Daria "Foxdari" Sedelnikova Minthara is a drow paladin, a follower of the Absolute cult, and the leader of the goblins in the camp. She is known for her ruthlessness and ambition. Players have the option to recruit this dark elf into their party or make her their enemy, depending on the choices they make. Minthara is a complex character in Baldur's Gate 3.
In this guide, we will provide a detailed overview of everything you need to know about Minthara: how to turn this villain into a companion, where to find her in the open world, and how to start a romance with her.
About the character
Image: steamcommunity / Minthara in BG3
- Race: Drow
- Class: Paladin
- Location: Shattered Sanctum in the Goblin Camp
- Starting Health: 11
- Equipment: Light Armor
- Skills: Athletics, History, Perception, Intimidation, Persuasion
- Minthara Voice Actor: Emma Gregory
Basic Character Stats:
| Strength | Dexterity | Constitution | Intelligence | Wisdom | Charisma |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 17 | 12 | 13 | 8 | 10 | 15 |
Minthara is a preset character in the game, which means players cannot create her from scratch. Her attributes cannot be modified at will. Larian Studios has predetermined her stats, taking into account her race, class, and other features. She is a fully developed character with characteristics defined by the developers.
Overview
Image: steamcommunity.com
- Appearance: Minthara has a stern facial expression and a piercing gaze. Like most drow, she has purplish-blue skin, red eyes, and pointed ears. Her silver hair is tied into a messy high bun, with loose strands framing her face. A black seal of House Baenre is visible on the left side of her neck. Her battle gear is detailed and sleek, while her everyday attire reflects her noble origins, featuring expensive black fabrics with intricate elven patterns.
- Personality: As a drow and a follower of the Absolute, Minthara is extremely hostile and cruel towards other beings, considering most as inferior forms of life. She particularly despises those who do not share her beliefs. She holds her own race in high regard. Her sense of superiority has been ingrained in her since childhood, as she was raised in an aristocratic family. She constantly seeks power and looks for ways to elevate her social status among her peers.
- Behavior: Minthara is observant and always studies those around her. She notices the bad moods of her companions and is even willing to help, but in her own harsh way. While her methods may be radical, she always finds justification for them. Minthara is against pointless cruelty, and her dark side emerges only when violence serves a purpose.
If you start a romance with Minthara, she will reveal a different side of herself. Deep down, she is insecure and constantly doubts herself. If she is freed from the influence of the Absolute, the elf will become less harsh and more restrained, directing all her anger toward the cult leaders.
Backstory before the game
Minthara was born into the noble House Baenre, one of the oldest houses in the underground city of Menzoberranzan. From childhood, she experienced the brutality of drow society, surviving two assassination attempts: one by an unknown assassin in her youth and another by her own mother after she came of age. Despite the cruelty and stress, she excelled in life, becoming a powerful matron of her house and a devout follower of Lolth.
Image: steamcommunity / Minthara in armor Baldur's Gate III
Minthara's life changed after an encounter with the preachers of the Absolute cult. Initially, she ordered them to be executed for heresy, but over time, curiosity got the better of her. Through necromancy, the dark elf discovered the location of the cult's base in Moonrise Towers and set out with her squad. Minthara anticipated an easy victory, but due to her pride and arrogance, she fell into a trap set by Ketheric Thorm and Orin the Red. She was captured.
In captivity, the elf was converted into a follower of the cult. After this, Minthara's worldview shifted, and she transformed from a proud priestess of Lolth into a fanatical adherent of the Absolute.
Image: steamcommunity / Minthara in a revealing costume
Thus, Minthara became one of the most devoted members of the cult, participating in brutal raids while Orin skillfully deceived her about the Absolute's grand purpose and mission. Players meet the elf as she searches for a powerful weapon for the Absolute in the Wilderness, aiming to prove her loyalty to her new deity.
Unique abilities
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
Charm  | Minthara has a tadpole in her head and doesn't shy away from using the power of the parasites. Charm is a passive illithid ability that allows her to charm an enemy. |
Favourable Beginnings | Another passive ability granted by the power of the tadpole applies the character's proficiency bonus to the first attack roll or ability check against a target. |
Psionic Backlash | A third passive illithid ability enables her to counterattack an enemy who uses a spell and is nearby. This counterattack deals psychic damage on a successful dice roll. |
Opportunity Attack | Additionally, she has an automatic attack against enemies. |
Racial traits
Minthara is a representative of the mysterious and dangerous race of dark elves in the world of Dungeons & Dragons, known as drow. For centuries, they have lived deep underground, surrounded by darkness and danger. Let us know in the comments if you've noticed that all the drow in the game have light-colored hair!
Like all drow, Minthara possesses Superior Darkvision, which allows her to see in complete darkness and remain hidden in the shadows. The drow are known for their cruelty and cunning, so Minthara is skilled with Drow Weapon Training: rapiers, short swords, and hand crossbows. In addition, she has the Fey Ancestry ability, which grants her immunity to sleep spells and advantage against being charmed by enemies.
Class Features
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
Divine Smite | Minthara has an ability that allows her to deal extra Radiant damage to an enemy, consuming one of her paladin spell slots. If she misses the attack, the spell slot is not expended. |
Inquisitor's Might | Minthara is an Oath of Vengeance paladin, a subclass that grants her unique abilities. Her attacks, as well as those of her allies, deal additional Radiant damage and can disorient the enemy. |
We've already written a detailed build guide for the paladin class in Baldur's Gate 3.
Noble Origin
Minthara comes from a very noble lineage, both in the game's lore and mechanics. She grew up in an aristocratic family and has been accustomed to luxury and power since childhood. Dominating others feeds the dark elf's ego every time.
| Characteristics | Description |
|---|---|
| History | Minthara has knowledge of the world’s history and its peoples, allowing her to pass History checks with advantage. |
| Persuasion | She is also skilled in persuasion, a trait that further enhances her ability to influence others. Convincing someone to switch sides or retreat is hardly a challenge for her. |
Minthara BG3 Build
In the game, there are numerous classes, and for all but the rogue, players can choose three feats by level 12. Let's take a closer look at the best feats for Minthara.
You can opt for Ability Improvement all three times, as it's crucial to enhance charisma and strength for paladins. On levels 8 and 12, consider taking either Great Weapon Master or Two-Handed Swords. Since Minthara is a tank, these feats will significantly boost her combat power.
For more advice on building a paladin in Baldur's Gate 3, check out our guide, which also provides tips relevant to Minthara.
Where to find Minthara
Minthara first appears in a cutscene after the illithid shipwreck, standing on a watchtower observing the crash.
Image: Ensigame / Where to find Minthara
After this, you can find the dark elf in the Shattered Sanctum within the Goblin Camp. She is planning an attack on the Emerald Grove under the orders of the Absolute. During the conversation, Minthara will sense that your party also has tadpoles in their brains and will share her knowledge.
Minthara's Quest Paths
Combat: The party can engage in battle with Minthara as part of the "Defeat the Goblins" quest. However, this will make the entire goblin camp hostile, and you will automatically close off the mission path that allows you to join the raid on the Grove. You won’t be able to romance Minthara or recruit her.
Alliance: The party can join the forces of the Absolute for the raid on the Grove. If you reveal the location of the Grove to Minthara, the raid will begin after your next long rest. However, in this scenario, Karlach and Wyll will permanently leave the camp.
Consequences of the Raid on the Grove
Image: steamcommunity.com
If the raid is successful, Minthara and the goblins will join your camp to celebrate the victory. The elf will offer an intimate encounter: refusing her will anger her, but there will be no serious consequences.
Minthara will propose that the party join the forces of the Absolute and will give you a plot item that will help you progress through the second act. If you choose a different path, you’ll need to retrieve this item from Minthara’s body.
How to romance Minthara
How to get Minthara as a companion
Act 1
If you side with Minthara and successfully attack the Emerald Grove, your character will meet her at a party in the camp, where she will propose a fling. If you agree, you'll witness one of the most explicit and intense scenes in the game.
Image: steamcommunity / How to romance Minthara
After the intimate scene, you’ll wake up with Minthara in your arms. You can then use your illithid powers to explore her mind, but doing so will anger her. If you’re playing as the Dark Urge, you might fail the dice checks and accidentally kill her due to the character’s inherent bloodlust.
If you have Shadowheart’s artifact in your inventory during this scene, the influence of the Absolute will wane, and Minthara will admit that she feels better without the cult's control.
Image: steamcommunity.com
Later that night, Minthara will confess that she was ordered to kill your character. You can persuade her not to follow through. If successful, she will advise you not to return to the goblin camp and will say her goodbyes. This scene occurs regardless of whether or not you had a romantic encounter with her.
Acts 2–3
After the events in the camp, Minthara is captured by the cult leaders, who suspect her of betrayal. She is imprisoned in Moonrise Towers, where she is scheduled for execution. To continue the romantic storyline with Minthara, you’ll need to rescue her. Afterward, the elf will join your party and fight against the Absolute.
Image: steamcommunity / Minthara captured by the cult leaders in Act 2
Your party will witness Minthara being led away by Ketheric Thorm and Disciple Z’rell. You can choose to engage in a direct confrontation to free her, though this is a dangerous route, especially on higher difficulty levels.
A better option is to head to the dungeon and find Minthara among the prisoners. There, you’ll see a scene where the dwarves, Questioner Sumera and Questioner Jasin, are attempting to cleanse her mind.
Rescue Options:
- Dialogue with the dwarves: use deception or intimidation.
- Start a fight: Minthara will assist you.
- Dialogue with Minthara: convince her to play along with the dwarves.
Afterward, you’ll need to successfully escort her out of the location. Unfortunately, you can’t "cheat" by using waypoints: you’ll have to fight your way to freedom. However, if you avoided previous fights, there’s a chance to slip through without bloodshed. Characters with intimidation, deception, or persuasion skills will be particularly useful for passing these checks.
How to recruit Minthara without attacking the Emerald Grove or Druids
Image: steamcommunity / How to recruit Minthara
Fortunately for those playing as good-aligned characters who don’t want to attack the druids with the goblins, Larian Studios has provided an alternative option, introduced in Patch 5.
During the battle at the goblin camp, do not kill Minthara. Leave her with 1 HP. To do this, enable non-lethal damage in the character panel for each party member individually. The screenshot below highlights this option.
Image: steamcommunity.com
Minthara approval
Minthara is a highly complex character. In Act 1, she is hostile and cruel, embodying the typical traits of a drow and a cultist of the Absolute. She holds deep contempt for those who do not share her worldview.
Below are the events in Act 2 that Minthara approves of:
- Kill the drider.
- When you obtain the Moon Lantern, convince the patrol to leave without it, meaning without protection from the curse.
- Refuse to drink wine offered by Jaheira.
- Promise to keep the Strange Ox's secret when speaking with it.
- Tell Marcus Falgor that you will kidnap Isobel yourself.
- Inform Isobel that Marcus plans to abduct her during the attack on the Last Light Inn.
- Avoid meeting Arabella until you find out what happened to her parents. Then inform the child that they will never return.
Image: steamcommunity.com
- Convince boss Malus Thorm to order his sisters to sharpen their blades on each other, eliminating unnecessary opponents.
- Convince Malus Thorm to undergo surgery, which will bring you closer to defeating the boss without a fight.
- Convince Malus Thorm to become a patient and agree to treatment from his sisters.
- Trick boss Thisobald Thorm and avoid drinking with him. Deceive him into drinking instead, and successfully pass the intoxication checks three times, earning one approval point from Minthara for each success. You can gain up to three more approval points by entertaining the boss with your stories.
- Tell Shadowheart that you will help her overcome Shar's trials.
- Support Minthara in conversation after killing the first boss. Tell her that you make a good team, express your desire to change the world, and promise that she will be able to seek revenge.
- In camp, during a dialogue with her, say that losing free will and killing on command is terrible.
- If she probes your mind, respond that she is your lover.
Minthara’s quest
Image: steamcommunity.com, by Ravysuu / Minthara BG3 art
Minthara does not have a personal quest like other companions such as Astarion or Gale. However, if you didn't kill her in Act 1, a mission called Decide Minthara's Fate will appear in Act 2. We've already discussed this in detail in the chapter How to Romance Minthara.
If you recruit Minthara, she will play a role in the quest Get Orin's Netherstone. Minthara may also be kidnapped, triggering the mission Rescue Orin's Victim. After defeating the kidnappers, the drow will share her experience of being tortured and her thoughts on Orin's cruelty.
Main image: Reddit
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