Baldur's Gate 3: Best Minthara Companion Build

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Baldur's Gate 3 has made its mark on the RPG community and was a wild success at release. While many players are well into their second or third playthrough (and some are still digging around in act 1), they may not have had the chance to recruit the most elusive of the game's companions — Minthara.

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Minthara is a Drow Paladin first met in the Goblin Camp of Act 1, and is a tough foe for players who opt to kill the goblin leaders. However, those who recruit her have an entirely different problem. What is the best way to build Minthara? Keep reading to learn about Minthara's best class choices, feats, weapons, and armor.

Baldur's Gate 3

Released: August 3, 2023
Developer(s): Larian Studios

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Updated by Abigail Angell on December 26th, 2023: A new method of recruiting Minthara for a good playthrough has been discovered, so we've added a link to the relevant article here. In addition, the reasoning for the Oathbreaker subclass choice has been explained better.

Best Classes For Minthara's Story

Minthara's personal story arc is focused around her servitude to greater powers and whether they truly deserve her devotion. While there is no entry in your quest log for her, exploring the world and speaking with her allows you to learn about her tragic past and deep-seated anger. This makes her default identity of a Vengeance Paladin compelling — vengeance is her primary motivation for everything she does. However, many players have found making her an Oathbreaker Paladin to signify her break away from the Absolute the most satisfying. Additionally, changing her into a Cleric or Warlock can have satisfying role-play opportunities if you lack one in your party.

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Best Standard Build For Minthara

oath of vengeance paladin in baldur's gate 3

The best standard build for Minthara is one that takes into account her backstory, the likely alignment of your party if you've recruited her, and mid to late-game power level. This makes being an Oathbreaker Paladin ideal. Not only does it maintain her core identity, but it is also the strongest Paladin subclass in the game. This is due to its ability to Control Undead, place necrotic DoTs on enemies, and Frighten all who oppose them. Having minions and frightening enemies in particular is quite strong, as it gives you more turns per round and makes enemy turns less effective - action economy is always king in Baldur's Gate 3.

Minthara comes pre-built with ability scores suited to being a paladin, so the only thing you'll need to change when you recruit her is her subclass. This can be done by doing any action to break your oath (for a Vengeance paladin, granting mercy to an enemy when they ask for it is the most reliable — i.e., allowing the goblin leader at the windmill to live after he surrenders). This prompts an Oathbreaker Paladin to visit, allowing you to change your subclass.

Minthara's Ability Scores

Minthara begins with a very standard Paladin Ability Score Array:

Strength	17
Dexterity	12
Constitution	13
Intelligence	8
Wisdom	10
Charisma	15

This array shouldn't require any serious modifications when recruiting her, although some players choose to lower her Wisdom to 8 in exchange for a higher Constitution. At levels 4, 8, and 12, you will have the opportunity to choose a Feat for Minthara to raise her ability scores and add extra features.

Minthara's Race & Background

Minthara's Race and Background are Lolth-sworn Drow and Noble, respectively. These features are set in stone, even if you take her to Withers. However, neither are bad choices for this build. She will have access to several spells, better Darkvision, and special dialogue options because of her race. Her background will generate Inspiration when making friends or squirreling away large quantities of Gold.

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Best Multiclass Build For Minthara

A draconic bloodline sorcerer casting a fire spell with the class symbol for sorcerer in his palm

If you'd like to go down the Multiclassing route, there are many Paladin Multiclasses available to players. Those that are particularly strong include the Sorcadin Multiclass and the Warlock / Paladin multiclass. Each focuses on generating more spell slots for smiting, allowing the Paladin to dish out even more damage.

Best Feats For Minthara

Baldur's Gate 3 Feats list available to Warlocks, with the Actor selected as the best first choice

Minthara benefits heavily from Feats, as she has several uneven Ability Scores in her array. Standard builds will include three Feats, while the amount you can take in a Multiclass build varies. Among the best choices for this build include Athlete, Ability Score Increase, Tough, or Shieldmaster.

Athlete

This is what is known as a partial ASI, meaning it gives one feature benefit in addition to a single ability score increase. Players can use it to raise Minthara's Strength to 18 as well as increase her jump distance significantly and reduce the cost of falling prone. More Jump distance is always helpful for melee characters, as it allows them to close in on enemies without using their action to dash.

Ability Score Increase

Raising an ability score is a great choice for any Feat — getting your key abilities to 20 is a massive mechanical boon in this game. It increases your chance of hitting attacks and affecting enemies with your spells. It can even influence how many spells you can have prepared at once. Therefore, the ability to raise any score by two is a powerful, if slightly boring option.

Tough

As the game progresses, it will get harder and harder to tank attacks from enemies. As a Paladin, Minthara will likely be your primary tank. Therefore, tough is a great option to increase her maximum hit points (this feat grants up to 24 additional Hit Points).

Shield Master

While this option only works if you have Minthara using a shield, and allows her to add the shield's AC bonus to some saving throws. This, in turn, mitigates some of the damage from AoE spells such as Fireball and Lightning Bolt, as well as throwables like Smokepowder Bombs.

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Best Gear & Items For Minthara

The best gear and items for Minthara will heavily depend on her role in your party, but, in general, Paladin-specific items or heavy armor will benefit her the most.

For an easy upgrade to her gear, give her the items found on Ketheric Thorm after slaying him in Act 2.

Item Name	Features	Location
The Watcher's Guide	Death's Promise: When the spear misses its target, the wielder’s next Attack Roll against that target has Advantage.	In the Dank Crypt of the Ravaged Beach Region, where you crash-land in Act One.
Sword of Chaos	Chaos: regain 1-6 hit points each time you make a successful attack while wielding this weapon Deals an additional 1d4 Necrotic damage	Looted from Sarevok, who can be found in the Murder Tribunal of Bhaal
Balduran's Giantslayer	Giantslayer: On a hit, double the damage from your Strength Modifier. This weapon grants you Advantage on Attack Rolls against Large, Huge, or Gargantuan creatures. Giant Form: Grow to a fearsome size. Your weapons deal an additional 1d6 damage, and you gain 27 Temporary Hit Points and Advantage on Strength Checks and Saving Throws.	Rewarded for completing the Wyrmway Trials
Sword of Justice	Tyr's Protection: Surround a creature with a shimmering field of magic that increases its Armour Class by 2. The spell ends when the Sword of Justice is unequipped.	Looted from the Paladins of Tyr in Act One
Spellthief	Arcane Vehemence: Once per Short Rest, you regain a Level 1 spell slot when you land a Critical hit with the Spellthief.	Bought from Aaron in the Druid Grove
Adamantine Splint Armor	Magical Plate: All incoming damage is reduced by 2. Intense Adamantine Backlash: When a melee attack hits you, the attacker is sent Reeling for 3 turns. Attackers can't land Critical Hits on the wearer.	Crafted in the Adamantine Forge in the Underdark
Armor of Devotion	Eternal Devotion: Recite your Oath to regain 1 Paladin Channel Oath Charge.	Sold by Roah Moonglow in Moonrise Towers
Reaper's Embrace	Magical Plate: All incoming damage is reduced by 2. Reaper's Rigidity: When activated, you can't be moved against your will by any spell or action, but have Disadvantage on Dexterity Saving Throws. Cast Howl of the Dead once per Short Rest.	Looted from Ketheric Thorm in Moonrise Towers
Armor of Persistence	Magical Plate: All incoming damage is reduced by 2. Legendary Persistence: You gain Resistance (Condition) and Blade Ward (Condition) while this armor is equipped.	Bought from Dammon in the Forge of the Nine of the Lower City.
Helm of Balduran	Balduran's Vitality: The helmet heals you 2 Hit Points at the beginning of every turn. Balduran's Favor: You have a +1 bonus to Armor Class and Saving Throws. Stun Immunity: You can't be Stunned. Attackers can't land Critical Hits on the wearer.	Found on an altar near Ansur in the Dragon's Sanctum
Helmet of Smiting	When you apply a condition with one of your Smite spells, you gain temporary hit points equal to your Charisma Modifier. Attackers can’t land a Critical Hit on the wearer	Helmet Of Smiting can be found in the Selunite Outpost of the Underdark Region inside a gilded chest.
Vivacious Cloak	Arcane Vivaciousness: You gain 7 temporary Hit Points after casting a Spell while in melee.	Looted from a chest in the Grand Mausoleum of the Shadowlands
Shadeslayer Cloak	Stealthy Critical: While hiding, the number you need to roll a Critical Hit while attacking is reduced by 1. This effect can stack.	Bought from Sticky Dundo in the Guildhall of the Lower City Sewers
Gloves of the Growling Underdog	Underdog's Bravery: The wearer gains Advantage on melee attack rolls while surrounded by 2 or more foes. Strength Saving Throws +1	Found Inside Dror Ragzlin's Treasure Crates in the Shattered Sanctum
Linebreaker Boots	Adrenaline Rush: When the wearer Dashes or takes a similar action during combat, they gain Wrath for 3 turns.	Looted from Beastmaster Zurk in the Shattered Sanctum
Pearl of Power Amulet	Pearlescent Restoration: Once per Long Rest, you can replenish one expended Spell Slot of your choice which is third level or lower	Bought from Omeluum in the Ebonlake Grotto
Spellcrux Amulet	Spell Slot Restoration: Replenish an expended spell slot of any level as a Bonus Action once per Long Rest	Looted from the Warden in Moonrise Towers
Ring of Free Action	Unwavering: You ignore the effects of Difficult Terrain and cannot be Paralyzed or Restrained.	Sold by Araj Oblodra in Moonrise Towers
Killer's Sweetheart	Executioner: When you kill a creature, your next Attack Roll will be a Critical Hit. Once spent, this effect refreshes after a Long Rest	On the ground at the top of the stone structure in the Self-Same Trial of the Gauntlet of Shar

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