Be it a Tav or Origin character, you need the best companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 to survive the Mind Flayer parasite and complete the Story campaign. But aside from the progression, you might be looking for companions with a compelling background or stories. While trying out different Party combinations, companions with interesting backstories can make your playthrough more fun. But which companions should you recruit for your party? Don’t worry, find out our recommended best BG3 companions ranked from best to worst.
Table of Contents
All Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 Ranked
Here are all the companions in BG3 ranked from best to worst in order:
- Karlach
- Shadowheart
- Astarion
- Halsin
- Jaheira
- Wyll
- Gale
- Minsc (& Boo)
- Minthara
- Lae’zel
So, let’s break down every best Baldur’s Gate 3 companion ranked considering their narratives or backstory:
Karlach
Starting off with the most vindictive-looking companion, Karlach is the sweetest devious character in BG3. As you cool down Karalch and recruit her, she reveals her softer side by not siding with the devils or any cruel deeds. Aside from her personality, she is a Barbarian with quite versatile combat you can rely on.
Astarion
As a Vampire spawn, Astarion is the perfect BG3 companion if you are looking for some mischief and humor. Though he likes to boast about power, dominance, and killing innocents, he does have a soft side when it comes down to him. If you recruit Astarion to your party and gain his approval, he will reveal the layers of his backstory. It’s easily the best narrative and origin story for us. Even though, he can bite and kill the Tav. Romancing Astarion is also a great option if you are looking for some vampiric hickeys.
Shadowheart
Aside from her cute looks that the entire community (including me) is falling for, Shadowheart is the easiest companion to fight alongside in Baldur’s Gate 3. But aside from dreaming of romancing her, she has one of the most interesting backstories. It is pretty easy to gain her approval as it mostly involves helping other people, animals, and kindness. In addition to that, she is the best support character using her healing powers.
Halsin
Being one of the most overpowered characters, you will hear Halsin plenty of times even before you meet him. Even though he is secretive, he has an impressive backstory and romance option in BG3. Also, as many players have been looking to romance his bear form, it is not particularly too hard to gain his approval.
Jaheira
Jaheira is one of the returning characters and companions in BG3 that doesn’t disappoint. Even though she is not an Origin character, her personality and attitude justify her backstory narrative quite well. If you are looking for a complex companion to keep up with, Jaheira is the most obvious companion to choose from.
Gale
Being always morally upstanding, wise, and harmonic, Gale is the best character for spell casting and AoE attacks. Except for regularly asking you for Artifacts and Magical items, Gale is a decent companion in Baldur’s Gate 3. But coming to his secretive narrative and closed-off attitude, his character development didn’t seem as well executed as other companions.
Wyll
Speaking of complicated characters, Wyll is a companion that lost his freedom when he struck a bargain with the Devil. Despite his background story, Wyll tries to be moral and follow ethics when you recruit him. But as a noble bent on good deeds, his redemption arc can be a bit exhausting at times.
Minsc (& Boo)
Minsc is one of the returning characters and companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 alongside Jaheira. While turning into a stone, this character comes with a hamster who he believes to be from space. If you fancy a companion to tell you their adventures about the heroes of Baldur’s Gate, Minsc can be your pick. But since this companion cannot be recruited until Act 3, we have ranked this entertaining companion NPC a bit low in the list.
Minthara
If you side with the Goblins in Act 2, you can recruit Minthara as a companion. Although her Drow personality might seem too harsh and rude, this companion does have her soft corners. Speaking of her toxic side, Minthara will always try to kill you even if you romance her. But if you intend to be evil, there’s no companion as wicked as she is.
Lae’zel
If our list was based on combat and raw strength, Lae’zel would have easily made it to the top. Being an arrogant and resilient Githyanki toughie, Lae’zel requires plenty of work to begin with. As many players are willing to put in the effort for romancing her, she is as rude in the bed as in the camp. But jokes aside, Lae’zel is pretty focused on removing the Mind Flayer, her sworn enemy. And can be a decent choice for progressing quickly.
Who is the Best Companion in Baldur’s Gate 3?
In terms of backstory, personality, and overall combat stats, Karlach is our favorite and the best companion in BG3. That’s because she has the most interesting backstories out of all the characters. While she does has a motive like other Origin characters, her compassion and kindness strike a deal with her Barbarian combat prowess. Compared with other companions, her nature is quite straightforward without being secretive. And as someone who escaped the Hells, Karlach is the most fun companion.
That’s all about the best Baldur’s Gate 3 companions ranked. If you found this guide helpful, check out our guides to find out the best feats ranked for every class, what is the strongest class, and explore more Baldur’s Gate 3 Guides right here on Gamer Tweak.