Baldur's Gate 3 Companions Guide and Origin Characters Overview

When Baldur's Gate 3 fully launches, you'll be able to adopt a preset origin background for your character that will give them a predetermined story, or "Origin," in the world. Currently, in Early Access, you can only create a new custom character from scratch.

However, five of these Origin backgrounds are already in Baldur's Gate 3 as companion characters. Any origin you don't choose appears as a named companion in the world that you can recruit to your party. If you create a custom character, all origins are companion characters that you can recruit.

These original characters have their own characteristics, personalities, and personal quest lines. In previous Larian games, choosing a custom character has neutralized your opportunities for unique storytelling moments, but the studio reportedly aims to fix that this time around and make custom characters just as narratively valuable.

Until Baldur's Gate 3 fully launches, however, it's hard to say what it will look like.

There is currently an Origin/Companion for five of the six classes included in Early Access. Ranger is the only class not shown with an Origin/Companion character currently, so if you want the chance to see all six classes in one game, I recommend playing a custom Ranger as a player character.

It's also worth noting that companions will talk to each other, and you can engage in conversations with them at any time, especially at camp, to find out more about them.

Here are all the details on the five original/companion characters in Baldur's Gate 3, including their names, background info, starting stats, questline info, and where to recruit them.

Lae'zel, Githyanki Fighter

Who is Lae'zel?

Lae'zel is the first character you meet after the opening moments of Baldur's Gate 3. She was also a captive on the Mindflayer's ship and is trying to escape and find a cure, just like you. You'll have the chance to group up with her throughout the prologue moments aboard the Mindflayer ship.

According to the Run,

Lae'zel is a fierce Githyanki warrior, powerful even by the standards of her flayer-hunting spirit. Facing transformation into the very monster she's sworn to destroy, Lae'zel must prove herself worthy to join her people - if they don't execute her first.

Lae'zel being a Githyanki fighter, she is intense and fearsome in melee combat. The interesting thing about the Gith (usually an abbreviation of the race name) is that they are sworn enemies of the Mindflayers after years of enslavement in the astral plane. As a result, they are not very common in Faerun.

What is Lae'zel's questline?

His questline is called The Githyanki Warrior and follows his redemption among his race as you try to find a cure for the Mindflayer tadpole that is buried in your brain.

What are Lae'zel's stats and gear?

Lae'zel is equipped with a longsword which she uses as a two-handed weapon, a shortbow for those moments of ranged combat needed, Githyanki half-plate armor, and leather boots.

His starting stats are:

Where is Lae’zel?

She is part of your party throughout the prologue, but once the ship crashes on the beach, she is removed from your party. You need to recruit her again.

You will find her near the ruins of the cathedral as a prisoner. If you can save her, you can invite her back to your party.

Gale, human wizard

Who is Gale?

Gale is an average human wizard, or so it seems. He has an air of confidence and pride that makes him marry other mates in really interesting ways.

Run dit:

Gale has one ambition: to become the greatest wizard Faerûn has ever known. Yet his thirst for magic led to disaster. A Dutch Orb of Destruction pulses in his chest, counting up to an explosion that can level a city. Gale is confident he will overcome it, but time is not on his side.

What are Gale's stats and gear?

Gale is your typical squishy glass cannon helper. All he has on him is a simple robe, simple boots, and a basic quarterstaff. He really earns his living by casting powerful spells.

His starting stats are:

Where is Gale?

Gale is hard to miss. If you head north from the wreckage, you'll find Gale standing on the road at the Roadside Cliffs waypoint. Just talk to him and ask him to join your party.

Wyll, Human Warlock

Who is Wyll?

Wyll is the character I know the least about, personally. I haven't come across him yet, although I've already found the other four companions.

However, Warlocks are powerful spellcasters in D&D 5E, so he's probably a good addition to most parties if you don't have a magic user.

Larian describes Wyll as:

Noble by birth, Wyll became known as the heroic 'Borderblade'. He keeps his pact with a devil well hidden and desperate to escape the hellish bargain - even if it means saving the seductive creature who made the deal.

While Wizards are more traditional spellcasters, Warlocks obtain their power by making a pact with supernatural beings such as fairies, demons, and other alien entities. You know the saying, "Have you made a deal with the devil?" This is basically what Warlocks do to gain their power.

What are Wyll's stats and gear?

I haven't found Wyll yet, so I don't know what his starting gear looks like.

However, I know its stats from online resources and developer information:

Where is Wyl?

According to the Baldur's Gate 3 Wiki, you'll eventually come across a group of goblins attacking an encampment during the Remove the Parasite quest. Wyll is near the door and you can recruit him to your party after the fight.

I fought off a group of goblins attacking a Druid Grove entrance, so Wyll may be inside the Grove, and I just miss him. I'll update this guide once I find it.

Shadowheart, half-elf cleric

Who is Shadowheart?

From what I've played so far, Shadowheart is by far my favorite companion. She has a fiery spirit, isn't afraid to speak her mind, and has a sarcastic sense of humor.

She is also unique in the cleric space because she does not worship traditionally "good" gods, but instead follows Shar, the goddess of darkness and mistress of the night.

Larian says of her:

One of Shar's dark followers, Shadowheart has been sent on a suicide mission to steal an item of great power. While struggling with her faith and her strange and wild magic, Shadowheart has enemies on all sides – and a long-buried secret to uncover.

What are Shadwoheart's stats and gear?

Clerics in D&D are not like healers and priests in other fantasy games. Rather than sticking with a robed staff, D&D clerics are front line warriors wearing heavy armor and often wielding maces with shields. This is why you see so many dwarven clerics in most D&D content.

Shadowheart is equipped with a circlet for her faith, a chain shirt, leather boots, a standard mace, and a studded shield.

His starting stats are:

Where is Shadowheart?

Once on the beach, stay on the shore and continue straight. You can't miss it. She is at the entrance to the Overground Ruins, near the door. Just talk to him to invite him to your party.

Astarion, Elven Vampire Spawn Thief

Who is Astarion?

You can tell Astarion is a vampire immediately. Pale skin and red eyes, as well as relatively regal clothes, are all dead giveaways.

Run dit:

Astarion prowled the night as a begotten vampire for centuries, serving a sadistic master until he was kidnapped. Now he can walk in the light, but can he leave his wicked past behind?

What are Astarion's stats and gear?

When you first meet Astarion, he wears padded armor and leather boots with a single dagger and a short bow.

Since he's a rogue, I recommend giving him a second dagger as he can attack with his secondary melee weapon as a bonus action during combat.

His starting stats are:

Where is Astarion?

It's hard to miss Astarion. As you pass through the wreckage of the Mindlflayer ship, you'll spot it near the road asking for help. After a conversation with him, you can invite him to your party.

That's it for our Baldur's Gate 3 companions guide and origin character preview for the game's early access period. As the game heads towards full release, we'll be keeping this guide updated with new information. Be sure to bookmark it for easy access! And stay tuned for more Baldur's Gate 3 guides!