Builds for Halsin, Jaheira, Minthara, and Minsc in BG3

[@DnDDeepDive]

I misspoke: The Critlander Build I suggest for Minthara is from my *fourth* BG3 builds vid, here: kzbin.info/www/bejne/aIi0ZKKjnqhsnac

[@quillcannon]

I made Jaheira my Tavern Brawler Monk with ogre might gauntlets and the shoes that add her wisdom mod to her unarmed strikes. Something about an extremely pissed off grandma demolishing enemies 8 times her size with her chanclas is so cathartic

[@Rime_in_Retrograde]

lmao

[@movingbook]

I did that first run. Second I actually turned her into a 6/6 land druid/lore bard, and it felt so right. Keeping her true to her literal roots, but also with her spitting insults at people and counterspelling their attacks back into their faces. It was maybe not the best optimized damage build, but it felt so perfect.

[@SidheKnight]

While Minsc was made a Ranger for BG1 because it had no Barbarians, canonically he's a Rashemani Berserker, so the Berserker subclass of Barbarian is also fitting for him.

[@Gatsuuga16]

HA!!! As soon as that last EK Spores video dropped i IMMEDIATELY respecced jaheria to that. love it!

[@montezuma0000]

I like that you made a quick video, I wouldn't mind more of these sprinkled in with your usual content.

[@MistyKathrine]

I just had Jaheira with 5 levels in Circle of Land druid and 7 levels in Battle master. I took coast at 2 Druid and Grassland at Druid 5 for spells like, Misty Step, Mirror Image, and Haste. I didn't do any respec so used the 3 feats to max out her dex and just used finesse weapons, it actually worked out pretty well, it felt right flavor wise. She was usually a mainstay in my SoA teams so have to stick with her being a Druid/Fighter, anything else would feel wrong.

[@yhnujmik987]

Correction! Barbarians did already exist in D&D. The rules for them were published in the 1st Edition verion of the Unearthed Arcana rulebook. (Not so) fun fact: Barbarians were supposed to be mistrustful of magic and had rules limiting their ability to magic items and got XP for destroying magic items. That kind of made them a pain to integrate into a party and why they were dropped for 2nd Edition. In the Gord the Rogue novels that Gygax wrote, Gord's best friend was a Barbarian named Chert ... Its only now, like 35 years later, that I have the knowledge to look back and see how obviously Gygax was ripping off Fritz Leiber there with Chert playing the Fafhrd to Gord's Gray Mouser. Minsc was also in the first Baldurs Gate game.

[@2Themaximum]

For my run with Minthara I used the Ultimate gish, with 7 pally and 5 warlock. I felt like Great Old One really fit the bill for the absolute, as she wanted to take the power and use it for herself. Felt on brand for her.

[@porakiyadraekojin3390]

I was thinking of doing a build like this myself. I'm currently stuck on 5 paladin/5 warlock and am not sure what I want to do with the last 2 levels. Do I want to go 7 pally, 7 warlock, or put two levels into fighter for action surge? The decisions! I do know I wanna have the Infernal Sword rapier from Mizora, as it would let my dump Str and focus solely on Con and Cha (of course heavy armor so I can dump Dex too)

[@husseinkassam4080]

​@porakiyadraekojin3390 if you take pact of the blade at warlock level 3 you can dump str and use cha instead for any weapon

[@a_Lemming]

@@porakiyadraekojin3390Getting Pact of the Blade means you can go fully into Charisma with 3 attacks, so 2 levels of Fighter for Action Surge gets you 6 attacks in one turn, if needed. Alternatively 5 Warlock with 7 Paladin is better for team support, since you get the Paladin’s auras.

[@taznkid1730]

I use a throw-throw build on Minsc so that I have a reason to constantly hear the unique dialogue you get when you chuck Boo.

[@Pomlithe]

I made Minthara a Pally Bard myself, and went for a Dual Wielder build centered on some very cool drow-themed weapons. With her Soul Branding ability, she really feels like she should be a sort of support/damage combo, and going Vengeance/Swords has been a ton of fun for that. (Plus, even in light armor, she reaches like, 19 AC before any items, so she's very survivable.)

[@whatiskensworth]

Was already doing this with your builds, glad to see some validation on my choices haha. Thanks again for the great content!

[@1wayroad935]

It still tickles me that Minsc's default class is Ranger

[@marekw7562]

You can still make him 4 hunter/8 bear-heart barbarian. With a horde breaker attack... It would not be the most efficient build but I found it good enough

[@daniellins4114]

Why is that? I haven’t played the other BG games

[@Alexis-Cvr]

Because the first Baldur's Gate in the 90s was based on a D&D edition without barbarian class, so the devs made Minsc a ranger for the "from the wild" flavor with the strenght of a pure warrior and the ability to use a form of rage. It don't work very well in the last editions of D&D (by example the iconic weapon he use in game is a massive two handed sword and rangers don't have this weapon specialization) @@daniellins4114

[@roaringthunder8069]

​@@daniellins4114he's guided entirely by his emotions and is prone to flying into a rage.

[@elementzero3379]

​​@@daniellins4114He's a Berserker, but the class wasn't in the original game, so they tried to get thematically close

[@tenjenk]

Thanks for pointing them out!

[@OyBoy413]

So weird not seeing a long video from Colby haha. But i like it and it makes sense in the context.

[@enneract9]

Holy Warrior build for Minsc, for sure. "I grow tired of shouting battlecries while fighting this mage! Boo will have your eyeballs, once and for all! Evil, meet my sword. SWORD! MEET EVIL!"

[@arjunkishore4080]

Your last build is the perfect Jaheira build in my opinion. Right from the description I felt that it was describing the old crow

[@Moley1Moleo]

Any thoughts on optimising with the special bonuses some characters can get? Minthara gets a free bonus action which I think gives movement speed and fire damage on an allies next attack. Halsin gets an extra wildshape form, and 3 free spell preprartions of Thunder Wave, Healing Word, and Call Lightning (which I think remain even if he isn't a druid). Jaheria doesn't get anything I think. (Can't even use tadpole powers.) Minsc gets to summon Boo. And some of the origin characters get some powers too.

[@PrinsB]

Even this very short 2 Minute video linking to other Videos was so worth watching. Thank You

[@megamwamp]

I have to say that I love the joke of pointing over the wrong shoulder for the clip. It gets me EVERY time.

[@ragnaroknroll4803]

Hmmm… I’ve been waiting for this for building Minthara for my Durge run, but I’m gonna have to differ and dip her barbarian for your holy warrior build (that roar is too sexy if you haven’t heard it.) to compliment my hexadin (who is drow, to explain his slaughter the grove at her command more easily.) THANK YOU for declaring Minsc to be a barbarian though! Big fan of the character in comics, and always read him as a base totem barb. As ever, you are the man.

[@Syncuno]

YES! I’ve been waiting for this one 😄 I’ll be watching this on the way to work

[@brocklewis7624]

Well done! I really like the builds you have mentioned and was recently wondering how best to utilize Jaheira’s Druid + dual wield nature.

[@Sapph1reS0rceress]

I think it would be neat to have builds based on the illithid powers, though I understand if that would involve too many spoilers right now. One I think has a lot of potential to add to many of these builds would be the black hole. Grouping your enemies up for AOEs is overpowered lol

[@thomastownley5049]

Yes! That's exactly what I was thinking for Minsc. Thank you!

[@NAHS1493]

This is all I was missing. Thanks for doing that!

[@ducky36F]

For Minsc I made him 3 Barbarian Berserker (he always calls himself a berserker and you know, 3 attacks per round), 5 Hunter ranger (colossus slayer gets a free 1d8 damage on every enemy below max hp in this game and I feel its the Ranger subclasses that suits Minsc best anyways) and the rest Fighter Battlemaster for obvious reasons. It works out pretty nicely for him.

[@raoulpechler]

Hey Colby! i've loved all your bg3 videos and i was wondering if you would consider doing a video on the best builds you have done for the game (maybe with some updates) in light of the new Honour mode. I think many people would like to complete the challenge and would like to learn how to best tackle it. I for sure would ;) Hope you would consider doing something like that. much love

[@Carblesnarky]

A couple of interesting things that Minsc brings up. Barbarians as a class is way older than Baldur's Gate 2. It showed up in the late 70s in White Dwarf magazine and in the early 80s in Dragon. In 2nd ed. UA had it in 85. The Complete Barbarian's Handbook came out in 1995. The BG series of games didn't come till 98. Minsc can go berserk in BG2. So what gives? In 2nd ed Rangers could actually get something close to Rage out of the Berserker kit.

[@mahnameisj]

Hello! I've just found this vid as well as the Optimizing Origin Companions ones but I was wondering if you have a build for a lore friendly good Dark Urge? I plan to use all these builds for my next playthrough but I would love my own Durge to have a cool optimized lore friendly build as well

[@Pumpernickel420]

Your "Godmate" builds are working great for my run, im only level 7 rn and dont have either of these three, but I'll use these once I do

[@joshwhite1562]

Minsc was always a fighter with a greatsword when I played BG1 and BG2. Interesting to see other takes on him.

[@cloudstone123]

I definitely didn't make Minsc a ranger. I recall how in BG2 (and I think 1) he had a special rage ability just for him.

[@TheDevian]

As an old fart, I can say that AD&D 1st ed had barbarian as it's own class, and 2nd ed had it (poorly) as a subclass of Fighter.

[@F_Mothering]

Man, I went through some of my old AD&D 2nd Edition books (I couldn't remember how fire resistance worked. At all.) and everything is written like... there's nothing else in the book. Everything exists in this weird vacuum with heavy emphasis on interpretation. How'd we get any adventuring done?!

[@Legion1620]

I made Minsc a 11 hunter and 1 barb to represent his old style of build, ranger that just happened to have a unique berserk ability. With GWM and some stat boosting items he's a combat monster. And his lines are hilarious! He's not a super caster or anything as a ranger anyway so he throws out a silence or restoration when needed. But mostly he is just destroying with the unique hunter attacks. Hunter really feels like a battlemaster with less maneuver options but no rest resource to run out of.

[@Dinodudematt]

I did Berserker 4 / Hunter 8 with Tavern Brawler. Basically, I just had Minsc throw stuff (mostly Boo) at people.

[@Zeathian]

I DID use your blender build for Jaheria :D For Minsc I just made him Fighter 2/ Monk 10, cause I had monk gear and nobody to put it on.

[@iAmEnenra]

Didn’t want to post this on a non BG3 video. But since it’s nearing a month old don’t know if you’ll see this: But would LOVE to see an Optimized Party for Honor Mode!

[@DnDDeepDive]

Working on the script now ;)

[@iAmEnenra]

@@DnDDeepDive our true hero 🫡

[@victoriavvc]

I know you're trying not to rehash builds for videos, but i think it would really help to look at the bear tank build again, now that we know about Halsin's special bear wildshape and how owlbear works. i can't decide if i should just stop at 4 levels in druid and do 8 in barb or do 8 in druid and 4 in barb.

[@kingofrohan888]

I was wondering if you could give an optimal build for a Dragoon style character in BG3? Dragoons being the Final Fantasy 14 Mobile Polearm class. I've seen lots of different suggestions but was wondering if you could give a take on it.

[@20storiesunder]

I started the video and handy even made it through lunch before it was done, wild experience xD

[@coreytaylor3633]

Minsk is a berserker through and through. He had a special "rage" ability in BG. So I've gone 6 berserker 6 Ranger to keep with the classic Minsk archetype.

[@bobbybee2975]

Yes, thank you, Minksc has always been a barbarian imo too.

[@aikonokaze]

I made my Halsin a Circle of the Land Druid/Nature Cleric Jaheira a straight Oath of the Ancients Paladin And Minsc a straight Way of the Open Hand Monk Not necessarily all the most thematic but they served me well enough

[@stevenjohannesson316]

Thanks Colby! 👍🏼

[@HovJigga]

Thanks for this, Colby! I've only got Halsin so far, but I can't wait to try out the Jahiera build soon and Critlander next run on Minthara. Any thoughts on what would fit the Durge thematically? I'm near the end of Act 2 so far on a resist run, but at the moment, my good Durge strikes me as a Bardadin (or maybe Sorcadin, Bard is just so fun though). No clue on what would fit an evil Durge, though. Would love to hear your thoughts

[@LordGui_]

I also did a bardadin in my good durge Run. For my evil durge, Im currently using dual wield build that uses rogue for the second bonus action. I think it matches the theme because I imagine someone obcessed with killing to attack multiple times in a round with light weapons, not just a big strike with a big one

[@DnDDeepDive]

Haven't tried out the Durge yet! Not enough time!

[@HovJigga]

@LordGui_ I actually decided to go with a weird Swords Bard Sorc hybrid for mine, just for RP reasons, but I'm definitely going bardadin for my next non-evil run. I like the rogue idea as well and the reasoning behind it. I feel like combining it with OH Monk makes it even more scarier as its this pyscho who literally wants to punch people to death and feel the life leave their eyes. However, based on some of the Haunted One inspirations I've gotten, a lot of them seem to indicate a more "Charismatic Killer". So idk. Maybe the good old SBard Rogue, just melee dual wielding instead of range. Who knows

[@HovJigga]

@DnDDeepDive I hope you get the chance sometime soon! It's my first run of the game, and it's just a fantastic roleplay. It gives me big KOTOR vibes, if that makes any sense

[@DnDDeepDive]

@@HovJigga KOTOR might still my favorite game of all time (that or Mass Effect… not quite sure) so yeah, a Revan-esque story feels awesome.

[@ThatGSguy]

As of November 30th (patch 5): "Wild Shapes that do not have weapons will now benefit from having the Tavern Brawler feat."

[@lovelaven6491]

Fitting build choices all of them.

[@SSSmokeStyle]

For Jaheira i did thief 4 spore druid 8 with the helmet of arcane acuity. Attack twice with bonus action to pump your DC up and then cast spells

[@andrewstamatiadis1500]

A question for Colby, and everyone in the comments: Would/should a giant path barbarian work if you were throwing hand crossbows, with the crossbow expert and sharpshooter feats? Would you expect to need the tavern brawler feat for the improvised proficiency? And could this be viable, or is the extra feat too taxing?

[@bi_smth]

I didnt see this two weeks ago but it's okay. Im enjoying having two earth myrmidons with me anyway.

[@CaptainButter22]

Could we get some evil themed builds, for example a necromancer or oathbreaker, for those looking to give in to the Dark Urge?

[@marekw7562]

Boo is not "a hamster"... He's a miniature giant space hamster. And a hero of the bravest heart

[@dribrom]

The Blender is not really lore friendly for Jaheira though. When you first meet her in BG1 she is already a Fighter/Druid multiclass. In BG2 she max out at Fighter (24) / Druid (21). However in BG3 you can't get to level 45 and BG1 and BG2 follow the 3.5 edition rules.

[@jonfall7941]

Minsc even has voice lines about boo telling him he needs to smite enemies lol

[@williambowen8054]

Honestly I never know what to do with druids or rangers. They're so in-between that they feel superfluous.

[@RedWarpaint_]

For the Halsin build, does Rage carry over into the Bear form if you rage before transforming? I know in your first video that information hadn't been verified yet

[@ducky36F]

I also made Minthara a 5 Paladin / 5 Bard / 2 Fighter solely because of her lyre but it works well enough 😂

[@andrehenderson7820]

Pleasant surprise

[@bbfitzgerald1827]

I LOVE YOU DND D4

[@victoriavvc]

Now that we can customize hirelings, id really like to see how youd create team avatar, except instead of aang since you kinda already did that, use sokka

[@Straddllw]

Nah, my Minsc is Hunter 6 / Berserker 4 / Fighter 2. Not the best build but start 16str/14dex/16con/12wis. Start in barbarian 1. Then go Ranger 1. I use spec into stealth for proficiency, urban tracker for sleight of hands and mage breaker for lore reasons. Ranger 2 I go for defence and pick up speak with animals and animal friendship for more lore reasons. At level 4 is Hunter 3 and PYF here, I went with colossus slayer and long strider. Hunter 4 I put +2 Str to bring it to 18. Hunter 5 I pick pass without trace and get extra attack. As much as Minsc bring all 2 hander and Barbarian like, I did remember some moments in bg2 where he was being stealthy. At level 7, Hunter 6 I pick up bounty Hunter and beast tamer. Then at level 8 I dip into fighter 1 and pick up great weapon fighting. Fighter 2 gets action surge. At level 10-12, just go Barbarian and at level 12 you pick up Great Weapon Master.

[@nikmabc]

A barbarian Minsc throwing Boo is something fearsome. There's a video with all companions throwing Boo. But I went with a ranger/thief Minsc and threw Astarion to the curb.

[@GenevaCircle]

After 100+ years of sitting still it seem appropriate to make Minsc an open hand monk. You point -- I punch

[@YoshioSan]

The Critlander build was actually on your Vol. 4 video.

[@DnDDeepDive]

Oh snap you're right - will pin a comment

[@ManusMagus]

Can you label which videos go where? I'm looking for thr holy barbarian

[@DnDDeepDive]

Check the video description :)

[@westernbody]

Go gor theyrs boo, go for they eyes

[@mbuhtz]

Thank you!

[@tanerlatham3234]

Hey is it viable to play a envocation wizard plus a sorcerer. Focus on are effect spell and get the class feature that makes area safe so you don’t hit your Allies then have all the sorcerer abilities to make those spells be more effective

[@tanerlatham3234]

*evocation

[@DnDDeepDive]

It works, but you miss out on the higher level spells. Is that worth it? Depends on what you’re building for :). In that scenario I’d probably just go Wizard 2 Sorc X

[@tanerlatham3234]

@@DnDDeepDive if you get the time could you make a build that show this working I still pretty new dnd and don’t fully know the best combinations

[@tanerlatham3234]

@@DnDDeepDive or could you make it like a challenge something doesn’t normally work but you make it work and it functional

[@wandrilleturle36]

🎉🎉🎉

[@makbeth4245]

Three video in one week? You spoiled us, Colby

[@tevisstier9044]

Minsc was introduced in BG1

[@bryanimre4992]

Let’s fucking GOOOO

[@singincowboy]

I already made a critlander Mynthara, and she is sickening

[@giulioj.8390]

I never played BG2, so I have no preconceived ideas of what class Jaheira should be. She looks like the quintessential sorceress to me, and that is what I'm going to make her.

[@gnarlyb]

she was a fighter/druid multiclass in BG1 and 2

[@elementzero3379]

I respec'd her as a Beast Master 8 / Thief 4. Her career as a Harper in Baldur's Gate makes me feel that she'd have picked up some shady skills (Sleight of Hand). The Ranger preserves the primal feel and is a good chassis. The extra Bonus Action from Thief makes her more lethal and mobile.

[@jpperron1835]

Me before finding Colby’s channel: only played barbarian or barbarian fighters mountain dwarves in d&d and bg3 Me after finding Colby’s channel: monks! Monks all the time every time! 🤣

[@jpperron1835]

Even when I’m multiclassing I put levels in monk now. Hahaha

[@Wintermute909]

Ah......where's Boo? I thought Minsc was just the familiar of the totally OP space hamster?

[@jpperron1835]

Heya :) so recently I left a comment somewhere about starting an open hand monk/life cleric “Holy man” :) so far the most effective has been open hand 9, life cleric 2

[@jpperron1835]

For the most part i am utilizing just the bless and healing from cleric

[@DnDDeepDive]

Maybe make it mercy monk instead for a little extra heal option?

[@OldManRogers]

Minsc is literally a Berserker so should 100% be a barbarian (or berzerker fighter in BG2)

[@fishbowel4601]

I thought it was too good ro be true lol😂

[@Shammoria]

Was this just unprivated or restricted or was I just missing this as its not in the bg3 playlist?

[@DnDDeepDive]

@@Shammoria I had it in my shorts and miscellaneous playlist but just added it to bg3 as well :)

[@drizzle8202]

sick

[@trishamiller7859]

Omg yes! Oh...*sad*

[@maxd5007]

I rock the critlander on Minthara

[@saqwana25]

there isn't you either save the tieflings by aiding the grove, or you leave the area with out resolving that the grove will lock the tieflings will die but minthara is recruitible unless you use the daughter of lolth mod.

[@maxd5007]

I said until they add it. The most recent data mining shows interactions between halsin and Minthara that will hopefully have this option. There are multiple ways this could happen, the artefact protects her when you first meet her, you warn the tieflings etc. And there is always cheat engine.

[@saqwana25]

@@maxd5007 there is no promise they will add anything more to the game. but the daughter of lolth mod works fairly well.

[@maxd5007]

@@saqwana25 no, no guarantee but they have a good track record and the data mining gives me faith. Minthara is not fleshed out much at all in act 3 so I really hope they do pay attention to her. I'll check out the mod for sure.

[@saqwana25]

@@maxd5007 i have used daughter of lolth and the party expanded mods it is very fun.

[@Blod1998]

Bold of you to assume Minsc protects Boo rather than the other way around

[@pinheadgringo]

I really enjoyed Minthara as a DEX-based pure Vengeance Paladin. With some of the busted Act III items like Duellist's Prerogative and Armour of Agility, she was basically unstoppable - I'm pretty sure she killed the House of Grief boss in one turn (though she nuked herself in the process because Radiant Retort). Minsc makes a good Tavern Brawler Monk with how often he talks about punching things. As for Jaheira, I thought she worked pretty well as a Land Druid + Light Cleric - curious if anybody else has tried that combo?

[@Fizz-Pop]

I use Ultimate Tank for Halsin already so..I can has cookie?

[@DnDDeepDive]

🍪

[@Fizz-Pop]

❤@@DnDDeepDive

[@messitup]

Mine Minsc is a Bard Cleric :P

[@travishartzler9155]

Minsc is charismatic, dumb, and loves to smite evil. He's a poster child for the paladin class.

[@blackbaby6977]

i dont really see how minthara could be a sorcerer

[@andersfrieden567]

I multiclassed Jaheara into Bard cause it made so much sense to me. She is literally a High Harper, damn it. 😅 Also College of Swords suits her well, allowing us to take advantage of her two-handed weaponry skills, as well as not loosing spellslots and casting nice ice-storm here and there. Wanna try try to add some spice from your build though and use Circle Of Spores for my next playthrough.

[@ClintonJohnson1]

Minsc is literally a berserker.

[@buluketek5030]

let me do you even better builds for them, colby provide us already, you just need more research, I might be same as you who don't play 5E before, halsin=edited, actually it's called the supernova moon jaheira= wildfire druid cleaver (paladin/druid spore or land), upcast flame blade, and moonbeam or flaming sphere + start with 1lv fighter to hold cons minthara= actually d4 version for astarion build is match with her, first appearance already paladin using single knife, do ninja build for astarion instead, look it up and good luck!

[@SidheKnight]

Thank you!