Summary
- Unlocking Minsc in Baldur's Gate 3 is challenging, as he is a very late-game addition in Act 3.
- Players must recruit Jaheira in Act 2 and complete specific quests to recruit Minsc.
- For Minsc's best build, consider multiclassing him as a Ranger, Fighter, and Barbarian for a versatile character.
Baldur's Gate 3 Has a multitude of interesting Companions to recruit and level up, giving the protagonist a myriad of choices when it comes to creating unique and powerful character builds. Players have countless options when it comes to how they will craft their teams, and one possible addition is Minsc.
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Many players will recognize Minc from previous Baldur’s Gate games, making him another legacy character like Jaheira, Sarevok, and Viconia DeVir. Even though Minsc seems like a Barbarian or a Fighter, he's actually a Ranger, one of the game's most versatile classes.
Updated November 29, 2024, by Kristy Ambrose: Minsc is perhaps the most difficult Companion to unlock in BG3 and also joins the party fairly late in Act 3. Because of that, some players might conclude that investing in gear and accessories for him is a waste of resources. However, if the player still wants to give Minsc a chance, and experience the old days of previous Baldur's Gate games when the protagonist could travel with Minsc or Jaheria or both in their party, it's worth it to finish Jaheria's questline and free him from the grip of the Absolute.
Who Is Minsc?
Recruit Him By Finishing Jaheira's Quest
- Minsc is a recurring character from the Baldur’s Gate franchise and recruiting him finishes a major questline.
Minsc was a kind-hearted, but rather dim and impulsive, Rashemaar warrior who enjoyed many adventures across the Sword Coast and beyond. He joined many adventuring parties throughout the 14th and 15th centuries DR, including the heroes of Baldur's Gate.
Minsc was famously known for his habit of talking to a hamster called Boo, whom he believed was a miniature giant space hamster, despite no one else ever witnessing any evidence of this.
Minsc will be the last companion the player will recruit in their playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3. He’ll only be acquired towards the end of the game, and the player must also have another companion to even hope of recruiting him, Jaheira, a companion the player can recruit in Act 2 provided she survives.
With Jaheira alongside the player, recruiting Minsc becomes a possibility. The player must also make sure to complete the "Aid The Underduke" quest.
Default Minsc
A Build Without Multiclassing
- When it comes to his class, he’s a Ranger, which is a class unique to him among the companions until the protagonist creates one.
Minsc’s background in the game is that of the Folk Hero. With this Background, he will unlock proficiencies in Animal Handling and Survival. One unique skill he has is the ability to summon Boo the hamster through a 
Find Familiar spell.
When it comes to his ability scores, Minsc has a high Dexterity, with other decent scores being Consitution and Intelligence, a typical Ranger build for more melee fighting but fewer casting abilities.
|
STATISTIC |
SCORE |
|---|---|
|
Strength |
12 |
|
Dexterity |
17 |
|
Constitution |
13 |
|
Intelligence |
8 |
|
Wisdom |
13 |
|
Charisma |
10 |
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Best Minsc Build
High Dexterity And Physical Damage
- Focus on Constitution and Wisdom after Dexterity
Minsc will have some limited healing and support spells, like all Rangers, but his casting ability is limited by his Wisdom score, which is decent but not great.
- Level 1: Misc will receive the class features Favored Enemy and Natural Environment. With these 2, he can pick one of the features each provides, and in this case, Bounty Hunter is the best choice. For Natural Environment, Wasteland Wanderer: Poison is ideal, with Fire as a close second.
- Level 2: Ranger spellcasting is unlocked. The player also gets to choose a fighting style, and Weapon Fighting is better for Minsc.
- Level 3: The player must pick Minsc’s subclass. They have the choice between three, and Beast Master is the best for him.
The player could also go for Gloom Stalker if they want a more stealthy build, overall all the Ranger subclasses are solid. Choosing the Beast Master subclass immediately unlocks the Ranger’s Companion, which accompanies Minsc and fights on his side. The player can choose from a bear, boar, wolf spider, dire raven, or wolf to summon once per short rest.
- Levels 4, 8, and 12: He can pick a Feat. Recommendations include Magic Initiate: Cleric or Magic Initiate: Druid because of his Wisdom score, Sentinel allows Minsc to attack and immobilize an enemy who targets an ally if they’re within melee range, and Tough increases his hit points by two each time he levels up.
- Level 5: Minsc unlocks Level 2 Ranger spellcasting as well as Extra Attack. With his subclass he also gets Companion’s Bond, making his familiar even more useful.
- Level 6: He picks an additional option from Favoured Enemy and Natural Explorer. The player should go with Mage Breaker and Beast Tamer.
- Level 7: The Exceptional Training subclass feature, allowing his companion to dash, disengage, and help as a bonus action.
- Level 8: Land’s Stride: Difficult Terrain. Difficult terrain is no longer an issue for Minsc.
- Level 9: Level 3 Ranger Spellcasting.
- Level 10: Hide In Plainsight is unlocked, as well as another option from Favored Enemy and Natural Explorer. Choose Ranger Knight and Wasteland Wanderer: Poison or Fire.
- Level 11: Bestial Fury, allowing his companion to make an extra attack.
Baldur's Gate 3: Every Character That Can Join Your Camp
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Best Ranger Spells
The player can also use Minsc as a support class or off-healer thanks to his Ranger spellcasting abilities. Most of these are defensive or healing abilities that Minsc learns between levels 3 and 9.
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Ensnaring Strike
-
Hail of Thorns
-
Darkvision
-
Spike Growth
-
Plant Growth
- Conjure Barrage
Best Multiclass Build For Minsc
Cleric, Fighter, Druid, Barbarian, Rogue
- The most optimal Multiclass build for Minsc will be a choice between the Ranger, the Barbarian, or the Fighter. The following example combines all three into a very mighty Minsc.
Level 4 Ranger - Switch To Fighter
When they reach level 4, the player would want to switch over to the Fighter Class, making Minsc a Ranger 3 - Fighter 1.
- The player gets to choose another fighting style for Minsc, Two Weapon fighting would work well here.
- He unlocks Second Wind, an amazing class action that allows him to heal himself as a bonus action.
Continuing to level 2 as a Fighter, making him a Ranger 3 - Fighter 2.
- He unlocks Action Surge. This allows him to gain an extra Action in combat, which is a very valuable action to have.
When Minsc becomes a Ranger 3 - Fighter 3, he will finally be able to pick his Fighter subclass.
- Choose between the Champion, the Battle Master, or the Eldritch Knight. The real choice here is between the Battle Master and the Champion, but overall, the player should go with the Champion to get an improved Critical Hit.
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Level 3 Fighter - Switch To Barbarian
The player will switch Minsc over from a Fighter to a Barbarian, making him a Ranger 3 - Fighter 3 - Barbarian 1.
- He will unlock Unarmored Defense, as well as Rage. Rage will allow him to become stronger and have an advantage on strength checks and saving throws.
Continue to level 2 as a Barbarian, making him a Ranger 3 - Fighter 3 - Barbarian 2.
- He gets Danger Sense, which can help him avoid traps and other inconveniences. He also gets Reckless Attack, which gives him and enemies who attack him an advantage on attack rolls.
For the final level as a Barbarian, Minsc will become a Ranger 3 - Fighter 3 - Barbarian 3.
- He unlocks an additional Rage charge, and will be able to pick a Barbarian Subclass. Choose between the Berserker, the Wildheart, and the Wild Magic. Wildheart will give him the option to choose one bestial heart.
-
For Minsc, Rage: Bear Heart will be the best option for him. Minsc also learns
Speak with Animals.
Baldur's Gate 3: Best Mods For The Barbarian Class
Channel your rage into these fantastic Barbarian mods for BG3.
Level 3 Barbarian - Back To Ranger
Now, the player should Switch Minsc back to being a Ranger. Minsc will become Ranger 4 - Fighter 3 - Barbarian 3.
- At this level, he gets a Feat. Tough will be a good option for him.
Moving on to level 5 as a Ranger, making him Ranger 5 - Fighter 3 - Barbarian 3, Minsc will unlock level 2 Ranger spellcasting. Minsc also finally unlocks Extra Attack and he also gets Companion’s Bond. This subclass feature allows the player’s companion to become stronger and sturdier.
Finally, at level 6 as a Ranger, making the player Ranger 6 - Fighter 3 - Barbarian 3, the player will unlock another additional Favored Enemy and Natural Explorer Environment. Anyone here goes, but if the player doesn’t want to think too much about this, they can go with Keeper of the Veil and Wasteland Wanderers: Poison.
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Best Items For Minsc
Ideal Gear Depends On Build And Role
- Other ideal items give Minsc Critical Hit and Dexterity bonuses
When it comes to Items, here’s what Minsc will find useful:
-
Killer's Sweetheart. This very rare ring will allow Minsc to get a critical attack roll once per long rest on the next attack after he defeats an enemy.
-
Legacy of the Masters
This very rare glove grants the wearer +2 to attack roll and damage rolls. It also gives a +1 to Strength saving throws.
-
Sharpened Snare Cuirass. This very rare armor adds the Dexterity modifier to the armor class. This armor will generally help Minsc ensnare enemies a lot more effectively. It also doesn’t have a disadvantage on Stealth ability checks.
-
The Blood of Lathander. This legendary mace can dish out 1d6+3 damage in addition to the Strength modifier. It causes bludgeoning damage. It also grants Lathander’s blessing, Lathander’s light and sunbeam.
-
Belm. A very rare Scimitars that will make use of Minsc’s high Dexterity. It can dish out 1d6 + 2 in addition to the Dexterity modifier damage.
Baldur's Gate 3
- Released
- August 3, 2023
WHERE TO PLAY
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
- Cross Save
- Full cross-platform progression.
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Steam Deck Compatibility
- Verified
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- X|S Optimized
- yes
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
- OpenCritic Rating
- Mighty
