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How to Find All Recruitable Companions in BG3 – Baldur’s Gate 3 Companion Locations (Map)

We can all be friends.

Pen-and-paper Dungeons & Dragons is nothing without the people you play it with and Baldur’s Gate 3 is no different; the companions you meet along the way who join your party help shape the quests you complete, as each has a backstory to follow that unfolds as you play. You meet two of them on the ship in the opening scenes but once you arrive on land, you are separated from them once more. Read on to find out all of the locations of the companions you can team up with in Baldur’s Gate 3. 

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Where to Find All Recruitable Companions in Baldur's Gate 3 (Locations Map)

Below you’ll find all the locations for each of the NPCs you can have join your party in Baldur’s Gate 3. You can only have a party of four at any one time, but don’t worry: you can befriend all of the companions, and the ones you don’t currently have in your group can be swapped in and out while you’re camped at any time outside of battles

Related: Best Feats List – Baldur’s Gate 3

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How to Find Shadowheart in BG3

It’s hard to miss Shadowheart (1) if you rescue her from the pod on the ship, as she will be lying on the ground just a few steps north of where you crash-land on the beach (the more southernly circle marked 1a on the map above). There’s no danger here, so simply talk to her on the ground and she’ll join you (the decision you need to make here is only a role-playing one and has no effect on your relationship).

If you don’t save her from the pod, she’ll be slightly further north near the entrance to the Old Church (1b). If you want a solid cleric on your party, your reputation will be improved by saving her, so it may be worth restarting and saving her from the pod in the ship to get that little head start on her approval rating with you. 

How to Find Astarion

Beginning from your starting point on the beach, take a left (west) and head into the wreckage of the crashed ship. You’ll have a small battle with three level-one Intellect Devourers (don’t forget to level up to level 2 before you do so if you can). Keep moving west after the battle and exit the wreckage, following the path northwest with the wreckage now on your right. You’ll come to a T-junction where you can either go east into the wreckage once more or west; Astarion (2) is standing just a few steps along the path west.

Once again, your first exchange with him is mainly roleplaying, but your answers can affect your approval rating with Shadowheart (answer honestly and nicely and she’ll approve). 

How to Find Gale

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From where you can team up with Astarion, head east, and back into the ship. Move through it northeast and when you exit on the other side you’ll see an Ancient Sigil Circle in the rocks (see image above). Save here, and then interact with it and choose to touch the sigil. Make either a simple Strength or Wisdom roll and you’ll be able to pull Gale (3) out of the sigil.

When you first level Gale up (to level two), he has a Subclass already chosen, but you can change it immediately (for free) to any of the eight Wizard subclasses. I found this out by accident and it's easy to miss, as the subclass is already ticked when you start the level-up process. 

How to Find Lae’zel

From where you find Gale in the sigil, head east along the path, and then take the first left and start to move north. At the T-junction take the right fork and continue north, where you’ll see two figures. You can also approach this interaction from the east or west, but this will leave you on lower ground which will be a disadvantage if a fight begins. Move towards them for a cut scene, where you’ll see the two Tieflings have captured Lae-zel (4) in a cage trap.  

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Attack and kill her and she’ll be gone for good, limiting your options and getting you no XP in the process (not a great option). With a good Deception/Charisma roll, you can convince them to leave her to you and free her without a fight. A simpler Persuasion roll will convince them to lower and open the trap, at which point you can attack either the Tieflings or Lae’zel. 

Alternatively, you can take the initiative and simply attack the two Tieflings from range to begin a battle and gain the upper hand. If you do so, Lae-zel will start the battle out of the cage and will count as an ally in the battle, although you won’t be able to control her. Talk to her after the battle and she’ll join the party.

Note: if you come upon this scene too late (i.e. after resting too many times), Lae'zal will be missing and her captives dead. It is not currently known is there is a second opportunity to recruit her.

How to Find Wyll

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You’ll first see Wyll (5) in action when you take part in the battle at the gates to Emerald Grove.  Afterward, find Wyll inside the compound. Follow the path through the grove directly north until the area opens up into a training ground for some young warriors where you can speak to him. You need to initiate the conversation, but once you do, you’ll go through the usual conversations about the parasite and he’ll join your party.

How to Find Karlach

Karlach (6) is likely to be the last of the six companions you can find on the map. Exit the Blighted Village north and go across the bridge. At this point, you can either follow the road east and have a battle with some Gnolls, or go on the left side of the bridge and climb down the cragged rocks, then go east (it gets you to the same point). Go east as far as you can and then south, where you’ll see a tree stump spanning the river. The barbarian Karlach is on the other side. 

This is a simple roleplay conversation, where she’ll add some information to the Hunt the Devil quest (if you’re on it already and haven’t confronted the Paladins). She’ll say she wants to be there when you face them, but I took them on without her and spoke to her about it in camp later, which still got me a positive response. 

Other Potential Party Members: Halsin, Minthara, Jaheira, and Minsc

You can also add the following characters to your party as you progress further into the game:

  • Halsin (Druid): Once inside the Goblin Camp, you can enter the Worg’s Pen and battle the Goblins there to free Halsin and have him join your party. Alternatively, complete the Goblin Attack storyline and you’ll find him in Emerald Grove afterward.
  • Minthara (Paladin): Minthara is also in the Goblin Camp (near The Hollow), but is only really accessible if you choose to follow a darker path. She’ll want you to turn against the Tieflings and give up the location of Emerald Grove; if you do, she’ll be happy to join you later when you meet again at Moonrise Towers.
  • Jaheira (Ranger): You won’t be able to recruit Jaheira until near the end of Act II, despite first meeting her at the Last Light Inn in the Shadow Cursed Lands.  
  • Minsc (Druid): You won’t be able to add Minsc to your party until even later, as he does not appear until Act 3. To recruit him into your party, you’ll have to complete his questline, which begins in the lower city area of Baldur’s Gate. 

For more Baldur's Gate 3 help and information, check out How to get the Githyanki Egg in BG3, Baldur’s Gate 3 Gale Build Guide, and more right here at Pro Game Guides!


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Author
Chris Marling
Chris Marling is a writer and editor with more than 20 years of experience across newspapers, magazines, and websites. Based in the UK, he has written professionally on everything from tech to tearooms. But his real passion is gaming, going right back to the Atari 2600 - and especially RPGs and MMOs. He cut his teeth on games such as The Realm and Anarchy Online. But 20 years on still gets excited about exploring each new world. When not online, you'll find him gaming analog-style around the table. Chris has had five of his own board games published, including Pioneer Days and Armageddon.

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How to Find All Recruitable Companions in BG3 – Baldur’s Gate 3 Companion Locations (Map)

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