It’s an easy mechanic to overlook — especially if you like the origin companions — but Baldur’s Gate 3’s hirelings system is pretty expansive. If you find yourself in need of a class character not available as an origin, this system lets you recruit exactly who you need when you need them.
Admittedly, this system can be somewhat intimidating at first if you’re not rolling in gold. This is because there are 12 total hirelings to pick from, and each one costs 100 gold to recruit. So, you might opt to wait until you have a steady supply of currency before making use of hirelings. In any case, when you’re ready to recruit some hirelings, talk with Withers in your camp and he’ll give you the option to do so.
So, it should be stated early-on that if you recruit Hirelings, you’re enabling zombification — all 12 of the hirelings are undead warriors whom Withers has revived for use in defeating The Absolute. Each hireling represents one of Baldur’s Gate 3’s classes, but they can be respec’d at the whim of the player.
Who are the Hirelings?
| Hireling Name: | Starting Race/Starting Class: | Starting Stats: |
| Eldra Luthrinn | Gold Dwarf Barbarian | STR*: 17 DEX: 13 CON: 15 INT: 8 WIS: 12 CHA: 10 INI: +1 HP: 15 Actions: Rage Proficiencies: Simple Weapons Martial Weapons Battleaxes Handaxes Light Hammers Warhammers Light Armour Medium Armour Shields |
| Brinna Brightsong | Lightfoot Halfling Bard | STR: 8 DEX: 15 CON: 13 INT: 12 WIS: 10 CHA*: 17 INI: +2 HP: 9 Actions: Bardic Inspiration Cantrips: Vicious Mockery Blade Ward Spells: Healing Word Dissonant Whispers Tasha’s Hideous Laughter Heroism Proficiencies: Simple Weapons Hand Crossbows Longswords Rapiers Shortswords Light Armour |
| Zenith Feur’sel | High Elf Cleric — Selune | STR: 11 DEX: 14 CON: 13 INT: 8 WIS*: 17 CHA: 12 INI: +2 HP: 9 Cantrips: Fire Bolt Resistance Guidance Sacred Flame Light Proficiencies: Simple Weapons Morningstars Longswords Shortswords Longbows Shortbows Light Armour Medium Armour Shields |
| Danton | Mephistopheles Tiefling Druid | STR: 10 DEX: 14 CON: 14 INT: 8 WIS*: 17 CHA: 12 INI: +2 HP: 10 Cantrips: Mage Hand Shillelagh Thorn Whip Proficiencies: Clubs Daggers Javelins Maces Quarterstaffs Scimitars Sickles Spears Light Armour Medium Armour Shields |
| Varanna Sunblossom | Wood Half-Elf Fighter | STR*: 17 DEX: 13 CON: 15 INT: 10 WIS: 12 CHA: 8 INI: +1 HP: 12 Actions: Second Wind Proficiencies: Simple Weapons Martial Weapons Spears Pikes Halberds Glaives Light Armour Medium Armour Heavy Armour Shields |
| Sina’zith | Githyanki Monk | STR: 12 DEX*: 17 CON: 14 INT: 8 WIS: 14 CHA: 10 INI: +3 HP: 10 Actions: Astral Knowledge Flurry of Blows Cantrips: Githyanki Psionics: Mage Hand Proficiencies: Simple Weapons Shortswords Longswords Greatswords Light Armour Medium Armour |
| Kerz | Half-Orc Paladin | STR*: 17 DEX: 12 CON: 13 INT: 8 WIS: 10 CHA: 15 INI: +1 HP: 11 Actions: Lay on Hands Divine Sense Holy Rebuke Proficiencies: Simple Weapons Martial Weapons Light Armour Medium Armour Heavy Armour Shields |
| Ver’yll Wenkiir | Lolth-Sworn Drow Ranger | STR: 12 DEX*: 17 CON: 13 INT: 8 WIS: 15 CHA: 10 INI: +3 HP: 11 Cantrips: Dancing Lights True Strike Spells: Find Familiar Proficiencies: Simple Weapons Martial Weapons Rapiers Shortswords Hand Crossbows Light Armour Medium Armour Shields |
| Maddala Deadeye | Human Rogue | STR: 8 DEX*: 17 CON: 14 INT: 13 WIS: 13 CHA: 10 INI: +3 HP: 10 Actions: Sneak Attack (Melee) Sneak Attack (Ranged) Proficiencies: Simple Weapons Hand Crossbows Longswords Rapiers Shortswords Spears Pikes Halberds Glaives Light Armour Shields |
| Jacelyn | High Half-Elf Sorcerer | STR: 8 DEX: 13 CON: 15 INT: 12 WIS: 10 CHA*: 17 INI: +1 HP: 8 Cantrips: Fire Bolt Bone Chill Acid Splash True Strike Light Spells: Chromatic Orb Magic Missile Proficiencies: Daggers Quarterstaffs Light Crossbows Spears Pikes Halberds Glaives Light Armour Shields |
| Kree Derryck | Duergar Warlock | STR: 8 DEX: 13 CON: 14 INT: 13 WIS: 10 CHA*: 17 INI: +1 HP: 10 Cantrips: Eldritch Blast Blade Ward Spells: Dissonant Whispers Tasha’s Hideous Laughter Proficiencies: Simple Weapons Battleaxes Handaxes Light Hammers Warhammers Light Armour |
| Sir Fuzzalump | Rock Gnome Wizard | STR: 8 DEX: 13 CON: 15 INT*: 17 WIS: 10 CHA: 12 INI: +1 HP: 8 Actions: Arcane Recovery Cantrips: Fire Bolt Mage Hand Ray of Frost Spells: Mage Armour Fog Cloud Grease Thunderwave Sleep Magic Missile Proficiencies: Daggers Quarterstaffs Light Crossbows |
Which Hireling Should I Recruit?
To be completely honest, that is entirely up to you and what you wish to accomplish in Baldur’s Gate 3. In most cases, your origin companions will suffice for most tasks in the game, so unless one of them has permanently died or left your party, you might never find yourself recruiting a hireling.
But, let’s say you have no other option but to recruit a hireling. If you want to dish out the most damage from a distance, I’d personally go with Jacelyn, who comes pre-packaged with a handful of potentially powerful ranged cantrips, plus the Magic Missile spell. But, let’s say you’re like me and prefer to get up in the enemy’s face with a lethal barrage of melee attacks. In that case, you’ve got several good options in Eldra Luthrinn, Varanna Sunblossom, and Kerz. I would pick Eldra, for no other reason than Rage is good to have when you’re up against the ropes.
If, for some reason, you find yourself lacking Astarion (whether you simply didn’t recruit him or you killed him at some point, no judgment), having access to a Rogue might be beneficial. Maddala Deadeye is one such Rogue, with access to sneak attacks as well, which — when executed correctly — can be some of the most powerful and effective moves in Baldur’s Gate 3.
