Baldur's Gate 3: How to save and recruit Minsc in BG3
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Baldur's Gate 3: How to save and recruit Minsc in BG3
Screenshot via Upcomer

Baldur’s Gate 3: How to save and recruit Minsc in BG3

Minsc and Boo are ready to go

Minsc is the final companion that you are able to recruit in Baldur’s Gate 3. However, the process of getting Minsc to join your party is a little more complicated than some others.

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For starters, you don’t actually get to meet Minsc until you are halfway through Act 3. You will likely get the chance to meet Minsc when you uncover a plot by the Guildhall and Nine-Fingers Keene to ambush him at the Counting House. However, you still have a long ways to go before you can actually recruit him.

Check out the guide below to see exactly what to do to recruit Minsc in Baldur’s Gate 3. This article will contain spoilers for some of Act 3, though.

Recruit Minsc in Baldur’s Gate 3

After speaking with Jaheira, who we were able to keep alive during Act 2, and Nine-Fingers Keene in the Guildhall, it’s learned that Minsc is actually the Stone Lord. The Stone Lord is a criminal that has been terrorizing Baldur’s Gate and doing the bidding of the Absolute.

Eventually, I was able to progress Jaheira’s High Harper quest far enough to learn of the ambush plot at the Counting House. Upon arriving at the Counting House and getting past the vault puzzle, you are able to witness this ambush go down in real time. Unfortunately, it doesn’t work for the Guildhall, as Minsc has a tadpole in his brain and is being tricked by a fake Jaheira to carry out the work of the Absolute.

After the encounter at the Counting House, you will learn that Minsc has been doing all of his plotting in the sewers underneath the city, which is where you need to go next.

Heading into the sewers and completing the Sluice Gate puzzle

The Lower City Sewers can be accessed in a variety of ways. Either through Nine-Finger’s Keene’s office, a sewer grate, or many separate ladders, Minsc is found in the western part of the sewers. Go to the location marked on your map and you will eventually stumble into the Abandoned Cistern, where you need to open the Sluice Gate by using water and temperature valves.

You can solve the Abandoned Cistern puzzle and open the Sluice Gate by following our steps:

  • Start by clicking the water valve once and wait for it to rise on the gauge
  • When it does, wait for a few seconds and then go to the temperature valve and click it once
  • The timing should work out so both gauges reach their optimal level at the same time
Screenshot via Upcomer

This might take some trial and error, but the Sluice Gate should open after a few attempts. Once through the gate, you will find Minsc chatting with the fake Jaheira and a Zhentarim. After some dialogue, combat will ensue.

How to save Minsc

My recommendation here is to only damage Jaheira at first. The Zhentarim runs away, so don’t worry about them. Once Jaheira is dead, focus on Minsc. However, do not kill him. If you want to recruit him, you need to whittle his health down to less than five and then hit with a non-lethal blow. This common skill is on some characters, so check your spellbook to see which characters have access to it. For me, it was both Gale and Astarion.

Baldur's Gate 3 recruit Minsc
Screenshot via Upcomer

Click on the non-lethal blow skill when it’s on your hotbar and then attack Minsc. If it works out, Minsc will be incapacitated, but not dead. After the fight ends, Minsc will get up and you need to calm him down by saying that you did not kill Jaheira, only a fake one. Minsc will realize you are telling the truth, and begin facing another problem.

The large tattooed man will start running after someone named Boo, and all you need to do is follow him. Eventually, Minsc will find Boo, who is a hamster, and tell you he’s ready to join your party. You can successfully recruit Minsc in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Author
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Joey Carr
Joey Carr is a full-time writer for multiple esports and gaming websites. He has 7+ years of experience covering esports and traditional sporting events, including DreamHack Atlanta, Call of Duty Championships 2017, and Super Bowl 53.