Introduction
Baldur’s Gate 3 is an upcoming role-playing video game developed by Larian Studios. The game will allow players to have special animal companions join their party. In this article, we’ll go through how to get two of these unique animal friends – the Owlbear Cub and the Dog.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is the next installment in the popular Baldur’s Gate series. It is set in the Forgotten Realms Dungeons & Dragons universe. The game features a rich story, deep character customization, and tactical combat. One exciting new feature is the ability to recruit special animal companions that will aid you on your journey.
We’ll provide a step-by-step guide on where to find the Owlbear Cub and Dog companions. We’ll also offer tips on earning their loyalty and keeping them in your party. Let’s get started!
Finding the Owlbear Cub
The Owlbear cub can first be found in the Owlbear Cave located northeast of the Blighted Village waypoint in Act 1. When you enter the cave, you will find the cub trapped behind a barricade while its mother lies injured nearby. To free the cub, you need to:
1. Approach the barricade blocking the cub and inspect it to start a conversation with the mother Owlbear. Choose the dialogue options showing you want to help the cub.
2. The mother will ask you to find her mate and lead him back to the cave. Agree to her request.
3. Leave the cave and head west to find the Owlbear’s mate. Interact with him to lead him back to the cave.
4. Return to the cave with the mate. Another conversation will begin, allowing you to convince the Owlbears to free their cub peacefully.
5. After the conversation ends, the barricade will be removed and you can now interact with the Owlbear cub. This completes the steps to free it.
For more details on finding the exact location of the Owlbear Cave, see this guide: How to Get the Owlbear Cub – Baldur’s Gate III Guide.
Helping the Owlbear Cub
Once you deal with the goblins and free the Owlbear cub’s mother in the cave west of the Druid Grove, you will be able to find the Owlbear cub itself at the nearby Goblin Camp.[1] When you find the cub in a cage, you can choose to lockpick the cage or smash it open. Either way, the Owlbear cub will be freed.
After freeing the Owlbear cub, you have further opportunities to gain its trust and loyalty. You can give it food when it seems hungry, such as meat or fruit. Petting it and showing affection also helps earn its loyalty over time. If you successfully gain its trust, the Owlbear cub will follow you back to your camp when you return.
Having high rolls on Animal Handling checks throughout your interactions with the Owlbear cub will make it easier to gain its loyalty. If you fail too many checks, it may lose trust in you and not join your camp. So focus on gently approaching, feeding, and petting the cub to ensure you have its loyalty.
Once back at your camp, the Owlbear cub will stay with you as a loyal companion. You can then utilize it in combat and benefit from having it fight by your side.
Getting the Dog Companion
The special dog companion named Scratch can be found roaming around north of the owlbear cave in the wilderness outside of the Blighted Village. He hangs around an abandoned campsite just south of the Risen Road and northeast of the Blighted Village, near a bridge crossing a river.
According to sources, Scratch can be found pacing around this campsite north of the owlbear nest and south of the Risen Road https://www.thegamer.com/baldurs-gate-3-scratch-dog-guide-tips/. This places him in the wilderness between the Blighted Village and the Grove, across a bridge near the owlbear cave.
Earning the Dog’s Trust
Once you locate Scratch, you’ll find him mourning his previous master near a dead body. Scratch will initially be distrustful and growl if you approach. According to TheGamer, the key to gaining Scratch’s trust is through patience and animal handling skill checks.
First, keep your distance and use the Animal Handling skill to calm Scratch down. Succeeding on an Animal Handling check will relax him slightly. Next, carefully approach closer while continuing to make successful Animal Handling checks. If you fail a check, back up and try again. Once close enough, you can inspect his former master’s body to trigger more dialogue options.
Tell Scratch his former master would want him to move on and offer him a new home. With high enough Animal Handling skill, he will accept your offer and become a loyal companion. Having food in your inventory helps convince him as well. If your checks aren’t successful, you may have to leave Scratch and return at a higher level when your stats are higher to befriend him.
Through compassion and skill checks, you can earn Scratch’s trust after his master’s passing. With patience, he will abandon his mournful vigil and adventure with you as a faithful new friend.
Keeping Your Animal Companions
Once you have recruited the Owlbear cub and Scratch the dog as companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, there are a few things you need to do to keep them by your side. The most important is to ensure you have enough food to feed them. You can purchase pet food from vendors or find meat and fish while exploring. Feed your companions regularly or they will leave due to neglect.
Additionally, you must pay attention to their approval ratings. Keeping your companions pleased will strengthen your bond and prevent them from abandoning your party. You can boost their approval through dialogue choices, actions in combat, and gifts. For example, the Owlbear cub enjoys receiving honeycomb as a treat.
Finally, as you adventure, your animal companions will level up as you do. Make sure to spend time examining their available skills and choose upgrades that complement your character build and battle strategies. A happy, well-fed pet that is taken care of and continues to develop alongside the player is more likely to remain a permanent companion throughout the entire game.
Animal Companion Benefits
Having the Owlbear cub and Scratch join your party provides several benefits beyond just having cute animal friends accompany you on your journey. According to The definitive guide to Beast Master Ranger Companions!, the main benefits are:
- Additional damage output – Animal companions can take their own turns in combat to attack enemies.
- Soaking up hits – Having more bodies on the frontline allows animal companions to take hits instead of you or your party members.
- Skills and abilities – Certain animal companions like the Owlbear cub have special skills like being able to dig up treasure.
- Roleplaying opportunities – Animal companions can create fun roleplaying moments and liven up camp conversations.
- Pack tactics – When positioned properly, animal companions can utilize pack tactics for advantage on attack rolls.
As summarized in a Gamerant article, the Owlbear cub and Scratch offer their own unique benefits. The Owlbear cub has high strength and constitution for tanking hits, while Scratch the dog excels at chasing down ranged enemies. Together they make a formidable pair!
Alternative Animal Companions
In addition to the Owlbear cub and dog, there are a few other animal companions that can optionally be found and recruited in Baldur’s Gate 3. These include:
The wolf Lupus – Lupus can be found wounded in the woods and healed with a medicine check. Once healed, Lupus will join you as a loyal companion (Source 1).
The boar Verres – Verres is located in a Druid grove and can be befriended with an animal handling check. He provides a tanky melee companion (Source 1).
The spider Aranea – Aranea hatches from a spider egg sack found in the Underdark. She excels at ranged attacks and web spells (Source 1).
The raven Corvus – Corvus can be found in the ruins of a temple after clearing out some Imps. He serves as a flying scout (Source 2).
These alternative animal companions provide different abilities and roleplaying opportunities beyond the default Owlbear cub and dog. They can complement a player’s class and style.
Roleplaying with Animal Companions
Animal companions can add fun roleplaying opportunities in Baldur’s Gate 3. Here are some tips for integrating your animal friend into the story:
Give your animal a name and backstory. Come up with a story for how you met and bonded with your companion.
Describe your companion’s personality and habits. Do they eagerly run ahead or cautiously follow behind? Are they energetic and playful or calm and gentle?
Have your character talk to and interact with the animal. Discuss plans with them, confide secrets, or just chat while traveling.
Let your companion assist in social interactions. They can act as an icebreaker with strangers or support you during negotiations.
Don’t forget about your animal during downtime. Feed, groom, and play with them at camp.
Get creative with commands. Go beyond basic attack and defend orders by directing tactical positions or support actions.
Consider how your companion influences your character’s reputation and relationships. An intimidating Owlbear could scare off potential allies.
Imagine how your companion behaves around environments and enemies. Do they shy away from cliffs or become aggressive near certain creatures?
No matter their backstory or personality, animal companions provide great opportunities for memorable roleplaying moments in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Conclusion
In summary, there are two potential animal companions to find in Baldur’s Gate 3: the Owlbear cub and the dog. Acquiring the Owlbear cub involves completing a quest to save it from the Druids in the Druid Grove. You’ll need to avoid violence and find a peaceful solution. Once rescued, the grateful Owlbear will join your party.
Getting the dog requires locating it in the ruins near the tiefling grove, then gradually earning its trust through dialogue options and actions. Feeding it and letting it sleep near you at camp will help build your bond. Eventually, it will become a loyal companion.
These animal friends provide several benefits. In battle, they can attack enemies and support the party. Outside combat, they add flavor and roleplaying opportunities. Ultimately, they become cherished companions on your journey.
While the Owlbear and dog have unique acquisition methods, there may be chances later to recruit other creatures. Remember, building trust and helping someone in need is often the key to gaining an animal ally. With patience and care, you may yet make more furry friends along the road.