What is a Guardian in Baldur's Gate 3?

After spending a good hour or more making the perfect character in Larian's new RPG, you may have been shocked to find that the game prompts you to make another immediately after—a Guardian. But what is a Guardian in Baldur's Gate 3? The game certainly doesn't tell you. But we will. As there's a minor reason why it doesn't, keep reading only if you're ok with some minor spoilers.

If you want to stop reading before we get to the proper explanation, just know that the Guardian you design will become an important character. A companion to your own. If you'll let it, at least. It won't be part of your first team of survivors, but design it well. It's not a throwaway. You don't want to regret your decision to rush your Guardian's design when you might very well be stuck with it too late into the game to change.

What is a Guardian in Baldur's Gate 3?

A Guardian in Baldur's Gate 3 is a secondary character. One that you'll meet, but only eventually. And sporadically.

If you rushed that part of the process after spending too long making your player character, you might have settled on assuming the first character you come across in your run, who joins your party and ushered you to the helm of the Mind Flayer ship, to be your chosen Guardian.

Speaking from experience, it can happen. A shoddy attention span can play havok with a game like this. But she isn't your guardian. And you'll have to get off that ship if you're to meet them.

To meet your Guardian in Baldur's Gate 3, you'll need to meet a few conditions that haven't been entirely confirmed just yet. They seem to stem from using the powers enabled by the "tadpole" living in your character's skull. If you skipped that cutscene, don't worry. It's Mind Flayer stuff.

Simply put, the more dialogue options involving the tadpole you choose throughout the game, the more Guardian cutscenes you'll trigger. That seems to be how it works, at least.

To trigger Guardian cutscenes, just head back to camp, do you thing, and choose the Long Rest option. Learn how to get more Camp Supplies here if you can't. If the conditions have been met, snoozing by the campfire will see your Guardian appear before you, starting some cutscenes you might otherwise miss.

For more on Baldur's Gate 3, check out how to use the forge first. We can show you how to pickpocket as well, and how to use rope if that particular item isn't proving much use to you just yet. And for some community goodness, early access players have been reminiscing about their favourite pre-launch experiences with the game.