Baldur’s Gate 3 Minthara romance: how to fool around with the drow paladin in BG3

Having the option to romance virtually every character that moves is one of the many aspects of Baldur’s Gate 3 that gives you unlimited freedom to roleplay however you want. There are really tons of romanceable NPCs, and while the origin characters are the obvious options, some romances require you to go out of your way and do some pretty bad things just to get laid.

Minthara, the drow paladin you meet at the Goblin Camp in BG3’s Act 1, is one such romance option, which literally requires you to commit genocide to unlock a spicy scene. Here’s everything you need to know about romancing Minthara in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Looking for more relationship advice? Check out our Shadowheart romance tips to improve your prospects with the half-elf cleric, or if bad girls are your thing, we have a Lae’zel romance guide, too. Polyamory in BG3 is not taboo, but there are some caveats you need to be aware of.

Where to find Minthara in Baldur’s Gate 3

You will find Minthara in the Shattered Sanctum within the Goblin Camp in Act 1. She is one of the three goblin leaders you need to kill to help the people at Emerald Grove and rescue Halsin. Minthara’s exact map coordinates are X:333, Y:46.

To be able to romance Minthara, you need to avoid fighting the goblins at the camp, so you will have to enter by convincing the guards to let you in. This is generally the best way to approach the Goblin Camp anyway, as it allows you to move freely and talk to all characters and merchants you will find there.

It is crucial that you go to Minthara before trying to rescue Halsin, as freeing the druid and having him follow you will make all goblins and their leaders hostile. So, you can either not go for Halsin at all or just tell him to go his own way once you free him. It is OK to rescue Volo, but you should use stealth and quietly take out his goblin guard, so you don’t alert everyone else at the camp.

Once you’re inside the Goblin Camp, go straight down the big hallway and past the hall where another camp leader, High Priestess Gut, is located. Then take the stairs to the right and immediately turn right to find Nightwarden Minthara behind a desk, reprimanding a goblin.

How to romance Minthara in Baldur’s Gate 3

When you meet Minthara at the Shattered Sanctum, she is planning an attack on the tieflings at Emerald Grove, but she is unaware of their exact location yet. To romance her, you need to agree to join her hunt and show respect to the Absolute she feverishly worships. Tell about the grove she is seeking and offer help to kill its inhabitants. 

This will trigger the Raid the Emerald Grove quest. Perform a full rest at your camp and then travel to the Druid Grove entrance.

You will need to speak with Zevlor and convince him you’re still on his side. Then blow the war horn to invite Minthara and her goblins. You will still have a choice to open the grove gate and let Minthara in, or back off and protect the grove. Siding with Minthara will mean killing Zevlor and all tieflings, as well as all the druids, including Nettie, Rath, and Kagha in a series of fights at Emerald Grove.

If, for some reason, you’ve allowed the grove’s inhabitants to perish before meeting Minthara for the first time, upon arriving at the grove, you will just have to go straight to the Secluded Chamber and talk with Minthara there. 

She will thank you for slaughtering the tieflings and druids beforehand, and you’ll be celebrating the victory at your camp accompanied by all her goblin minions.

How to unlock the first love scene with Minthara in BG3

To trigger your love scene with Minthara, just go talk with her during the celebrations. You’ll have the option to opt out, but you need to choose “Yes. I’m yours, Minthara.” and then go to your bed to do the deed. You may get more than one love scene option, so you’ll have to pick a partner for the night. Choose Minthara to proceed. As always, you will have one last opt-out line before things get too spicy.

On the morrow after your steamy encounter, Minthara will try to kill you, so be prepared to either pass a persuasion check or have a big post-coital fight with her and all the goblins that are now in your camp.

If persuasion is successful, Minthara will remain friendly and will point you to the next step in your journey – going through the Underdark to reach Moonrise Towers. Having to fight the Nightwarden and her minions will of course result in her death.

What happens if you romance Minthara in Baldur’s Gate 3

Successfully romancing Minthara, apart from being morally objectionable, as you are essentially committing genocide against the tieflings and the druids at Emerald Grove, comes with significant consequences for your journey.

Siding with Minthara will earn the disapproval of Shadowheart and Gale. You will not be able to recruit Halsin to your party, even if you’ve rescued him from the Goblin Camp, and Wyll and Karlach will leave the party.

This is everything you need to know about romancing Minthara in Act 1 of Baldur’s Gate 3. You gain one companion and a saucy scene in exchange for losing at least three other companions and a dozen useful NPCs in the game. 

Minthara is a powerful ally, though, but if you don't get her on your side in Act 1, you'll still be able to meet her at Moonrise Towers in Act 2, provided that you didn't kill her at the Goblin Camp.

Now that you have all consequences outlined, it’s up to you to decide whether this bad romance is worth all the sacrifices.