Quick Summary: Companions in Baldur's Gate 3
Category Description Examples Origin Playable characters with rich backstories. Astarion, Gale, Karlach Non-Origin Recruited later in the game through specific events. Halsin, Jaheira, Minsc Hirelings Customizable mercenaries for your party. Brinna Brightsong, Danton Temporary Join briefly for specific quests. Alfira, Losiir
Understanding Companions in Baldur's Gate 3
Baldur's Gate 3 features a complex system of companions who serve as more than just party members. These characters are defined by their individual motivations, distinct personalities, and unique reactions to your decisions. As you navigate the world, your choices will influence your approval rating with each companion.
High approval ratings can lead to deeper relationships, including the possibility of romance. Conversely, if you make choices that consistently clash with a companion's values, they may choose to leave your party entirely, or in extreme cases, they may become hostile and attempt to kill your player character. While the game allows you to change a companion's default class, the narrative will continue to treat them as if they possess their original class for story purposes.
Origin Companions
Origin companions are the primary characters you will encounter early in the game. These individuals are unique because you can select them as your main player character if you choose not to create a custom character. They are recruited shortly after the prologue and possess deep ties to the central narrative and the events unfolding in the world.
The core roster of Origin companions includes:
- Astarion: A High Elf Rogue with a mysterious past.
- Gale: A Human Wizard seeking to address his magical condition.
- Karlach: A Zariel Tiefling Barbarian with a powerful connection to the Nine Hells.
- Lae'zel: A Githyanki Fighter dedicated to her people's cause.
- Shadowheart: A High Half-Elf Cleric of Shar carrying a significant burden.
- Wyll: A Human Warlock bound by a complex pact.
For players interested in maximizing their party efficiency, learning how to build these characters is essential. You can find more information in our Baldur's Gate 3 best builds guide.
Non-Origin Companions
Unlike Origin characters, non-origin companions are recruited at various stages throughout the adventure. These characters are not selectable as your main player character at the start of the game and require specific recruitment scenarios to join your ranks.
- Halsin: A Wood Elf Druid of the Circle of the Moon.
- Jaheira: A High Half-Elf Druid of the Circle of the Land.
- Minsc: A Human Ranger (Hunter).
- Minthara: A Lolth-Sworn Drow Paladin (Oath of Vengeance).
Each of these characters brings a different perspective to your party, and their recruitment often depends on the path you take. For a comprehensive look at how to navigate these recruitment opportunities, consult our Baldur's Gate 3 walkthrough.
Hirelings and Temporary Companions
If you find yourself in need of specific skills or simply want to round out your party, you can make use of Hirelings. Once you reach level 3, you gain access to 12 unique hirelings—one for each class in the game. Unlike the main companions, hirelings can be fully re-specced at any time, allowing you to customize their abilities and classes to suit your current tactical needs.
Notable Hirelings
- Brinna Brightsong: Lightfoot Halfling Bard.
- Danton: Mephistopheles Tiefling Druid.
- Eldra Luthrinn: Gold Dwarf Barbarian.
- Sir Fuzzalump: Rock Gnome Wizard.
- Jacelyn: High Half-Elf Sorcerer (Draconic Bloodline).
- Kerz: Half-Orc Paladin (Oath of Devotion).
- Kree Derryck: Duergar Warlock (The Great Old One).
- Maddala Deadeye: Human Rogue.
- Sina'zith: Githyanki Monk.
- Varanna Sunblossom: Wood Half-Elf Fighter.
- Ver'yll Wenkiir: Seldarine Drow Ranger.
- Zenith Feur'sel: High Elf Cleric of Selûne (Light Domain).
Temporary companions, such as Alfira or Losiir, join your party only for specific sequences. For example, Losiir appears in the tutorial if you choose Lae'zel as your origin, but his role is scripted to end during the Nautiloid crash.
Managing Your Party and Permanent Removal
Companions generally remain with you throughout your journey. In combat, if a companion falls, they can be revived using the Revivify spell, scrolls, or through the assistance of Withers. However, there are critical narrative moments where a companion may be permanently lost.
Whether through a cutscene, a disagreement that leads to their departure, or forced hostility, some events result in a companion's death or permanent exit. Once these specific outcomes are triggered, the companion cannot be brought back to life, and they will remain dead for the duration of your save file. Always consider the potential consequences of your dialogue choices if you wish to keep your party intact.
For those planning to push their tactical skills to the limit, understanding these companion mechanics is vital for your success in Baldur's Gate 3 honor mode.
Attached Followers
In addition to your core companions and hirelings, you may encounter "attached followers." These are characters that can join your party or follow your main character during specific quests or world interactions. This category includes a wide variety of entities, ranging from summons like Us and Scratch to major story-related allies like Jaheira, Minthara, or even unique entities like the Strange Ox and the Emperor.
These followers often provide utility or narrative context during specific segments of the game, though they do not function as full party members in the same way as your recruited companions.
Source-aware planning notes
Companion advice is easiest to use when it is organized around the player choices that the collected pages explicitly cover. Keep a note of the conversation or quest stage you are at, and distinguish a reported approval pattern from a guaranteed outcome. If a page does not verify a threshold or consequence, treat it as unconfirmed and check the official game context before committing to an irreversible choice. Use the article's headings as a worksheet: write down the confirmed premise, the next action, and the point at which you need to verify a newer source. This approach keeps the guide useful for a first pass while making its limits visible. It also prevents a concise community summary from being mistaken for a complete rulebook. When you adapt the advice to a different party, difficulty, platform, or patch, preserve the original wording and add your own observation separately. A careful note is more valuable than a confident detail that the collected evidence cannot support.
FAQ
Can I change the class of my companions?
Yes, you can change the default class of your companions. However, the game's story will continue to treat them as if they are their original class, regardless of the new class you assign to them.
What happens if a companion's approval gets too low?
If a companion's approval rating drops too low, they may choose to leave your party permanently. In some circumstances, they may even become hostile toward your character.
Can I resurrect a companion who dies in a cutscene?
No. While companions who die in battle can be brought back using Revivify or Withers, those who die during specific scripted cutscenes are permanently dead and cannot be revived under any circumstances.
Is Alfira a permanent companion?
According to records regarding recent game updates, Alfira can be recruited as a temporary companion if you choose the Dark Urge origin and have an available slot in your active party. She does not function as a full-featured companion.