Hirelings BG3: The Ultimate Long-Form Guide to Hirelings in Baldur’s Gate 3

Table of Contents

Key Takeaways

Hirelings BG3 are customizable NPC adventurers that fill missing combat or utility roles.
They cost 100 gold, scale to your party level, and can be respecced into any class.
Unlike companions, hirelings lack dialogue, quests, and romance — making them pure mechanical allies.
They are best used for solo runs, tactical min-maxing, and covering class gaps.
Properly geared and built, hirelings can make boss battles, trap-heavy dungeons, and exploration much easier.

Introduction: Why Hirelings Are Overlooked But Powerful

When most players think of Baldur’s Gate 3, they picture the banter of companions like Astarion or Shadowheart, the romance arcs, or the branching storylines. Yet hidden within your camp lies one of the most underrated features: hirelings.

At first glance, hirelings might feel like filler—silent mercenaries who exist only to swing a sword or cast a spell. But for players who value flexibility, tactical advantage, or experimentation, hirelings can be just as important as your companions.

In this expanded guide, we’ll cover everything about hirelings in BG3—from basics to advanced strategies—so you can use them to unlock the full potential of your adventure.

What Are Hirelings in BG3?

Hirelings are adventurers recruited through Withers once he joins your camp. They are:

Mercenaries for hire – 100 gold per hireling.
Customizable – assign any class or subclass.
Scalable – they start at your party’s level.
Utility-driven – perfect for covering skill or combat gaps.
Non-narrative – no personal quests, dialogue, or romance.

Essentially, hirelings are mechanical problem solvers—the tools you bring in when story companions don’t fit your tactical needs.

Unlocking Hirelings Step-by-Step

Before hirelings become available, you must meet Withers:

Enter the Dank Crypt in Act 1 (near Overgrown Ruins).
Defeat the undead and explore the crypt puzzle.
Awaken Withers, who moves to your camp.
Speak to him at camp—he offers resurrection, respect, and hireling recruitment.

From then on, you can hire adventurers whenever you rest at camp.

Hirelings vs. Companions: Which Is Better?

While both join your party, hirelings and companions serve very different roles.

Story	Rich backstories, approval, romance	Silent, no quests
Cost	Free	100 gold
Flexibility	Limited by lore class	Fully customizable
Immersion	High (dialogue, cutscenes)	Low
Gameplay Utility	Balanced but fixed	Infinite flexibility

Verdict: Companions enrich the narrative. Hirelings maximize your tactical control. Using both is the optimal way to play.

Hirelings by Name & Visual Identity

There are twelve hirelings in total, each with unique looks and race backgrounds. Some standouts:

Eldra Luthrinn (Dwarf Cleric): A solid healer/tank.
Ver’yll Wenkiir (Drow Warlock): A dark, stylish spellcaster.
Brinna Brightsong (Halfling Bard): Great for buff-heavy support.
Andrik Albrook (Human Fighter): A straightforward frontline tank.

Though mechanically identical, their appearances give them personality if you like to roleplay.

Best Hireling Builds for Different Roles

Hirelings let you create specialized allies to fill exact gaps.

Cleric Healer Hireling

Subclass: Life Domain.
Why: Crucial for healing-heavy parties.
Best Spells: Healing Word, Cure Wounds, Bless.

Fighter Tank Hireling

Subclass: Battle Master.
Why: Excellent at soaking damage.
Best Abilities: Action Surge, Menacing Attack.

Rogue Utility Hireling

Subclass: Thief.
Why: Handles locks, traps, and stealth.
Best Skills: Sleight of Hand, Stealth.

Sorcerer/Warlock Damage Hireling

Subclass: Draconic Sorcerer or Fiend Warlock.
Why: High burst damage.
Best Spells: Fireball, Eldritch Blast.

Bard Hybrid Hireling

Subclass: College of Lore.
Why: Buffs, utility, and skills.
Best Abilities: Cutting Words, Bardic Inspiration.

Tactical Role Breakdown

Hirelings are most effective when you assign them clear tactical purposes.

Frontline Anchor: Fighter, Paladin, or Barbarian hirelings to protect casters.
Healer & Buffer: Clerics or Bards to keep allies alive.
Trap Specialist: Rogues for dungeons with locks and traps.
Damage Dealer: Sorcerers, Warlocks, or Rangers for boss fights.
Support Caster: Wizards for crowd control, debuffs, and AoE.

Having one hireling in each role ensures party balance.

Hirelings and Party Synergy

Hirelings shine when paired with companions:

Astarion + Rogue Hireling: Double up on traps/locks for treasure-heavy runs.
Shadowheart + Cleric Hireling: Stack heals and radiant damage in Act 2.
Lae’zel + Fighter Hireling: Create a brutal frontline wall.
Gale/Wyll + Sorcerer Hireling: Devastating caster synergy.

This allows you to keep story companions for narrative while still achieving tactical depth.

Exploration & Utility Roles

Hirelings aren’t just for combat. They excel at exploration support:

Rogue Hirelings: Handle traps, locks, and stealth scouting.
Bard Hirelings: Use skill versatility to pass dialogue and ability checks.
Druid Hirelings: Wild Shape for utility and exploration advantages.

This makes them valuable beyond battle.

Act-by-Act Importance of Hirelings

Act 1

Early-game survival boost.
Great if you lack healing or trap removal.

Act 2

Essential against the Shadow Curse.
Clerics and paladins dominate here.

Act 3

Boss fights demand specialized builds.
Sorcerers and tanks become crucial.

How to Gear Hirelings Efficiently

Hirelings start poorly equipped. To maximize them:

Upgrade early: Replace starter armor/weapons fast.
Pass down gear: Give them old companion items.
Use consumables: Potions, scrolls, thieves’ tools.
Specialize: Build gear to match the hireling’s role.

Hirelings and Respec: Unlimited Flexibility

The real power of hirelings is to respect freedom. Withers allows you to:

Switch classes/subclasses anytime.
Create dungeon-specific builds.
Prepare specialized late-game strategies.

Hirelings can adapt to any challenge, unlike companions tied to story classes.

Advanced Strategies for Hirelings

Hirelings open the door to creative setups:

All-Cleric Team: Endless healing and buffs.
Summoner Army: Necromancer + hireling spellcasters.
Trap Master: One rogue hireling trivializes trap-filled dungeons.
Dual Caster Duo: Sorcerer + Wizard hirelings for destructive AoE.

For min-maxers, hirelings are a sandbox of power.

Hirelings in Multiplayer

In co-op, hirelings solve balance issues:

Missing a healer? Add a cleric hireling.
Small party size? Fill gaps with hirelings.
Friends want only story companions? Let hirelings cover missing roles.

They’re the glue that keeps co-op parties functional.

Cost of Hirelings: Are They Worth It?

At 100 gold each, hirelings may feel expensive in Act 1. But:

They can prevent costly wipes.
Rogues unlock loot worth more than their fee.
Clerics save gold on consumables.

Hirelings pay for themselves quickly.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Leaving hirelings in starter gear.
Hiring too many in Act 1 when gold is tight.
Dismissing instead of respecting.
Forgetting that they can handle utility roles.

Use them smartly for maximum value.

Limitations of Hirelings

No dialogue, approval, or romance.
Silent in camp scenes.
Flat compared to companions.
Purely mechanical allies.

They are best seen as tools, not personalities.

Community Opinions

Pro-hireling players: Love tactical flexibility.
Anti-hireling players: Miss immersion and story.
Balanced approach: Mix companions for story + hirelings for gameplay.

Mods & Hirelings

The BG3 modding community has expanded hiring utility:

Expanded Roster Mods: Add more hireling slots.
Visual Customization Mods: Change their appearances.
Story Integration Mods: Give hirelings dialogue options.

Mods allow hirelings to become even more valuable.

D&D Legacy of Hirelings

Hirelings originate from early Dungeons & Dragons campaigns:

Carried supplies, guarded camps, or filled missing combat roles.
BG3 modernizes them into flexible, customizable adventurers.
They remain true to D&D roots as silent but essential allies.

Extended FAQ

Q1: Do hirelings leave permanently if dismissed?
No, you can rehire them through Withers.

Q2: Do hirelings affect story outcomes?
No, only companions influence narrative.

Q3: Can hirelings learn companion-specific dialogue?
No, they are silent outside combat.

Q4: Are hirelings viable for full playthroughs?
Yes, some players run all-hireling parties for challenge runs.

Q5: Can hirelings benefit from items like soul coins?
Yes, mechanically, they can equip anything like companions.

Conclusion: Why Hirelings Are Worth Using

Hirelings may lack story depth, but their mechanical power is undeniable. They let you:

Build balanced parties.
Experiment with creative builds.
Survive difficult encounters.
Adapt freely with respect.

If you want the richest story, focus on companions. But if you want maximum control and tactical depth, hirelings are your best friends in BG3.

Final Verdict: Hirelings are one of Baldur’s Gate 3’s most underrated tools — and one of the smartest investments you can make

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