How to Recruit Halsin in Baldur’s Gate 3 Complete Guide

Halsin is the Archdruid of the Emerald Grove and one of Baldur’s Gate 3’s best companions to recruit in Act 1. I’ve played him a dozen times since release (the game launched August 3, 2023), and I write from direct experience: you can reliably add him to your party if you follow the right steps and understand why each choice matters.

Where he is — quick facts

Halsin is held in the Goblin Camp, inside the Worg Pens off the Shattered Sanctum. Follow the road west from the Emerald Grove, past the Blighted Village, into the ruined Selûne temple where the goblins set up camp. You’ll find multiple entrances; persuasion, stealth, or force can get you inside. Want a shortcut? Bring a Drow — goblins treat them differently (yes, really).

Do the Grove conflict first

Save the Refugees is the Act 1 quest that determines whether Halsin will join you. Talk to Kagha and Zevlor, and explore the grove fully — not because you must, but because it changes NPC attitudes. In my experience players who rush through miss dialogue that matters. Why? Because Halsin responds to clear evidence you helped the grove; he values action over words. There are exceptions, but usually helping the grove makes recruitment far easier.

Take out the leaders — practical tips

There are three named leaders you’ll likely face: Priestess Gut, Dror Ragzlin, and Minthara. Each plays differently. Gut can be quieter to handle; Ragzlin is the brute in the main hall and benefits from environmental tactics like dropping braziers or triggering the upper rafters; Minthara is a drow paladin with a dangerous following — she can swing the whole camp if you side with her. Some players claim you can avoid killing one leader and still recruit Halsin — that’s controversial and depends on dialogue choices, but don’t count on it unless you’ve tested your save (I have, and results vary!).

Combat quick plan:
- Place ranged characters at chokepoints
- Use Silence or area control early
- Focus dangerous spellcasters first
- Fall back and regroup if overwhelmed

Here’s the funny part: sometimes a loud approach is fine if you clear rooms fast. That’s counterintuitive because stealth feels safer, but loud fights can prevent reinforcements from reacting. Still — depends on your party composition.

Finding Halsin in the pens

After leaders fall, go to the Worg Pens. Halsin is trapped as a bear — the goblins don’t realize the true druid inside. Talk to the bear to trigger key dialogue; you may need perception checks to notice telling signs (scratch marks, a particular scent line in descriptions). You can free him by taking out the guards, stealing keys, or picking the lock (yes, even the pickpocket route works — been there). If you fight, Halsin will help as a bear and deals heavy melee damage.

Important caveat: speak with him before you leave the area. If you rest and walk away without talking, he might move on. Honestly — don’t lose him because you forgot to chat.

What to say to recruit him

After rescue, Halsin won’t automatically join. He’ll want you to help the grove and look into the shadow curse. Emphasize shared goals. I’ve noticed lines that show you care about the curse and the grove’s safety make his decision immediate. Show you removed the goblin leadership and that you’ll support druidic practices — explain why you’ll help (for balance, for the refugees, because letting the grove fall makes other problems worse).

“Help the grove first, and I’ll consider the rest.” — Halsin, if you do right by the Emerald Grove

Approval, romance, and behavior

Halsin rewards actions that protect nature and help the vulnerable. He dislikes cruelty and needless destruction. He’s open to romance options later in the game, and he’s comfortable with polyamory — which some players love and others find odd. Personally, I like that complexity; it feels real. There are exceptions: small acts of kindness may gain approval slowly, while big deeds swing it quickly.

• Do: help animals, defend refugees, respect druidic ways
• Don’t: destroy nature, mock beliefs, choose unnecessary brutality

Small but vital details

Patch realities matter: Baldur’s Gate 3 launched August 3, 2023; core companion recruitment has stayed consistent through 2024 and into early 2025, but always check patch notes before major choices. Why check? Developers sometimes tweak dialogue triggers or bug fixes that change outcomes (this doesn’t always happen, but there are exceptions).

Analogy: recruiting Halsin is like coaxing a stubborn tree to bend for a roof — you need gentle leverage plus clear reasons why it should move. Surprising tip: letting Halsin fight briefly in bear form can reveal dialogue options later (oddly enough). That’s one counterintuitive insight I didn’t expect, but we found it worked on multiple saves.

Final practical checklist

• Finish Save the Refugees and explore the grove
• Neutralize the Goblin Camp leaders (use terrain)
• Find the Worg Pens and talk to the bear
• Free Halsin, then speak to him immediately
• Keep doing nature-friendly actions to maintain approval

Want one blunt, debatable point? I think Halsin is overrated by some streamers — you can finish BG3 without him, and some builds prefer different companions. Will I recruit him every run? Mostly yes. Will you? Your call. Between us, he’s worth the effort if you enjoy healing and wild shaping — he changes fights, and he gives the group a moral compass.

Got a save that acts weird? Try reloading to before the pen scene and handle things differently. It’s fiddly sometimes — the game’s rich, messy, and wonderful. Happy hunting, and may your roots run deep! 🌿✨