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

Almost three years have passed since then Baldur's Gate 3 launched to critical acclaim and accolades. Yet somehow the accompanying discourse continues to grow stronger—not quietly, either. Passionate arguments and counterpoints are made with the same ferocity as opening week.

New and seasoned players are still actively searching for the absolute truth: who is the best camp companion Baldur's Gate 3. And look no further than the Reddit threads that bring this energy to the fore. One that claimed Karlach as the obvious best companion is a perfect case study for this kind of fandom interaction. This view of Karlach's is not exactly controversial at first glance. After all, Karlach is widely adored. But it's the answers that quickly prove that the “best” in Baldur's Gate 3 is anything but resolved.

baldurs-gate-3-all-romanceable-characters

All romantic characters in Baldur's Gate 3

There are a total of ten romance options in Baldur's Gate 3, each with unique companions that players can bond with.

Karlach's Case as BG3's best companion is built on a pure heart

The above post doesn't overcomplicate anything. For the now deleted user Baldur's Gate 3Barbarian wins because she's just good. Not in a mechanical sense, not in a narrative twist, but it's just nice to have her in camp. Contrasted with others BG3 campmates, it makes sense: Karlach is a really good person in a world where most of the companions have failed them.

Arrange the covers in the correct US release order.

Easy (5) Medium (7) Hard (10)

As the post states, he's “just a big kid in a hideous Tiefling body.” This sentiment is also reflected in the answers. User eawardie notes that Karlach feels refreshing precisely because she doesn't rely on her to stay interesting, calling her a “genuinely likable person” in a difficult situation. He's someone who wants hugs, dances when people can watch, and delivers some of the most memorable lines in the game.

Why players love Karlach from Baldur's Gate 3

Baldur's Gate 3 - Karlach returns to Avern

Her good-natured personality shines through when the narrative pushes the player into darker corners: BG3 is, after all, an open-world game with morally gray decisions
Her voice lines and delivery make her instantly memorable
It brings warmth and lightness to otherwise heavy story moments

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

Karlach's romance in Baldur's Gate 3 is a fan favorite. Her joy is contagious. However, that would not be a Baldur's Gate 3 discussion without pushing back. While Karlach's personality is widely praised, several players argue that being likable is not the same as being the strongest companion overall.

User KatyaBelli points out the following: “Karlach is certainly likable, but her storyline is lower than EA's big 4 companions (Astarion, Lae'Zel, Shart, and Gale). Excellent voice acting of course.”

Similarly, Mercurionio highlights how much potential her story had in Act 3, only to find it cut short. In a definitive backlash against Karlach in the first place, this user stated: “With an extremely bad ending and a very truncated questline. Half of Act 3 points to him having something to do with Her. Still, nothing to really do (Gortash is a problem anyway).”

Where critics say Karlach falls short

Her Act 3 content feels underdeveloped compared to the other companions
Her personal quest does not develop as deeply as the others
Karlach ends in Baldur's Gate 3 was widely criticized as unsatisfactory
Other companions have a better emotional payoff

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

Even in a thread focused on Karlach, 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 “the best” actually means to each player.

User jmbutler1728 argues in favor of Astarion, noting his growth and transformation throughout the story, as well as the way his relationship with the player develops. They state: “I love Karlach, but Astarion is my favorite for the amount of growth and transformation his character goes through and the overall arc. The way he talks to Tav changes in a different way along the way. Plus, I love a story that subverts my expectations in a good way.”

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

Other fan favorite picks

Baldur's Gate 3 fan shows off his Gale Dekarios Cosplay

Astarion: praised for character development and emotional range
Lae'zel: often cited as one of the strongest arcs in the game
Wyll: recognized as a moral compass that the player can refer to when playing well Baldur's Gate 3
Shadow Heart: recognized for a deeply integrated and central story
Whirlwind: acclaimed for its introspective narrative focused on redemption

What begins as a simple laudatory post from Karlach quickly becomes something bigger: a snapshot of how differently players bond with each companion.

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Even if you don't enjoy multiclassing in Baldur's Gate 3, these 4 multiclass combos result in builds that can impact even the toughest fights.

The division of Baldur's Gate 3 companions is Fandom's greatest strength

Anyone in the gaming environment knows that discourse, while frustrating at times, is actually a good sign. In this case:

There is no universally agreed upon “best” companion, as the game does not lead players to 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 the origin of their Tav or Durge.

I heard you

The wide-eyed Shadowheart looks content in Baldur's Gate 3 — Close-up of Shadowheart with wide eyes *Baldur's Gate 3*. Her expression has been edited to look more pleased than surprised, with the line of her mouth altered to resemble a slight smirk rather than the one from the original screenshot.

Some time ago I wrote an article about evaluation 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 thoughts and TikTok memes to prove it. But as a gaming journalist, I've compiled a list based entirely on (somewhat) objective criteria to provide an unbiased list to the best of my ability. Some of you agreed. Some of you were convinced that I personally unleashed tadpoles on Faerun and befriended Wulbren Bongle.

And yet, through the creative comments and shares, one thing stood out: everyone had a different opinion on who should win the number one spot. Players fervently defended the character they became closest to, the character they fell in love with, or the immovable companion that made their gameplay whole.

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