How do I convince Minthara to join my party in Baldur's Gate 3?

To convince Minthara to join your party in Baldur's Gate 3, you need to navigate a complex series of story choices and dialogue options that align with her goals and worldview. Minthara is a drow paladin who serves the Absolute, a mysterious and powerful entity that plays a central role in the game's narrative. Recruiting her requires you to make decisions that may conflict with the interests of other factions, particularly the tieflings and druids at the Emerald Grove. HereÔÇÖs a detailed breakdown of how to achieve this, along with important considerations and strategies.

First, you need to understand MintharaÔÇÖs motivations. She is a ruthless and pragmatic character who values strength, loyalty, and devotion to the Absolute. To gain her trust, you must demonstrate that you share her commitment to the AbsoluteÔÇÖs cause. This means aligning yourself with the goblin faction and opposing the tieflings and druids. The key moment for recruiting Minthara occurs during the conflict at the Emerald Grove, where you must choose sides. If you side with the goblins and help them attack the grove, Minthara will see you as a valuable ally.

The mechanics of recruiting Minthara involve progressing through the main story quests in Act 1. After encountering her at the goblin camp, you will have several opportunities to interact with her and prove your loyalty. During these interactions, choose dialogue options that express your willingness to serve the Absolute and your disdain for the tieflings and druids. For example, when she asks about your intentions, you can say that you seek to eliminate the grove and its defenders. This will earn her approval and set the stage for her to join your party later.

One important tip is to avoid actions or dialogue that undermine her trust. For instance, if you express sympathy for the tieflings or attempt to deceive her, she may become hostile. Additionally, be cautious about how you handle other goblin leaders, such as Priestess Gut and Dror Ragzlin. While you can eliminate them to weaken the goblin camp, doing so without MintharaÔÇÖs knowledge or approval could jeopardize your chances of recruiting her. ItÔÇÖs often safer to focus on gaining her trust first before making any moves against the other leaders.

A common mistake players make is trying to recruit Minthara while also saving the tieflings. These goals are mutually exclusive, as Minthara will only join you if the tieflings are defeated. If you want Minthara in your party, you must be prepared to sacrifice the tieflings and their questlines. This decision has significant consequences for the story, as it affects your relationships with other companions like Wyll and Karlach, who may disapprove of your actions or even leave the party.

Advanced techniques for recruiting Minthara involve optimizing your character build and combat tactics to align with her strengths. Minthara is a paladin, so she excels in melee combat and has access to powerful smite abilities. Building a character that complements her playstyle, such as a cleric or fighter, can make your party more effective in battles. Additionally, using spells and abilities that enhance her damage output or survivability, such as Bless or Shield of Faith, can help you dominate encounters.

From a D&D rules perspective, MintharaÔÇÖs recruitment reflects the alignment system and the importance of role-playing choices. In Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition, characters are often defined by their alignment, which influences their behavior and decisions. Minthara is a Lawful Evil character, meaning she values order and structure but is willing to use ruthless methods to achieve her goals. To recruit her, you must adopt a similar mindset and make choices that align with her worldview.

Specific examples of scenarios where you can gain MintharaÔÇÖs trust include the raid on the Emerald Grove. During this event, you must actively participate in the attack and eliminate key targets, such as Zevlor and Kagha. Your actions during the raid will determine whether Minthara sees you as a true ally. After the grove is destroyed, Minthara will express her gratitude and offer to join your party. At this point, you can officially recruit her and add her to your roster.

In summary, recruiting Minthara requires a deliberate and strategic approach to the story and dialogue choices in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3. You must align yourself with the goblin faction, demonstrate your loyalty to the Absolute, and make sacrifices that may conflict with other questlines. By understanding her motivations, avoiding common mistakes, and optimizing your party composition, you can successfully add Minthara to your team and explore her unique storyline.