If you're an old lover of the Baldur's Gate franchise, you must have been waiting with bated breath to recruit the legendary Minsc (Stone Lord) and his trusty hamster, Boo, into your party. You will get a chance to recruit him in Act 3 during Aid the Underlake quest where you have to choose either side with Stone Lord or Guild in BG3. If you have a mind to add him to your party, here's how to do that.
When to Find Minsc in Baldur's Gate 3
First off, I’ve got to give you a bit of a heads-up. You won't get a chance to recruit Minsc until you reach Act 3 of the game. It’s a long wait, but I promise it's worth it! In the meantime, you’ve got some prep work to do.
Specifically, you need to keep another character, Jaheira, alive in Act 2. This tough-as-nails Fighter/Druid has been around the block and is essential for Minsc's recruitment later on. So keep her safe – she’s your key to unlocking the hamster-wielding powerhouse.
Baldur's Gate 3 Act 3: High Harper Quest
Once you have made it into Act 3, Jaheira's High Harper quest will trigger. Head over to Danthelon's Dancing Axe in Wyrm’s Crossing. The basement here is crawling with Harpers, but you’ll need a key to get in. No worries, just have a little chat with Danthelon, and he’ll hand it over.
After sorting things out in the basement, Jaheira will suggest finding more info. Your next lead takes you to Nine-Fingers Keene at the Guildhall. If you haven’t been to the Guildhall before, it's located in the sewers under the Basilisk Gate Waypoint. There are multiple entrances to these sewers, including a sneaky beach route if you fancy a detour to help some Guild members out.
If you want to meet Mol, here’s your chance to kill two birds with one stone because she is also in the Guildhall. Talk to Keene, and she’ll drop a bombshell – Minsc is alive but caught up with the Absolute Cult, who is making a royal mess of things in the city.
How to Find Stone Lord Minsc in BG3
Before you rush off, have a chat with the other folks in the Guildhall. Two halflings hanging around outside will gossip about a "Stone Lord," which turns out to be Minsc’s followers. If you turn on the charm (or maybe just eavesdrop a little), they’ll spill the beans: Stone Lord is heading to the Counting House.
So, go to the house after him, and once inside, make your way to one of the tellers and strike up a conversation. They’ll mention someone armed has just entered the vault. Get them on your side, and they'll let you into the vault without causing a scene. If not, well, let’s just say things might get a little messy.
Inside the vault, you'll face a puzzle. The solution can be found in the Head Clerk’s office on the top floor of the bank. Be prepared, though – it's guarded. Once you crack the puzzle, the vault door swings open, and a cutscene kicks off. Afterward, prepare for a brawl. Check the vault for clues about Minsc’s whereabouts, and a successful Perception check will point you toward the sewers.
Into the Sewers: The Final Push
Head north from the Sewer Waypoint, but make sure you’ve had a good rest first – there’s more fighting ahead. Must remember to activate Non-lethal combat because you are here to recruit the Minsc not to kill him. You’ll need to mess with some water pressure and temperature valves to solve the riddle to access the Abandoned Cistern where the real battle takes place.
How to Recruit Stone Lord Minsc in BG3
Once the fighting starts, focus on taking down the Zhentarim first, or she’ll vanish with a bunch of the bank’s gold. After knocking out Minsc and defeating the rest of the enemies, Jaheira in Baldur's Gate 3 steps in, urging the Emperor to extend his protection to Minsc. If the Emperor resists, pick the dialogue option that pushes for Minsc’s protection. The Emperor will argue that Minsc is a liability, but stand firm and support Jaheira. Eventually, the Emperor will relent and agree.
With the Emperor’s protection secured, the tension will finally ease, and Stone Lord will engage you in some classic Baldur's Gate banter. At this point, your dialogue choices won’t impact Minsc joining your team, so feel free to have some fun with it.
After the conversation, Minsc will start smashing walls – classic Minsc – to find Boo, his big space hamster who was captured by the Absolute. And just like that, you’ve got the option to bring Minsc (and Boo, of course!) into your party. If you decide you don’t want him, he will be gone from the spot. But seriously, who wouldn’t want a ranger with a hamster sidekick?