Baldur’s Gate 3 is a party-based CRPG, with a heavy focus on the game’s role play, adaptability to your actions, and relations between many party members. Therefore, it is safe to say Companions are a very important part of your experience throughout the entire game. Here’s a look at all the currently known Baldur’s Gate 3 Companions, including the companion classes, and we also take a look at Hirelings, which were announced just before full release.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Companions List¶

Below are all the Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 that we are aware of so far:

Astarion, Gale, Lae’Zel, Shadowheart, and Wyll will likely be the first five companions you encounter, all of which were added as part of the early access launch. Lae’Zel and Shadowheart can join you on the Nautiloid in Hell, but all characters won’t become permanent members of your party (provided you don’t run them off later) until you’re properly in Act 1. In addition to these foundational five, Larian Studios has added numerous extra characters you can recruit at later points in the story, including Halsin, Jaheira, Karlach, Minsc, and Minthara. You may recognize two names in this list, which are Minsc and Jaheira, as they are both lore established characters in previous Baldur’s Gate games.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Companion Classes¶

Now, for those looking to fit certain characters into your party, here’s a closer look at what we know about the companion classes in BG3:

Baldur’s Gate 3 Companion Locations¶

Each of the Companions appear at various stages of Act 1, with some appearing after the Early Access window. Again, we know where most are, but we will update the page come launch for better clarity on the few later-confirmed companions. Without further ado, here is where you can expect to find all Companion locations in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Astarion’s Location in BG3¶

Astarion’s location in BG3 is found towards the very start of Act 1, after the crash of the Nautiloid. As you make your way up through the crashed Nautiloid, players can head on the western road leading from the lower end of the ship, up the hill, and find Astarion on the path that leads to the northern end of the Nautiloid.

When you encounter him, he is worked up about the walking brains along the floor, and tries to get you to kill them for him. You can refuse or accept it, but, he pulls a knife on you regardless of the option you choose, and then you can get in a fight or chat in role play mode. When that’s done, you both recognize you’ve got tadpoles, and then make amends for the mistake. After that, you can recruit him to your party, and thats that.

Gale’s Location in BG3¶

Gale is another early companion you can recruit in BG3. Gale’s location is also along the road around the crashed Nautiloid, more specifically along the northern path leading out of the top end of the ship. He will appear out of a portal in the rocky wall.

If you opt for helping him out of the portal, you will get the dialogue to speak to him about what he knows. You can then offer him to join your party or camp if you are already full. Alternatively, if you don’t assist him out of the portal, or choose to bite his hand if you’re the Dark Urge, then his portal will close, and we are unsure if you can recruit him again after that.

Halsin’s Location in BG3¶

Halsin is a complicated character, as he is a quest objective in Act 1. When you reach the Druid Grove, you are tasked with finding the !Druid, Halsin, who has gone missing after investigating a Goblin Threat.

However, you can find him in the Shattered Sanctum, which is the Chapel location beyond the Goblin Camp, west of the Blighted Village. When you reach the Shattered Sanctum, you can find Halsin’s location inside the Worg Room, which is behind an Ornate Door near the three Sharp Eye Goblins. You can access this by traveling up the stairs where the Priestess is; go towards Minthara and climb the ladder. Alternatively, go towards the prisoner cells, cross the wooden path, then enter the room with the Sharp Eyes.

When you enter the Worg Room, Halsin has disguised himself as a Cave Bear, and is caged towards the bottom right corner of the room. Depending on how you handle the Goblin Camp situation, you may either free him in the Shattered Sanctum or find him at the Druid Grove, depending on how you approach the Goblin main storyline in Act 1.

Bear in mind this is based on EA Act 1. He was not a companion then, so, we will likely update this section when we know more on how to recruit Halsin.

Jaheira’s Location in BG3¶

Jaheira is in the List Light Inn, which is in the second act, beyond the veil of the Shadowcursed lands. You will arrive here as part of your journey to Moonrise Towers, and to discover more about the tadpole in your heads.

Karlach’s Location in BG3¶

Karlach is an NPC you encounter towards the end of Act 1, with the players meeting her, and a Paladin called Andrew in an area called the Risen Road. This is towards the north of the Blighted Village, which is to the west of the Druid Grove. When you travel north of the Blighted Village, you’ll come across a bridge with an east and west turning. Go east, and then follow the pathway down, where you can find Karlach sitting by the roadside.

Keep in mind she is part of a quest called “Hunt the Devil”, involving Andrew the Paladin. So, depending on your choices, it could result in her defeat. If you intend to recruit her after the game goes live, chances are you need this quest to go in her favor. Be mindful that Wyll also has a storyline to kill her, so, if you recruit her and Wyll, then you will get a slightly different subplot for Wyll.

Lae’zel’s Location in BG3¶

Lae’Zel’s location is easy enough to find in BG3. You can find her in a trap the local Tiefling population sets up, snaring her up towards a tree. This trap is located just above the hill from the Chapel, which is northwest from the chapel. It is also just south of the Druid Grove too.

When you encounter her, you will find two Tieflings watching over her, wondering what to do with her. There’s a few solutions to rescue her. A few involve making some persuasion, intimidation, or class checks, which will result in them handing control over to you to free her. You can also roll to lower her, or forcefully get a companion with a spell or ranged weapon to break the trap’s hatch, and allow her to fall to the floor.

The other, less desirable option, is to fight the two Tieflings. But, beware Paladins, as that’s not a very nice thing to do, resulting in you becoming an Oathbreaker.

Once she is free, you can recruit Lae’zel to your party.

Minsc’s Location in BG3¶

Minsc is one of the only characters we do not know anything about prior to game launch. Larian confirmed he is a companion in the Community Post #20 and that he seems to appear later in Act 2. We’ll update when we know more.

Minthara’s Location in BG3¶

Minthara is one of the leader’s of the Absolute, who are based in the Shattered Sanctum, one of the bases inside the Goblin Camp. Minthara can be found towards the rear end in the Sanctum. You can access this by traveling up the stairs where the Priestess is, and following the cellar walls along, over the bridge. You will see her next to a desk, planning something with other Goblin bosses.

However, Minthara is a bad character, at least in the eyes of the Tieflings and the !Druids, and so, you have choices to make. If you decide to fight Minthara, and help the Tieflings and !Druids, then you will need to beat her. On the other hand, you can side with her. If you manage to side with her, you will need to complete a serious of events to befriend her.

Shadowheart’s Location in BG3¶

Shadowheart is the very first companion you will meet after the Nautiloid crashes. Simply walk up from the beach you start on, and move up towards the chapel. As you get near the Chapel, you will see Shadowheart lying on the floor. Help her up and recruit her and you’re done.

Note that Shadowheart’s original location is on the Nautiloid, stuck inside one of the pods. If you fail to open the pod you will still find her near the chapel. Rescuing Shadowheart from the Nautiloid Pod is just for added support as you make your way through the ship in the tutorial stage of the game.

Wyll’s Location in BG3¶

Players looking to find Wyll’s location can expect to do so as you approach the Druid Grove. The Druid Grove is just to the north of where you find Lae’zel. When you approach the Druid Grove for the first time, you will find three characters running towards the gate of the Druid Grove, demanding to be let in because of Goblins. Eventually, this leads to a fight between those on the wall, those stuck outside, and the Goblins. You can join in and fight the Goblins too.

During the fight Wyll will appear and jump from the wall, and start Eldritch blasting Goblins on his combat turn. Once the fight is over, and Wyll presumingly survives the battle, you can head inside the Grove. When you enter via the gate, keep following the path up, and you shall come across a shanty slum area, near a trader. Wyll can be seen practicing sword fighting with a Tiefling youth, allowing you to speak to him.

If the convo goes as expected, you recruit him, and so, you get the quest to go hunt for Karlach. The quest you used to get from him in EA is now offered by the leader of the Hellrider Tieflings in the Druid Grove.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Hirelings Explained¶

If, for some reason, you already have a perceived party setup you want for your campaign, then Larian are supporting you with that idea by introducing the Hireling feature. Players who want to configure their party from the start can recruit Hirelings, who are generic characters, kind of like custom characters with base voices and attitudes.

Each of the Hirelings represent one of each class, so you can recruit exactly what class you want from your party straight away. These will basically act as sellsword mercenaries that mindlessly follow you around as companions, albeit, with no origin or personality, like the other Baldur’s Gate 3 companions we have seen so far.

You can also get these from Withers when he arrives at your camp. They cost 100 gold to recruit.