Who are the Baldur’s Gate 3 companions? If you’re new to Baldur’s Gate or Larian RPGs in general, companions are unique characters who can join your party and accompany you throughout the game. They’ll help you out in combat, but they also have their own skills and story. Several of them can also be selected as Origins at character select, allowing you to play through Baldur’s Gate 3 from that character’s perspective.
All BG3 companions scale to your level and gain experience with you, even if you still need to select the best Baldur’s Gate 3 classes to secure victory. They’re an integral part of turning the adventure, as mentioned in our Baldur’s Gate 3 review, into “a truly special experience”.
Best Baldur’s Gate 3 companions
Here are the best Baldur’s Gate 3 companions:
- Karlach
- Shadowheart
- Gale
After spending dozens of hours in Baldur’s Gate 3, we’ve determined the best companions in the game based on how they fit in with our BG3 party comp, how good their quests and backgrounds are, and who we just like to have around. Though of course this is all subjective, depending on your playstyle and how patient you are.
All Baldur’s Gate 3 companions list
Here’s a full list of all the BG3 companions:
- Laezel
- Wyll
- Karlach
- Halsin
- Jaheira
- Minthara
- Astarion
- Gale
- Minsc
- Shadowheart
Laezel
- Class: Fighter
- Location: Ravaged Beach
The first companion you’ll come across, Laezel is a Githyanki fighter who prefers the straightforward approach. She’s focused on her goals and has never met a problem that violence couldn’t solve. She can be brutal, short-tempered, and occasionally unpleasant to be around, but her half-plate armor and trusty longsword make her an absolute monster in combat. To get a better feel for Laezel, check out our Laezel companion guide.
Wyll
- Class: Warlock
- Location: Druid Grove
Wyll is a Human Warlock and a noble by birth. A traditional hero, Wyll made a name for himself as the Blade of Frontiers and prefers traditional hero things like helping the innocent and doing the right thing. Pretty untraditional for a Warlock. In combat, Wyll is an all-rounder who’s capable of filling any role, but he excels as a utility caster who supports the party from the back lines. For more on your favorite Warlock, check out our Wyll companion guide.
Karlach
- Class: Unknown
- Location: Unknown
An Asmodeus Tiefling Barbarian who was sold into slavery, Karlach saw her fair share of fighting in the Blood War. She’s got some anger issues, and she’s also out for revenge against the people who sold her into slavery. Larian Studios writer Sarah Baylus summed up Karlach like this: “In a 2023 setting, [Karlach would] roll in on a Harley with shades and a cigar between her teeth, blaring Sabbath – a diesel-soaked dynamo with a heart of gold. She seeks justice for the oppressed, camaraderie, and revenge on the bastard who sold her to Hell.” Makes sense for a barbarian who does her best work up close and personal. Check out our Karlach companion guide for more information on the Barbarian Tiefling.
Halsin
- Class: Druid
- Location: Shattered Sanctum
Halsin is an alluring Wood Elf Druid. He also can transform into a sexy bear, if you’re into that kinda thing. You hear about him pretty early on, and you can recruit him into your party if you help out his fellow Druids in the Shattered Sanctum later on. Check out everything we know about Halsin in his character guide.
Minsc
- Class: Ranger
- Location: Unknown
A fan-favorite, Minsc is a kind, simple Ranger who’s out to fight evil wherever it rears its ugly head. He also has a hamster named Boo, who Minsc claims is a “miniature giant space hamster,” though no one else can verify if that’s true. Despite the sizeable leap in time from Baldur’s Gate 2, Minsc is still kicking. Check out our Minsc companion for more information.
Jaheira
- Class: Unknown
- Location: Unknown
Another returning character from Baldur’s Gate 2, Jaheira was an orphaned noble raised by Druids. She’s a little older and wiser in Baldur’s Gate 3, seemingly taking on the role of the mentor or savvy veteran rather than the reckless adventurer of yesteryear. Check out our Jaheira companion guide for further details.
Minthara
- Class: Paladin
- Location: Goblin Camp
Minthara is one of the leaders of the Goblin Camp. To recruit her, you’ll naturally need to avoid conflicts with the Goblins around the Shattered Sanctum… and you’ll also need to do some pretty evil things that might alienate other members of your party. If you’re willing to do the things necessary to befriend her, read our Minthara companion guide.
Astarion
- Class: Rogue
- Location: Ravaged Beach
Astarion is a High Elf rogue who is also a vampire spawn. For plot reasons we won’t spoil, he’s okay in sunlight and has no problems entering houses uninvited, but he has unique strengths and weaknesses because of his vampire spawn status. He has an understandable soft spot for monsters and he can be pretty ruthless, but you definitely want him watching your back in combat. Learn more about the alluring rogue in our Astarion companion guide.
Shadowheart
- Class: Cleric
- Location: Abandoned Ruins
Shadowheart is a High Half-Elf Cleric and a disciple of the Shar, the night god. This means she focuses on manipulation and illusion in addition to the standard Cleric abilities. She appreciates trickery and deception, but she respects people who can see through it and doesn’t like unnecessary violence and cruelty. Shadowheart functions best when she’s away from the fray, casting damaging spells and healing her allies. For more on Shadowheart, check out our Shadowheart companion guide.
Gale
- Class: Wizard
- Location: Roadside Cliffs
Gale is a Human Wizard, but he’s not a stuffy old man. Gale is amiable and dislikes fighting, but appreciates poetry, being kind to others, intelligence, and curiosity. As a Wizard, Gale has access to power spells and can learn spells permanently from scrolls if you pay the necessary costs. Like most Wizards, Gale is a glass cannon who works best when he’s standing back and pelting enemies with spells. For more information, check out our Gale companion guide.
That’s all we know about Baldur’s Gate 3 companions. For more on Larian’s latest RPG game, check out our guides on Baldur’s Gate 3’s races and every Baldur’s Gate 3 quest – best read up on that BG3 lore now before you begin your long journey.