Summary
Baldur’s Gate 3has gained a far from prudish reputation in recent months, with the game’s steamy transformation scenes leading its charge and driving fan interest to record highs, becoming one of themost popular games in Steam history. While the rave is all about the swathe of player classes and magicalDungeons and Dragons-styled combat, the opportunity for romance is also a fan-favorite, as Larian Studios allows players to interact in certain dialogues that give rise to the possibility. There are several romanceable characters inBaldur’s Gate 3for gamers to choose from, and Minthara, a Drow Paladin, is an enticing option. There are some consequences for getting romantically involved with her, but that’s hardly a deterrent if players have some evil inclinations.
Relationships are not the most common feature in RPGs, appearing in only a few titles likeAssassin’s Creed Odyssey, butBaldur’s Gate 3’s romance mechanism holds a certain allure with its nuances and graphical representation. Each character in the game has unique ideologies and behaviors, and players have to be careful to keep their chosen partners happy as they travel across the Forbidden Realm. In this land, relationships cut across all fabrics of society, as there are no restrictions on romance betweenclasses and subclasses inBaldur’s Gate 3. Minthara may not be the most ethical character, but she provides a thrill few others compare to in the game.
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Romancing Minthara is a Blood-Soaked Journey
Minthara’s role as a romanceable character is the ultimate test of what players want fromBaldur’s Gate 3. Choosing thePaladin warriorentails betraying the Tieflings and Druids, and siding with the Goblin army, causing negative ramifications for players' dealings with Wyll and Halsin, as Wyll will leave the party permanently. Heroic gamers will not prefer a relationship with Minthara due to the hefty moral consequences, but a partnership with her gives players an insight into both sides of the conflict, at the cost of a few borderline evil decisions along the way. She hates kindness and displays of weaknesses but approves of cruelty and violence, so romancing this character requires a thick skin and a strong stomach.
The first step to romancing Minthara is to head to the Goblin Camp and enter the Shattered Sanctum. Avoiding any form of conflict with the goblins and hobgoblins stationed around the Sanctum is paramount to successfully wooing Minthara, and upon meeting the character, players will give her theDruid Grove’s locationand help the goblins attack the area. Building trust is half the battle inBaldur’s Gate 3’s romance chronicles, and gamers can do this with Minthara by turning their backs on the Tieflings and opening the gates for her party, betraying Zavlor in the process. There’s no turning back at this juncture, as every Tiefling and Druid meet their end before players return to the goblin campsite.
A celebration takes place among the goblins after destroying the Druids, where the main character will tell Minthara through a prompt that they are hers. Subsequently, interacting with the bedroll reveals an option to spend time with the goblin leader. After a few prompts, Minthara joins the player in bed, and a romance scene plays. However, the coast isn’t clear for gamers yet, as she will attack afterward if she is displeased. Players can avoid this assault by searching for her desires with a Persuasion check, maintaining approval with the Paladin inBaldur’s Gate 3.
Considering the Druid blood players have to wade through and the betrayals of party members to get an audience with Minthara, many have deemed the trade-off too steep to bear with a clean conscience. However, for players who wouldn’t mind a little chaos and playing the bad guy, Minthara is the perfectromanceable character inBaldur’s Gate 3, exploring the spectrum of what the title has to offer.
Baldur’s Gate 3is available now on PC and launches September 6 on PS5, with an Xbox Series X/S port also being in development.
