How do I start a romance with Karlach in Baldur's Gate 3?

Starting a romance with Karlach in Baldur's Gate 3 involves a combination of dialogue choices, approval mechanics, and progressing through her personal quest. Karlach is a tiefling barbarian with a fiery personality and a tragic backstory tied to the infernal engine in her chest. To romance her, you need to build a strong relationship by gaining her approval, making choices that align with her values, and advancing her personal story. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.

First, you need to recruit Karlach. She can be found in the wilderness area of Act 1, near the Risen Road. YouÔÇÖll encounter her after dealing with the paladins of Tyr who are hunting her. To recruit her, you must side with her against the paladins, as she is being unjustly pursued. This initial interaction sets the tone for your relationship, so choosing to help her is crucial. Once she joins your party, you can start building your relationship.

Approval is the key mechanic for romancing Karlach. Like other companions, Karlach has an approval rating that increases or decreases based on your actions and dialogue choices. Karlach values honesty, bravery, and a sense of justice. She appreciates when you stand up for the underdog, show compassion, and make bold decisions. Conversely, she disapproves of cruelty, deceit, and cowardice. Pay attention to her reactions during conversations and events, as these will give you clues about what she likes and dislikes.

To gain her approval, make choices that align with her values. For example, during the encounter with the tiefling refugees in the Emerald Grove, siding with them and helping them against the goblins will earn her approval. Similarly, showing kindness to animals and standing up to bullies will also please her. Avoid actions that involve unnecessary violence or exploitation, as these will lower her approval.

Dialogue choices are another important aspect of building a relationship with Karlach. When speaking with her, choose options that show empathy and understanding. She has a tragic past, and she appreciates when you listen to her and offer support. For example, when she talks about her infernal engine and the pain it causes her, respond with compassion and offer to help her find a solution. This will deepen your bond and increase her approval.

As you progress through the game, youÔÇÖll have opportunities to advance KarlachÔÇÖs personal quest. Her quest revolves around finding a way to fix or remove the infernal engine in her chest. Helping her with this quest is essential for romancing her. In Act 1, youÔÇÖll need to find a way to cool her engine, which involves obtaining infernal iron and working with the tiefling blacksmith Dammon. In Act 2, youÔÇÖll continue to help her by finding more infernal iron and working with Dammon to improve her condition. Completing these tasks will not only progress her story but also increase her approval and open up new dialogue options.

Once youÔÇÖve built up enough approval and progressed her personal quest, youÔÇÖll have the opportunity to express romantic interest in Karlach. This usually happens during a long rest at camp, where you can have a private conversation with her. Choose dialogue options that indicate your romantic interest, and if her approval is high enough, she will reciprocate. From there, you can continue to deepen your relationship through further conversations and shared experiences.

There are a few common mistakes to avoid when trying to romance Karlach. First, donÔÇÖt make choices that go against her values, as this will lower her approval and make it harder to build a relationship. Second, donÔÇÖt neglect her personal quest, as this is a key part of her story and your relationship with her. Finally, donÔÇÖt rush the romance. Building a strong relationship takes time, so be patient and focus on making choices that align with her values and advancing her story.

In terms of advanced techniques, you can optimize your character build and party composition to better support Karlach in combat. As a barbarian, she excels in melee combat and can deal significant damage. Pairing her with a character who can heal or buff her, such as a cleric or bard, will make her even more effective in battle. Additionally, choosing dialogue options that align with her values during key story moments will give you more opportunities to gain her approval.

The romance mechanics in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3 are based on the D&D 5E rules for social interactions and relationships. In D&D, building a relationship with an NPC involves making choices that align with their personality and values, and gaining their trust and approval over time. The same principles apply in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3, where your actions and dialogue choices directly impact your relationships with companions.

In summary, romancing Karlach in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3 requires building her approval through dialogue choices and actions that align with her values, progressing her personal quest, and expressing romantic interest when the opportunity arises. By following these steps and avoiding common mistakes, you can build a strong and meaningful relationship with Karlach and enjoy the unique story and interactions that come with it.