Being a party-based RPG, players need to recruit new companions in their game to help them make their party versatile and conquer new difficult challenges. Baldur’s Gate 3 has multiple companions that you can recruit to your cause. Some of these automatically join your case as you progress and others will travel with you during quests and others you have to recruit yourself. This guide will list all the main recruitable companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
How to recruit all companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
All companions that you recruit in BG3 can be directly recruited after you meet them. In order to recruit the NPCs, you need to be quite friendly with them and lend a helping hand when they need it.
If you are talking to them, you need to avoid antagonizing the NPC. Be friendly and they will agree to join you. If you antagonize them on the first meeting, it is highly likely that it will result in a fight and you will have to kill them.
For the first four companions, simply asking them to join you in the first encounter is enough. They are all also available quite early on in the game before you even get to the Emerald Grove in BG3.
Below is a map of all the places where you can find these recruitable companions in Baldur’s Gate 3
How to recruit Shadowheart
Shadowheart is a High-Elf Trickery Cleric with the Urchin background. Shadowheart can be recruited as soon as you wake up on the Ravaged Beach. She is unconscious near you, just approach and wake her up. Make sure you don’t try to steal her artefact. Just be friendly to Shadowheart and ask to work together and she will be the first member of your party.
How to recruit Gale
Gale is a Human Wizard comapnion with a Sage background. Gale can be found in the Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3. See the orange spot on the map.
Gale is found close to the crash site where you wake up. Shortly after recruiting Shadowheart, follow the path north of the wreck and you can find a purple portal here. Interact with the portal, and you need to pull Gale out of this portal.
If you mess up the skill check, players will rip off Gale’s arm and lose Gale. If you do manage to save Gale, Gale will be grateful and you will have the option to recruit him in your party in your conversations.
How to recruit Astarion
Astarion is a High-Elf Rogue with a Noble background. Astarion can be found in Act 1 of BG3. See the purple spot on the map.
Go through the crash site where you fight Intellect Devourers. On the other side, you should see Astarion moving around angrily. Talk to him and he will try to trick and kill you. De-escalate the situation and then ask him to join.
How to recruit Lae’zel
Lae’zel is a Githyanki Fighter with a Soldier background. You find her for the first time in your first battle in Nautiloid as you both wake up in the same room. After the crash, you will have to look for Lae’zel in the Wilderness, near Cathedral Ruins before getting to Emerald Grove. See the yellow spot on the map.
Lae’zel is held in a cave by Tieflings. Either convince them to leave the place or fight and kill them. Once they are gone, break open the bottom part of the cage and Lae’zel will drop to the ground. Talk to her and ask her to join you in getting rid of the parasite inside your brain.
How to recruit Wyll
Wyll is a Human Warlock in BG3. He can be found in Emerald Grove during Act 1. See Red Spot on the map.
Head north from the Ravaged Beach to find the Emerald Grove and the sanctuary of the Druids. Here, Wyll will be fighting off some Goblins. Help Wyll defeat the goblins and you will unlock the ‘Rescuing the Druid Halsin’ quest.
Head inside the Grove and you will see Wyll in the training area, teaching people how to fight. Talk to him to recruit him.
How to recruit Karlach
Kalach is an Asmodeus Tiefling Barbarian of unknown origin. Karlach can be found north of the Blighted Village, along the Risen Road in BG3. See Blue Spot on the map.
Talk to Karlach and you can accept to help her defeat Anders and his fake Paladins. Doing so will tip the scales in your favor. Karlach will go back to the camp, and you can talk to her there so you can recruit Karlach in BG3.
How to recruit Halsin
One of the first non-origin characters you can potentially recruit Halsin is a druid and leader of the Druid Circle at Emerald Grove. He has been captured by Goblins and needs rescuing. Infiltrate the Goblin Camp, rescue him, and then side with Halsin in the conflict against Minthara’s forces.
Once the Grove is safe and Minthara and her armies are defeated, he will join you at your camp. The actual Halsin recruitment takes place in Act 2 of BG3 after meeting him at Last Light Inn and waking up Art Cullagh.
How to recruit Minthara
The 2nd non-origin companion you can recruit in Act 1 of BG3, Minthara is a Drow Paladin serving the Absolute in BG3. As such, she is initially evil so you will have to go down a dark path to recruit her. Talk to Minthara at the Goblin Camp, give her the location of Emerald Grove and then side with Minthara during the conflict.
This will effectively wipe out druids and tieflings at the grove and close off any chances of recruiting Halsin. After spending a romantic night with Minthara, she will ask you to meet her at Moonrise Towers. This takes you to Act 2 where you have to decide Minthara’s fate. If you help Minthara escape from prison, you can recruit Minthara to your party.
How to recruit Jaheira
Jaheira is a returning companion from the old Baldur’s Gate games. She is also a druid so if you were unable to recruit Halsin, you can fill up your party with Jaheira. Jaheira can be found at Last Light Inn, leading the Harpers. This means you need to follow the good guy story route if you wish to recruit Jaheira.
At the Last Light Inn, save Isobel from abduction before finding Ketheric Thorm’s Relic. Once you know the secret to his immortality, launch an assault on Moonrise Towers with Jaheira. Before the battle starts, make sure to ask Jaheira to join you, otherwise she might die. This will allow her to become a temporary companion. Once Ketheric runs away after the fight on the rooftop, talk to Jaheira and ask her to become a permanent member of your party.
How to recruit Minsc
Minsc is also a returning companion from old games and a friend of Jaheira. Unfortunately, he is under the control of the Absolute so recruiting Minsc can be a bit tricky. To recruit Minsc in BG3, you need to have Jaheira in your party. Progress through Jaheira’s The High Harper quest and you will eventually encounter Minsc.
Save him from mind control by knocking him out with a non-lethal attack and then you will have the option to recruit Minsc.
