends up going to some interesting places. Wyll’s tale is one of family conflict and divided loyalties, of a noble-born warrior who’d rather be a commoner (sometimes), and a fractious relationship between father and son.
Warlock is one of the tougher Baldur’s Gate 3 classes to use, or it is for me, but Wyll brings a few handy proficiencies to the party, including persuasion and intimidation. If you’re not playing as a Bard, let Wyll do the talking in tough situations.
2
Karlach
Karlach is a tough one to rank. From a personality perspective, she’s hands-down one of BG3’s best companions. Karlach is the only one who asks about your past, checks if you’re okay, and offers help and support when you step into the soul-crushing darkness of the Shadowlands. She’s kind and caring, to the point where she even puts Wyll’s happiness above her own – despite Wyll wanting to kill her initially, and her dearest wish is to dampen the fires of her Infernal Machine so she can experience the touch of a friend or loved one again.
Her emotional warmth and the simple, pure goodness of her spirit made Karlach an indispensable companion for me, even though Perception is the only skill that sets her apart from Lae’zel.
1
Astarion
Astarion is low-key one of the most complex characters in the game – and rather less low-key once you get to Act 3. He seems like your typical flamboyant vampire type early in Act 1, a snob with a cruel streak, because, well, he is a snobby vampire with a cruel streak.
There’s a lot more going on under the surface, though. Astarion’s story is one of BG3’s darkest, and you can’t “fix” him with flippant words and easy actions. Understanding him means navigating centuries of trauma, figuring out why he does what he does – and, ultimately, making some difficult choices at the end of his quest. He’s one of the game’s best-written characters, and his path is an unforgettable one.
Rogues like Astarion are a bit of a one-trick deal in battle and rely heavily on advantage attacks, but when they hit, they hit hard. Astarion can also open locks and steal pretty much anything with ease, which saves you a lot of money on thieves’ tools and ethical commerical transactions. He’s proficient in persuasion, deception, sleight of hand, and even performance, which should see you through most situations with a decent outcome – or an entertaining one, if nothing else.
Written by Josh Broadwell on behalf of GLHF
