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Baldur’s Gate 3: All Non-Origin Characters and How to Recruit Them

Expand your allies for the fight against the Absolute with Baldur's Gate 3's Non-Origin companions.

Baldur’s Gate 3 features a total of 16 Non-Origin characters, and here we’ll cover who they are and how to get them in your party. While many of these characters can be recruited as early as Act 1, that isn’t the case for all of them. However, recruiting all 16 of these companions in one playthrough isn’t possible without a fair sum of gold and a workaround in Act 1 for two particular companions. Here’s a complete list of all Non-Origin characters and how to recruit them in Baldur’s Gate 3.

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All Non-Origin Characters and How to Recruit Them in Baldur’s Gate 3

Of the 16 Non-Origin characters you can recruit, 12 need to be hired if you want them in your party, and unlike other companions, they aren’t fully voiced or as dynamic as the others.

Non-Origin characters are those you can’t select in the Character Creation screen. Four of them are connected to the main quests, but you need to take a roundabout way through Act 1 if you really want to get all four. The remaining characters are Hirelings you can purchase from Withers when he’s at your camp if you need a certain class to round out your party for an upcoming battle.

Halsin

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While you meet Halsin in Act 1, you can’t officially recruit him as a party member until Act 2. First, you need to free him from the Goblin Camp and side with the Druids and Tieflings against the Goblins. After that, he’ll want to travel to Moonrise Towers with you, saying that he has business there and you could find a cure for your parasite. So why not travel together? Accept his company, then head to Act 2.

In Act 2, you need to complete “Lift the Shadow Curse” before Halsin can be used as a party member. Until then, he’ll hang around your campsite or in Last Light Inn if you’ve told him about Art’s condition. After you’ve met these conditions, you can journey with the Druid in your party or romance him later in the game if you want.

Minthara

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Minthara also appears in Act 1, but she’s one of the Goblin leaders. She serves the Absolute, and if you want to recruit her, you need to side with the Goblins against the Druids and Tieflings. To do this, speak with her in the Shattered Sanctum and agree to go along with her plan. Of all the Non-Origin characters, you’ll lose the most by recruiting Minthara. You won’t be able to recruit Halsin, and both Karlach and Wyll leave your party.

Jaheira

Jaheira holding a goblet
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Jaheira is recruitable in Act 2, and you’ll first come across her at Last Light Inn. However, you must keep her alive until the end of the act if you want to recruit her as a full party member. First, save Isobel from being taken by Marcus. Next, you’ll need to free Nightsong. Finally, during the assault on Moonrise Towers, you’ll want to either bring her in as a temporary party member or keep a close eye on her to save her from dying. 

You can then recruit her before going after Ketheric Thorm. Once he escapes to the Mindflayer Colony, speak with her and tell her to face him with you. While Jaheira won’t actually join you to fight him the second time, she’ll still become a permanent party member.

Minsc

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Minsc is the last Non-Origin character you can recruit, and you won’t come across him until Act 3. You need to have Jaheira recruited to get him as a party member. From there, you’ll find him in the Sewers past the Abandoned Cistern puzzle. Knock out Minsc with non-lethal damage, then take care of the enemies around him. This triggers a cutscene where you need to force the Emperor to protect him from the Absolute’s influence, which then recruits Minsc.

Hirelings

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The other 12 Non-Origin characters are the Hirelings you can purchase from Withers by speaking with him in your camp and spending a bit of gold. I’ve listed the available characters below with their race and class.

  • Brinna Brightsong: Lightfoot Halfling Bard
  • Danton: Mephistopheles Tiefling Druid
  • Eldra Luthrinn: Gold Dwarf Barbarian
  • Fafner: Dragonborn Sorcerer
  • Kerz: Half-Orc Paladin
  • Kree Derryck: Duergar Warlock
  • Maddala Deadeye: Human Rogue
  • Sina’zith: Githyanki Monk
  • Sir Fuzzlump: Rock Gnome Wizard
  • Varanna Sunblossom: Wood Half-Elf Fighter
  • Ver’yll Wenkiir: Lolth-Sworn Drow Ranger
  • Zenith Feur’sel: High-Elf Cleric

While that covers all Non-Origin characters and how to recruit them in Baldur’s Gate 3, it’s clear that not all these companions were created equal. It’s well worth your time to recruit characters like Halsin, Minthara, Jaheira, or Minsc, but the hirelings don’t bring much to the game narratively. But there’s plenty to explore using our BG3 guide hub for topics like where to find Dammon and how to investigate Kagha.


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Melissa Sarnowski
Melissa Sarnowski has been working as a gaming writer professionally for two years, having been at GameSkinny for over a year now as a horror beat writer. She has an English degree from University of Wisconsin - Madison. While she focuses on all things horror, she also enjoys cozy games, MMOs like FFXIV and WoW, and any and everything in between.