Baldur’s Gate 3 origin characters list – best origin character to choose

Looking for all the origin characters in Baldur’s Gate 3? Customizing your character in this sprawling RPG can be tedious. With so many races and classes to choose from, players can take a while designing their champion. Origin characters are Larian Studios’ attempt to simplify this D&D experience.

Dungeons and Dragons fans have plenty to look forward to as Baldur’s Gate 3 release date nears. With Baldur’s Gate 3 character creation being a rather in-depth journey, it makes sense to have pre-made characters. If you’re opting for the metamagic route, our best Baldur’s Gate 3 Sorcerer build guide will help you. Read on to know more about the characters you can play as in the Forgotten Realms.

What are origin characters in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Origin characters are pre-made characters that you can play as in Baldur’s Gate 3. There are seven origin characters: Astarion, La’zel, Gale, Shadowheart, Wyll, Karlach, and The Dark Urge. The game lets you pick from a handful of origin characters, letting you start the game as one of them instead of a custom character. Each premade character has its own unique backstory and dialogue choices. They even have unique quests that you’ll be able to pursue. Here’s everything you need to know about the origin characters in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Astarion

Here’s their in-game description: “Astarion prowled the night as a vampire spawn for centuries, serving a sadistic master until he was snatched away. Now he can walk in the light, but can he leave his wicked past behind?” This Half-elf Rogue quickly became one of my favourite characters. Sneaking into combat and unleashing sneak attacks on surprised foes can deal devastating amounts of damage. He can hide too, keeping enemies surprised for even more potential attacks. While Astarion is more durable than a Wizard, try keeping him in the shadows. He’s got an interesting past to uncover too.

Lae’zel

Here’s their in-game description: “Lae’zel is a consummate warrior, ferocious even by the standards of a Githyanki creche. Faced with transforming into the very monster she has sworn to destroy, Lae’zel must prove herself worthy of rejoining her people.” This Githyanki Fighter is a solid frontline combatant. This makes her a great pick for anyone new to Larian Studios’ brand of storytelling. She can take a fair bit of damage before hitting the ground and her melee prowess cannot be understated.

Gale

Here’s their in-game description: “Gale has one ambition: to become the greatest wizard Faerûn has ever known. Yet his thirst for magic led to disaster. A Netherese Destruction Orb beats in his chest, counting down to an explosion that can level a city.” Gale is basically a glass cannon as a Human Wizard. He’s got a lot of utility thanks to having access to a variety of spells. But if he takes a hit or two, Gale will need some assistance getting up. He is overall a solid addition to any party and one of the best origin characters in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Shadowheart

Here’s their in-game description: “One of Shar’s dark disciples, Shadowheart was sent on a suicide mission to steal an item of great power. While wrestling with her faith and strange, untamed magic, Shadowheart has enemies on all sides.” While you’d expect a High Half-Elf Cleric to fill a support role, Shadowheart is decent in straightforward combat. Her heals sustain the party as she faces her foes. She’s a good pick if your current party doesn’t have a healer.

Wyll

Here’s their in-game description: “Noble by birth, Wyll made his name as the heroic ‘Blade of Frontiers’. He keeps his pact with a devil well-hidden, and is desperate to escape the hellish bargain – even if that means rescuing the seductive creature that made the deal.” Wyll’s versatility is incredible. As a Human Warlock with a secret pact, he has access to all sorts of spells. These are particularly potent in combat so consider Wyll or Gale as a definite addition in your party. He makes for a great origin character too with an interesting backstory.

Karlach

Here’s their in-game description: “Fresh-escaped from Hell, Karlach is finally free of the archdevil Zariel – but not from the infernal engine Zariel planted in her chest. But even more premier in her mind? Exploring, finding like-minded travelers, falling in love (or lust)…” The great axe-bearing Tiefling Barbarian is lethal in combat. Her rage animation is pretty neat too. While not much is known about her, the whole story around Zariel sounds intriguing.

Best Origin character in Baldur’s Gate 3

While all seven characters are impressive in their own right, one towers over the rest. Even if one of the above is a solid fit for your party composition, I’d still recommend considering The Dark Urge. They have the potential to drastically reshape your playthrough.

The Dark Urge

Here’s their in-game description: “You remember nothing of your past besides that you walked a path paved with blood. As you venture on, you find yourself inescapably drawn towards unimaginable cruelties. Where do these thoughts come from?” The devs describe The Dark Urge as “the darkest recesses of the moral spectrum.” Surprisingly, you can completely customize this character. Race, class, and appearance, they’re all in your hands.

The community-driven murder mystery Blood in Baldur’s Gate has been showcasing this character’s drive to murder brutally. An urge will occasionally infiltrate your subconscious and your dialogue options. All you can do is choose to resist this or give in. This makes for an exciting way to play Baldur’s Gate 3.

And that’s all the origin characters in Baldur’s Gate 3. They function similarly to custom characters, meaning that they fit into Baldur’s Gate 3 races with their own lore. This also means that they can take advantage of Baldur’s Gate 3 feats to improve their skills. Consider an origin character if you don’t want the busywork of creating one from scratch now that the game is out on PC and PlayStation 5.