Summary
- There are some characters in Baldur's Gate 3 worth saving, even if there's no instant reward for doing so.
- Saving Duke Ravengard, for example, may not offer immediate rewards, but reuniting him with his son Wyll adds sentimental value to the story.
- Other characters like Us and Alfira are also worth saving, enhancing gameplay experiences by doing so.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is packed with important life-or-death decisions concerning characters the party meets along the way. Sometimes the solution is obvious, while others are less so, and some come down to personal preference during that particular playthrough. However, there are certain characters who should be saved either for their rewards or because of how they impact the plot.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for Baldur's Gate 3.]
Baldur's Gate 3 has a plethora of characters for the party to meet and interact with, each with their own personalities and goals. However, with so many crucial decisions to be made throughout, many of which can impact the ending of Baldur's Gate 3, it can sometimes be difficult to know who is worth keeping around. Be it for the item rewards, plot reasons, or simply because it was the right thing to do, these characters are worth saving when the time comes.
10 Duke Ravengard
Early on in Act 1, the party is given the quest to find and save Duke Ulder Ravengard, one of the rulers of Baldur’s Gate and Wyll’s father. It isn’t until Act 3 that the Duke can be rescued and the party must save him from the underwater Iron Throne prison. While Ravengard’s rescue is a little tricky and saving him offers no reward in terms of items at this stage it is worth it to reunite Wyll and his father. This is a more sentimental reason than anything else but if Wyll has managed to free himself from his pact with Mizora, it makes the reunion all the sweeter.
9 Us
Us is the tiny intellect devourer first met on the nautiloid during the tutorial and functions to demonstrate how temporary followers, familiars and pets work in Baldur’s Gate 3. Immediately there is the choice to save or kill Us as they seek freedom from the unfortunate elf that ‘birthed’ them. Here, saving Us will mean extra help in escaping the doomed ship and at level one that is very useful. However, Us can be found again at the end of Act 2 in the Mind Flayer Colony, once again in need of saving. Once freed Us will reward the party with the ability to summon them permanently, where they will act like any other pet or familiar.
8 Alfira
Alfira is the tiefling bard that can be found composing a song overlooking the ritual circle in the Druid Grove. For most playthroughs, she will join the party at camp during the celebration and can then be met again in the Last Light Inn during Act 2 where she will give a reward for rescuing the tieflings. However, Alfira meets a terrible fate during any Dark Urge playthroughs meaning that her quest reward is lost. There is a way to save Alfira in Baldur’s Gate 3 which can be a little harsh but is overall the best result both for loot and story.
7 The Emperor
The Emperor is the true identity of the Dream Guardian who has been helping shield the party from the effects of the Absolute since the very beginning. There are a couple of points in the story where there is the choice to help or kill the Emperor, although the final choice comes down to personal preference and playthrough choices. However, there is one moment where saving the Emperor is a must.
At the very beginning of Act 3 a team of githyanki will attack camp and the party is called to aid the Dream Guardian. It is here it is revealed that they are a mind flayer and ask for help. Not saving them from the githyanki attack will result in a game over as the Absolute turns everyone into mind flayers. Overall saving the Emperor will yield the same result as saving Prince Orpheus for the final battle with the Netherbrain, with the only difference being story implications.
6 Mizora
Mizora is Wyll’s cambion patron and a source of contention between Wyll and Karlach. In Act 2 Mizora will come to camp for a visit, revealing that one of Zariel’s assets has been taken by the Absolute and she wants the party to rescue them. The asset is Mizora herself, who can be found in a pod in the Mind Flayer Colony. While it might be tempting to leave Mizora there dooming her also dooms Wyll as if she dies he will also be killed permanently. Mizora is worth saving not only to keep Wyll around but also for her sarcastic comments once she joins the camp and a chance to spend the night with her.
5 Halsin
Halsin is the leader of the Druid Grove and a potential companion should the Grove be defended against the goblins. While there is the choice to side with the Absolute and earn Minthara as a companion, saving Halsin makes more sense narratively for BG3. In Act 2 the party enters the Shadow-Cursed Lands and the only way to lift the curse is with Halsin’s help. Halsin has a personal connection not only to the area but the forest spirit that lived there which takes the form of a young boy called Thaniel. Saving Halsin from the goblins in Act 1 means that the land can be healed in Act 2 which also means the party gets a buff during the final battle with the Netherbrain.
4 Thrumbo
Thrumbo is an undead servant of the Mystic Carrion, a mummy lord, that can be met in Act 3 of Baldur's Gate 3. The Mystic Carrion asks the party to kill Thrumbo; however, Thrumbo would like the party’s help to be rid of his master and be free. Thrumbo is worth helping as his quest will result in more experience earned and better rewards at the end. After traveling all over to find pieces of the Mystic Carrion and then defeating him aiding Thrumbo will mean the party gets the Crypt Lord Ring from Thrumbo, the Torch of Revocation, and several other excellent items from the Mystic Carrion's corpse.
3 Isobel
Isobel is the cleric of Selune found on the top floor of the Last Light Inn in Act 2 and saving her is a must for anyone not doing an extremely evil playthrough. After speaking with Isobel an agent of the Absolute will attack attempting to kidnap her. Should Isobel be killed or taken during this fight then the shield protecting everyone at the Inn will fall; dooming everyone. This will cut off several side quests and remove several important BG3 characters such as Jaheira and Dammon.
2 Dame Aylin
Dame Aylin, also known as the Nightsong, is the daughter of Selune and can be met in Act 2 where the party must decide whether to free or kill the Nightsong. Saving her is the best choice as it not only removes the source of Ketheric Thorm’s immortality but also furthers Shadowheart’s personal quest in a much better way than letting her submit to Shar. Killing Aylin results in the Shadow-Curse becoming stronger dooming everyone in the Last Light Inn in a similar fashion to Isobel’s death. If Aylin is saved she will become an ally in the fight against Thorm and Myrkul as well as the final battle against the Netherbrain.
1 Arabella
Arabella is a tiefling child first met in Act 1 where she is being held by Kagha for stealing. The party has the option to intervene or watch as Kagha kills the little girl. Saving her here is not only the right thing to do but also has some unforeseen boons later on. Arabella can be bet again in Act 2 lost in the Shadow-Cursed Lands where she is able to teach the party a new spell to entangle and damage undead and shadow creatures. Arabella will then return again in Act 3 of Baldur’s Gate 3 as an ally for the final battle and provides the buff Weavewalker giving the party the benefits of the freedom of movement spell.