Summary
Two of the best things aboutBaldur’s Gate 3are the lovable companions andthe well-designed quests. So, of course, these two things coming together can only be a good thing. The companion quests are some of the most enjoyable things to do in the game.
They allow you to get to know your allies a bit more, perhaps by digging into their past or helping them with a current predicament. Because they all revolve around someone different, they are all distinct from one another. However, they’re all enjoyable to play. Some are better than others, though. Here is a ranking of them all.
While Halsin, Minthara, and Minsc are all companions and have quests that seem personal to them, the game doesn’t include actual companion quests for them.
7Jaheira - The High Harper
The High Harper quest is basically one long search for Minsc. You have to track the big lug down and have him join your side. There are some interesting battles along the way, such as the large one in the Counting House and the final confrontation with Minsc, where you have to try not to kill him.
Overall, though, the quest isn’t overly compelling. You don’t really get to know Jaheira on a deeper level through this quest, nor are there any truly iconic moments. It isn’t bad. It just lacks a bit of depth.
6Gale - The Wizard Of Waterdeep
Few quests in gaming have an opening stretch as strange as The Wizard of Waterdeep. After all, at the start of it, you need to feed Gale multiple valuable items to stop him from exploding and killing everyone. This is when you learn that he is effectively a ticking time bomb due to an incident in his past when he attempted to gain the Goddess of Magic’s favor by messing with powerful magic.
The goal of the quest is ultimately to cure him, but you also need to manage his god-like ambition and his issues with the Goddess of Magic. This can allplay out in a bunch of different ways, depending on your choices, which is nice to see. Yet, the quest isn’t incredibly compelling, especially from a gameplay standpoint, as none of the game’s big boss fights happen during this quest or many interesting encounters in general. Plus, Gale’s story isn’t as powerful as some of the other characters ‘.
5Wyll - The Blade Of Frontiers
Wyll has a very long personal quest that also includes a few sub-quests. It begins with Wyll wanting to kill Karlach, as he has been ordered to, but ends with him trying to save his father and come to terms with who he is. While all this is happening, you learn a lot about Wyll. You discover how he ended up being forced to serve Mizora and why his relationship with his father is so strained.
These things are fascinating to learn about. However, for such a long quest that is stretched over all three acts, there aren’t a lot of great moments. Fighting the undead Dragon, Ansur, is fun, as is attempting to save the Duke, but other companion quests bring more to the table.
4Karlach - Our Fiery Friend
In Our Fiery Friend, Karlach is dealing with her own mortality, as her infernal engine of a heart is slowly killing her. During the quest, you attempt to repair it and get revenge on Gortash, as he sold her to the devil that implanted the infernal engine in the first place.
This is one of the best-written quests in the game. The dialogue is incredibly moving and captivating. As such, it’s hard not to feel incredible sympathy for Karlach throughout it. After defeating Gortash, she delivers perhaps the best speech in the entire game, which containsseveral memorable quotes. The Gortash battle itself isn’t bad, but the cutscenes and conversations carry this quest.
3Astarion - The Pale Elf
The best companion quests allow you to see a character in a different way. That is what happens in Astarion’s The Pale Elf quest. Before really getting into it, Astarion doesn’t seem like the nicest guy. Yet, during The Pale Elf, you see that he’s had it rough.
He has spent much of his life as a slave to a Vampire lord named Cazador. The tadpole has actually given him a bit of respite and allowed him to have temporary freedom. His quest is about getting revenge on Cazador and achieving permanent freedom. In the process, you experience a great arc for Astarion that has multiple possible outcomes. If you don’t get an early end, you get to witness an epic encounter with Cazador and a satisfying end to Astarion’s rift with him.
2Lae’zel - The Githyanki Warrior
From your early interactions with Lae’zel, it’s clear how committed she is to her people and, specifically, her Queen, Vlaakith. However, throughout The Githyanki Warrior, that loyalty is put to the test. This is because she learns that her Queen might not be entirely trustworthy. You have to help Lae’zel manage her confused feelings.
The story is really good and well-paced, as things reveal slowly over the three acts. Yet, things don’t feel too dragged out since you do plenty of things during that time, from visiting the Creche to potentially freeing Orpheus. There are plenty of interesting moments, and you get to see a different side of Lae’zel.
1Shadowheart - Daughter Of Darkness
The Daughter of Darkness quest tells a very fascinating story. This is because it revolves around Shadowheart and her fractured memory. As you delve deeper into the quest, you learn more about her upbringing and how she became a Shar follower.
Along the way, you get to do some fun stuff, like complete The Gauntlet of Shar, which is a slew of unique trials. You also have an interesting encounter with the Nightsong, and your time in The House of Grief is fun, too. So, the quest offers good storytelling and enjoyable gameplay. It can also be very emotional, as it includes some powerful scenes and conversations with Shadowheart.
