Summary
In the world ofDungeons & Dragons, innocent NPCs often get caught up in the collateral damage that inevitably follows an adventuring party. That environment is duplicated inBaldur’s Gate 3,which is based on the Sword Coast ofD&Dlore, and it’sone of the many reasonsthe game is so immersive.
The main character’s ability inBG3tohelp or save the various charactersin the game, which includes both companions and NPCs, depends on how players approach gameplay and whatclass, character, or Backgroundthey’ve chosen. Some characters are tough to save, but not impossible, and even if the protagonist tries their best, it’s often impossible to save everyone.Several of the following character deaths or saves are canon events that give away parts of the storyline. If you have not yet played the Dark Urge, sided with the Goblins instead of the Grove, or reached Act 3, be advised that there are spoilers ahead.
5Alfira
Extra Tough For The Dark Urge
When playing a custom Tav, Alfira is one of the Tieflings that players can save, and she’ll reappear in later acts if they side with the Grove. In the regular version of the game, she’ll be one of the casualties if players side with the Goblins or if Isobel at Last Light Inn dies.
The real issue with Alfira is forthose playing the Dark Urge, a pre-made character that’s a Bhaalspawn with a Haunted Background. Alfira is the first victim in what has the potential to become a murderous rampage, but there are some steps players can take to avoid her messy demise. The most commonly used method is to avoid meeting her in the Grove entirely, or simply knock her out using non-lethal damage to prevent her from becoming a target.
4Yenna
Her Survival Depends On Party Composition
Yenna is an adorable little urchin who seeks aid in Tav’s camp at the beginning of Act 3, and it might be hard to understand the point of her existence until there’s talk of doppelgangers. What makes her vulnerable is one of Orin’s possible targets once Tav arrives at Baldur’s Gate.
Even if players tell her there’s no room at camp, or ask her to go away, she turns up at camp anyway so it’s not possible to save her that way. Yenna might be killed by Orin regardless, and her poor cat Grub is even harder to save. On the other hand, the Bhaalspawn might target another party member who’s also in camp and not involve Yenna at all, as the choice of doppelganger changes with each playthrough.
3Minthara
It’s Better To Be Evil
One of the few complaints aboutBG3was how Minthara,the only Paladin and Drow companion, could only be recruited through siding with the Goblins. For those already committed to a path of morally ambiguous choices, her survival is a non-issue. For those who want to save the Grove, however, it’s very difficult to recruit or save her.
Players did discover a complicated solution that involved using Polymorph to keep her from being hostile in Act 1 and then meeting her again in Moonrise Towers. Since then, Larian has patched in a better solution to this problem that involves knocking her out using non-lethal damage in the Shattered Sanctum, which has the same effect as Polymorph. She can then be recruited after her “trial” for failing Kethric Thorm.
2Duke Ravengard
An Optional And Tough Companion Quest
It’s difficult to save the Duke, mainly because the player and their companions are dealing with a ticking clock as opposed to a secret, a puzzle,or a tough boss fight. The timer starts as soon as the Redhammer’s submarine docks at The Iron Throne, and the entire place is set to blow up after five turns. Other factors come into play starting in Act 1 that might even close this quest off, depending on how the story progresses for Wyll.
The Iron Throne is a hidden jailbeneath the harbor of Baldur’s Gate, where Gortash is keeping some high-profile prisoners. The only way to free them is by pulling levers to open their cells, so they can run back to the sub. Ravengard is not only in the cell furthest away from the entrance, but if players talked Wyll into ending his Warlock pact, Mizora sends a hoard of burning spiders to hinder his escape when they let him out. All of this while angry fish people pop out of the water and chasing Tav and the escapees. Several quests also end here with other prisoners, which include Gnomes, Tieflings, and the friendly Mindflayer, Omeluum.
1Rolan
He’s Not The Lucky One, You Are
It does feel like total dumb luckthe first time players save Rolan, because it likely happened by accident while exploring in the Shadow-Cursed Lands. He feels guilty about his friends being taken prisoner by the forces of the Absolute and sets out to rescue them on his own.
Those who are walking along the shore south of Reithwin Town might reach him in time, but many players don’t even know he’s there until it’s too late, if they find him at all. It’s worth going through the trouble, however, as he becomes a powerful ally to fight the Absolute if players make the right choices with his master, the Sorcerer Lorrokan, in Act 3.
