Gale is one of the first companions we meet in our Baldur’s Gate 3 adventure. As a powerful Wizard, he’s a strong asset to our party, though he has a significant disadvantage: he needs to be fed magic items.
He tells us about his unusual sickness shortly after he joins our party for the first time. We learn that if Gale doesn’t consume a magic item every once in a while, a great catastrophe will occur. While we don’t immediately learn what that catastrophe is exactly, it’s better to satisfy his craving when we can, though we know it can be tiresome and consuming—literally.
How to give Gale magic items in BG3
Feeding Gale magic items is actually a piece of cake. The companion will have a dialogue bubble pop up above his head when he needs to talk, like any other member of your party. When Gale needs to consume a magic item to stave off disaster, he will also have a dialogue bubble. After talking to him, you will have the option to give him a magic item.
To give Gale a magic item in BG3, follow these steps:
- Select the appropriate dialogue option in response to one of these dialogues.
- This will open your inventory. Choose a magical item.
- Items that Gale can consume will be marked with a line of dialogue: “Gale can absorb this item’s magic, destroying it.”
- The selected item will then be removed from your inventory.
We advise you don’t sell any useless magic equipment you come across, especially if you’re exploring with Gale. You never know when his needs will pop up, and if you don’t have any spare items, you will need to sacrifice one you or your party member is currently using. After all, allowing him to consume a magic item will result in destroying that item.
Should you give magic items to Gale in BG3?
From my experience it’s better to give him any extra magic items you have. If not, Gale will be a liability in your party, which is why you should feed him magic items you have but don’t want to use for yourself or someone else in your party.
Luckily, his craving will end after speaking to Elminster Aumar on your way to Moonrise Towers, which will push Gale’s questline to the next stage.
What happens if you don’t give Gale magic items in BG3?
You can always choose not to give in to Gale’s requests and keep him at bay. If you follow this route, though, he will eventually start stealing the artifacts himself. So, as we said, if you don’t want him grabbing your stuff and being pretty annoying, just give him some spare ones.
Gale’s cravings only seem to happen in Act One, however, at least in my playthrough. He asked for the item three times, with each time his reaction slightly changing, so it’s not like he’s going to consume every item you collect throughout your adventure, especially after you meet Aumar.
Why does Gale need to be fed magic items in BG3?
Elminster Aumar has the answers to Gale’s bizarre history. It turns out he was a student of goddess Mystra, and after some time, they fell in love. Gale then discovered a part of a highly volatile Weave, which is now buried within his chest.
If Gale doesn’t consume any magic items, the orb could explode. And, as Gale says himself, the eruption would be strong enough to level a city the size of Waterdeep. Fortunately, it seems as though Elminster Aumar stops his cravings permanently and allows you to continue Gale’s questline, which is strongly tied to the orb and Weave.