Baldur’s Gate 3 is a game that lives and dies by its companions. The characters in Larian’s RPG are arguably its biggest strength, but they can be even better.
This collection of the 10 best Baldur’s Gate 3 companion mods alters both the look and behaviors of the game’s followers. These are the must-haves, the cream of the crop.
More Reactive Companions
More Reactive Companions is a Baldur’s Gate 3 mod that makes the game truly feel like a group adventure. It doesn’t even add any new content, instead repurposing many of the throwaway dialogue lines used by the characters when playing as them.
These lines will be used as “companion chatter” when using this mod. Each one has been hand-picked for every scenario by mod author LightningLarryL, giving it a real feeling of authenticity. It makes a massive difference to make your party feel more alive than ever.
Full Custom Companions (Hirelings)
Full Custom Companions (Hirelings) expands the hireling system in a huge way. Instead of being constrained to the same old hirelings offered by Withers, this allows you to customize your own. You can even use Baldur’s Gate 3 race mods to create extra unique hirelings.
That’s not all this mod does, though. It also allows you to duplicate regular NPCs and use them as companions. These custom hirelings can also use tadpoles to gain illithid powers, making them feel much more like a regular BG3 companion.
Summon Guenhwyvar – Drizzt Legendary Panther Companion
If you’re a Dungeons & Dragons lore fanatic, Summon Guenhwyvar – Drizzt Legendary Panther Companion should be right up your alley. The panther Guenhwyvar is a popular figure in the Forgotten Realms lore, and with this mod, you can summon her to fight by your side.
Upon installation, you’ll be given a figurine of Guenhwyvar. This can only be used to summon her once per Long Rest, so it’s not entirely overpowered. Overall, it’s a solid, lore-friendly addition to Baldur’s Gate 3.
Adjustable Party Limit
Oh, you want a party? Adjustable Party Limit can give you a party. As the name suggests, it allows you to change the number of companions allowed in your party at a time, selecting from anywhere between 1 and 16.
There are a few similar mods that do this, so why’s this one the best? According to mod author PixellBytes, it’s the only one that has “built-in ways to prevent you from encountering some of the most infamous party limit extender bugs, such as the Act 1 lake boat bug and the long resting bug.” So, there.
JWL Scratch is Back
We all love Scratch; he’s the best boy. But he isn’t the most useful boy in combat scenarios. You can fix this with JWL Scratch is Back, which adds 11 elemental-themed variants of Baldur’s Gate 3‘s cutest pup.
This is done in a lore-friendly way, giving you 11 enchanted collars to collect throughout the game, each of which offers a different buff to BG3‘s canine companion. Recommended if you want to bring Scratch along for the adventure.
Fireproof Karlach
If you think about it, even on a surface level, it doesn’t make sense that Karlach takes fire damage in Baldur’s Gate 3. She burns so hot that you can’t even touch her!
Obviously, resistance doesn’t always equal immunity, but I reckon Fireproof Karlach makes more sense to have than not. It simply gives her the Hellish Resistance trait, nullifying all fire damage.
Really Shadowheart
Really Shadowheart might be one of the most considered Baldur’s Gate 3 mods out there. It completely alters her character in Act 3 to be more consistent with Acts 1 and 2. But what does that actually mean?
For starters, romanced Shadowheart no longer tolerates cheating. No more casual fun with Halsin or the Drow Twins for you! It’s much more in line with the Shadowheart we meet earlier in the game, but that’s only the tip of the iceberg for everything this mod does. She’ll try to save her parents no matter what, she’ll take a lot more persuasion to kill Viconia, and you can even propose to her if you do choose to save her parents. That’s right: you can be married to Shadowheart in the epilogue with this mod. 10/10, no notes.
Karlach Overhaul WIP
Nexus Mods user vyrelis has seriously cooked with Karlach Overhaul WIP. It’s by far and away the best overhaul of the tiefling companion’s face, making it look a little softer than the base game.
It also gives her a cool new hairstyle that, in my opinion, trumps the vanilla one. Overhauling the appearance of a fan-favorite character will always be controversial to some players, but this one’s pretty tasteful.
A Visit with Volo – Astarion Reimagined
Now, for something a little more dramatic. A Visit with Volo – Astarion Reimagined de-ages Neil Newbon’s popular vampire a good 20 years, giving him a look closer aligned to something you might see on a runway or the front of a magazine.
This pretty-boy-Astarion aesthetic won’t be for everyone, and understandably so. But for those who do like it, it could prove to be one of the best Baldur’s Gate 3 companion mods out there.
Lae’zel – Alternate Faces
Of all the Lae’zel overhauls on Nexus Mods, I reckon Lae’zel – Alternate Faces takes the crown. This one offers numerous face options, each based on a different Baldur’s Gate 3 race.
The differences from the base game version of Lae’zel are pretty small, so you won’t be left feeling like she’s a totally new character with this mod.
