Baldur’s Gate 3features plenty of animal characters, and with the"speak with animals"spell, players can have full conversations with these creatures in the same way they can with humanoid races. Anyone who never considers this spell misses out on a gigantic piece of the game, and lore and personalities are left unknown. Some of these characters can come back to the party’s camp and aid them later in the game.
There are two animal companions that parties can adopt and keep in their camp — Scratch and the owlbear cub. However,there are several more characters players will meet throughout the game that many wish they could also keep in camp. Some feel like missed opportunities, while others may have initially been planned to join the party but never made it that far in development.
10Shadow-Whiskers The Displacer Beast
A Tragic Character With No Resolution
Shadow-Whiskers is an angry displacer beast found in the Circus of the Last Days, and the creature will attack the player’s party once combat with the fake Dribbles and other shapeshifters has been initiated. Despite usually being hostile to players, Shadow-Whiskers will share her backstory to those who use the “speak with animals"spell. Originally, she lived in the wild with her mate and cubs, but hunters killed her mate and stole her cubs.She expresses discontent and rage towards the circus members for her situation, but cannot be swayed against them during the fight.
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The displacer beast’s story is sympathetic, making it disappointing thatthere is no way to befriend Shadow-Whiskers.She can be saved by having a party member release her without initiating combat, using a spell likeinvisibility,or breaking the locks and not allowing her to leave the cage. However, there is no way to outright free her from the circus, and the party will hear nothing more of her living cubs— the only other displacer beast in the game is Nessa, found in the temple of Shar, but there is nothing that implies she could be the cub of Shadow-Whiskers.
9Sparky The Dog
An Overly Excitable Dog
Sparky is a very excitable dog found in Bloomridge Park in the Lower City. The party can try to calm Sparky, which is much easier with the “speak with animals"spell. Passing the check to quell his excitement will lead to him and his owner leaving for the Upper City.It’s possible that there could have been more content planned which involved Sparky, as there was originally much morecontent considered for the Upper Citythat didn’t make it through development.
Sparky is so low on the list due to his obvious similarity to Scratch, but he would be an adorable option for another animal companion for him, especially if the player missed the owlbear cub in Act 1. “Scratch & Sparky” also just rolls very well off the tongue.If the park is ambushed and the player has not sent Sparky home, he will be present in the fight and will often die along with his owner.In this regard, many players would have much more peace of mind if Sparky was a temporary companion, or at least buffed to avoid the likelihood of a grim fate.
8Biscotti The Dog
The Most Fashionable Pooch In Faerûn
Biscotti can be found in Rivington with his refugee owners after their farm burnt down. He can be identified by his light brown coat and iconic little bow at the top of his head. He is essentially the embodiment of every dog’s personality. By talking to Biscotti using the “speak with animals"spell,players will find out that he has one core desire - to be called a “good dog.”
If the player character tells Biscotti he is a good dog, he will become thrilled and extremely excited. If the player cruelly abstains from doing so, Biscotti will be very disappointed. Though Biscotti already has a pair of owners, it would be nice to see him with more content and appearing later in the game, as the player has limited interaction with him. That said,he would make for a great camp companiongiven how his dialogue can be repeated and still be read as separate conversations.
7Ormn The Bear
Halsin’s Pet
Ormn is found in the Emerald Grove in Act 1. He can initially be found in a very sorry state, mourning the absence of his master, Halsin. Upon saving Halsin from the Goblin Camp and returning him to the grove, Ormn will immediately cheer up and become elated.He is also technically an infinite source of camp supplies, as he will constantly throw fish onto the ground, as seen inLucrorpg’s video on YouTube, making him possibly one of the most useful NPCs if the player is short on food or supply packs.
Since Halsin is Ormn’s master, it’s disappointing that the bear simply stays in the grove instead of coming to camp with him after being recruited.If you recruit Halsin and thenraid the Emerald Grove, Halsin will attack the player with Ormn at his side, raising the question of why he can’t aid Halsin when the druid is on the party’s side. Ormn is one of the animal characters inBaldur’s Gate 3that would make the most sense to be a camp companion.
6His Majesty The Cat
A Regal Cat That Befits His Name
His Majesty is found in Last Light Inn, and it’s safe to say that many players have fallen in love with him. He is a Sphynx cat, but from Patch 3 to Hotfix 8 had a fluffy model — the patch note found on the officialBaldur’s Gate 3website stated that Larian had “shaved” him. He is very regal and disdainful, and will only allow the player character to admire him, not pet him.Admiring him will gain approval from every companion apart from Lae’zeland earn two approval points from Shadowheart.
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He expresses distrust in Isobel and calls her a liar, as she promised him milk but never brought him any.It would be very rewarding for His Majesty to become a camp companion and see his walls broken down,perhaps even becoming trustful of Isobel again. He has a very authentic personality for a cat, and many players would definitely appreciate being able to properly pet him.
5Crimson The Alioramus
A Misunderstood Dinosaur
Crimson is another creature found in The Circus of the Last Days. He also initially appears aggressive and will break out of his cage and attack the player during the doppelgänger fight if not interacted with. If the player speaks with him before the fight, they will find out that he is starving to the point of madness.If the player feeds him, then he will not leave his cage when opened, and if the player breaks the locks on his cage and traps him, he will wholesomely thank them for not letting him hurt anyone.
Crimson sees the circus as his family and holds the members in high regard due to having been raised by them.The only reason why he is initially aggressive is that the shapeshifters refused to feed himand tortured him with his hunger. Though it is unlikely that he would ever want to leave his home, refusing to even leave his small cage, having him as an ally in return for the player’s help would be a fitting conclusion for this surprisingly sweet dinosaur.
4Malta The Cat
A Familiar Street Cat
Malta is a cat found behind the Central Watch tower in the Lower City. When spoken to withspeak with animals,he dramatically narrates all his and the player’s actions. From his voice and appearance,it is likely that he was inspired by Puss In Boots. Malta is one of three cats that players cansend to live with Derryth Bonecloakif her husband dies in the first act.
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Malta presents the player with a test to see whether they are worthy of him joining them - if they accept too hastily, they will fail. However, to many’s dismay,he will never actually join the player — if they pass the test, he will simply tell them that their paths will cross again much later on when they are “ready.“He never follows up on this, which feels like a missed opportunity to have him appear later in the game after the player has accomplished some sort of great feat. The set-up for a companion is there, it’s just never utilized.
3Myshka The Cat
A Cat Searching For His Mother
Myshka is another cat in the Lower City who speaks a unique feline dialect called Mriaer. In what seems like a broken version of Common,he will ask anyone talking to him if they’re his mother.Like Malta, Myshka can also be a candidate to keep Derryth company. However, if the player doesn’t give him to Derryth, they can tell him that they are in fact his mother, regardless of the gender they’re playing as. He will then excitedly exclaim “MERMER,” which means “mother” in Mriaer. Myshka will adorably follow the character who initiated the conversation thinking they’re his mother.
Myshka is a top contender for the animal that deserves to come to camp the most. He only follows the party while they’re in a certain radius, and it feels cruel to tell him that you’re his mother then leave him for the rest of your adventure.One of the earliest mods added to the Mod Manager introduced in Patch 7 was one that allowed you to bring him to camp, where you can infinitely pet him.
2Squire, Ketheric’s Dog
Squire is an undead robotic-looking dog.She was revived by Ketheric after she died alongside Isobel, trying to protect her. She can be found in Ketheric’s bedroom in Moonrise Towers - she will recognize the spell of Isobel’s magic if the party has recieved theBlessing of Seluné.The player can even pet Squire if she is not hostile towards the party. Talking to her will reveal that she is only loyal to Ketheric, not his cause and not the Absolute. She can be convinced not to aid him in the fight on top of the towers.
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The party wasoriginally able to recruit Ketheric Thormduring the game’s development, and the fact that there is a way to stop Squire from participating in the final fight suggests thatshe was supposed to come to camp with Ketheric after his redemption arc. However, since Larian decided to cut Ketheric as a companion to focus on the rest of the cast, Squire’s involvement likely would have been cut with it. Even without Ketheric, sparing Squire and having her reunite with Isobel would be a fitting reward for those who managed to spare Squire, though she has no more content after the fight.
1Gustav & Zola, The Couriers Dogs
The Closest Thing Scratch Has To Siblings
Outside the Sword Coast Couriers, players can interact with Mar’hyah, who runs the kennels. She asks to check Scratch over for worms, but it quickly becomes apparent that she intends to take him.Originally, Scratch was one of the Couriers' Dogs, and he will beg the player not to allow her to take him, as she is clearly abusive towards her dogs and employees. There are two other dogs that can be found in the kennels, Gustav and Zola — players can offer to buy them, but Mar’hyah will not accept.
Zola and Gustav both express relief and gratitude if the player is able to get Mar’hyah to leave them alone. It would make for a much more fulfilling ending if the player was able to adopt them alongside Scratch, as they are likely the closest thing he has to family. There are many animal characters inBaldur’s Gate 3, and with so many great candidates, it is evident that two animal companions are not enough.
