Baldur's Gate 3 romances and relationships - the chance to woo prospective partners into sexual encounters and even something more meaningful - are pretty deep by the usual video game standards. Everything from casual flings to heartfelt, lifelong love is found here, much of it to be had with the various Baldur's Gate 3 companions - though not all of them, as we'll explain below. Whatever you're looking for in love in BG3, here's all the romance options in the game, and what you need to do to achieve them.
Spoilers for mid to late-game story moments ahead. Beware when clicking on a character's name in the sidebar!
Recent updates
This Baldur's Gate 3 romance guide was edited on 9 November, and though we had nothing more to add, everything you'll find below is up-to-date and correct.
Baldur's Gate 3 romance and relationship options
You can romance all but two companions in Baldur's Gate 3, as well as a few NPCs. The options are:
- Astarion
- Gale
- Lae'zel
- Shadowheart
- Wyll
- Karlach
- Halsin
- Minthara
- Mizora
- Haarlep
- Drow Twins
- The Emperor
Can you romance Jaheira or Minsc in BG3?
No, Jaheira and her friend Minsc are not romance options in Baldur's Gate 3. Despite this, you can still recruit them to your party after completing their requisite questlines.
How to romance companions and NPCs in Baldur's Gate 3
With the exception of Minthara and the NPCs, the process for romancing companions goes like this:
- Raise their approval of you through select dialogue and actions
- Choose dialogue options that correlate well with what your target romance might want you to do when conversing with others (mischievous or slightly cruel choices for Astarion, gallantry for Wyll and Karlach, etc.)
- Wait for a conversation that has romantic underpinnings and always select the flirtatious options
- You will be granted a chance to enter a relationship with the character after a certain amount of time and positive interactions.
If your rating is high enough, the first opportunity to kindle a romance comes near the end of Act 1 at the tiefling refugee party, after clearing the BG3 Goblin Camp. If your relationship is not quite there yet, you can still build relationships and romance them further down the line.
Can you romance multiple Baldur's Gate 3 characters at once?
Sometimes, but not always, depending on which partners you have. Some companions, like Wyll, Gale, and Lae'zel, are monogamous and unwilling to add a third person to the relationship. Halsin, Shadowheart, and Astarion are more accepting of polyamory and non-monogamy and will not mind if you want to sleep with other people, though you should probably ask them first.
At this point we'll explain the particulars of those in your Baldur's Gate 3 party, how you can improve their approval of you, and what you shouldn't say. Keep in mind that actions that gain some characters' approval might earn the disapproval of others, so you have to balance who you want to win over most.
How to romance Astarion
- Approval gained by: Shows of power, ruthless thinking, dramatics, the finer things in life, siding with monsters or disenfranchised/misunderstood beings, being mischievous or playful in a bit of a sadistic way
- Disapproval gained by: Altruism, compromise, weakness, boring behaviour, restraint, judging him for his condition
To romance Astarion, you must put his needs and the larger mission first. The somewhat flirtatious Astarion is already a companion who feels like he might seduce you first, but you do have to put in some work and effort before it'll quite reach that point. Astarion has a unique condition we won't spoil, but if you want to get on his good side, you won't be judgmental about it and cooperate to help him deal with it, even if it leads to some extreme places.
Otherwise he's a character who enjoys shows of power and a certain amount of flamboyance, and dislikes boring behaviour and altruism, viewing do-gooders as weak-willed. He's also got a soft spot for entities who are typically considered monsters, and will approve of anybody who can find a way to work with them.
Baldur's Gate 3 Astarion romance: Major choices
- Be understanding when he tells you of his "condition"
- Support his quest to get revenge on Cazador
- Initially reject NPCs when they offer you side quests involving acts of heroism
- Choose the more sneaky or underhand approach when presented with them, or choose to be a little bit devious (i.e. killing the three goblins in Moonrise Towers instead of fighting them or letting them go)
- Use the illithid tadpole powers
- Don't force him to give the drow bloodmancer what she wants in Moonrise Towers
How to romance Gale
- Approval gained by: Intelligence, magical knowledge, non-violent approaches, kindness, poetry
- Disapproval gained by: Unnecessary violence, stupidity, lack of curiosity, judgement over his condition
As a BG3 romance option, Gale is a satisfying choice in terms of a slow-burn. Once you've done enough to make him happy, Gale will show you some cool magic tricks at camp. You can show him that you like him by projecting the image of you both kissing passionately into his mind. From here, Gale will know you like him back and your romance pathway will be triggered.
Gale himself is a peaceful, good-natured soul, and will approve of any method that avoids violence. He also appreciates curiosity and a knowledgeable mind, so those who prove themselves intellectuals will get on his good side. And like Astarion, Gale has his own condition to deal with - and helping him deal with it will prove yourself a good soul in his eyes.
Baldur's Gate 3 Gale romance: Major choices
- Talk to him at the refugee party and choose flirtatious replies
- When Gale shows you his magic, project a romantic image back at him
- After Gale learns how Mystra would like him to use his Netherese orb, talk to his projection at camp and follow it to a private place to meet him. Once there, tell him you don't need fancy displays of magic and want to be with the real Gale to trigger a brief romance scene
How to romance Lae'zel
- Approval gained by: Pro-Gith statements, cooperating with her, aggression, combat expertise, efficiency, letting her speak for herself
- Disapproval gained by: Non-violent approaches, disagreeing with her, distraction, anti-Gith statements, pointless do-gooder behaviour
Lae'zel is pretty easy to read but harder to appeal to, as she's laser-focused on her goals and anything that deviates from them angers her. If you want to get on her good side, you'll play along with everything she says - focus on finding other Gith and the shortest, most efficient route through any problem. Lae'zel never walks around an obstacle if she can cut it in half - to earn her respect, you'll mimic that approach. She also respects people who strive to be dominant in any situation, except when you try to stand up to her. Give Lae'zel what she wants, but never compromise to anybody else. She also doesn't like Shadowheart, the two being pretty diametrically opposed.
Lae'zel will proposition you fairly early on, and rejecting her advances will lock you out of her romance for good.
Baldur's Gate 3 Lae'zel romance: Major choices
- Respond positively to her initial advances
- Sleep with her when she asks you to
- Keep building relationship, fighting her when she asks you to and beating her at it
How to romance Shadowheart
- Approval gained by: Use of trickery and manipulation, seeing through lies, anti-Gith statements, kindness to animals, kindness to the poor, kindness to children, not prying into her private life
- Disapproval gained by: Being tricked or manipulated, pro-Gith statements, humiliation, taking on too many side quests, siding with Lae'zel
If you're looking for some Baldur's Gate 3 Shadowheart romance, the good news is that she can be wooed just like any of your companions if you play to her likes and dislikes. She doesn't like Lae'zel or the Gith, so agreeing with them is always going to hurt your standing, and being a Trickery cleric, she prefers deception and a silver tongue over wading in with a sword. She's also got a soft spot for urchins, the underprivileged, and animals, so Baldur's Gate 3 classes like Druids and Rangers who treat them well can earn her appeal.
Baldur's Gate 3 Shadowheart romance: Major choices
- Talk to her at the Tiefling party and flirt with her
- Side with her over Lae'zel
- Don't pry too much into her personal or private life, and be gracious when she discloses information herself
- Support her quest to become a Dark Justiciar in the BG3 Gauntlet of Shar OR successfully convince her NOT to destroy the Nightsong when confronted with it
How to romance Wyll
- Approval gained by: Heroics, altruism, helping those who need it, fighting villains
- Disapproval gained by: Working with villains, selfishness, entitled behaviour, anything pro-Devil or pro-Goblin
Wyll is a Warlock who models himself as something of a classic, swashbuckling hero, and those who reflect those qualities will rank highly in his book. Heroic values, kicking evil's butt, not working with villains and taking a moral stand. You'll want to help people who need it, and never side with monsters - especially Devils and Goblins, who Wyll has some bad history with.
Baldur's Gate 3 Wyll romance: Major choices
- Be kind to everyone and rescue all the things
- Help him realize that Karlach is not a devil
- Don't convince him to use illithid powers
- Agree with him about moral duties and decisions
- When he asks to dance with you, dance well and kiss him at the end
- If Gale asks you to choose between him or Wyll, choose Wyll
How to romance Karlach
- Approval gained by: Liberation, seizing life, not being embarrassed, combat prowess, being brave
- Disapproval gained by: Cowardice, pointless cruelty, backing down when threatened, self-restraint, anything pro-Devil
Karlach is a fire-spitting tiefling barbarian who will fall for those who show uncompromising spirit and passion for life - the sort of person who she knows will have her back in the many barfights that she'll wander into. She's also appreciates supporting good people and showing compassion - except for villains, who she'll happily see you punch. Admittedly Karlach's unique condition means the more physical side of romance is difficult for her at the start of the game, but following her questline might help with that.
Baldur's Gate 3 Karlach romance: Major choices
- Obviously, don't let Wyll kill her
- Help fix her infernal engine by taking her to see Dammon in Baldur's Gate 3, allowing you to touch her
- Give Karlach a hug after getting her second engine upgrade
- Get Jaheira to join your party
How to romance Halsin
Halsin is the infamous bear druid you can romance in BG3. Although he hangs about your camp after rescuing Emerald Grove in Act 1, your opportunity to bed him won't come until Act 3, sometime after completing his quest to lift the shadow curse in Act 2.
To romance Halsin, respond positively to his advances and tell him that you reciprocate his desire. If you have a partner already, you can ask them for permission to sleep with him or break up with them in order to trigger a love scene when you go to your bedroll for the night.
If you fail to complete Halsin's quest in Last Light Inn by finding Thaniel before you defeat Ketheric Thorm, Halsin will stay behind in the shadow-cursed lands and will not accompany you any further in the game.
How to romance Minthara
Minthara is the only character who you can romance right now outside of your companions. She's a Drow Elf who serves as one of the leaders of the Goblin Camp - and while most playthroughs would have you fight her, if you work with her, it can lead to romance. Do the following to win her over (be warned, it's pretty villainous and will cause Wyll to leave the party permanently).
Baldur's Gate 3 Minthara romance: Major choices
- Go to the Goblin Camp
- Head to the Shattered Sanctum
- Speak to Minthara
- Offer to tell her about the Grove and aid the Goblin Raid
- After the raid is over and won, speak to her in the Grove and say: "It’s been a privilege to fight alongside you./Embrace the change./Open your mind."
- You'll have a Goblin-themed celebration at camp.
- Speak to her at the celebration and tell her you're hers.
- Head to your bedroll and choose to share it with her.
How to romance Mizora
Yes, you can sleep with Mizora. Wyll's contract-bound devil mistress is a one-off "romance" option in Baldur's Gate 3 who you'll get the option to sleep with after she appears in your camp permanently at the start of Act 3.
To sleep with Mizora in BG3, talk to her when an exclamation bubble appears over her head and agree for her to show you the sights and tastes of the Hells. When you take a long rest, she will come to you and trigger a rather intense "love" scene. You can back out at any point before things really hot up, if you've changed your mind. This might not be a bad idea if you've entered into a romance with Gale or Wyll, as they will break up with you immediately the next morning after finding out about your tryst with Mizora.
How to romance the Drow twins
You can romance drow twin NPCs at Sharess's Caress. In Act 3 of BG3, find the twins at the brothel in Wyrm's Crossing and engage them in a dialogue.
You will have to fork out 1,000 gold to enlist their services, and if you're in a relationship with one of your other companions, they might even join in. Halsin makes a willing fifth party, if you so wish to have him tag along.
How to romance Haarlep
You can sleep with Haarlep, Raphael's personal incubus that takes his own shape, at the House of Hope in BG3. Haarlep will give you the location of the Orphic Hammer and a key to Raphael's safe if you sleep with him (or her, if you ask him to turn into the Archduchess Raphael instead).
Refuse him, and you'll be forced to fight him and a bunch of annoying imp creatures. If you do go through with the deed, your character will have a "strange" sensation whenever Haarlep uses your form to pleasure other people. Members of your party generally disprove of this, but your main squeeze should not break up with you over it as much as get a little jealous.
How to romance The Emperor
The Emperor is a late-game romance option in Baldur's Gate 3. Whether or not you know who he is yet will depend upon how far into the game you are. To put it in a spoiler-free way, your opportunity to romance the Emperor will be made very plain to you when he outright propositions you with the fact that your relationship could have been something "deeper". If you reply favorably, he will suggest the two of you share a night of mind flayer passion that your companions will, unfortunately, be all too privy to.
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