Baldur’s Gate 3: Should You Recruit or Kill Minthara in BG3?

Want to try the game's darker aspects? Recruiting Minthara could be an interesting choice. Here's what you can do with her.

By Ali Usama

We’ve all been there, wandering the wilds of Faerûn, making tough calls that shape our adventure. But there’s one decision that’s been sparking debates at every campfire: What on earth should we do with Minthara in Baldur’s Gate 3? She’s a Drow Paladin, a rare blend of darkness and divinity, and she comes with a choice that’s as tricky as a mimic chest.

When you’re knee-deep in the game’s storyline, Minthara comes along with her alluring offer to join forces. She’s a representative of the Absolute—yeah, that enigmatic power stirring up all sorts of trouble. The real head-scratcher is, should you recruit Minthara in BG3 and embrace the murky waters of an evil campaign, or do you refuse her offer and stay your righteous course, possibly ending her story by killing her?

Baldur’s Gate 3: Who’s Minthara in BG3?

Minthara is a Drow Paladin with more layers than an onion; she’s got the whole dark elf mystique going on, hailing from a society where backstabbing is practically a greeting. Usually, the Drow are infamous for their love of a good plot twist, and BG3 Minthara is a textbook example. She’s got this allure, a charismatic pull that’s part-temptress, part-warrior, all enshrouded in shadowy intentions. She’s in cahoots with the Absolute, which, if you’re not up on your Baldur’s Gate lore, is like the big bad puppet master of the series, pulling strings and sowing chaos wherever it pleases.

So, what’s her deal in the game? Minthara can flip your storyline upside down and inside out. She’s not just a companion; she’s a choice that can lead you down a rabbit hole of moral conundrums. Going with her flow means seeing the world from a vantage point where good and evil are more mixed up than a goblin’s shopping list. She’s a wild card, an enigma wrapped in a riddle, and buddy, she’s a ride or die—or maybe just ‘die,’ depending on how you play your cards. So, will you join forces with this dark diva, or draw the line and keep your hands clean? Minthara’s story is a crossroads, and whichever path you choose, it’s bound to be one heck of a tale to tell.

How to Recruit Minthara in Baldur’s Gate 3?

To recruit Minthara, you need to take part in Goblin Raid in Act 1.

To recruit Minthara in order to get her in your party, you gotta first side with the Goblins in Act 1 in their raid. Those little chaos-mongers have a plan, and Minthara is all in on it. This means you’re going to crash the party at the Emerald Grove – it’s more of a ‘bring-your-own-sword’ and ‘swing-it-at-the-druids-and-tiefling-refugees’ kind of event. You have to take down all the Druids and Tieflings on the spot without any mercy.

If you’re getting cold feet about that killing, remember, this is what it takes to get Minthara to glance your way. She’s all about proving loyalty, and nothing says ‘I’m with you’ like helping her achieve her not-so-little objective. Doing this eliminates the chance to recruit Halsin, the beloved bear-druid, because, well, you can’t play both sides here. It’s a one-or-the-other deal, and Minthara doesn’t share the spotlight.

So, once you’ve done the deed, and the Goblins are your friends now, Minthara will be ready to join your squad. This is where you get to reap the rewards of your, erm, ‘questionable’ life choices. She’ll bring her A-game to your team, with all the might and magic of a Drow Paladin, and a side of snarky banter to boot.

BG3: Why You Should Recruit Minthara?

Recruiting Minthara in BG3 has its charms and benefits.

It’s not all doom and gloom of having Minthara on your side in Baldur’s Gate 3—recruiting her has its charms and benefits, believe it or not. She is no slouch when it comes to combat; as a Drow Paladin, she’s got the chops to back up her bark with some serious bite. She brings versatility to your team with her blend of martial prowess and dark divine magic. In layman’s terms, she’s tough, she’s got tricks up her sleeve, and she’s not afraid to use them.

But it’s not just about muscle and magic; Minthara’s got personality, she’s got an edge, a dark humor that’ll have you chuckling even as you wade through the moral mire of your choices. Recruiting her also means you’re signing up for an evil playthrough with style. Let’s face it, being bad can be a blast, especially when you’ve got someone like Minthara who can show you the ropes of ruthlessness with flair. And let’s not forget the updates and patches that have spruced up her storyline—now, she’s fully fleshed out with dialogue that was meant to be heard, making her a more dynamic companion.

For those of you with a strategic mind, think about this: bringing her into the fold opens up new narrative pathways. You’ll see sides of the story that you’d miss otherwise, and get to explore the game’s darker corners that are hidden away from the more righteous adventurers. So, is it worth shaking hands with a Drow and diving into the deep end of dubious decisions? If you’re up for a journey that’s shaded with moral ambiguity and want a companion who’s as complex as the plot she’s entwined with, then yes, Minthara might just be your ticket to an unforgettable playthrough. Just remember, every rose has its thorns, and in Minthara’s case, they’re as sharp as her blade.

The Cost of Choice: Consequences of Recruiting Minthara

There are some serious consequences after you have decide to get Minthara in your party.

On the flip side of the coin—recruiting Minthara isn’t all fun and games, there are consequences you need to face after this choice. When you decide to recruit Minthara, you’re essentially taking a sledgehammer to any chance of recruiting Halsin. He’s a no-go because, well, he’s not exactly on the goblin fan club list, and Minthara’s all about that goblin life.

But there’s more, your existing companions might not take too kindly to this new alliance. Some of them have a strong sense of justice and, you know, a desire to help innocents rather than side with the folks who are known for their “raid first, ask questions never” policy. So, don’t be surprised if characters like Wyll and Karlach decide to bail on your party. They’re not into the whole evil henchman vibe, and helping goblins is a deal-breaker for them.

And let’s not forget about Gale. Depending on how chummy you are with him, he might stick around, or he might just ghost you faster than you can say “Absolute.” So, in a worst-case scenario, you’re trading up to four important buddies for the pleasure of Minthara’s company. It’s a bit like throwing a lavish party and then realizing you’ve only got one guest on the RSVP list. Getting Minthara at your party is kinda like choosing the mystery box in a game show. Sure, the prize could be a shiny new car (or in this case, a badass Drow Paladin), but it could also be a pie to the face (like losing most of your party).

Should You Recruit or Kill Minthara in Baldur’s Gate 3?

On one hand, recruiting Minthara is like saying yes to that little devil on your shoulder. It’s a walk on the wild side, where the rules are made up and the points don’t matter—except they do, because every choice in BG3 is like a pebble in a pond, sending ripples far and wide. And rejecting her? That’s playing by the hero’s handbook. You’ll keep your hands clean and your conscience clearer, but you’ll also miss out on all the dark, delicious plot twists that come with having Minthara in your corner. It’s a classic tale of good versus evil, but with a twist—you get to decide what ‘good’ really means as per your personality.

This isn’t just a strategic choice; it’s a narrative crossroad. Do you embrace the darkness and the power it offers, or do you hold fast to the light, even if it means walking a tougher, lonelier path? It’s the kind of question that would give even the most seasoned philosophers a headache. It’s about what kind of story you want to tell – Baldur’s Gate 3 is your stage, and you’re the director. Minthara can be your star villain or the big bad you take down in a blaze of glory.

How to Recruit Minthara without Emerald Grove Raid?

With Baldur's Gate 3 Non-Lethal Damage ability, you can also recruit Minthara without Goblin Raid on Emerald Grove.

For those of you who aren’t too keen on hacking and slashing your way through dilemmas, there’s a bit of good news. Recruiting Minthara doesn’t have to be a bloodbath. That’s right, you can actually get her on your team without turning the Emerald Grove into your personal gladiator arena. There’s this nice feature in Baldur’s Gate 3 called Non-Lethal Damage. It’s the perfect way to play it cool during the Goblin Raid. You can go through the motions, and rough up the druids and the refugees a bit, but without sending them to meet their makers.

In the Shattered Sanctum, when you face Minthara, just knock her out instead of sending her to the great beyond. This way, you complete the quest to defeat the Goblin Leaders without actually, you know, permanently taking down her. Now, the plot thickens in Act 2 when Minthara shows up at Moonrise Towers for a trial in front of Ketheric Thorm. Here’s where you pull a rabbit out of your hat with a Polymorph spell. Transform Minthara before her trial, and she stays alive and becomes recruitable, even if you’ve been chumming it up with the Druids.

The cool part is that this whole scenario might be a buggy or unintended side effect of the game’s mechanics. Minthara was thrall in this scenario, not exactly in her right mind of the state. So, in a twist of fate, you can argue that she deserves a second chance, a shot at redemption—or at least, a shot at joining your party. This method is like a masterclass in creative problem-solving; you get to have your cake and eat it too—recruit Minthara in BG3 and also keep all your other companions in your party. It’s an interesting way to navigate the moral maze of Baldur’s Gate 3 and come out with an unlikely ally. Just goes to show, that there’s always more than one way to crack a nut in the world of role-playing games.