All Baldur’s Gate 3 Origin characters explained: Dark Urge, Astarion, Shadowheart & more

Origin characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 add an interesting dynamic to the game, each with unique advantages. Here’s what each of these characters brings to the table.

While the Dungeons and Dragons-inspired game provides extensive options for character creation, including class and race selection, using a premade Origin character can be appealing for some.

Thankfully, Origin characters serve that exact purpose, and they provide unique benefits to your Baldur’s Gate 3 experience if you decide to use them such as additional quests and lore. So, here’s everything you need to know about Origin characters in the game.

What are Origin characters in Baldur’s Gate 3?

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You can even play as the vampire Astarion.

Origin characters are pre-designed builds you can choose when you’re in character creation. Instead of making one from scratch, you simply step into the shoes of these Origin characters and begin, using their stats, backstories, quests, motivations, and more.

What makes Origin characters so wonderful is that you get exclusive quests, and are able to learn more about that character’s backstory, making it a perfect way to understand those companions a little better.

On top of this, if your Origin character is recruited as a companion, their previous experiences will influence their opinion of your exploits and your relationship with said companions.

All Baldur’s Gate 3 Origin characters

There are seven Origin characters to choose from. If not selected, all can become Companions except the Dark Urge.

We’ve listed all the companions and their classes below:

• Astarion: A High-Elf Rogue with a Charlatan background. He’s good at deception, sleight of hand, stealth, acrobatics, perception, performance, and persuasion.
• Lae’zel: A Githyanki Fighter with a Soldier background. She is good at athletics, acrobatics, survival, and intimidation. Lae’zel can handle light, medium and heavy armor without trouble.
• Gale: A Human Wizard with a Sage background. He’s good at Arcana history, investigation, insight, and persuasion.
• Shadowheart: A High-Elf Cleric with an Acolyte background and Trickery subclass. She’s good at history, insight, medicine and religion.
• Wyll: A Human Warlock with a Folk Hero background and the Fiend subclass. He’s good at animal handling, arcana, intimidation, persuasion and survival.
• Karlach: A Zariel Tiefling Barbarian with an Outlander background. She’s good at athletics, intimidation, perception and survival.
• The Dark Urge: This is the player’s choice. You can choose it to be whatever race, subrace, class or subclass you want, and even their look is customizable. However, the background will always be Haunted One, which makes them good at intimidation and medicine.

Those are all the Origin characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 and what they are all about. You can take a look at the voice cast for Baldur’s Gate 3 to see where you’ve heard them before. You can also check out the fastest ways to get XP & level up in Baldur’s Gate 3.