How do I recruit Minthara without siding with the goblins in Baldur's Gate 3?

Recruiting Minthara in Baldur's Gate 3 without siding with the goblins is a complex and morally ambiguous task, as Minthara is a drow paladin who is deeply tied to the goblin faction in Act 1. Normally, recruiting her requires you to side with the goblins and raid the Emerald Grove, which results in the death of many innocent tieflings and druids. However, there is a way to recruit Minthara without fully committing to the goblin cause, though it involves exploiting certain game mechanics and making specific choices. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to achieve this.

First, itÔÇÖs important to understand the mechanics of MintharaÔÇÖs recruitment. Minthara is a potential companion who can join your party if you align with her goals, which typically involve destroying the Emerald Grove. However, if you want to recruit her without siding with the goblins, you need to find a way to bypass the usual requirements. This involves manipulating the gameÔÇÖs event triggers and making strategic choices during key moments in Act 1.

To begin, you must avoid triggering the goblin raid on the Emerald Grove. This means you should not complete the quest "Save the Refugees" by siding with the goblins. Instead, you need to find a way to keep the conflict unresolved until you can interact with Minthara in a way that allows her to join your party without the need for a full-scale raid. One way to do this is by avoiding direct confrontation with the goblin leaders until youÔÇÖve had a chance to speak with Minthara.

When you first encounter Minthara in the Shattered Sanctum, youÔÇÖll need to engage her in dialogue. During this conversation, you can choose options that suggest you are considering her offer to join forces. Be careful not to outright reject her, as this will lock you out of recruiting her later. Instead, express interest in her plans and try to keep the conversation open-ended. This will allow you to continue exploring other options without fully committing to her cause.

After speaking with Minthara, you should focus on completing other quests in Act 1 that do not involve the goblins or the Emerald Grove. This includes exploring the Underdark, dealing with the hag Ethel, and resolving the situation with the gnomes in the Blighted Village. By delaying the resolution of the goblin conflict, you can keep MintharaÔÇÖs recruitment path open.

Once youÔÇÖve completed these other quests, you can return to the Shattered Sanctum and speak with Minthara again. At this point, you can choose to betray the goblins by attacking their leaders, including Minthara. However, instead of killing her, you can use non-lethal attacks to knock her unconscious. This will prevent her from dying and allow her to reappear later in the game. Be sure to use melee attacks with the non-lethal toggle enabled, as spells and ranged attacks will still kill her.

After knocking Minthara unconscious, you should leave the area and continue with the main story. Eventually, you will reach Act 2, where Minthara will reappear in Moonrise Towers. At this point, you can speak with her and recruit her into your party. This method allows you to recruit Minthara without fully siding with the goblins or destroying the Emerald Grove.

There are several important tips and considerations to keep in mind when attempting this strategy. First, make sure to save your game frequently, as the sequence of events can be unpredictable. If you make a mistake, you can reload and try again. Second, be aware that knocking Minthara unconscious may still have consequences for your relationships with other companions, particularly those who are opposed to the goblins, such as Wyll and Karlach. You may need to manage their approval carefully to avoid losing them as companions.

Common mistakes to avoid include triggering the goblin raid too early, killing Minthara outright, or failing to use non-lethal attacks when necessary. Additionally, be cautious about how you handle other goblin leaders, as killing them prematurely can also affect MintharaÔÇÖs recruitment.

Advanced techniques for optimizing this strategy include using stealth and deception to manipulate the goblins and avoid unnecessary combat. You can also use spells like Charm Person or Disguise Self to gain access to restricted areas and gather information without raising suspicion.

In terms of D&D rules and mechanics, the non-lethal attack option is a key feature of the game that allows you to knock enemies unconscious instead of killing them. This is particularly useful for recruiting Minthara, as it allows you to bypass the usual requirements for her recruitment. Additionally, the gameÔÇÖs approval system for companions is based on your choices and actions, so be mindful of how your decisions affect your relationships with other party members.

Specific examples and scenarios include using the non-lethal toggle during the fight with Minthara in the Shattered Sanctum, ensuring that she is knocked out but not killed. Another example is delaying the resolution of the goblin conflict until after youÔÇÖve completed other quests in Act 1, which allows you to keep MintharaÔÇÖs recruitment path open.

In conclusion, recruiting Minthara without siding with the goblins is a challenging but achievable task in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3. By carefully manipulating the gameÔÇÖs mechanics and making strategic choices, you can add her to your party while avoiding the moral consequences of destroying the Emerald Grove. Just be prepared for the complexities and potential pitfalls along the way.