Baldur’s Gate 3has so much going for it, from amazing environments to great music and engaging combat. It also has an incredibly fun campaign, packed with side quests, and as a result, a ton of side characters. Some of them are clearly evil and villainous, others are a bit more morally grey—depending on who one asks.
With the abundance of characters, it’s fun to imagine what the game could have been like if some of the more villainous characters had been available as companions. Note that while some of these characters are very clearly villains, others may not be as clearly cut. Spoilers are ahead for the main and side stories ofBaldur’s Gate 3, so proceed with caution.
7Sazza
With So Many Goblins, Why Not Have One As A Companion?
Sazza is the fiery goblin captured by the Emerald Grove inhabitants in Act 1 as soon as players finish the fight outside the Grove.She can be rescued from her cageand even offers to help lead players to and through the Goblin Camp safely without having to pass any speech checks.
She can also be saved from Minthara’s judgment, and if so, she will appear in Moonrise Towers where players can rescue her one last time (this also unlocks a special achievement). With her rowdy personality, and how amusing the goblins are in the game, having Sazza around for the whole run would be a cool concept, especially for any Dark Urge players.
6Yurgir
A Powerful Enemy Against Raphael
Yurgir is first encountered during the Gauntlet of Shar by players looking for the Umbral Stones used to unlock the elevator. He has been condemned to kill Dark Justiciars by Raphael, and players can either slay him ortalk themselves out of the situation. He then reappears in the House of Hope, where he can be persuaded the join the fight against Raphael.
Yurgir’s design is pretty cool, and though as a character he’s awful and disgusting, his kit in combat is what makes him extremely intriguing. He has a powerful invisibility ability, as well as a crossbow that can push enemies back. Players get a taste of this if they manage to earn him as an ally for the final fight against the Netherbrain and call him down for help.
5Kagha
A Morally Grey Druid Companion Would Be Great
There is no denying that Halsin is the sweetheart druid the game deserves, but for Dark Urge players or otherwise morally grey fans, a recruitable Kagha in the form of a Shadow Druid would be extremely cool.
Kagha’s cutthroat personality is showcased extensively in Act 1, and although it’s possible to make her see the error of her waysby exposing her plans with the Shadow Druidsand then passing a speech check on her, one has to wonder the kind of camp conversation and backstory she would have as a companion.
4He Who Was
A Side Character With A Cool Design
In terms of highly memorable character designs that are incredibly cool, He Who Was is a side character that sticks with players. He has a minor quest in Act 2 that will test players' sense of justice, which somewhat paints him as a villain, or morally grey at the very least.
A shadar-kai, he has a haunting appearance and comes with a little albino raven companion. His combination of spellcasting and fighting as a gloom weaver would make him an interesting alternativeto Wyll’s Warlock kit.
3Raphael
A Charismatic Character With Great Camp Conversation Potential
Raphael is easilyone of the hardest bosses inBaldur’s Gate 3. As a major villain (and potential ally), it wouldn’t really make sense to have him as a companion in Tav’s camp. Still, given the excellent writing and voice acting that went into bringing his character to life, having the devil in camp or in a party full-time could make for some fun commentary.
Raphael exhibits impeccable charisma. The banter he could have with some of the other companions would be well worth the chaos of having someone like him on the team, even if his powers would completely upset the balance of every fight.
2Orin
The Most Unreliable Companion, But With A Cool Character Concept
Druids are the go-to shapeshifters players have access to, but what if the favorite murder queenof Bhaalcould be turned into an ally? The mere suggestion seems ridiculous, given how Orin loves slicing and dicing anyone in her vicinity. Like with Raphael, the idea is best left as a mere theory.
Still, she’s one of the more eccentric and out-there characters in the game, and who doesn’t love a bit (or a lot) of chaos at camp? Gameplay-wise, she has access to her Slayer form, which players can also acquire on Tav if they complete a tragic killing quest in Act 2.
1The Emperor
Technically A Companion All Along
The Emperor is with the player throughout the entire game, so perhaps adding him here is a bit of a cop-out. Whether or not he’s a true villain has been debated in the community, but what is clear is that he is a manipulator at heart.
Players can only speak with him (and therefore the Dream Guardian in the first half of the game) at certain times in the story. He appears a few times in combat as an ally, and can even be controlled in some fights depending on how the plot proceeds for players.Better yet, he can be romanced. With so many interactions already in the game, it’s almost a shame he isn’t more often in camp or available as a full-on companion for Act 3 similar to Jaheira. Of course, due to his major role in the story as a manipulator, having him in the party would be difficult—but imagine all the potential his kit has for fights.
