Gale may be a popular love interest in Baldur’s Gate 3, but he’s far from perfect. Gale is a human wizard who can be recruited just after the tutorial, when the party finds him stuck halfway through a portal near the Nautiloid crash site. He’s friendly and agreeable from the very start; just pull him out (carefully) and he’ll willingly join the gang. If they so choose, the player character can progress their relationship with Gale as the game ensues. With the right sequence of events, Gale can go from ally to friend to soulmate in what seems like a matter of moments.
[Warning: This article contains spoilers for some possible endings of Baldur’s Gate 3.]Romancing anyone in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a two-pronged effort. The player character must first gain their approval through words and actions that align with their worldview, then satisfy their unique side quest requirements before sparks may fly. Gaining Gale’s approval and finishing his quest are fairly easy overall, but the latter does require sacrificing a handful of unique items to cure him of his rare and dangerous condition. What’s more concerning is his shady past, and the dark secret he harbors.
Pros Of Romancing Gale In Baldur’s Gate 3
Gale is unbelievably smart, unfailingly sweet, cuttingly clever, and classically handsome. He’s one of the first characters to catch onto the true nature of the tadpole parasite that gives the Baldur’s Gate 3 party their Illithid Powers, and immediately commits to helping them find a cure. All that is to say, he’s a great guy to have around, since it’s genuinely entertaining to watch him react to the events of the game. These qualities also make him undeniably charming, so even the most iron-willed player character is likely to develop a little crush on him.
Moreover, Gale’s a wizard, which means that as he levels up, he gains access to some truly terrifying spells. Beginning around level three, Gale can learn some of the best spells in Baldur’s Gate 3, calling on the power of the elements to freeze, roast, or fry enemies at will.
Gale is also very friendly, so it’s easy to raise his approval rating throughout the game. He appreciates outright acts of heroism, especially when the party doesn’t stand to benefit from them or puts themselves at risk. That goes doubly so when they’re helping an animal. He also enjoys when the player character puts their own smarts on display, or when they demonstrate curiosity about the finer points of magic. He only dislikes outright stupidity, wanton violence, and judgmental comments, so it’s even easier to avoid upsetting him. Gale’s approval rating can also be raised via progressing in the companion quest to heal his condition.
Of all the romance options in Baldur’s Gate 3, Gale’s is the most likely to culminate in a traditional happy ending. If his approval rating stays high enough, his quest is completed, and the player character repeatedly checks in with him at camp before the endgame, Gale’s romance plot will come to a head in a joyous scene where the two characters discuss their journey and their goals. During this conversation, the player character can actually propose to Gale, and he’ll agree. He promises thousands of happy days ahead as the scene fades to black.
Cons of Romancing Gale In Baldur’s Gate 3
Charming as he may be, Gale is also a consummate dork. As a wizard, he seeks to gather arcane knowledge, and will often go on long tangents about the particulars of his pet project, summoning the Weave. As a person, he has a propensity for overwrought love poetry, and has trouble keeping his mouth shut. If the Baldur’s Gate 3 party was a boy band, Gale would be the sensitive one. That might work for some people, but for others, it may be a dealbreaker.
Moreover, Gale’s status as a wizard means he gets a slow start in combat. Wizards in Dungeons & Dragons -based systems are commonly referred to as “glass cannons,” which means they can do a lot of damage, but are also fragile to a fault. If the party’s not careful with Gale’s positioning, he can easily fall to a critical hit before they ever get to that happy ending. It is possible to resurrect Gale in Baldur’s Gate 3, though. Wizards also specialize in AoE attacks, which means that friendly fire is an ever-present danger. Things do get better once Gale has enough level one spell slots to reliably cast mage armor.
Gale’s biggest problem, though, is his situationship with the goddess Mystra. He effectively married this fickle deity in an attempt to gain access to greater power, although the nature of their relationship is somewhat unclear. He can often be seen summoning her form via the Weave, and gazing wordlessly into her eyes. Whether Gale actually loves Mystra is up for debate, but it is possible for the player character to surpass her if they play their cards right. Gale will then look for a way to break up with Mystra by fulfilling their deal and delivering her the Crown of Karsus, which several characters in the game are after.
Also as a result of his arrangement with Mystra, Gale has a Netherese Destruction Orb embedded in his chest. This is a ticking time bomb, counting down to a massive explosion that could level an entire city. In order to delay that, he needs to absorb power from magic items, destroying them in the process. It’s not only a disgusting habit, but also a wasteful one. The party will have to sacrifice three magic items to help Gale in Baldur’s Gate 3, after which he’ll seek out his old master Elminster for a more permanent cure.
In the scheme of things, three’s not too many, and there are a few magic items that are too specialized or come at too great a cost to be useful otherwise. Denying Gale his treatment comes at a greater risk, as he might grow angry and start stealing magic items before eventually leaving the party.
Romancing Gale Can Lead To Multiple Bad Endings
If Gale’s condition is successfully treated, Elminster will help him learn to control the Netherese Destruction Orb. When the party travels to the Mind Flayer Colony at the end of Act Two, they encounter the Elder Brain that controls all mind flayers. Gale can activate his Netherese Blast here to kill it, but the entire party dies in the carnage. An epilogue reveals that the mind flayers triumph anyway, so it’s not worth letting Gale make this sacrifice.
It’s also possible for Gale to try and become a god at the end of Baldur’s Gate 3. This will invoke Mystra’s anger and result in his death, so the player character should try and sway his attitude throughout the game. This can be accomplished by dissuading him from pursuing greater power throughout the game, and convincing him to focus on developing his relationships with the people around him instead. If all goes well, he’ll grant her the Crown of Karsus and the two will part ways.
Falling for Gale can be dangerous, but isn’t love always? The rewards for romancing Gale greatly outweigh the risks, so a relationship with this wordy wizard is worth consideration. In the end, it can pay off in a very happy ending for Baldur’s Gate 3.
