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Hey, gamers! Are you ready for some steamy romance in Baldur’s Gate 3? Larian Studios has shaken up the usual BioWare model when it comes to in-game relationships, and we are here for it! In this article, we will dive deep into the companions and characters you can romance, where to find them, and what they are like. Don’t miss out on the chance to fall in love in Baldur’s Gate 3 – read on to find out more!
How Does Romance Work In Baldur’s Gate 3?
In Baldur’s Gate 3, romance mechanics work differently from traditional RPGs like Dragon Age and Mass Effect. One significant difference is that you cannot choose which companions to bring with you in a quest to increase their approval. Companions have their own thoughts and feelings about your actions, regardless of whether they accompany you on a specific mission or not. Therefore, it’s important to understand each companion’s personality and preferences early on to ensure that you are making choices that will increase their approval.
You can check a companion’s approval of you by heading into their character sheet, where you can see their stats and their level of approval. You can also tell if a companion approves or disapproves of your actions by the message that appears in the top left-hand corner of the screen.
In terms of romance, companions are interested in you regardless of your gender, and some characters like Astarion are explicitly bisexual. However, if a companion doesn’t have a high approval of you, then romance is out of the question. You can flirt with more than one companion, but you can only choose one person to share the night with during the romance scene after the “Rescue Halsin” questline.
It’s also important to note that companions can get jealous, so it’s not a good idea to flirt with one companion while another is present. Additionally, your character’s race and class may affect how some companions react to you, but it does not restrict who you can and cannot romance.
At the time of the initial early access launch, players can only romance one NPC who is not a companion. However, there may be more romantic options available in the future as the game continues to develop. Overall, the romance mechanics in Baldur’s Gate 3 add an interesting layer to the game, requiring players to carefully consider their actions and choices to build strong relationships with their companions.
When Can You Romance Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3?
Players can technically start romancing their companions the moment they meet and recruit them in Baldur’s Gate 3. However, the only companion who is remotely flirty is Astarion. It’s important to get to know each companion and invest in actions that you know they’ll approve of to increase your approval rating with them. Approval and disapproval happen right from the start of the game.
Romantic opportunities with companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 only come to fruition after completing a certain quest: Rescue Druid Halsin. This quest can be completed almost immediately after starting the game, but it’s recommended to wait and play the game naturally, as there are many enemies to face and abilities to unlock as you level up. It’s estimated that this quest can be completed around 15 to 20 hours into the game.
Once the quest is completed, a celebration takes place at the camp, and this presents an opportunity for players to get to know their companions in a more intimate manner. However, hitting on them doesn’t guarantee positive results, as players will need to have a high enough approval rating with them. Additionally, players can only pick one companion to share the night with in the romance scene after the Rescue Halsin questline. Finally, it’s worth noting that some companions, such as Astarion and Lae’zel, are polyamorous, while others are not interested in romance at all.
What Are Romanceable Companions in Baldur’s Gate 3?
In Baldur’s Gate 3, players can romance a total of five companions. These companions are Shadowheart, a female half-elf cleric; Lae’zel, a female Githyanki fighter; Wyll, a male human warlock; Gale, a male human wizard; and Astarion, a male high-elf rogue. Each companion has their own unique personality, backstory, and preferences, and players will need to interact with them in specific ways to build a romantic relationship.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Astarion
Are you interested in striking up a “relationship” with Astarion, the high elf vampire spawn rogue in Baldur’s Gate 3? Well, you’re in luck, because he’s one of the easiest companions to get intimate with in the game. He doesn’t require a high approval rating to invite you to spend the night with him, and you can still get to know him better during your party’s camping sessions.
However, if you want to maximize your chances with him, keep in mind that Astarion likes characters who are self-serving, dramatic, and blunt with people. He also approves of players who share his distaste for helping others without personal gain. Whether this casual fling will turn into something more serious in the future remains to be seen, but for now, enjoy your time with Astarion if you choose to pursue him.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Gale
Gale is a human wizard from Waterdeep, once a prodigy in magic but now cast out by his goddess. He’s a complex character, shrouded in mystery, and players will need to gain his approval to uncover his tragic backstory.
Gale can come off as sarcastic and boastful, but players who take the time to get to know him will discover that there’s more to him than meets the eye. As for romance, gaining approval from Gale is relatively easy, as he values altruism and helping others. However, there’s a catch: his romance talks are programmed to take place once per approval level, so players should take it slow and camp each time his approval meter goes up a level.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Lae’zel
Lae’zel is a fierce and ruthless warrior from the Githyanki race in Baldur’s Gate 3. She aspires to become a dragon-riding knight in service of the Githyanki queen. To get to know her better, players need to show their strength and prove that they are capable of keeping up with her no-nonsense attitude. If the player character gains her approval, they might be invited to spend the night with her in camp. While some of her personal quests are currently unavailable, players looking to romance her should focus on doing things she approves of, and show roughly the same amount of merciless might that she does.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Shadowheart
Shadowheart is one of the companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, a half-elf cleric who worships Shar, the mistress of the night and secrets. She’s a fiercely protective and mysterious character who values her privacy and keeps her secrets close. However, players can gain her approval and unlock her romance by sharing a bottle of wine with her. Shadowheart values characters who have a selfish motivation for helping others and have a soft spot for animals, such as the dog Scratch and the baby owlbear found in the game. Players of any moral alignment can gain approval from her, making her a versatile option for romance.
Baldur’s Gate 3: Wyll
Wyll is a human warlock and a folk hero who values helping people and bringing peace to innocents. However, he made a deal with a devil in the name of revenge and now wants to break the pact. While Wyll generally values mercy and kindness, he holds a grudge against goblins. In theory, players can romance him by gaining his approval through good deeds and helping others, but he may be bugged at the current time and unable to begin a relationship or start it later than other companions.
Romanceable NPCs in Baldur’s Gate 3
In addition to the party members, players can also romance the NPC Minthara in Baldur’s Gate 3. However, unlike the party members, her romance is only available through taking an evil route and betraying Druid Grove. Players must aid in the mass-slaughter of the grove and the tieflings in order to earn her affection, which really just means a one-night stand. Currently, Minthara is the only non-party member romance option available in the game, but as the game continues to progress from Early Access, there may be more NPCs and potentially more romance options to come.
Key Points
Baldur’s Gate 3 offers players the opportunity to romance a variety of companions, each with their unique personality and preferences. From the flirtatious Astarion to the mysterious Shadowheart, players will have to work hard to gain their approval and trigger their romance scenes. Additionally, there is one bonus NPC, the drow woman Minthara. As the game continues to progress from early access, there may be more companions and romance options available. So, whether you’re looking for a casual fling or a meaningful relationship, there are plenty of opportunities to explore romance in Baldur’s Gate 3.
