Welcome to the Baldur’s Gate 3 companions guide. This guide will show where to unlock the companions in the game and how to follow their personal quests. Not all companions will join you while adventuring.
The developers of Baldur’s Gate 3 designed most questlines so that they may be completed in multiple ways. Thus, giving the players more freedom in how they approach situations. This guide represents one method that is confirmed to unlock specific achievements or trophies.
Refer to the Baldur’s Gate 3 Achievements & Trophies Guide for details on how to unlock all the achievements and trophies in the game.
Companion Links
Astarion
Meet Astarion just southwest of where you land on the Ravaged Beach after the Nautiloid ship crashes. After he agrees to join your party or meet you at your camp, initiate a long rest at camp and he will sneak up on you and try to bite you. Don’t attack or scold him. Instead, agree to let him try your blood with “Fine. But not a drop more than you need.” After the biting sequence, you may choose persuasion or other dialog options to end the biting.
The Emperor
You will meet the Emperor while resting in Wyrm’s Lookout on your way to Baldur’s Gate at the end of Act 2. Later, when you enter the Astral Plane, side with the Emperor. When the Emperor offers a new tadpole to help you evolve, agree to it. Later, during a long rest, the Emperor will confide in you about its past. Choose encouraging/positive responses and offer to hold hands.
Once you reach the Lower City, there will be a quest marker on Elfsong Tavern to investigate the basement. Head down there, clearing out the rats and press a button on the back left wall. Then, follow the prompting to go through the large doorway that opens in a cask. Inside you will discover the Emperor’s old hideout. Interact with each of its trinkets. Finally, when you take the next long rest, the Emperor will visit again. If you are encouraging, the Mind Blown achievement or trophy will unlock. You can skip the rest of the interaction after it unlocks.
Gale
Save Gale from a portal on the Ravaged Beach where you land after escaping the ship at the start of the game. Then, he will periodically ask that you give him a magic item that he can drain to satisfy his condition, so keep a few magic items on hand that are not needed. Over time he will reveal more details about what happened to him.
As you travel toward Moonrise Towers via the Mountain Pass, you will come across a weary traveler, Elminster Aumar. Invite him to speak with you at camp and he will give Gale a Charm which will stabilize the Netherse orb.
Secret Early Ending
Fixing Gale’s Netherse Orb is vital toward earning a secret early ending in Act 2, Hero of the Forgotten Realms. Refer to the Baldur’s Gate 3 Achievements & Trophies Guide for details.
Halsin
You will hear about Halsin when you first reach the Druid Grove. Once you make it into the Shattered Sanctum (inside the Goblin Camp), you can free him from the Worg Pens. Killing the 3 goblin leaders will also set him free. After which, he will show up at your camp while celebrating victory over the goblins. Halsin will tell you of the Moonrise Towers and the dangers that surround them.
Karlach
The Hot Date achievement/trophy is difficult to pull off, and it is easy to get stuck in a state where you can’t fix the situation. This is a sequence of events that are confirmed to work.
Refer to the Baldur’s Gate 3 Karlach Hot Date Achievement & Trophy Guide for more details and a video walkthrough.
Act 1
Start in the Blighted Village and head northwest out of the village past the windmill (event there). Just after the windmill jump over a crack in the wall to the north and continue along the path until you jump over a broken bridge. Then, head east working your way down toward the river. Eventually, you will find Karlach on the south side of the river just across a log bridge where you can invite her to meet you at camp.
Try to find Karlach as soon as you can and keep her in your party at all times. You need her there to help boost her relationship with you by doing things she approves of. It may be optional, but also finding her early in Act 1, gives you the chance to meet Dammon with her at the Emerald Grove.
Act 2
When you reach the Last Light Inn during Act 2, make sure you have Karlach in your party and talk to Dammon, the blacksmith. He will offer to fix and upgrade her Infernal Engine if you supply him with Infernal Iron. The order of the next set of events is critical. If you deviate too far, you may lock out the option for the date in Act 3.
- After the 1st upgrade, say:
- “I still can’t touch you, though…”
- “Of course I do.”
- Head to camp for a long rest, but don’t take it yet.
- Say:
- “Karlach, I’d love to be able to touch you properly.”
- “I’d take your hand in mine.”
- Finish the long rest.
- Have Dammon upgrade the Infernal Engine a second time.
- Say:
- “I’m so happy for you. For both of us, if I’m honest.”
- “I can’t wait for tonight. I’m going to hold you as close as possible.”
- Head to camp for another long rest, but don’t take it yet.
- Say: “Of course. Nothing would make me happier.”
- Start the long rest.
- Say:
- “Hello, darling.”
- Choose which ever options you want to not completely reject her.
- In the morning, say:
- “I loved being able to touch you last night.”
- Choose either of the first 2 options.
- Choose deception. She prefers if you lie about her situation.
- Choose any option after that to not reject her.
Act 3
At this point, you will need to progress the story into Act 3. When you reach the start of the act, you can take a long rest and ask Karlach: “It’s been a while since we connected like we once did.” This will prompt her to mention her plans for the future.
When you finally reach the Lower City, head to camp for a long rest. Karlach should have a quest marker over her head and the date sequence will begin. Choose the dialog options you think work best as long as you don’t reject her. The Hot Date achievement or trophy will unlock after the end of the interaction when you return to camp.
Lae’zel
Lae’zel will initially join your party onboard the Nautiloid ship. Shortly after crashing, she can be found just north of the Roadside Cliffs waypoint on your way to the Emerald Grove. Free her from the cage by damaging it.
Accompany her to the Rosymorn Monastery and the Creche below the monastery to progress her questline. As you leave the Mountain Pass to travel to the Moonrise Towers, the game will force a long rest at camp. There, Voss will approach your party and ask for help. Agree to meet him in Baldur’s Gate and convince Lae’zel that it is in her best interest (“He speaks true…“). The achievement/trophy will unlock as he leaves your camp.
Owlbear Cub
You will first encounter the Owlbear cub in the Owlbear Nest in Act 1. If you kill the Owlbear, don’t kill the cub. When you reach the Goblin Camp, the goblins will be playing a chicken game with the cub. Participate in the game and help it complete the course. After you wipe out the goblins and take multiple long rests, the cub will approach you in your camp. Offer it food, but be ready for Gale to accidently scare it away.
The next time you take a long rest, the Owlbear cub will return with a wounded paw. Take care of it and the cub will decide to stay at camp. The next long rest, you will wake up to find Scratch and the Owlbear cub next to each other. Pet Scratch, then pet the cub for the You Have Two Hands for a Reason achievement or trophy to pop.
Scratch
Find Scratch just outside the Blighted Village in Act 1. Interact with him and convince him to meet you at your camp. After taking multiple long rests at camp and petting Scratch, he will have an exclamation mark over his head. When you interact with him again, there will be a ball in his mouth that you can remove. Then, go into your inventory and select to Throw the ball near scratch. After he picks up the ball and brings it back to you, the Fetch Quest achievement/trophy will pop.
Scratch will occasionally find a random object after completing a long rest. Check to see if he has anything for you.
Shadowheart
Free Shadowheart from her pod at the start of the game while you are on the Nautiloid ship. The key is in the back of the room east of her location. Place the key in the console to release her. Then, wake her on the beach after the crash. As you venture forth with Shadowheart, more dialog options will open up. Eventually, you can ask her personal questions like:
- “I want to get to know you more, Shadowheart.”
- “What drew you to Shar worship?”
- “Tell me something about yourself besides Shar, besides tadpoles.”
At that point, she will tell you about night orchids. You can respond with “You’ll have to point out night orchids to me if we ever pass some.” Doing so will unlock the potential of finding one with Shadowheart in your party.
As you explore the Ruined Battlefield in Act 2, keep an eye out for the Shadowed Battlefield waypoint. There is a night orchid next to the waypoint if you jump to the platform northwest of the waypoint with a staircase leading up. To the right of the stairs you can pick the orchid. Offer the night orchid to Shadowheart and the To Bloom in Darkest Night achievement or trophy will unlock.
Warning: If you choose to free Nightsong below the Gauntlet of Shar, Shadowheart will permanently leave your party.
Volo
Volo is found when you first reach the Goblin Camp during Act 1 and is soon sent back to his cage. After entering the building, head to the middle of the right side to where Volo is trapped in a cage. Convince the goblin, Gribbo, to let you take him for a walk (or similar response) to acquire the key and let him out.
Once he is at camp, explain your situation to him. Later when you return to camp, he will have a solution. A painful solution that is difficult to watch but does result in receiving the ability to detect invisible objects/creatures. Unfortunately, Volo will leave camp after the gift.
You will meet Volo again when you reach the docks on the west side of the Lower City in Act 3. Save him from the local mob and he will join you again at camp.
Wyll
Talk with Wyll while he is training children to fight at the Tiefling Camp near Emerald Grove. Invite him to join your party or meet you at camp.
Invite Wyll to join your party when you travel to Moonrise Towers, since his father is rumored to be a prisoner there. When you take a long rest in the Ruined Battlefield, Mizora will stop by your camp again. This time, you may detect a way out of Wyll’s pact if your perception check succeeds.
You will find the prisoner to release just north of the Tadpole Center in the Mind Flayer Colony under Moonrise Towers in Act 2. Free the prisoner to continue progressing Wyll’s questline.
After walking through Wyrm’s Rock, you will find Mizora on the other side of the bridge. Talk to her again and find out that Wyll’s father is attending the coronation. After defeating Gortash, speak to Mizora again. This time she will agree to meet at camp. When you return to camp, start a long rest and talk with Mizora. She will offer Wyll to extend his contract for a tempting reward or break it. Choose “Then break it already…” followed by “Break the pact Wyll…” to free Wyll from his contract and unlock the Loophole achievement or trophy.
That’s it for the Baldur’s Gate 3 companions guide. Please post any questions or comments below. Thanks.