Baldur’s Gate 3 is a huge immersive open-world RPG and if you’ve played games like Skyrim or previous Baldur’s Gate games then you’ll know what it’s all about. The game gives you plenty of freedom to do what you want to do and make your own choices in this huge fantasy world. You can choose to play the character good or evil, make world-ending choices and even who to romance and fall in love with.

There are eight romanceable candidates in Baldur’s Gate 3 that you’ll meet along your journey in Faerun. Befriend them and gain their trust in order for them to open up to you. Do this by interacting and making the right choices with them. Your companions may or may not agree with every choice you make, and if you want to romance a specific person it’s important to pay attention to their personality.

Once your approval with them is high enough, head back to camp and an automatic romance cutscene will occur between both of you. If you’re not unlocking that be sure to speak to them more often to bring up your affection. In this guide, we’ll go through all of their companions, how best to romance them, as well as their different endings with you in the game.

 

Romanceable Characters

Astarion	Gale
Halsin	Karlach
Lae’zel	Minthara
Shadowheart	Wyll

 

Astarion

Class	Rogue	Race	High Elf
Background	Charlatan	Location	West past the shipwreck in Act 1

Astarion is a High-Elf Rogue, and a useful addition to your party thanks to his trickery skills. The somewhat flirtatious Astarion is already a companion who feels like he might seduce you first, but you do have to put in some work and effort before it’ll quite reach that point.

Astarion has a unique condition we won’t spoil, but if you want to get on his good side, you won’t be judgemental about it and cooperate to help him deal with it, even if it leads to some extreme places. Otherwise, he’s a character who enjoys shows of power and a certain amount of flamboyance and dislikes boring behaviour and altruism, viewing do-gooders as weak-willed. He’s also got a soft spot for entities who are typically considered monsters and will approve of anybody who can find a way to work with them.

How To Romance Astarion

• Approval gained by: Shows of power, ruthless thinking, dramatics, the finer things in life, siding with monsters
• Disapproval gained by: Altruism, compromise, weakness, boring behaviour, restraint, judging him for his condition

Astarion Romance Endings

• Good Ending – Stays together with you as heroes/settled down/looking for another sun solution.
• Evil Ending – Wants to take control of the city with you as consort.

 

Gale

Class	Wizard	Race	Human
Background	Sage	Location	The Roadside Cliffs waypoint in the Ravaged Beach during Act 1

Gale is a wizard prodigy whose love for a goddess made him attempt a dread feat no mortal should. Blighted by the forbidden magic of ancient Netheril, Gale strives to undo the corruption that is overtaking him and win back his goddess’ favour before he becomes a destroyer of worlds.

Despite his past, Gale himself is a peaceful, good-natured soul, and will approve of any method that avoids violence. He also appreciates curiosity and a knowledgeable mind, so those who prove themselves intellectuals will get on his good side. Gale is the only character who has several specific stages to their approval, rather than just generally raising it. Once you’ve done enough to make him happy, going back to camp will provide a new section of dialogue in which you discuss his story, and effectively raise the cap of how much he can like you.

How To Romance Gale

• Approval gained by: Virtuous acts, kindness, intelligence, magical knowledge, non-violent approaches, interacting with camp animals, poetry and offering consumable artefacts, as per his condition.
• Disapproval gained by: Unnecessary violence, unethical behaviour, stupidity, lack of curiosity, and judgement over his condition

Begin Your Relationship

Your relationship with Gale can officially begin during Act I even before the Quest Save the Refugees. Get her approval rating high enough and you’ll be able to approach her at the camp for a talk. Try to explore and do a lot of other things before tackling the Quest for more chances to get your approval up, if it’s still lacking at this point.

You’re on the right track with Gale if you find him in camp with an exclamation mark on his head. At this point, he’ll try and teach you how to perform magic by channelling the Weave. In order to succeed pick the Ability check that you have the highest score in. Eventually, you’ll be asked to imagine a picture that Gale will be receptive to, through your connection to the Weave. Choose to either picture kissing him or taking a romantic walk with him.

Nothing will happen with your relationship at this point, but he will be aware of your intentions and will be open to them. This doesn’t start your official relationship with him per se, but it will make your intentions known and pave the path for it.

Gale Romance Endings

• Good Ending – Proposes to you and wants to bring you back to Waterdeep.
• Evil Ending – Gale still wants the crown.

 

Halsin

Class	Druid	Race	Wood Elf
Background	Outlander	Location	At the Worg Pens within the Shattered Sanctum

Halsin is the first Druid of the Druid Grove but he has been missing since he left with Aradin’s expedition. 

Begin Your Relationship

Halsin can be first met at the Druid Grove, as a prisoner so you’ll need to free him in order to begin your romantic journey. Naturally, you’ll want to make sure to save help both the Druids and the Tieflings, and defeat Minthara and the goblins. He won’t join you as an official Companion however until Act 2.

You’ll eventually be able to romance Halsin in Act 3 after he joins you as a Companion. Just like with the others talk to him at camp with the exclamation point over his head for his intimate scene. Follow the conversation with affirming dialogue options, until he mentions having many previous lovers. Ask him what exactly he means by this to get his direct confession. Assure him that you reciprocate his feelings. And then get ready for things to get hot and steamy.

It gets a little too steamy and Halsin will lose control and turn into a bear. You’ll then have the option to choose whether or not you’d like him to continue the deed in human form or as a bear. No one will judge you, as long as you’re both happy.

Halsin Romance Endings

• Good Ending – He’ll plan to escort refugees to Thaniel’s land where you can promise to reunite when possible.
• Evil Ending –

 

Karlach

Class	Barbarian	Race	Zariel Tiefling
Background	Outlander	Location	At the Risen Road,  past the Blighted Village.

Karlach is a fire-spitting tiefling barbarian who will fall for those who show uncompromising spirit and passion for life – the sort of person who she knows will have her back in the many barfights that she’ll wander into. Admittedly Karlach’s unique condition means the more physical side of romance is difficult for her at the start of the game, but following her questline might help with that. 

How To Romance Karlach

• Approval gained by: Liberation, seizing life, not being embarrassed, combat prowess, being brave
• Disapproval gained by: Cowardice, pointless cruelty, backing down when threatened, self-restraint, anything pro-Devil

Begin Your Relationship

Your relationship with Karlachcan officially begin during Act I even before the Quest Save the Refugees. Get her approval rating high enough and you’ll be able to approach her at the camp for a talk. Try to explore and do a lot of other things before tackling the Quest for more chances to get your approval up, if it’s still lacking at this point.

To romance Karlach, you only need to be forward with wanting to spend more time with her. She will have no pretense about responding to your affections. Choose the appropriate responses to flirt with her and hint at wanting to risk the pain to be able to touch her. Afterward, head to your bedroll and interact with it to see that you have a choice to go to bed alone or to think of Karlach. By clicking on Karlach, you’ll share a moment with her right there on the bunk. 

Karlach Romance Endings

• Good Ending – Return to Avernus with her.
• Evil Ending – Dies

 

Lae’zel

Class	Fighter	Race	Githyanki
Background	Soldier	Location	Met while escaping the Nautiloid during the Prologue. Recruit her in the Ravaged Beach by freeing her/reviving her from the raiders.

Lae’zel is a Githyanki Fighter and a great addition to your party as a martial class with high DPS and possible Tanking. 

Lae’zel is pretty easy to read, but a harder to appeal to Companion as she’s laser-focused on her goals and anything that deviates from them angers her. If you want to get on her good side, you’ll play along with everything she says – focus on finding other Gith and the shortest, bloodiest route through any problem. Lae’zel never walks around an obstacle if she can cut it in half – to earn her respect, you’ll mimic that approach. She also doesn’t like Shadowheart, the two being pretty diametrically opposed.

How To Romance Lae’zel

• Approval gained by: Pro-Gith statements, cooperating with her, aggression, combat expertise, efficiency
• Disapproval gained by: Non-violent approaches, disagreeing with her, distraction, anti-Gith statements, pointless do-gooder behaviour

Begin Your Relationship

Your relationship with Lae’zel can officially begin during Act I even before the Quest Save the Refugees. Get her approval rating high enough and you’ll be able to approach her at the camp for a talk. Try to explore and do a lot of other things before tackling the Quest for more chances to get your approval up, if it’s still lacking at this point.

When you talk to her at the camp, after yet another remark about the Githyanki method being the more reliable way to fix the tadpole problem, you’ll have the option to ask her if she’s been looking at you differently of late. She’ll finally confess that she is starting to see you in a different light. She’ll openly say that she wants you. After this dialogue, you’ll just have to rest at your bunker and Lae’zel will come to visit you for your first steamy intimate encounter.

Lae’zel Romance Endings

• Good Ending – If convinced to stay on Faerun you’ll stay together knowing Vlaakith will send people after you. I’m assuming there’s no cutscene if
• Evil Ending – She leaves to fight Vlaakith.

 

Minthara

Class	Paladin	Race	Lolth-Sworn Drow
Background	Noble	Location	In the Goblin Camp at Shattered Sanctum during Act 1. Offer to tell her about the Grove and aid the Goblin Raid.

Minthara is a ruthless Drow who is preparing an assault on Druid Grove. She has a unique romance path as in you can choose to be with her even before she becomes a Party Member in Act 2.

How To Romance Minthara

• Agree to help her in the Shattered Sanctum and help in the Goblin Massacre.

Begin Your Relationship

Confirm your intention to join in on Minthara’s plans (which will result in disapproval from Shadowheart, Gale, Wyll, and Karlach, if they are in your party). Slaughter the Tieflings at the Grove and speak to Minthara.

Express that you’re ready to be hers and then head to your bed roll. The scene will automatically initiate when you rest. When it ends, you’ll have the option to telepathically pry into her desires or her fears. She will share her thoughts all the same if you choose to pry into her desires, and will explain that she cannot hear the Absolute when she is with you. You have the option to spill the secret about Shadowheart’s artifact if you’d like but it may have certain ramifications later on.

When she lets you go, you’ll actually get to rest, but only until she attempts to murder you in your sleep. Suffice it to say, unlike other Companions, this whole encounter doesn’t spell the start of your relationship.

 

Shadowheart

Class	Cleric	Race	High Half-Elf
Background	Acolyte	Location	Rescue her during the Nautiloid segment in Act 1. OR Find her by the locked crypt door on Ravaged Beach after crashing.

Shadowheart is a Half-Elf and a Trickery Domain Cleric, which gives your party heals, buffs and interesting stealth and deception spells. A loyal cleric of Shar, Shadowheart is the sole survivor of a holy mission undertaken at the Mistress of the Night’s behest. She alone must deliver a relic of immense power to her coven in Baldur’s Gate, while threatened by a strange new magic that is burgeoning from within.

Shadowheart doesn’t like Lae’zel or the Gith, so agreeing with them is always going to hurt your standing, and being a Trickery cleric, she much prefers deception and a silver tongue over wading in with a sword. She’s also got a soft spot for animals, so Baldur’s Gate 3 classes like Druids and Rangers who treat them well can earn her appeal.

How To Romance Shadowheart

• Approval gained by: Use of trickery and manipulation, seeing through lies, anti-Gith statements, kindness to animals, kindness to the poor, kindness to children
• Disapproval gained by: Being tricked or manipulated, pointless bloodshed, pro-Gith statements, humiliation, kindness to the wealthy

Begin Your Relationship

Your relationship with Shadowheart can officially begin during Act I even before the Quest Save the Refugees. Get her approval rating high enough and you’ll be able to approach her at the camp for a talk. Try to explore and do a lot of other things before tackling the Quest for more chances to get your approval up, if it’s still lacking at this point.

You’re on the right track with Shadowheart, if you can choose the dialogue option where your character says, “I can’t help but feel like you and I might have missed a chance to connect. Truly connect.” when they talk to her. Choose the appropriate response after she pushes forward her idea for an intimate moment alone.

Afterwards, head to your bedroll and interact with it to see that you have a choice to go to bed alone or to find Shadowheart. By clicking on Shadowheart, you’ll share a moment with her at the cliffside. You’ll both will lie down on the rocks and choosing the next two appropriate dialogue choices will lead to your first kiss and officially begin your relationship.

Shadowheart Romance Endings

• Good Ending – Shadowheart stays with you but regrets letting her parents die (choice variation).
• Evil Ending – Shadowheart breaks up with you because Shar won’t let you stay together.

 

Wyll

Class	Warlock	Race	Human
Background	Folk Hero	Location	During the Goblin Raid for Druid’s Grove in Act I.

Wyll made his name as a renowned hero in Baldur’s Gate. But to become a living legend, he struck a bargain with a devil, a bargain from which he longs to break free before it consumes his soul for good.

Wyll is a Warlock who models himself as something of a classic, swashbuckling hero, and those who reflect those qualities will rank highly in his book. Heroic values, kicking evil’s butt, not working with villains and taking a moral stand. You’ll want to help people who need it, and never side with monsters – especially Devils and Goblins, who Wyll has some bad history with.

How To Romance Wyll

• Approval gained by: Heroics, altruism, helping those who need it, fighting villains
• Disapproval gained by: Working with villains, selfishness, entitled behaviour, anything pro-Devil or pro-Goblin

Wyll Romance Endings

• Good Ending – Marries you as Grand Duke of Baldur’s Gate.
• Evil Ending –

 

Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a story-rich, party-based RPG set in the universe of Dungeons & Dragons, where your choices shape a tale of fellowship and betrayal, survival and sacrifice, and the lure of absolute power. Abducted, infected, lost. You are turning into a monster, but as the corruption inside you grows, so does your power. That power may help you to survive, but there will be a price to pay, and more than any ability, the bonds of trust that you build within your party could be your greatest strength. Caught in a conflict between devils, deities, and sinister otherworldly forces, you will determine the fate of the Forgotten Realms together.

Out now on the PlayStation 5 and PC – Steam.