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Romancing companions is a big part of Baldur’s Gate 3, but players who aren’t looking for long-term commitment can enjoy steamy one-off romance encounters with several NPCs. These encounters are typically short and sweet, but some can have lasting effects on your character’s relationships and the story as a whole.
[Warning: The following article contains spoilers for Baldur's Gate 3.]
There are six one-time romance partners you can encounter in Baldur’s Gate 3: The Emperor, Mizora, Naoise Nallinto, the Drow Twins, and Haarlep. All six can be romanced in Act 3, and characters can actually choose to romance them all in a single playthrough. However, participating in a one-time romance can have lasting consequences and might earn you some disapproval from any or all of the companions you’ve recruited.
How To Romance Naoise Nallinto (The Wood Elf Courtesan)
Before entering the Lower City region of Baldur’s Gate proper, the party must journey through the Southern Span of Wyrm’s Crossing, a crowded bridge home to many thriving businesses. One of these businesses is Sharess’ Caress, a brothel that’s popular with local residents and visitors alike. It’s also a key location in many main and side quests, so you will likely visit it at some point during your adventures.
If you ask Mamzell Amira, the establishment's proprietor, about the services on offer, she may mention a wood nymph who’s occupied with another client. However, nothing stops the party from going to the Nymph’s Grotto on the Upper Floor of Sharess' Caress to find Naoise Nallinto.
If you’ve been investigating the Open Hand Temple murders, you can also report to Valeria in Sharess’ Caress.
Entering the Nymph’s Grotto will trigger a cutscene in Baldur’s Gate 3, where you find Naoise with a Flaming Fist named Jara. Unfortunately, the corruption of the cult of the Absolute runs deep in Baldur’s Gate, and Jara will gruesomely transform into a mind flayer that the party will have to kill.
After slaying the mind flayer, you can speak to Naoise, and she will explain that she found the mind flayer both beautiful and horrifying. She will offer your character the chance to experience "rapture."
Afterward, your character will gain Rapture, a ive 1d6 buff to attack rolls, saving throws, and ability checks until the next Long Rest.
How To Romance The Drow Twinn
Also in Sharess’ Caress are the Drow Twins: Sorn Orlith and his twin sister Nym. Your character can pay 500 gold to hire either Drow sibling for various romantic encounters. Sorn’s encounters tend to be a bit more tongue-in-cheek and comical, while Nym only has one encounter to choose from. Regardless, all scenes take place in the dark.
Alternatively, your character can spend 1,000 gold to hire both if you’re romancing certain companions and have completed their personal quests. Notably, if you’re romancing Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3, she will agree to in. Astarion and Halsin will also be open to the idea. However, other companions will decline to participate.
If you speak to the proprietor Mamzell and help her track down a missing employee, the Stern Librarian Ffion, you will be able to hire either of the Drow Twins for free or hire them both for a reduced fee of 500 gold.
How To Romance The Emperor
In Baldur’s Gate 3's Act 1 and 2, your character will periodically be visited by a mysterious figure known as the Dream Visitor. In Act 3, it’s revealed that the Dream Visitor is a disguise used by The Emperor, a mind flayer who opposes the Absolute. The Emperor can be romanced, but you must make a few specific story choices.
When meeting the Githyanki queen Vlaakith in the Githyanki crèche in Act 1, she will ask you to enter the Astral Prism and kill the presence inside. It’s important that you avoid trying to attack the Dream Visitor during this encounter, as this will lock you out of romancing the Emperor.
At the start of Act 3, the Dream Visitor will summon you into the Astral Prism to defend against an onslaught of Githyanki. Again, you should side with the Illithid over the Githyanki to keep the Emperor alive. In any subsequent scenes that appear, you should choose “nice” responses when interacting with the Emperor. Dialogue choices that reveal a hatred of all illithids will negatively affect your relationship with him.
Suppose your relationship with the Emperor is positive enough. In that case, he will detail his history with Baldur’s Gate and inform you of his old secret hideout at the Elfsong Tavern in the Lower City. After visiting the hideout to retrieve some items, a scene will trigger where your character can romance the Emperor inside the Astral Prism. Whether you continue to side with the Emperor in Baldur’s Gate 3 later in the game is up to you.
Your companions won’t have much to say if you romance the Emperor. However, this encounter unlocks the Mind Blown achievement.
How To Romance Mizora
Wyll’s patron, Mizora, first appears in Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3, reminding the Blade of Frontiers that he is ultimately bound to serve her as stated in a devil's contract. However, as long as your character doesn’t try to attack or kill her, she becomes a potential one-time romantic partner in Act 3.
To get this option, you should choose to save Mizora in Act 2, although it’s worth noting that you will also permanently lose Wyll if you let her die. She will reappear in Act 3 to taunt Wyll, offering to give him a chance to rescue his father, Duke Ulder Ravengard, if he remains bound to her by contract.
It’s possible to rescue Wyll’s father without Mizora’s help as long as you’re reasonably efficient when rescuing the Iron Throne prisoners. As such, the best choice is to free Wyll, unlocking the Loophole achievement.
Regardless of what you choose to do, Mizora will decide to stay at the party camp. As long as you don’t demand that she leave, she will eventually approach your character with a proposition, which you can accept or decline. Unfortunately, giving in to her temptations has consequences. Most companions won’t be pleased if you’re already romancing them.
- If you are romancing Wyll in Baldur's Gate 3, Gale or Lae’zel, they will decide to end your relationship. Even if not romanced, Wyll will express his anger to your character.
- Karlach won’t be happy, but you will have a chance to mend the rift with dialogue.
- Halsin, Astarion, and Shadowheart’s responses will be more neutral. Shadowheart will even sarcastically refer to Mizora as “inferior goods.”
As such, it’s a good idea to make an extra save if you romance Mizora.
How To Romance Haarlep
While exploring Raphael’s House of Hope, your party may encounter the incubus Haarlep inside the Boudoir. Haarlep takes Raphael’s own form and makes a sly comment that Raphael only enjoys sleeping with himself. While amusing, your character can actually get some important information from him.
The party can choose to attack and kill Haarlep to get what they need. Alternatively, you can engage in a rather explicit romance encounter to get the information. This is perhaps the most dangerous romance encounter in the game, as it involves giving mind and body over to Haarlep and surrendering control.
After removing their clothes, your character can try to resist Haarlep’s influence and retain control of their mind through sheer willpower. Eventually, you can bargain with him, allowing him to take your body and form but leaving your mind intact, or attempt a Constitution check to push Haarlep away, triggering a fight.
Giving Haarlep both heart and soul will kill your character and result in a game over.
If your character allows Haarlep to take their form in Baldur’s Gate 3, the incubus will reveal that they plan to make love while disguised in your character’s form. Throughout the rest of the game, your character will occasionally feel odd sensations due to this encounter.
Most of your companions will actively disapprove if your character takes their clothes off and trades their form to Haarlep.
Some of the one-off romances are relatively harmless fun, but others can be quite damaging to your character’s relationships and can even kill. As such, it’s worth using your Insight skill before engaging in any casual romance in Baldur’s Gate 3.
