You've finally crashed that nautiloid. Your head is throbbing, there’s a parasite behind your eye, and the beach is littered with debris. Now comes the hard part: picking the people who won't stab you in your sleep. Honestly, the Baldur’s Gate 3 all companions lineup is less of a "heroic party" and more of a walking trauma ward with swords.
Larian Studios didn't just give us sidekicks. They gave us ten complicated, messy, and occasionally homicidal roommates. If you're looking for the "perfect" party, you're already doing it wrong. This game is about the friction. It’s about Gale eating your favorite magic boots while Astarion tries to treat your neck like a juice box.
The Origin Six: Your Day One Disaster Crew
These are the heavy hitters. You can play as them, or you can find them scattered around Act 1. Most players grab all six within the first few hours, but keeping them is a different story.
Shadowheart (The One You Can't Shake)
Shadowheart is basically the unofficial protagonist. She’s a High Half-Elf Cleric of Shar who is carrying a mysterious D20-looking artifact that literally keeps you alive. You'll usually find her pounding on a pod on the ship, or later, moping near the Dank Crypt entrance.
- The Vibe: Guarded, judgmental of Githyanki, but surprisingly soft for animals.
- The Catch: If you don't respect her privacy, she’ll shut you out. Also, her "Trickery" subclass is... well, it’s not great. Most people respec her to Life or Light Domain the second they meet Withers.
Astarion (The High-Stakes Diva)
Everyone’s favorite pale elf. He’s a Rogue who tries to knife you the first time you meet him. He’s found just past the crashed ship, yelling about a monster.
- Why he's there: He wants protection from his old master, Cazador.
- Practicality: You need him for locks. Unless you’re playing a Rogue or a high-dexterity Bard, Astarion is your "Open Sesame" button for every chest in the game.
Lae’zel (The Githyanki Problem)
She is abrasive. There’s no way around it. You’ll find her in a cage being teased by Tieflings just north of the Roadside Cliffs. She’s a Fighter, which makes her an absolute unit on the battlefield.
🔗 Read more: Jigsaw Would Like Play Game: Why We’re Still Obsessed With Digital Puzzles
- The Conflict: She and Shadowheart hate each other. Like, "knives at the throat in the middle of the night" hate. You'll eventually have to pick a side or be a very good mediator.
Gale, Wyll, and Karlach
Gale is the Wizard stuck in a portal (literally, his hand is sticking out of a rock). He needs to eat magic items to stop a bomb in his chest from leveling a city. Then there's Wyll, the "Blade of Frontiers," a Warlock who made a bad deal with a devil named Mizora.
And then there's Karlach.
Karlach is the heart of the group. She’s a Tiefling Barbarian with an engine for a heart. You find her by the river near the Risen Road. She’s loud, she’s fun, and she’s the only one who seems genuinely happy to be here despite the literal hellfire in her chest.
The "Secret" and Late-Game Additions
Not everyone joins you in Act 1. Some require you to be a bit of a jerk, while others require you to play the long game.
Minthara: The Price of Evil
Minthara is a Paladin and a leader of the Goblin camp. For a long time, the only way to get her was to slaughter the Druid Grove. That meant losing Wyll, Karlach, and potentially Gale.
💡 You might also like: Siegfried Persona 3 Reload: Why This Strength Persona Still Trivializes the Game
- The "Good" Way: In recent updates, you can actually recruit her by knocking her out (using non-lethal attacks) in Act 1 and then saving her from Moonrise Towers in Act 2.
- The Nuance: She’s arguably the most interesting companion for a Dark Urge run. She has a dry, brutal wit that the "good" companions lack.
Halsin and Jaheira
Halsin is the big Druid guy. You save him from the Worg Pens, but he won't officially join your party as a playable character until you fix the Shadow Curse in Act 2.
Jaheira is the legacy character. If you played the original games, you know her. She’s a High Half-Elf Druid/Fighter (though just Druid in BG3 mechanics) who you meet at Last Light Inn. If she dies during the assault on Moonrise, she’s gone. Keep her alive; she’s the bridge to the final recruit.
Minsc (and Boo!)
The legendary Ranger. He is the very last companion you can get, deep in Act 3. You have to follow Jaheira’s questline into the sewers of Baldur's Gate. Warning: If you don't have Jaheira with you, or if you don't use non-lethal damage to knock him out, you will kill him. If Minsc dies, Jaheira leaves. It's a package deal.
Managing the Approval Tetris
Understanding Baldur’s Gate 3 all companions means understanding that you can't please everyone. The approval system is a hidden number from -100 to 100.
If it drops below -50, they might just pack their bags and leave. Forever.
| Companion | Loves | Hates |
|---|---|---|
| Astarion | Being a bit of a jerk, power moves, sarcasm | Altruism, helping people for free |
| Gale | Magic curiosity, kindness, intelligence | Mindless violence, cruelty |
| Karlach | Heroism, standing up to bullies, being direct | Siding with devils or Goblins |
| Shadowheart | Privacy, manipulation, kindness to animals | Siding with Githyanki, pushy people |
What Most Players Get Wrong About Party Composition
You don't need a "Healer, Tank, DPS" setup like a standard MMO. Because you can respec anyone at Withers for 100 gold, your choice of companion should be based on story, not class.
📖 Related: The Hunt: Mega Edition - Why This Roblox Event Changed Everything
Want Karlach to be a Cleric? Do it. Want Gale to be a beefy Paladin? Go for it. The only things that stay the same are their tags and their personal quest triggers.
Pro Tip: Always bring a companion to their "home" turf. Bring Lae'zel to the Githyanki Creche. Bring Shadowheart to the Gauntlet of Shar. If you don't, you miss the best dialogue in the game, and sometimes they'll even turn on you for leaving them out of their own life's climax.
Moving Forward With Your Party
If you're feeling overwhelmed, just stick to three favorites for your first run. You can't see everything in one go anyway.
- Check your camp often: Half the story happens during "Long Rests." If you see an exclamation point over a head, talk to them.
- Use the "Magic Mirror": If you hate Astarion's hair or Karlach's jewelry, you can change their appearance (mostly) at camp.
- Don't fear the "Leave" button: If a companion is annoying you or clashes with your morals, you can tell them to go. The game scales. You can even hire "Hirelings" from Withers if you end up solo.
The best way to experience these characters is to let them be themselves. Let them fail. Let them argue. That’s where the real magic of the Sword Coast is buried.
Next, you should head to the Blighted Village and look for the cellar; there’s a certain book there that Astarion or Gale would love to get their hands on.