Baldur’s Gate 3 Best Companions Ranked and Rated

I play Baldur’s Gate 3 a lot and I write about games; here’s a clear, practical take on the companions that actually matter. I’ll tell you who shines in combat, who’s best for romance, and why some favorites feel overrated (honestly, Shadowheart isn’t perfect for every run).

Quick reality: the game launched fully on August 3, 2023, and many balance tweaks landed through 2024 and 2025. I’ve noticed builds that worked in 2023 don’t always hold up now (depends on your niche). This guide reflects what I’m seeing as of November 25, 2025.

🏆 Who I Pick First

My pick: Shadowheart, Karlach, Astarion. Why? Shadowheart’s Cleric toolkit covers healing and buffs; Karlach soaks damage; Astarion handles locks and big sneak hits. That combination keeps party options open, which—surprisingly—beats a stack of glass cannons more often than not. There are exceptions, of course.

⚔️ Combat Snapshot

Why these picks? Because the game rewards role coverage. If you lack healing, you’ll die to attrition over long encounters. If you lack single-target burst, bosses will punish you. That’s the simple math.

Build Notes (short)

• Karlach: Strength and Constitution first. Great Weapon Master is very strong. (There are trade-offs.)
• Astarion: Dexterity and positioning matter more than gear sometimes.
• Gale: Prioritize spell slots and crowd control over just raw damage.

💬 Romance — Who Feels Real

Shadowheart’s romance is slow and meaningful. Astarion’s is messy and consent-heavy (controversial? yes), and some players find it triggering. Karlach’s romance is warm and straightforward. Ask yourself: do you want story or chaos? Your choice changes scenes later—big time.

“Romance choices shape Act 3 scenes; don’t ignore personal quests.”

🎭 Character Arcs — Short Reads

Astarion’s arc explores abuse and autonomy. Shadowheart’s revolves around memory and faith. Lae’zel evolves by confronting pride. Karlach carries tragedy with hope—very effective writing. To be fair, not every companion gets equal screen time.

Counterintuitive note: a character rated low in raw power can give the best moments if you roleplay them hard. I’ve found that a “weak” companion often sparks my favorite scenes (we found this repeatedly in playtests).

🛡️ Party Recipes (practical)

Classic balance (works in most fights):

{
"Tank":"Karlach",
"Healer":"Shadowheart",
"Rogue":"Astarion",
"PC":"Flexible (control or extra DPS)"
}

Magic-heavy option: Gale + Shadowheart + Wyll + Karlach. That group leans on spell combos and protection. Watch this: coordinate control spells first, then dump big AoE. Timing beats raw damage numbers.

📊 Tier Summary (short)

Note: these are my ratings based on combat, romance, and story impact as of November 25, 2025. Some folks will disagree—that’s fine! Really controversial take: Shadowheart is often called “essential” by streamers; I think she’s essential mostly for players who aren’t confident juggling spells. There. Fight me?

Practical Tips

• Finish personal quests early if you want the best outcomes.
• Mix mobility and control—positioning wins fights.
• Don’t recruit Minthara unless you’re ready to lock out others (there are exceptions).

Why these tips? Because BG3 penalizes sloppy composition. You can brute-force some fights, but you’ll miss story beats and efficient runs (and that’s boring).

Odd Insight

Oddly enough, stealth-focused parties often turn “weak” companions into MVPs. Two assassinations early can skip entire fights—so don’t discount them. Between us: that strategy feels like cheating, but it’s valid.

Closing (brief)

Experiment. Try a party that sounds dumb on paper. Some of my best sessions started with a mismatch and became unforgettable. If you want a quick start: grab a healer, a tank, and someone who can unlock things. That’s the simplest path to fewer wipes and more scenes you remember. Go play, and tell me which duo surprised you!

— an experienced player and designer (she/her), Nov 25, 2025