Baldur’s Gate 3 is all about choice. Whether you’re fighting enemies or deepening your relationships with companions, Companion Approval is one of the most important mechanics in the game. And it refers to how your party members feel about you based on your actions and decisions.
Why this matter? Because approval affects your relationships and it can open up unique dialogues, potential romance, and even affect the game’s story. A high-rated approval can make a partner more loyal, while a low approval can push them away or even turn them against you.
So, how do you check your companion Baldur’s Gate 3 approval? In this guide, we’ll go over the different ways to track it, as well as tips on how to increase your standing with your favorite characters.
What is Companion Approval?
Your companions in Baldur’s Gate 3 aren’t just inanimate NPCs with their own personalities and beliefs. The Companion Approval system indicates how much they like or dislike your character based on the choices you make throughout the game.
Every decision you make, whether in a conversation, a fight, or a quest, can trigger a notification of approval or disapproval. Colleagues react differently depending on their values. For example:
- Lae’zel respects strength and decisiveness, so she approves of aggressive choices.
- Shadowheart prefers subtlety and pragmatism, so she may disapprove of reckless actions.
- Gale values intelligence and diplomacy, favoring choices that align with wisdom and curiosity.
Approval isn’t just about being nice or meaningful, it’s about understanding what each companion means. Building a high approval can unlock special storylines, romance options, and deeper character development, while low approval can lead to conflict or a companion leaving your party.
How To Check baldur’s gate 3 Companion Approval
To check a partner’s approval and ensure it is not too low, the player should do the following:
First, the player will need to open the Party View menu. If on PlayStation 5, the player will need to click the R2 button, and if on PC, use the Tab button. Once there, the player will need to navigate to the Character Sheet tab. Then, go to the Detailed View.
When done, scroll down until you find the approval section. The approval section does not have numbers. Rather, it simply tells you how the character feels about the player. For example, if the character has a lot of dislike for the player and nothing against him, the character will be neutral.
Why Approval Matters?
Companion approval in Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t just for fun; it has a huge impact on your gameplay, relationships, and even the story. Whether your goal is romance or loyalty, your choices determine how your companions view you.
1. Unlock special dialogues and story paths.
High approval unlocks special dialogue, deep backstory revelations, and unique costuming. Some companions may even share secrets or personal struggles they would rather not reveal.
2. Romance options
If you want to spread romance in BG3? You will first need to gain high approval from your chosen companion. Each character has different preferences and once their approval reaches a certain level, romantic scenes and interactions will become available, especially during camp scenes.
3. Loyalty and party stability
Keeping approval high makes your companions more loyal and willing to support your choices. On the flip side, low approval might lead to arguments, betrayals, or even companions leaving your party entirely. Some might even turn against you in key moments!
4. Influence important story decisions.
High-approval teammates can support you in big decisions, while low-approval teammates can challenge your choices or refuse to help out altogether. This can affect the fate of entire story arcs, making approval management a key strategic element of the game.
5. Potential Combat Consequences
In extreme cases, if a partner’s approval drops too low, they may abandon you or fight against you. Keeping track of approval ensures you don’t lose valuable allies when you need them most.
