Baldur's Gate 3's best companion still leaves players divided

It has almost been three years Baldur's Gate 3 launched to critical acclaim and awards. But somehow the companion is still strong – not silent either. The passionate arguments and counter-points are made with the same fury as launch week.

Both new and veteran players are still actively searching for the absolute truth: who is the best campmate in the Baldur's Gate 3. And look no further than Reddit threads that put that energy front and center. One that declares Karlach as the obvious best companion is a perfect case study for this kind of fandom interaction. This Karlach-centric image is not exactly controversial on the surface. Karlach is universally loved. But it is the answers that quickly show that “best” in Baldur's Gate 3 is anything but settled.

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All romantic characters in Baldur's Gate 3

There are a total of ten romance options in Baldur's Gate 3, and each of them are unique companions that players can choose to get close to.

Karlach's case as the best BG3 companion is built on pure heart

The post above doesn't complicate things. For a now deleted user, Baldur's Gate 3s barbarian wins because she is simply good. Not in a mechanical sense, not in a narrative twist-heavy way, but she's just wonderful to have around camp. In contrast to others BG3 campmates, this makes sense: Karlach is a genuinely good person in a world where most comrades' baggage has soured them.

Rearrange the cases in the correct US release order.

Light (5)Medium (7)Hard (10)

As the post puts it, she's “just a big kid inside a bad Tiefling body.” That feeling also appears in the answers. User eawardie notes that Karlach feels refreshing precisely because she doesn't rely on a dark secret to stay interesting, calling her “a genuinely likable person” in a difficult situation. She's someone who wants hugs, dances when people might be watching, and delivers some of the most memorable lines in the game.

Why players love Baldur's Gate 3's Karlach

Baldur's Gate 3 - Karlach returns to Avernus

Her well-adjusted personality stands out as the story pushes the player into darker corners: BG3 is an open-world game with morally gray decisions, after all
Her vocal lines and delivery make her instantly memorable
She brings warmth and levity to otherwise heavy story moments

Not all Baldur's Gate 3 fans think Karlach is “the best”

Karlach's romance i Baldur's Gate 3 is a fan favorite. Her joy is contagious. However, this was not to be one Baldur's Gate 3 discussion without pushing back. Although Karlach's personality is widely appreciated, several players argue that being likable is not the same as being the strongest companion overall.

User KatyaBelli points out: “Karlach is certainly likable, but her acting is lower quality than the big four EA buddies (Astarion, Lae'Zel, Shart, and Gale). Excellent voice acting, for sure.”

Likewise, Mercurionio highlights how much potential her story seemed to have in Act 3, only for it to feel short. In a definite pushback against Karlach in the top spot, this user said: “With extremely bad ending and very cut quest line. Like, half act 3 points out something to do with her. Yet there's actually zero things to do (Gortash is a problem anyway).”

Where critics say Karlach falls short

Her content in Act 3 feels underdeveloped compared to other companions
Her personal quest does not develop as deeply as others
Karlach quits Baldur's Gate 3 has been widely criticized as unsatisfactory
Other companions have better emotional payoffs

Astarion, Lae'zel and others keep the BG3 best character debate alive

Even in a Karlach-focused thread, it doesn't take long for other companions to enter the conversation. This is where things get interesting, as each counterargument reveals a different definition of what “best” actually means to each player.

User jmbutler1728 argues for Astarion, pointing to his growth and transformation throughout the story, as well as how his relationship with the player develops. They say, “I love Karlach, but Astarion is my favorite for the amount of growth and transformation his character goes through as well as the overall arc. The way he speaks to Tav transforms throughout the journey in a distinct way. Plus I love a story that subverts my expectations in a good way.”

Meanwhile, MiserableProfessor16 breaks it down further, breaking down “best” into categories like personality, narrative arc, and gameplay tools.

Other fan favorite picks

Baldur's Gate 3 Fan Showcases Their Gale Dekarios Cosplay

Astarion: praise for character development and emotional range
Lae'zel: often cited as one of the strongest bows in the game
Will: recognized as the moral compass for the player to refer to during a good playthrough of Baldur's Gate 3
Shadowheart: known for a deeply integrated and central plot
Storm: appreciated for its introspective, redemption-focused narrative

What starts as a simple Karlach appreciation post quickly becomes something bigger: a snapshot of how different players connect with each companion.

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Baldur's Gate 3's Companion Divide is the Fandom's greatest strength

Anyone in gaming spaces knows that discourse, while sometimes frustrating, is actually a good sign. In this case:

There isn't a universally agreed upon “best” companion because the game doesn't lead players towards a single answer. Instead, it gives each character enough personality, narrative weight, and mechanical value to resonate differently depending on the player. For some, it's Karlach's warmth. For others, it's Lae'zel's transformation. And for a subset of players, it's the stories they've woven into their Tav or Durge origins.

I have heard you

wide-eyed Shadowheart looks pleased in Baldur's Gate 3 — A close-up of a wide-eyed Shadowheart in *Baldur's Gate 3*. Her expression was edited to make her appear more pleased than surprised, with her mouth line changed to resemble a slight smile rather than a sneer from the original screenshot.

Some time ago I wrote an article that ranked Baldur's Gate 3 companions from best to worst. Obviously I'm a gamer like the rest of you. I have my personal favorites with the think pieces and TikTok memes to prove it. But as a gaming journalist, I wrote down a list based solely on (somewhat) objective criteria in order to deliver an unbiased list to the best of my ability. Some of you agreed. Some of you were convinced that I personally released the tadpole on Faerun and befriended Wulbren Bongle.

And yet, through the creative comments and pieces, one thing stood out: everyone had different opinions about who should win first place. Players fervently defended the character they were most attached to, the one they romanticized, or the steadfast companion that made their playthrough complete.

And maybe that's the point of all this. The “best” companion in Baldur's Gate 3 is not a fixed answer, but it is a reflection of you – you, the player with biases, baggage and things that make you tick. I'm glad that after three years these characters still make you tick, even if it's to the point of yelling at someone online.