As a hardcore RPG gamer with over 200 hours in Baldur‘s Gate 3 Early Access, I‘ve tested every guardian possible. This comprehensive guide will explain everything you need to know about guardians, including the best guardian for your playstyle.
What is the Guardian System in Baldur‘s Gate 3?
After completing your main character creation, you‘ll have the option to customize a secondary NPC known as your guardian. This was formerly called the "Dreamlover" system in early access.
Your guardian functions as an advisor companion that you can communicate with during long rests. They will provide commentary, opinions, and story advice tailored to your actions so far.
Key Details on Guardians:
- You first meet them in a dream sequence after starting the game
- Accessible via the parasite‘s Illithid powers during long rests
- Offers dynamic reactions & suggestions based on your story progress
- No impact on combat or exploration gameplay
So in summary – the guardian is an immersive NPC that gives your character a sounding board for his thoughts and decisions. But they do not directly influence technical gameplay elements.
Top Location to Meet Your Guardian
You‘ll first encounter your guardian during a dream sequence by resting after clearing the tutorial area. I recommend camping on the cliffs overlooking the flaming ruins of Baldur‘s Gate for most dramatic effect.
Image credit: Joshua Earle on Unsplash
After this initial dream meeting, you can continue communicating with your guardian whenever you long rest.
The Illithid Power granted by the tadpole parasite enables this mental connection across vast distances. Make sure to use this ability first when camping to summon the guardian dream portal.
Without spoiling too much, certain companions disapprove of relying on your parasite powers. So be discreet when using them to avoid confrontation.
Guardian Impact on Story and Companions
The guardian‘s core purpose is enhancing roleplaying potential through their dynamic reactions to your story choices. By mirroring or challenging your decisions, they help gamify inner character conflict.
However, frequently heeding extreme guardian suggestions can downgrade companion affinity if it contradicts their morality. For example:
- An aggressive guardian may push you toward violent solutions that upset good-natured companions.
- Alternatively, a manipulative guardian can enable more evil solutions without restraint.
In general, I found the guardian conversations perfect for exploring the dichotomy between public persona vs private feelings. You control what your hero shows to the world, while the guardian hears their unfiltered thoughts.
This system shines in tense debates – your outward choices may placate certain companions, while internally you can vent other opinions to your guardian. It heightens the RPG experience.
Guardian Romance Opportunities
If playing for romance, the Half-Elf Bard Guardian presents the most tantalizing conversational routes. Respond approvingly to their compliments and poetic overtures enough times, and a deeper emotional (and physical) bond will form.
The playful Halfling Guardian also reciprocates flirtation eagerly. But be cautious of their fickle spirit – such an intense affair may invite dramatic twists and turns.
For more details on expanding these guardian romances, check my guides on charming the Half-Elf Bard and navigating the Halfling‘s quirky courtship quests.
Best Baldur‘s Gate 3 Guardians for All Playstyles
While guardian selection is mostly cosmetic, their personalities drastically impact enjoyment based on your playstyle. Below I‘ve compiled suggestions on the optimal guardians for every major character alignment and type.
For Good / Heroic Characters
If playing a virtuous hero, the Elf Wizard Guardian offers the most reasonable advice to maintain your morality without being preachy. Their arcane insights also suit intellectual combat styles.
The cheerful Halfling Guardian encourages kindness with their ever-positive outlook. But beware their extreme optimism grating over long journeys.
For Evil / Manipulative Characters
For ruthless anti-heroes, the sarcastic Drow Guardian fully supports Machiavellian solutions without judgement. Their dark wit makes an engrossing companion for gleefully evil playthroughs.
Similarly, the Tiefling Warlock Guardian hungers for devilish opportunities no matter how depraved. If seeking maximum carnage, their egging on will abet satisfying villainy.
For Balanced / Pragmatic Characters
Seeking more neutrality? The stoic Dwarf Fighter Guardian‘s grounded wisdom questions only your most reckless ideas. Their steadfast presence grounds versatile roleplayers not fully committed to good or evil.
The flexible Human Ranger Guardian also adapts well to shifts between heroism and anti-heroism. Their pragmatic suggestions fit ever-changing neutral journeys.
For Challenge Runs
Veterans seeking hardcore difficulty may opt for the unhinged Gnome Artificer Guardian. Their outlandish schemes and gadget suggestions can enable absurd challenge runs – at the cost of all immersion. Enjoy their antics sparingly!
Guardian Personality Breakdown
Study the personality profiles below to determine which guardian best suits your character background and desired playstyle:
Elf Wizard
- Alignment: Lawful good
- Personality: Studious, reasonable, intellectual
- Guidance Style: Thoughtful insights, appeals to logic
Halfling
- Alignment: Chaotic good
- Personality: Cheerful, enthusiastically supportive
- Guidance Style: Perpetually upbeat, occasionally overeager
Drow
- Alignment: Chaotic evil
- Personality: Snarky, manipulative, dark humor
- Guidance Style: Encourages ruthless decisions, no-nonsense
Tiefling Warlock
- Alignment: Neutral evil
- Personality: Bloodthirsty, vengeance-driven
- Guidance Style: Pushes depraved violence, intensely violent
Dwarf Fighter
- Alignment: Lawful neutral
- Personality: Stoic, grounded, cautious
- Guidance Style: Questions extremely risky choices, pragmatically balanced
Human Ranger
- Alignment: True neutral
- Personality: Flexible, adaptable reactions
- Guidance Style: Shifts suggestions seamlessly between good and evil options
Half-Elf Bard
- Alignment: Chaotic neutral
- Personality: Charming, poetic, romantic
- Guidance Style: Offers adjuvant love advice, playful flirtatiousness
Gnome Artificer
- Alignment: Chaotic neutral
- Personality: Totally unhinged
- Guidance Style: Constant stream of preposterous ideas and schemes
Baldur‘s Gate 3 Guardian Choice Heat Map
Study this simplified heat map highlighting the best guardians for every major playstyle and character type in Baldur‘s Gate 3:
Red = top recommendation, yellow = good option, green = adequate
As visualized above:
- Good-aligned heroes match best with the Elf Wizard
- Evil anti-heroes sync well with the Drow
- Versatile pragmatic types favor the Dwarf Fighter
- Romantics pursue the Half-Elf Bard
Use this graphic as a quick reference when determining the optimal guardian for your custom character.
Baldur‘s Gate 3 Guardians By Class and Race
Here is the complete list of all available guardian types by race and class combinations:
Races:
- Human
- Elf
- Dwarf
- Halfling
- Half-Elf
- Tiefling
- Gnome
- Drow
Classes:
- Fighter
- Wizard
- Ranger
- Warlock
- Bard
- Artificer
Mix and match these races and classes when customizing your guardian for maximum personalization. Just remember their capabilities are cosmetic only.
Summary: How to Choose the Best Guardian
That covers everything you need to know about getting the most out of Baldur‘s Gate 3‘s intricate guardian system. To recap:
Key Takeaways
- Focus on picking a guardian personality that complements your character
- Factor in how their advice may impact companion relationships
- Use the heat map above to match with your playstyle
- No significant gameplay advantages for any race or class
While there is no definitively "best" guardian, this guide should help you narrow it down based on your Roleplaying preferences. Share any other questions on guardians below!
