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To raise a companion’s approval in Baldur’s Gate 3, bring that companion along for consequential choices, act in ways that fit their individual values, and pay attention to their reactions. There is no universal route that pleases everyone: companions can reward opposing decisions, and approval is only one factor in story outcomes.
How companion approval works
Each companion has an individual relationship score toward your player character. Choices in dialogue, quests, and combat can raise or lower it. Larian’s Gameplay Information FAQ explains that companions’ histories and attitudes influence their opinions about what you do and how you behave.
The Baldur’s Gate 3 Wiki describes common event changes of +1 or −1 for small events, +5 or −5 for medium events, and +10 or −10 for large events. These are typical values, not a guarantee that every choice uses one of those amounts. Approval can shape companion dialogue and reactions, personal-quest outcomes, persuasion difficulty, and romance thresholds; it matters beyond romance.
Checking the score and feedback
The character sheet’s detailed view displays a numerical approval value, according to the community-maintained BG3 Wiki approval mechanics page. Console views do not expose the exact number. Approval pop-ups can identify an event, but no pop-up does not prove that nothing changed: a score cap, a mod, or a bug may affect whether a change appears or triggers.
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Thresholds and companion loss
The wiki reports warnings at −20 and −40 approval, and permanent departure at −50 or lower. Treat these as wiki-reported mechanics, not as a guarantee that every departure follows the score alone. Story decisions can independently make a companion leave, become hostile, or be permanently lost; the companion roster page lists such outcomes.
Multiplayer and party actions
In multiplayer, approval is separate toward each avatar. In single-player, actions performed by a companion can behave differently from actions performed by the player character. The wiki cautions against assuming every party member’s action transfers approval to the player.
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How to make choices with a companion in mind
- Decide whose approval or story outcome matters most. Values conflict, so a decision that pleases one companion may disappoint another.
- Bring that companion into the active party for consequential dialogue, quests, and combat decisions. This is a useful strategy, not a promise that every action will count toward their approval.
- Watch for their reactions and approval feedback. Use the character sheet to track the score where your platform shows it.
- Check a companion-specific event list by act and location before a high-stakes choice. Broad personality descriptions cannot tell you the exact result of a particular scene.
- Separate approval from the outcome you want. Raising a score does not by itself guarantee a romance, quest resolution, or other story result; dialogue and story decisions can matter too.
The current broad guide used here labels its coverage verified for Patch 8 (Hotfix 36) and updated 5 September 2026. Exact event-level entries may have different patch context. Jaheira’s wiki approval events, for example, are attributed to official in-game dialogue files as of Patch 7. Use those entries as version-specific guidance, and allow for bugs or mods affecting triggers.
What each companion tends to value
The following are broad orientations, not exact approval triggers. They summarize the independent guide marked verified for Patch 8 (Hotfix 36), updated 5 September 2026. For a specific scene, consult that companion’s approval or disapproval event list and confirm the act and location.
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| Companion | Broad approval tendencies |
|---|---|
| Astarion | Cunning, self-interest, personal freedom, and being treated as an equal; he may disapprove of selfless actions that offer him no benefit. |
| Shadowheart | Pragmatism, privacy, group safety, and caution. Her preferences should not be reduced to a simple “evil” label. |
| Gale | Intellectual curiosity, kindness, honesty, magic, and lore; cruelty or dismissing intellectual interests can displease him. |
| Lae’zel | Decisiveness, strength, and respect for Githyanki culture; excessive hesitation or mercy toward enemies can displease her. |
| Wyll | Protecting the innocent, helping the weak, and opposing evil. |
| Karlach | Loyalty, directness, warmth, and helping people in need. |
| Halsin | Nature, honesty, and compassion. |
| Minthara | Power, ambition, and strategic ruthlessness. Her recruitment path and consequences for other characters make current, scene-specific verification especially important. |
| Jaheira | Decisiveness, honesty, bravery, discretion, thoughtful risk, humor, good deeds, and opposition to the cult of Bhaal. Her wiki event list is attributed to dialogue files as of Patch 7. |
| Minsc | The current guide includes him in its roster coverage, but its surfaced character-specific sections do not provide a detailed treatment. Consult dedicated approval material before relying on event-level advice. |
When a choice could permanently affect the party
Spoiler warning: the following concerns irreversible companion outcomes. A low approval score is not the only reason a companion can be lost. Some story decisions can cause a departure, hostility, or permanent loss regardless of ordinary approval management. Before a major decision involving a companion’s personal quest or recruitment, check the roster page’s departure and outcome notes, then use the relevant companion-specific event list for the exact scene. Community-maintained event pages can be affected by game updates, bugs, or mods, so treat their version labels as part of the advice.
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