Can you recruit Alfira as a companion in BG3?

Baldur’s Gate 3 has numerous companions you can recruit throughout your playthrough, from Origin characters available minutes after escaping the Nautiloid to those you meet during your travels. Alfira is a peculiar case, though, ever since Larian tweaked her interactions slightly during BG3’s seventh patch.

Having Alfira join your party in Baldur’s Gate 3

As of Baldur’s Gate 3’s Patch 7 update, you can recruit Alfira as a temporary companion. However, you must play as The Dark Urge to unlock her as a temporary party member. If you’re playing any other Origin character or a created Tav, you won’t have this scene at all, and Alfira will just go about her usual business.

This scene can fire at any point as the Dark Urge, but if you want to try and tee it up, you can complete her side quest in the Emerald Grove to speed things along.

Finding Alfira

You’ll first encounter Alfira east of the Druid’s Grove on a cliffside. Once you enter the Emerald Grove for the first time, head toward the Sacred with the Idol of Silvanus statue. Rather than heading toward any quest markers, go east up the ramp before turning south to find Alfira playing the lute in front of two squirrels.

Helping Alfira with her song

When you first speak to Alfira, she’ll express discontent over the song she’s writing. By offering to help, you’re met with two options: help her come up with lyrics or take a lute and play the song. Both have their benefits and drawbacks.

Choosing to play the lute for her requires completing two Performance Checks. The first is a DC 15 Charisma check, followed by DC 10. If your character is a bard or has high Charisma, your odds of succeeding are pretty high. Your chances are even better if you use Shadowheart’s guidance. Succeeding both will reward you with the lute, musical instrument proficiency, and inspiration if you have the Entertainer background.

Coming up with lyrics prevents you from these three benefits but requires no conversation checks. Overall, it’s an easier and less risky option if you’re fine with not becoming a musician. Regardless of your pick, she’ll tell you some of her backstory regarding her late teacher, Lihala before moving on to finishing the song.

From here onward, there are some spoilers for The Dark Urge’s plotline. If you want to avoid them and experience it for yourself, pause your reading here.

Recruiting Alfira

To see Alfira again, you’ll need to progress further through Act One’s story. You don’t have to resolve everything here; I found Alfira after chatting with the three True Souls, and my editor ran into Alfira while searching for Withers in the tomb.

Needless to say, you won’t want to raid the Emerald Grove with the goblins, or else Alfira will die during the battle, preventing you from recruiting her as a temporary companion.

Once you make your way through at least part of the Goblin Camp, head back to your camp. Before getting ready for a long rest, tell one of your party members to stay in camp so you free up a space in your team. After initiating a long rest, Alfira will appear and tell you she wants to fight by your side. Tell her she can join you to recruit her into your party until your next long rest.

With Patch 7, Alfira now joins your party in a more official capacity; you can level her up, equip her with armor and weapons, and generally treat her like one of the gang. Make the most of this brief interaction.

You might know where this leads if you’re already familiar with The Dark Urge’s interactions with Alfira. I won’t spoil exactly what happens, but let’s just say not all stories have a happy ending. At least you got to have her as a pseudo-companion for a bit.