How to Recruit Minthara in Baldur's Gate 3
Minthara is one of the most commonly missed companions in Baldur's Gate 3. She’s a drow paladin who starts out as a goblin leader in Act 1, and most players assume that means she has to die. There are actually two ways to recruit her: you can side with her and raid the Emerald Grove, or you can knock her out in Act 1 and rescue her later. The second route is the one that lets you keep the tieflings and still add Minthara to your party.
No matter which route you choose, Minthara has to survive Act 1. If she dies, there’s no reliable second chance. So before you step into the Goblin Camp, quicksave.
Before You Start: The Two Paths to Minthara
There are two legitimate ways to recruit Minthara:
- Raid the Emerald Grove with her. This is the straightforward “evil” route. You side with the goblins, destroy the grove, and Minthara expects to meet you at Moonrise Towers.
- Knock her out in Act 1. This is the “good” or neutral path. You use non-lethal melee damage to leave her alive, then rescue her from Moonrise Towers in Act 2.
Both paths lead to the same Act 2 rescue at Moonrise Towers. The non-lethal route is more popular because it doesn’t lock you out of the tiefling storyline, merchants, or other Act 2 content.
Method 1: Recruit Minthara Without Raiding the Grove
This is the method most players are looking for when they search “how to recruit Minthara” without ruining their hero playthrough.
Step 1: Find Minthara in the Shattered Sanctum
Minthara is in the Goblin Camp, west of the Blighted Village. Inside the Shattered Sanctum, follow the objective marker for Minthara. She’s in a room near the back, usually standing with goblin scouts around a map table. She is not automatically hostile if you haven’t attacked anyone.
If you’ve already fought goblins in the area, she may already be hostile. That’s okay, as long as she’s still alive. The non-lethal method still works if she’s in combat.
Step 2: Toggle Non-Lethal Damage On
Open the passives bar for the character who will make the final hit. Toggle Non-Lethal Damage on.
This is a key BG3 mechanic:
- Melee weapon attacks can be non-lethal.
- Spells, ranged attacks, and damage-over-time effects are still lethal.
- The final hit that drops Minthara to 0 HP should be a regular melee weapon attack.
A normal Attack action with a sword, axe, or hammer is best. Don’t finish her with Eldritch Blast, Fire Bolt, or a lingering acid/burn effect.
Step 3: Fight Minthara and Knock Her Out
Attack Minthara to start the fight. Whittle her down with regular weapon attacks. When she’s low, use the non-lethal melee attack to land the final blow.
When it works, the game will show “Knocked Out” above her or in the combat log instead of “Dead.” If you see a normal death animation, reload your save.
There are a few things to be careful about:
- Clear out the goblins around her before you knock her out.
- Do not use area-of-effect spells near her after she’s down.
- Do not attack her body or loot her while she’s unconscious.
- Do not let a damage-over-time effect tick after she’s down.
She needs to stay at 1 HP, unconscious, but alive.
Step 4: Continue the Goblin Camp Quest
If you’re saving the Emerald Grove, you still need to handle the other goblin leaders. Minthara doesn’t have to be dead for the grove to be saved. Once she’s knocked out, the game treats her as neutralized for the quest. You can finish the rest of the camp, free Halsin, and continue to Act 2.
This is the big advantage of the non-lethal route: you get to keep Minthara alive without sacrificing the tieflings.
Method 2: Recruit Minthara by Raiding the Grove
If you want to recruit Minthara without relying on the knockout trick, you can side with her in Act 1. The process is simple, but the consequences are heavy.
- Talk to Minthara in the Shattered Sanctum.
- Agree to help her raid the Emerald Grove.
- Follow the quest to the grove and fight alongside the goblins.
- Make sure Minthara survives the battle.
- After the raid, she will be pleased with you and expect to meet you later at Moonrise Towers.
This route locks you out of the tiefling storyline and several related quests. It also makes some of your current companions unhappy. If you’re aiming for a more heroic run, Method 1 is the better option.
Rescue Minthara at Moonrise Towers in Act 2
The final step for both routes is rescuing Minthara from Moonrise Towers.
Get to Moonrise Towers
After Act 1, enter the Shadow-Cursed Lands through the Mountain Pass or the Underdark. Both routes lead to the shadow curse. Make your way to Moonrise Towers, bring a light source, and try to avoid the shadow curse damage.
You should rescue Minthara before you finish the Gauntlet of Shar or enter the Shadowfell. Once you trigger the Nightsong sequence, Moonrise Towers becomes a much more dangerous place.
Find Minthara in the Prison
Inside Moonrise Towers, head down to the prison area. Use the map to find the stairs leading to the dungeon. On your first visit, the cultists may treat you as a True Soul, so you can move around without immediate combat.
Minthara is in one of the cells. She has been captured by the Absolute and is in bad shape. You can free her by:
- Lockpicking the cell door.
- Finding a lever or key nearby.
- Killing the guards and looting the key.
Once the cell door is open, talk to her. She won’t trust you immediately, but she agrees to leave with you. Expect the tower to turn hostile once you free her.
Escape with Minthara
After freeing her, you’ll need to get out of Moonrise Towers. Minthara fights alongside you as a temporary ally, so keep her alive.
When you escape the tower or reach a safe area, Minthara becomes a full companion. She’s added to your party roster, and you can level her, equip her, and take her into combat like any other companion.
After Recruiting Minthara
Minthara is a Paladin with the Oath of Vengeance subclass. She brings heavy melee damage, Divine Smite, and some healing through Lay on Hands. She fits well into any party that needs a durable frontliner.
Her personality is blunt, ruthless, and focused on revenge against the Absolute. She isn’t a gentle or friendly companion, but she has her own dialogue, reactions, and camp moments.
If you used the non-lethal route, some characters might react to having Minthara around, especially if you saved the tieflings. The game lets you carry that messy consequence forward, which is part of what makes BG3 fun.
FAQ
Can I recruit Minthara without raiding the Emerald Grove?
Yes. Toggle Non-Lethal Damage, knock her out with a melee weapon in the Shattered Sanctum, and rescue her from Moonrise Towers in Act 2. The grove can be saved, and she will still appear in the Moonrise prison.
What happens if Minthara dies in the Goblin Camp?
If she actually dies, you can’t revive her as a companion. Reload a save from before the fight. If she’s only knocked out, you’re fine.
Can I use spells or ranged attacks to knock Minthara out?
No. Only melee weapon attacks can be non-lethal in Baldur’s Gate 3. Spells, ranged attacks, and damage-over-time effects are lethal. Use a standard melee Attack for the final blow.
Do I need to side with the goblins to recruit Minthara?
No. Raiding the grove is one path, but the non-lethal knockout method lets you recruit her while saving the tieflings. Both routes eventually require rescuing her from Moonrise Towers.
