Minsc is one of the mascot characters of Dungeons & Dragons so it's no surprise that the ranger and his miniature giant space hamster, Boo, made their way into Baldur's Gate 3. He acts as a companion in the third act as well as an old friend of the somewhat grouchy druid, Jaheira. With Jaheira and Minsc both being companions from Baldur's Gate 1 and 2, it's no surprise that the pair know each other but BG3 takes place over 100 years after its predecessor, which causes confusion considering that Minsc is a human.

Jaheira and Minsc aren't the only companion characters that return from Baldur's Gate 2, with Viconia DeVir also making a return, but this time as a potential antagonist rather than a companion. Curiously, the years have begun to show with Jaheria and Viconia despite both having incredibly long lifespans, yet Minsc, who is a human with a relatively short lifespan by D&D standards, looks almost exactly as he did back in the days of BG1 and 2. The reason for this is both bizarre and something that seems typical of Minsc's adventures.

Minsc Has A Long Backstory In Baldur's Gate 3

He Isn't Coming Out Of Nowhere In Act 3

Minsc has done a lot in his life and has seen his fair share of wacky adventures. Almost all of Baldur's Gate 1 and 2 are examples of this, as well as Minsc and Boo's Journal of Villainy, a sourcebook for D&D 5e that was released in 2021. When players first meet Minsc, he is being controlled and manipulated by the Absolute and a fake Jaheira, with the criminal underworld of Baldur's Gate knowing the ranger by the name of the Stone Lord. All Tav knows is that Minsc is a good friend and old ally of Jaheira.

Even with a speak with animals buff, Boo can only be understood by Minsc.

Minsc does have a very obvious history with the followers of Bhaal and the Absoulte, being left behind by Jaheira in BG3 after a battle with the cult. Both Minsc and Jaheira have unique dialogue with Sarevok should they both be in the party when the Bhaalspawn is encountered, and the BG3 narrator even states that, although the history the two parties share is ancient, neither intends to leave the other alive. Strangely enough for Minsc, this history isn't quite as ancient as it is for everyone else involved.

Petrification Is The Secret To Minsc's Extended Life

He Was A Statue For Over 100 Years

Jaheira first mentions that Minsc was turned into a statue for over a century, keeping him young while others aged around him. Minsc himself confirms, as seen in PerfectParadox's video on YouTube. When asked in camp after ing the party, he states that he and Boo returned to Baldur's Gate after his adventures against the Bhaalspawn, when he was ambushed. He doesn't know who turned him to stone, stating that it could have been a villain that he angered too much, but either way, he ended up being petrified into a stone statue in the city's slums.

Lae'zel mentions that giant space hamsters are a staple food for the gith, although she has never heard of a miniature one like Boo.

Although not stated in the game, Minsc found himself freed from his stony imprisonment after a Wild Magic named Deliana accidentally hit him with a surge before the events of Baldur's Gate 3. After this, Minsc ends up forming a party of his own, once again becoming a hero of Baldur's Gate. Truth be told, Minsc continued as if nothing had happened, adventuring as a sellsword from the Sword Coast to Avernus, before reuniting with Jaheira to combat the Absolute and getting a tadpole inserted into his skull.

Minsc Is Luckier Than Other Classic Baldur's Gate Characters

Most Have Died By The Time Of Baldur's Gate 3

Because of the time between the games, it is assumed that most characters have died, since they don't appear or get mentioned in Baldur's Gate 3. Some that do appear haven't had the best time, such as Viconia founding a Sharran Cult in Waterdeep before killing everyone there on Shar's orders. Minsc has had a relatively kind time, considering that he has continued to do what he loves before and after his petrification, and even though he lost 100 odd years of his life, he doesn't seem all too bothered about it.

Minsc is one of the more iconic characters in D&D's world, and it isn't much of a surprise that Larian included him in Baldur's Gate 3. He has had a myriad of adventures already and had a ready-made excuse for surviving the 100-year-time-skip between the second and third games, due to his petrification. Casting one of the faces of D&D, Matt Mercer, as the voice of Minsc was a clever choice too, helping to expose the ranger and his hamster to a more mainstream audience.

Source: PerfectParadox/YouTube