Baldur’s Gate 3 companions are available in the game’s open world and can be obtained by completing specific quests. Once a companion joins you, they will wait for you in your camp if your party is already full.
In Baldur’s Gate 3, most companions are starting characters in the game. However, the character “Black Impulse” is not a companion and cannot be obtained as one. While most companions have romance sequences, not all of them do.
In this guide, we will explain how and where to find all 10 companions in the game, but be aware that there may be spoilers.
Table of Contents
All Baldur’s Gate 3 Companions
- Astarion
- Galley
- Halsin
- Jaheira
- Karlach
- Lae’zel
- Minsc
- Minthara
- Shadowheart
- Wyll
Six of these characters are starting characters and can be added to your party early in the game. Astarion, Gale, Karlach, Lae’zel, Shadowheart, and Wyll can be recruited in the first part of the game. Halsin and Minthara, who are not starting characters, can also be obtained early. Jaheira can be added in the second part of the game, and Minsc in the third part of the game. If your party is already at its maximum of 4 members, a new companion will wait in your camp until you make room. You can either ask a character to wait in the camp or go to the camp and add them there.
If you want to pursue a romantic relationship with a companion, you will need to gain their approval through in-game decisions and choose the right conversation options when the opportunity arises. However, it’s important to note that Jaheira and Minsc cannot be romanced in the game.
Be aware that your decisions in the game may affect whether or not you can recruit certain companions. To ensure that you can have all companions in your team, you must be careful with your choices, as companions can leave your party, die permanently, or refuse to join you based on your actions and dialogue.
Lae’zel
You will meet Lae’zel for the first time on the Nautiloid ship’s deck at the beginning of the game. You can temporarily add her to your party until you escape the ship. After escaping, you can find her at the specified location on the map with the coordinates X:240, Y:370.
For more information, read: “What is Baldur’s Gate 3 Karmic Dice?”
Go to the indicated location and you will find Lae’zel being held captive by Tieflings in a cage. You need to defeat or intimidate the Tieflings in order to rescue Lae’zel. If you are playing as a Paladin with the Oath of Devotion subclass, you can break your oath by killing the Tieflings here. Once the Tieflings leave, you can free Lae’zel by shooting the bottom of her cage with an arrow. If you don’t have an arrow, you can equip one from the ground and use it to free her.
If you fail to save Lae’zel at this location or forget to save her, she will reappear on the bridge where the Githyanki Patrol is in the second part of the game.
Shadowheart
Shadowheart is first encountered inside a Mindflayer pod on the way to the deck of the Nautiloid ship. Lae’zel will advise you not to waste time and to proceed to the helm, but if you want to recruit Shadowheart, you should ignore Lae’zel’s advice. To release Shadowheart from her pod, you need to enter the room next to her location, retrieve the rune from the corpse at the back of the room, and place it in the console next to the pod. Shadowheart will then join your party until you escape from the ship.
After escaping the ship, you will need to find Shadowheart again, just like Lae’zel. You can find her at the specified location on the map with the coordinates X:270, Y:220.
If she is no longer at the previously mentioned location, you may find her in the Druid camp or at the coordinates X:282, Y:302. If she is not at either location, you can encounter her on your way to the mountain pass in the second part of the game.
Gale
Gale appears by extending his hand from a portal called the Circle of Ancient Seal, which is located at X: 222, Y: 325 on the map. If you want to recruit Gale, you need to interact with the portal.
You can save Gale by rolling dice based on your highest stat. If you are not proficient in any skill, you can try with Lae’zel or Shadowheart. If you fail to save Gale at this location, you may encounter him again on your way to the mountain pass, but it is advised not to take the risk.
Astarion
You can find Astarion at the coordinates X:172 Y:288, as shown in the screenshot below.
Astarion will be waiting at this location until you recruit him into your party. If you proceed to the second part of the game, he may not be available.
Wyll
You can find Wyll in the Wyll Druid grove, located at X:206, Y:553 on the map. You will find him training multiple Tieflings.
If you recruit Karlach before Wyll, Wyll will disappear. To find Wyll, you need to rest or complete the Goblin camp quest.
Halsin
Halsin is the first non-starting character in the game who can join your party. He is held captive in the Goblin camp, located at X:401, Y:24 on the map. Be prepared for a war with the goblins when you save Halsin. If you want to explore the rest of the goblin camp without fighting, instruct Halsin not to accompany you.
If you fail to save Halsin here, he will appear during the attack on the Druid camp. Even if Halsin comes to your camp, he will not be a playable character until the second part of the game. To add him to your party, Shadow must go to the cursed lands and awaken the unconscious soldier named Art Cullagh after speaking with Jaheira. Halsin will join your party once you complete the Art Cullagh quest.
Karlach
Karlach is located on the riverside of the building where the paladins are in the first part of the game. When you follow the paladins, you will come across some bodies. Karlach can be found at the coordinates X:108, Y:509. The screenshot below shows the exact location.
If you can’t find Karlach at this location, you may encounter her in the third part of the game or she may not appear at all. It is recommended not to take this risk. If you kill Tieflings in the Druid camp, Karlach will refuse to join your team. It may be difficult to recruit both Karlach and Minthara in the same playthrough.
Minthara
In Baldur’s Gate 3, Minthara is the most likely companion to be missed. If you help the Tieflings in the first part of the game and stop the goblin attack or destroy the goblin camp, you will not be able to recruit her. If you choose to help the helpless Tieflings or prefer a role-playing approach, you don’t need Minthara in your party.
If you want to recruit Minthara without antagonizing the Tieflings, you will need to skip a few missions. By not interfering with the goblin camp and going to the “Moonrise Towers”, you can recruit Minthara there. You can first encounter Minthara in the goblin camp, located at X:331, Y:45 on the map.
If you want to recruit Minthara early in the game, you must follow the steps I’m about to explain. After encountering Minthara in the goblin camp, you must reveal the location of the Druid camp and agree to deceive the Tieflings. After speaking with Zevlor in the Druid camp and opening the gates, you need to use the item given by Minthara to summon her. By doing this, you are guaranteed to recruit Minthara into your team in the future, at the cost of betraying the Tieflings. When you reach the Moonrise Towers in the second part of the game, you will find Minthara there.
Here is some “Late Game” information about Minthara. Towards the end of the game, you will have the ability to summon allies for a major battle. Zevlor and his team can be summoned as allies, but only if you haven’t betrayed them previously.
Jaheira
Jaheira is also a companion in Baldur’s Gate 1 and Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn. In Baldur’s Gate 3, you can find her for the first time in the shadow cursed lands, at the Inn of the Last Light. She will join your party after you complete the second part of the game and will make her way to your camp.
Minsc
Minsc is also a companion in Baldur’s Gate 1 and Baldur’s Gate II: Shadows of Amn. You can add Minsc to your party in the third part of the game by following Jaheira’s questline. He can be found on the lowest floor of the “Existence Palace”. Do not attempt to rescue Minsc without completing Jaheira’s mission. When you try to save Minsc, the other characters in your party will object, but it is advised to ignore them, as Minsc is one of the best companions in the game.
