The third act of Baldur's Gate 3 introduces one new party member that some players may be familiar with: Minsc of Rashemen. While the majority of the game's companions show up in Act One, Minsc is more like a celebrity cameo than a full party character: a legendary hero popping in at the last minute to help save the world. When players find him, however, he is going by a different name: the Stone Lord.

[Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Baldur's Gate 3.]At this point in the story, Minsc is under the control of the Absolute, separated from his pet hamster and forced to enact violence upon the cult's enemies. The player can pursue him into the sewers and free him from the Absolute's enslavement, though another character, the Emperor, strongly advises against it. The Emperor is a morally ambiguous character to begin with, and Minsc has always been a heroic figure when he appeared in previous Baldur's Gate titles. But is there any truth to what the illithid says, and should players think twice before recruiting this ranger?

What Happens If You Recruit Minsc In BG3

Adding This Fan-Favorite Ranger To Your Party

To recruit Minsc to the player's party, they must simply take him out non-lethally during his fight and convince the Emperor afterward to extend his protection. The Emperor will fight back on this, saying Minsc is too much of a liability, but he can be swayed, especially if Jaheira is in the party to help convince him. After this, Minsc will express his gratitude, reunite with his miniature giant space hamster, Boo, and up with the player in order to defeat the Absolute.

From this point, Minsc becomes a companion, one who can use illithid tadpoles and who has a special ability to summon his hamster to the battlefield. Minsc's default class is ranger, and though his dialogue often makes him sound aloof and bumbling, he is quite a capable warrior. Having another companion is always a good thing, and Minsc's dialogue makes him a joy to have around. Plus, the player character will earn Jaheira's gratitude for saving the man.

What Happens If You Kill Minsc In Baldur’s Gate 3

Bringing Death To The Stone Lord

Alternatively, players can take the Emperor's advice and take Minsc out. Doing this leaves the ranger dead and, obviously, unable to accompany the player's party. This also makes Jaheira mad enough to leave the party entirely, meaning that two companions can be lost in just one fell swoop (three, if Boo is included).

Nine-Fingers Keene did want Minsc dead at the start of her quest, and killing him would allow players to ally with her guild. However, it is also possible to convince her and Minsc to work together, meaning the ranger can live and players can secure the guild as an allied faction.

The Emperor will be happy with this decision, and the subsequent fight in the guild hall will be a little less chaotic with Minsc out of the equation. But beyond that, there's really nothing good to say about doing this. It's an act that loses allies and cuts some whimsy out of the game, all to appease a mind flayer that would betray the player at a moment's notice if it became convenient.

You Should Recruit Minsc & Ignore The Emperor

Don't Be Afraid To Trust This Hero And His Hamster

Essentially, there is no downside to allying with Minsc, and no upside to killing him. Even though the Emperor will be upset for a moment and say that this won't end well, he does not hold a grudge about this, and his prediction about Minsc causing trouble is just straight-up incorrect. Minsc is a chaotic force, but he consistently fights for the good of others, and having him present for the latter parts of the game is great.

Despite being introduced so late, Minsc has an enormous presence within the story due to his bombastic personality and his relationship with Jaheira. Seeing the two returning party interact is a treat, especially if players take both of them to Jaheira's home in the lower city. Minsc may not get much in the way of character development, especially compared to Shadowheart, Astarion, or any of the other Origin characters, but he makes for a great source of levity during the game's darkest hours.

Plus, there's no denying that Minsc's presence provides a bit of fan service right at the end of the game for those who have played the previous Baldur's Gate titles. He and Jaheira were both party in those games around a century ago and became fan favorites way back then. Getting to see them now, after decades of living and learning, feels like a great way to make Baldur's Gate 3 feel connected to the series as a whole.

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