There are 10 full companions to recruit in Baldur's Gate 3 to help save the world from the evil forces of the Absolute. One of these is Jaheira, a half-elf druid making a return from the previous Baldur's Gate games. While for some companions a simple hello is enough to convince them to the party, Jaheira's recruitment takes a little more effort, but is definitely worth it.

While all the BG3 Origin character companions can be met and recruited in Act 1 the others require a little more patience. Halsin, Minsc and Jaheira all need their personal quests or other questlines to be completed before they will the team, while Minthara's recruitment can change depending on choices made regarding the goblins and druids. As Jaheira is a returning character and required to recruit Minsc she is a must-have party member for many, but there are a few ways acquiring her can go wrong.

Where To Find Jaheira In Act 2

Jaheira will first be met in Act 2 of BG3, in the dark and oppressive Shadow-Cursed Lands. The leader of the Harpers will be in charge of a safe haven in the area where the horrible effects of the curse are kept at bay, called the Last Light Inn. This is located in the northern area of the Shadow-Cursed Lands and is often the first placed visited when arriving in the area via the Underdark.

Parties that chose to take the Mountain will meet the drider Kar'niss who will take a group to Moonrise Towers. This convoy will be ambushed by Harpers and the option to them and go to Last Light Inn from there.

Once at the Inn, Jaheira will meet the party at the entrance to the courtyard and immediately bind the player character in vines. Jaheira will explain that she knows all about the Absolute and the tadpole, producing one in a jar to demonstrate she knows the party is infected. At this point either Marcus, a Flaming Fist True Soul, or Mol will intervene depending on who was sided with at the Druid Grove in Act 1.

Jaheira will want to know how the party will have control over their own minds, and the best option here is to simply show her the artifact. After asking why the party is going to Moonrise Towers, Jaheira will release the vines and invite the party into the inn for a drink. While drinking with Jaheira she will ask if the parasite is changing the party, regardless of the answers chosen Jaheira will begrudgingly trust the party and form a plan with them.

If Karlach is in the party when Jaheira is met, she will have some a cute fan girl moment and explain that she grew up hearing stories about the famous druid. She will also have a very sweet moment during the conversation in the inn with Jaheira.

How To Keep Jaheira Alive Until Recruitment

The most difficult aspect of recruiting Jaheira is keeping her alive throughout Act 2, as there are plenty of ways she can be killed. The most common cause of her demise is during the attack on Last Light Inn, when forces of the Absolute come to take Isobel, the cleric of Selûne who maintains the shield over the area. As the inn is attacked by Marcus and flying monsters, Jaheira along with several other critical NPCs can be killed.

To stop this, the party will need to divide their attention between keeping Isobel safe and protecting Jaheira and the others. However, the easier solution is to not speak to Isobel which will prevent the attack from triggering. Jaheira will be the one to send the party to the cleric for a blessing to keep them safe in the curse, however, this blessing is not needed so long as the moonlantern or pixie blessing is gained.

If Isobel is taken, then the shield over the inn will drop and Jaheira can be invited to stay at camp to keep her safe. However, other NPCs such as Alfira, Rolan and Dammon will be lost.

Those playing as the Dark Urge will face another challenge in Act 2 when they are commanded to kill Isobel. In order to recruit Jaheira the urge must be resisted, or Jaheira will become hostile. While she can be convinced of the Dark Urge’s innocence, failing the skill check will result in combat with Jaheira.

The final step to keep Jaheira alive long enough to recruit her is to free the Nightsong. Once in the Gauntlet of Shar, Dame Aylin must be freed as all other options lead to the shield over the inn failing and all characters there, including Jaheira, being killed in a cutscene. This will mean making sure that Shadowheart does not kill her, although with high enough approval this is simple enough.

How To Recruit Jaheira During Moonrise Towers Battle

With the Nightsong free, Jaheira and the Harpers will be waiting at Moonrise Tower to help the party confront and beat Ketheric Thorm. Jaheira can be spoken to before going and gained as a temporary companion. This is the best choice at this stage for those wanting to recruit Jaheira, as the ground-floor battle for Moonrise Towers is tough, and if left to her own devices, she can die very quickly.

During this fight, Jaheira will not have all of her abilities she will have when a full companion, so caution is advised when using her in the battle. After the ground floor is secured, Jaheira will the party on the roof for the first fight with Ketheric Thorm. After Thorm flees into the Mind Flayer Colony Jaheira must be spoken to, as it is at this point that she can be fully recruited and will the party permanently.

Once Jaheira is recruited and Act 3 is entered, her personal quest “The High Harper” will begin. This will allow Minsc to be found and recruited in Baldur’s Gate 3, reuniting him with Jaheira. Jaheira is required to recruit Minsc making adding her to the party all the more important for those looking to have as many companions as possible.