There's a great reason to swap your favorite Baldur's Gate 3 companions in Act 3

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There's a great reason to swap your favorite Baldur's Gate 3 companions in Act 3

While Baldur's Gate 3 is filled with characters you just can't help but love, players should seriously consider letting their favorites sit aside for a while as they approach the end of the game. Obviously, this isn't an easy decision for those who have already given their hearts to one of their party members, but there's a good reason why it's worth making the sacrifice to do so.

There are 10 escorts to be recruited in BG3including the six Origin characters – Lae'zel, Shadowheart, Astarion, Gale, Wyll and Karlach – who can optionally be chosen as the player's own character, in addition to Halsin and Minthara, who are first encountered in Act 1 of the game. Last but not least are Jaheira and Minsc, who only enter at the end of the game. Being late to the party can make them easy to ignore, but in fact, they are the best choices to bring as players progress through the third act of Baldur's Gate 3.

Jaheira and Minsc are more than just fanservice

Legacy characters bring unique value to the game

Every companion in Baldur's Gate 3 brings something special to the table with its unique backstories and character arcs explored throughout the game. Astarion's quest for revenge against his abusive master is filled with equal parts comedy and tragedy, and Karlach's fight to stay alive will touch any gamer's heart (no pun intended). Jaheira and Minsc are particularly special in the cast thanks to their history as returning characters from previous Baldur's Gate games, which comes with a number of additional benefits.

Jaheira and Minsc can trace their origins back to the original Baldur's Gate where they first appeared as recruitable party members 25 years before their appearance in BG3. As one of the first characters players can meet BG1, Jaheira built relationships with many playersoften remaining with them throughout the game. And although he joins much later in the story, Minsc is easily a fan favorite of the old games thanks in large part to his relationship with his trusty giant miniature space hamster, Boo.

Being established characters in the Faerûn setting gives extra weight to Jaheira and Minsc's stories in Baldur's Gate 3 which the game's custom characters don't have. They feel a little more real, a little more fleshed out than other characters in the game do it. When they talk about their past and the people they've adventured with, this isn't just a piece of extra lore made up by Larian's talented writers – it's something that actually happened in a previous game that players can experience for themselves.

Why Jaheira and Minsc are the best party members for Act 3

Experience everything the city has to offer


Jaheira grits her teeth near a large stone door in a screenshot from Baldur's Gate 3.

“Baldur's Gate” isn't just the name of the series, it's also a central location where each installment's story begins or ends. How to configure Baldur's Gate 3Act Three, is a sprawling location filled with shops, side quests, and potential enemies and allies. As one of the largest and most important cities in Faerûn Baldur's Gate is almost a character in itselfcomplete with its own story and personality.

Much of this story was personally shaped by Jaheira and Minsc who, along with the other heroes of BG1helped save the city from crisis more than a century earlier. Both are known and revered among the inhabitants of Baldur's Gate for having stopped the villain Sarevok. Walking through the city streets with the two of them at the party is like walking through your neighborhood with a couple of movie stars by your side.

Jaheira and Minsc are written in a way that only characters with centuries of history could be. Only Jaheira can stop to visit her children and pick up a gift from her late husband; only Minsc can remember the places he used to shop with his companion Dynaheir. Both have personal experience with the Dead Three, the trio of evil gods who are always present behind the scenes of BG3. As companions, Jaheira and Minsc add a level of richness and flavor to the story of Baldur's Gate 3 this is truly unique to them.

Keeping favorites limits the Baldur's Gate 3 experience

Sharing the highlight leads to a richer story


Minsc, Boo and Delina at a dance in the art of the 2024 Dungeon Master's Guide.

The heart and soul of Baldur's Gate 3 It’s in the writing of your characters.and how they interact with each other and the world around them. Faerûn is a big place, and each companion represents a different piece of the world, from the magical to the mundane to just plain weird. Jaheira and Minsc represent the history not only of the world, but of Baldur's Gate 3 as a game and serves as a tribute to the franchise's roots in the old days of RPGs.

Fortunately, RPGs have become a little more forgiving in the years since Baldur's Gate 1. Although you are limited to only bringing three companions at a time (assuming you are not taking advantage of any Baldur's Gate 3 mods), any experience gained is distributed throughout the party, whether they are on the battlefield or resting at camp. Once upon a time, switching party members along the way might have left you paralyzed, but everyone is able to keep up easily. BG3.

BG3 It's not a story about just one character.

Party composition in a game like this is very important, but not just for combat reasons. Very similar to games Dungeons and Dragons who inspired him, BG3 it's not a story about just one character; just as a group needs to work together to kill monsters and explore dungeons, the full list of BG3 to weave the tapestry of your story. By leaving Jaheira and Minsc on the bench, players are doing themselves a disservice by ignoring some of the biggest highlights that Act 3 has to offer.

It's natural to have favorites, especially with a cast of characters as lovable as BG3yeah, but players should strive to change their lineup when they caneven if it's just for a little while. Especially for players starting their second (or third, or fourth, or fifth) playthrough, it's a good idea to get to know companions you may have forgotten about the first time around. It is necessary to spend some time with each of them to experience the full breadth of the story available in Baldur's Gate 3and although it may be a lot of effort, it is worth it.

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