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How to Keep Wyll and Karlach in Baldur’s Gate 3: A Comprehensive Guide

Keeping both Wyll and Karlach in your Baldur’s Gate 3 party involves navigating some tricky choices, particularly regarding the Emerald Grove and Wyll’s pact with Mizora. The core strategy revolves around making choices that don’t directly pit them against each other or force one to leave the party. Specifically, avoid a direct assault on the Emerald Grove. Side with the Tieflings and Druids, or, even more cleverly, delay making a definitive choice altogether, allowing you to recruit both. Maintain high approval with both characters by making choices that align with their values: compassion and justice for Karlach, and helping the innocent for Wyll. Finally, actively pursue their personal quests, which lead to crucial decisions about Wyll’s pact and Karlach’s engine, ultimately determining their fates. It’s a balancing act, but with the right approach, you can secure these powerful and engaging companions for your entire playthrough.

Navigating the Early Game: The Emerald Grove Dilemma

The initial conflict between Wyll’s mission to hunt Karlach and the fate of the Emerald Grove is the biggest hurdle. Here’s how to overcome it:

Recruit Both First: Prioritize recruiting both Wyll and Karlach before making a final decision about the Emerald Grove. Wyll can be found at the Grove itself, while Karlach is near the Risen Road. Delaying the choice about the Grove is key.
Avoid Direct Assault: The most crucial thing is to avoid directly attacking the Emerald Grove. This will immediately cause both Wyll and Karlach to leave the party (or never join in the first place).
The Clever Delay: Consider using dialogue options and strategic decisions to stall the Grove vs. Goblin questline. This allows you to explore other areas, level up, and complete other quests while keeping both companions in your party.
Resolving the Conflict (Peacefully): If you choose to defend the Emerald Grove against the goblins, both Wyll and Karlach will approve. This is the most straightforward way to keep them. You can also find evidence to expose Kagha.

Maintaining Approval and Loyalty

Once you have both companions, maintaining their approval is essential:

Compassion for Karlach: Karlach values kindness, justice, and protecting the innocent. Support the Tieflings, help those in need, and stand against oppression. She appreciates when you use your power to help those who can’t protect themselves.
Justice for Wyll: Wyll is driven by a strong sense of justice and a desire to protect the weak. Support the common folk, stand against tyranny, and make choices that prioritize the greater good.
Avoid Contradictory Actions: Be mindful of your choices. Actions that benefit one companion might displease the other. Try to find solutions that align with both their values, or be prepared to accept a slight disapproval hit.

Wyll’s Pact and Karlach’s Engine: The Long Game

Their personal quests are crucial for shaping their ultimate fates:

Wyll’s Pact: Breaking Wyll’s pact with Mizora requires careful planning. Locate Wyll’s father, Duke Ravengard, without Mizora’s help (or simply know his location in the Iron Throne). Completing the quest to save him allows you to break the pact.
Saving Karlach: Karlach’s infernal engine needs constant attention. Finding Dammon in Act 1 and later in Act 2 is vital to stabilizing her condition. While a complete “fix” might not be possible, you can extend her life and give her a meaningful ending.
Ending Together: To get Karlach and Wyll’s ending, make sure they both approve of your choices and stay in your party.

Exploiting Loophole (Use with Caution)

The “Revive” Method: Some players have reported a loophole: recruiting both Wyll and Karlach, killing them in camp (after recruiting them) and reviving them after raiding the Emerald Grove. Supposedly they will ask what happened in the grove and then remain in the party when all is said and done. Test at your own risk!

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you really save Karlach from her engine?

Yes. There is definitely a way to save Karlach. There might not be a way to repair her heart entirely, but it is possible for her to live past the end credits, at least. It involves finding Dammon and completing her personal quest.

2. Can you keep Wyll from becoming a devil?

Yes, it’s possible to prevent Wyll’s full transformation. It involves breaking his pact with Mizora and saving his father, Duke Ravengard.

3. What happens if Wyll kills Karlach?

If Wyll kills Karlach (which he might attempt early in the game), he receives the Infernal Robe as a reward from Mizora. However, you permanently lose Karlach as a companion.

4. Can you recruit both Wyll and Karlach?

Absolutely! The key is to recruit them before committing to a definitive action regarding the Emerald Grove. Delay the Grove questline to get both on board.

5. What reward does Wyll get for killing Karlach?

Wyll receives the Infernal Robe from Mizora for killing Karlach. This is a powerful item but comes at the cost of losing a valuable companion.

6. Can you break Wyll’s pact and save his father?

Yes! By finding Duke Ravengard (Wyll’s father) without Mizora’s help (or saving him from the Iron Throne), you can break the pact without sacrificing his life. This requires careful exploration and quest completion.

7. Will Karlach leave if you raid the Grove?

Yes, Karlach will leave (and Wyll, too) if you raid the Emerald Grove. They both strongly disapprove of harming innocent refugees.

8. How do you keep Wyll and Karlach in BG3 using a loophole?

One reported loophole involves recruiting both, killing them in camp after recruiting, and then reviving them after resolving the Grove situation. This supposedly tricks the game into allowing them to stay. However, this is not guaranteed and may be patched.

9. Why won’t Karlach join me?

Ensure you have an available slot in your party. If your party is full, she’ll act as an AI-controlled NPC during combat but won’t formally join your group.

10. Can you get Karlach without talking to Wyll?

Yes, you can stumble upon Karlach in the Risen Road area without first speaking to Wyll at the Emerald Grove. Explore thoroughly!

11. Can you fail to recruit Karlach?

Yes, you can fail to recruit her by either killing her yourself or progressing the story in a way that makes her hostile. Also, waiting too long to recruit her can lead to her death.

12. Can you still find Karlach after Act 1?

No, you cannot find Karlach after Act 1, as it is critical that you recruit her during this act to ensure you are able to proceed with her quest.

13. Is Karlach worth it?

Absolutely! She’s a powerful fighter, a compassionate soul, and has a compelling personal story. She’s a valuable addition to any party. The insights she provides into the moral dilemmas presented in the game are well worth the investment of time and energy.

14. Can you get the Infernal Robe without killing Karlach?

It is possible to get the Infernal Robe without killing Karlach. It involves using a combination of choices and exploiting a specific outcome in Wyll’s questline related to Mizora, but this method might be patched in future updates.

15. Should you let Wyll hunt Mizora?

No, letting Mizora die breaks Wyll’s pact, but at the expense of Wyll leaving your party. Save Mizora and make sure Wyll breaks the pact in an alternative way to keep him around.

Baldur’s Gate 3 offers complex choices and rewarding character development. Successfully keeping Wyll and Karlach in your party is a testament to strategic decision-making and understanding the characters’ motivations. For more on learning through games and exploring complex narratives, be sure to visit the Games Learning Society at GamesLearningSociety.org.

How do you keep Wyll and Karlach?