In addition to all of the available companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, Hirelings are potential customizable party members, that can join you during your journeys.
Source: Larian Studios
New Party Companions
When Baldur’s Gate 3 releases on August 3rd for PC/Mac and September 6th for Playstation 5, there will be numerous potential companions for players to find a recruit to their party. Currently, potential companions at launch will be:
- Astarion, Gale, Shadowheart, Lae’zel and Wyll (available during Early Access)
- Karlach, Halsin, Jaheira, Minsc, and Minthara (now available after launch)
All of them are available to romance, and as you play through the game you can mix and match your group throughout by switching them up in camp.
However, it is possible to loose companions as well. They may choose to leave your party if they don’t like the decisions you make. They can die during regular gameplay or even be killed by you directly if things go really sour.
Source: Larian Studios
Hirelings as Party Members
If that happens, you may loose a character whose class or abilities were integral to your party setup and playstyle. In order to make sure that in this event you can still have a party member to fill that spot, Baldur’s Gate 3 Hirelings were Revealed during the Panel From Hell Livestream.
There will be 12 hirelings available in the game, one for each class. Additionally, you can then customize their builds however you like. You can even choose to use hirelings exclusively for your party, if you really want full control in order to mix-max the perfectly cohesive and complementary group.
Should you so choose, you’ll be able to create a custom party without any Origins, opting instead to have Hirelings join you on the road – mercenaries who can be hired to join your team temporarily.
Larian Studios
Unlike the full companion characters, hirelings will not have a story and background you can explore through dialogue and quests. Nor are they available to romance. They are strictly there to fulfill a party/class combat need should you loose or not have access to the main companion who would otherwise be in that role.
How to Unlock Hirelings in Baldur’s Gate 3
The first step to unlocking the ability to use hirelings is by finding the NPC Withers. You can find Withers early on in the game, located within the Dank Crypt underneath the Overgrown Ruins. You’ll know you’re close when you get into a deteriorating chapel area with a large statue in the center ‘pit’. There is space around the sides to the left and right. Go to the left and click the button a Perception check should allow you to find. This will wake several undead, but after you have defeated them go back to the area and through the now opened doorway.
The small room inside will have a chest and a Richly Adorned Sarcophagus. Interacting with it will revive Withers. After a cryptic question, and dismissal, Withers will afterwards be available at your camp.
When you speak to Withers at camp, follow these responses to unlock hirelings:
- ” You were sorting something before. What were you doing?”
- “Will these hirelings be joining me willingly?”
- “Do you think I can trust these cultists?”
- “I would like to talk about hirelings”
In order to recruit a hireling (or two or three) you must dismiss your current party members to free up the space. Withers won’t let you recruit one unless there is an open spot in your party.
Choosing a Hireling in Baldur’s Gate 3
After telling Withers you would like to talk about hirelings, the screen in Baldur’s Gate 3 will take you to what looks like the character creator. The exception is that you only have 12 specific individuals to choose from.
The hirelings available in Baldur’s Gate 3 are:
- Eldra Luthrinn – Gold Dwarf Barbarian
- Brinna Brightsong – Lightfoot Halfling Bard
- Zenith Feur’sel – High Elf Cleric of Selune
- Danton – Mephistopheles Tiefling Druid
- Varanna Sunblossom – Wood Half-Elf Fighter
- Sina’zith – Githyanki Monk
- Kerz – Half-Orc Paladin
- Ver’yll Wenkiir – Lolth-Sworn Drow Ranger
- Maddala Deadeye – Human Rogue
- Jacelyn – High Half-Elf Sorcerer
- Kree Derryck – Duergar Warlock
- Sir Fuzzalump – Rock Gnome Wizard
Once you choose a hireling they will automatically appear in camp after you finish talking to Withers. They will also automatically level up to match your current level. You can speak with them if you choose, but they do not really have personalities or backstories like the main companions do.
Additionally, just like your character and all of your regular companions, you can respec a hireling’s class and build at any time in camp. Just click on the hireling’s portrait to take control of them and bring them over to speak to Withers. Choose to respec, pay the 100 gold fee and you can change their build the same as everyone else. The only things that you cannot change on a hireling are their name and race.
If you no longer need or want the hireling in your party, you can dismiss them at any time by returning to Withers and speaking with him. You can choose a different hireling at that time, or ask one of the main companions to fill the space.
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