Companions

Companions are playable characters who can join and fight alongside the player character. Each has their own motivations, personalities, and affinity that increase or decrease according to the player's choices. At high approval levels, many companions can be romanced. Conversely, a companion may leave the party or even try to kill the player character if their approval becomes too low.
The default Class of companions can be changed. However, for story purposes, the game acts as if they still have their original class.
== Origin Companions ==
Origin companions are playable characters with rich backgrounds and ties to the world and the events of the game. The origin companions can be recruited shortly after completing the Prologue. Each Origin can also be selected as a player character as an alternative to creating a custom character. 
Portrait Astarion.png|AstarionHigh ElfRogue|link=Astarion|alt=Astarion
Portrait Gale.png|GaleHumanWizard|link=Gale|alt=Gale
Portrait Karlach.png|KarlachZariel TieflingBarbarian|link=Karlach|alt=Karlach
Portrait Laezel.png|Lae'zelGithyankiFighter|link=Lae'zel|alt=Lae'zel
Portrait Shadowheart.png|ShadowheartHigh Half-ElfCleric of Shar|link=Shadowheart|alt=Shadowheart
Portrait Wyll.png|WyllHumanWarlock|link=Wyll|alt=Wyll
== Non-Origin Companions ==
Non-Origin companions may be recruited at various points later in the game, and each non-origin companion has specific recruitment scenarios that must be followed.
File:Portrait Halsin.png|alt=Halsin|HalsinWood ElfDruidCircle of the Moon
File:Portrait Jaheira.png|alt=Jaheira|JaheiraHigh Half-ElfDruidCircle of the Land
File:Portrait Minsc.png|alt=Minsc|MinscHumanRangerHunter
File:Portrait Minthara.png|alt=Minthara|MintharaLolth-Sworn DrowPaladinOath of Vengeance
==Temporary Companions==
Temporary companions are characters that can be recruited as party members and take up a genuine but temporary party slot during Quests or through world interactions.
Portrait Alfira.png|link=Alfira|alt=Alfira|AlfiraAsmodeus TieflingBard
Portrait Losiir.png|link=Losiir|alt=Losiir|LosiirGithyankiFighter
==Attached Followers==
Attached Followers are characters that can be attached to the player character or other party members like Summons during Quests or through world interactions.
===Attached Followers in the Prologue===
Portrait Us.png|link=Us|alt=Us|UsIntellect Devourer
===Attached Followers through Acts One, Two, and Three===
Portrait Scratch.png|link=Scratch|ScratchDog
===Attached Followers in Act One===
File:Portrait Halsin.png|alt=Halsin|HalsinWood ElfDruidCircle of the Moon
File:Portrait Glut.png|alt=Glut|GlutMyconidSovereign(Myconid Monarch)
File:Portrait Sazza.png|alt=Sazza|SazzaGoblinBrawler
=== Attached Followers in Act Two ===
File:Portrait Jaheira.png|alt=Jaheira|JaheiraHigh Half-ElfDruidCircle of the Land
File:Portrait Minthara.png|alt=Minthara|MintharaLolth-Sworn DrowPaladinOath of Vengeance
===Attached Followers in Act Three===
Portrait Boo.png|link=Boo|BooBeastMiniature Giant Space Hamster
Portrait Florrick.png|link=Counselor Florrick|Counsellor FlorrickHigh ElfWizard
Portrait Hope.png|link=Hope|HopeGold DwarfCleric(Life Domain)
Portrait Omeluum.png|link=Omeluum|OmeluumMind FlayerTrader
Portrait Ulder.png|link=Ulder Ravengard|Ulder RavengardHumanFighter
Portrait Zanner.png|link=Zanner Toobin|Zanner ToobinRock GnomeGondian
===Attached Followers in the Finale===
File:Portrait Armoured Owlbear.png|Armoured OwlbearBeast
File:Portrait Nightsong.png|AylinAasimar of SelûnePaladinOath of Vengeance
File:Portrait Mizora.png|MizoraCambionSorcererServant of Zariel
File:Portrait Orpheus.png|OrpheusGithyankiMonk
File:Portrait Steel Watcher.png|Steel WatcherConstruct
File:Portrait Ox.png|Strange OxShapeshifter
File:Portrait The Emperor.png|The EmperorMind Flayer
File:Portrait Yurgir.png|YurgirOrthon
==Hirelings==
There are 12 Hirelings available to recruit after level 3 – one for each Class. Each has their own name, visuals, and race. Their abilities can be re-specced at any time.
File:Portrait Hireling Brinna.png|Brinna BrightsongLightfoot HalflingBard
File:Portrait Hireling Danton.png|DantonMephistopheles TieflingDruid
File:Portrait Hireling Eldra.png|Eldra LuthrinnGold DwarfBarbarian
File:Portrait Hireling Fuzzalump.png|Sir FuzzalumpRock GnomeWizard
File:Portrait Hireling Jacelyn.png|JacelynHigh Half-ElfSorcerer
File:Portrait Hireling Kerz.png|KerzHalf-OrcPaladin
File:Portrait Hireling Kree.png|Kree DerryckDuergar Warlock
File:Portrait Hireling Maddala.png|Maddala DeadeyeHumanRogue
File:Portrait Hireling Sina'zith.png|Sina'zithGithyankiMonk
File:Portrait Hireling Varanna.png|Varanna SunblossomWood Half-ElfFighter
File:Portrait Hireling Ver'yll.png|Ver'yll WenkiirSeldarine DrowRanger
File:Portrait Hireling Zenith.png|Zenith Feur'selHigh ElfCleric of Selûne(Light Domain)
==Recruitment locations==
===Origin Companions===
*: He can be found standing on the trail west of the crashed Nautiloid on the Ravaged Beach.
*: He can be met after interacting with the Ancient Rune Circle east of the Nautiloid.
*: She can be first encountered during the Prologue. Afterwards, she can be found trapped in a cage by two Tieflings, south of the Emerald Grove. If she is not freed, or if she does not join the party, Lae'zel can later be found confronting the Githyanki patrol as part of the Find the Githyanki Crèche quest. If she is not recruited, then she can later be found, dead, in the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Her corpse is too damaged to be spoken to, but as a playable character she can be resurrected using or its scroll version.
*: She can join the party after freeing her during the Prologue, and can later be found unconscious close to the place the player character landed. If not freed from the Nautiloid, she can be found at the entrance of the Dank Crypt nearby. If not recruited on the Nautiloid or the Dank Crypt, she can be found inside the Secluded Grove. If ignored again, the party can encounter her either at the Goblin Camp or at the Mountain Pass.
*: He can be found inside the Secluded Grove, training young Tieflings. If Karlach joined the party before him, he can appear at camp trying to attack Karlach, it is possible then to choose his side or calm him down and he joins the party.
*: She can be found north of the Owlbear Nest, south of the Tollhouse at the end of a trail of blood towards the river. If Wyll was recruited before, his companion quest will lead to her.
===Non-Origin Companions===
*: He is held prisoner in the Goblin Camp. He will join the party, if he is freed and the party did not attack the Grove. He can become a full companion during Lift the Shadow Curse.
*: She can be met at the Last Light Inn. She will become available as a possible companion during the assault on Moonrise Towers, so long as she is alive and not hostile.
*: He can be first encountered in the Counting House. He will become available as a companion when found in the Lower City Sewers.
*: She is one of the three leaders of the Goblins in Act One. Minthara can be recruited by siding with her and raiding the Emerald Grove or by fighting against her and . After the other goblin leaders are killed, she will show up at Moonrise Towers ready to be recruited.
===Temporary Companions===
*: He replaces Lae'zel on the Nautiloid if she is chosen as Origin. Otherwise he remains unencounterable.
===Attached Followers===
*: In the Myconid Colony, Glut can be temporarily recruited during the quest Defeat the Duergar Intruders. He will remain in the party for as long as they remain in the Underdark, and as long as his quest is not completed.
*: She is held prisoner in the The Hollow. If the party helps her, she joins the party while escaping.
*: It can be found aboard the Nautiloid, in the second room. It will join the party for the Prologue, and potentially as a summonable at the end of Act Two.
== Notes ==