Upon reaching Act III, you will have the opportunity to save Jaheira’s old friend, who goes by the name Minsc but he is different since the last time that they last saw each other.
Minsc is a Hunter Ranger that you meet in Act III, who can later be recruited once you progress with The High Harper quest and a few others.
Currently known by the name Stone Lord, Minsc has been causing a lot of trouble after being tricked into following a false Jaheira and being infected with a tadpole.
Recruiting Minsc will depend on the choices that you have made as you progress through the game, which involve recruiting Jaheira.
After an encounter with the Stone Lord at The Counting House during multiple quests, you chase him down into the Lower City Sewers in an attempt to stop him.
Where To Find Minsc?
Minsc is initially found at The Counting House, where he and his followers are robbing the vaults until you and your party arrive.
After your encounter with Minsc at The Counting House, he can later be found in the Abandoned Cistern and this can be found in the western part of the Lower City Sewers.
If you have already unlocked the Undercity Ruins waypoint, all you need to do is head a bit to the south and head west.
Unless you have not made your way to the Lower City Sewers, one of the entrances is a Manhole near Golbraith’s Home, and may head west after going down to reach Minsc.
You can also make your way to Minsc’s location by heading to the garden near the Steel Watch Foundry and entering through the door where there is a sign that says “Keep Out.”
How To Recruit Minsc?
To recruit Minsc, Jaheira must have been recruited but this doesn’t mean she has to be with you throughout the whole duration of saving Minsc.
Your final encounter with Minsc will be in the Abandoned Cistern and this is where you need to defeat him, without killing him. (Non-Lethal Attacks)
Minsc can later be saved by The Emperor (Freed from his tadpole) and this will lead to you being able to recruit him after following him in his search for Boo. (His hamster)
How To Save Minsc?
Regardless of the choices that you make as you progress, you will have to fight Minsc eventually when you reach him in the Abandoned Cistern.
To save Minsc, you must use Non-Lethal Attacks against him or else you may end up killing him, which will cause Jaheira to leave your party if she is recruited.
Defeating the rest of the enemies and leaving Minsc unconscious will result in a cutscene that allows you to convince The Emperor to save him.
This will result in The Emperor freeing him of the Tadpole’s control, and afterward, Minsc will no longer be under the control of the Absolute as well.
Minsc Uses
Minsc is faster and more capable of surviving in a fight compared to some of the other companions that you may recruit in the game.
His spells allow him to easily single out targets to deal more damage to them and may also tackle multiple enemies when needed.
He is capable of summoning different familiars, including his trusty favorite companion Boo, the infamous hamster of justice.
Minsc Romance
While most companions can be romanced in the game, Minsc is one of the companions that does not have any such feature.
This also makes it less concerning when you make certain choices in the game since his approval and disapproval won’t mean anything.
This is the same with Jaheira as she is also one of the characters that cannot be romanced but may still be useful in your party.
Verdict
Minsc is a renowned warrior who is capable of holding his own despite his obvious lack of intelligence and the cute hamster makes up for his attitude.
Minsc was different from when Jaheira last saw him and due to the Absolute capturing him, he was later misled into following them blindly.
As a Human Hunter Ranger, Minsc is capable of tracking down targets and utilizing spells that help him deal large amounts of damage to enemies.
Similar to Jaheira, Minsc cannot be romanced once recruited but he can join your party and fight alongside you just like your other companions.
Boo will always be available for Minsc to summon but he can only have one familiar at his side and if Boo is thrown, there is a chance he will blind his targets. (This is pretty funny)