Much of the time, speak with animals can reveal hidden information, leading players to discover a new way to progress a quest, a hidden treasure, or a concealed character detail. That's all well and good, but sometimes, the best uses of speak with animals are those that just introduce the party to a new furred or feathered friend. The animals of Baldur's Gate 3 are unbelievably talkative, and like the rest of the game's characters, many of them are impactful, memorable, or just downright hilarious. Whether they're for practical purposes or just for fun, these are some of the best uses of speak with animals in Baldur's Gate 3.

10 Taming Timber

A now-infamous scene from Baldur's Gate 3 has the party encountering a standoffish squirrel in the Emerald Grove, with the interaction usually ending in Timber's death by kicking. But as a matter of fact, it is possible to befriend Timber, and it's that much easier when he and the player can speak the same language. Talking to Timber reveals that he's actually a squirrel pup, and he's made nervous by the party impinging on his territory. A quick Persuasion or Intimidation check, and Timber backs down. He gives Tav some crafting materials, but reminds them to stay out of his trees.

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8 Biscotti The Good Dog

In Rivington, there's a sweet little dog who almost looks like a golden brown version of Scratch. Players might notice the pink bow on his head, and amble over to say hello. But Biscotti only wants one thing, and if someone in the party has speak with animals active, he'll ask outright. Biscotti just lives to be called a good dog, and if the party tells him as much, he'll rejoice dramatically. This dialogue option can be repeated multiple times, even though the result is always the same. It doesn't reveal much of practical use, but the result is a very cute scene.

7 Steelclaw The Huntress

This apex predator seems to have jumped right out of the pages of a Warrior Cats novel and into Baldur's Gate 3. Steelclaw stalks the parapets of Moonrise Tower, making Mind Flayer Tadpoles her prey. She can't help the party find any more Tadpoles, but when speak with animals is on, she delivers a scathing monologue about her lust for the hunt. But don't worry, she's totally friendly to humanoids - as long as they don't encroach on her hunting grounds.

6 Recon For Commander Lightfeather

Commander Lightfeather leads a squad of messenger pigeons in Rivington, and as far as he's concerned, there's a war going on. Not against the Absolute, mind, as in his own opinion there's no such thing as an Illithid threat. No, Commander Lighfeather is more concerned about the cats that prowl Rivington's rooftops, and if the party casts speak with animals, he'll ask them to do a little reconnaissance. The party can visit the site of a recent battle, finding little but blood, feathers, and a satiated cat. Bring back the bad news, and the Commander simply ires their sacrifice. Karlach can also gain a point of Inspiration from this encounter.

5 Worshiping His Majesty

This fine feline fancies himself a king, and he has the attitude to match. If the party approaches him with speak with animals active, he greets them with a resounding, "Hiss! I say: HISS!" He won't let the party get anywhere near him. He will, however, permit them to ire him from a distance while he casts aspersions on his subjects at the Last Light Inn. His Majesty was originally portrayed as a hairless Sphinx, but was changed in Patch 3 of Baldur's Gate 3 to a longhair breed. Thankfully, after significant player uproar, he was reverted to his original, balder form.

4 The Mystery Of The Strange Ox

The Strange Ox is a recurring character in Baldur's Gate 3. First encountered in the tiefling settlement outside Emerald Grove, he'll follow the party throughout the game, appearing again at Last Light Inn, and later Rivington. The party can use speak with animals on him at any point, but if they ever ask about his origins, he'll become immediately hostile. If he lives long enough to be met in Rivington, he'll ask for their help getting into the city proper. Eventually, the party comes to the revelation that he's actually an ooblex, a type of gelatinous creature, who's been disguising himself as an ox the entire time.

3 Main Character Malta

"It was just another day in the city of lies" when the party met Malta, the longhair orange cat, on the streets of Baldur's Gate. In Malta's mind, he's the hero of his own story - and that story just happens to be a film noir. He immediately recognizes Tav as a fellow main character, and invites them to work together on their respective world-saving quests. Tav is actually supposed to decline; if they don't, Malta says they've failed his first test by being too trusting. But even if they the test, there's nothing more to this interaction. Malta slinks off into the night, never to be seen again.

2 Becoming Myshka's Mother

At first, speak with animals might not seem to work on Myshka, who just speaks in a series of vaguely feline murmurs anyway. But as it turns out, Myshka speaks a rare cat tongue called Mriaer, and he's looking for his mother. Tav can respond, "It is me, my son," to immediately adopt Myshka, who'll then follow them around the Lower City until they leave the area. Unfortunately, Myshka can't come back to camp, but he can be re-recruited to follow the party around whenever they're hanging out in the Lower City.

1 Recruiting Scratch

In one case, speak with animals can actually help recruit a whole new party member. Scratch is first encountered near his original human's body. Presumably, his owner was killed in the goblin raid on the Blighted Village, but poor Scratch thinks his late friend is just asleep. Players can use Perception, Intimidation, or Animal Handling to calm the agitated Scratch, but all three options are easier with speak with animals active. Either way, if they pet him, Scratch will show up at camp a couple of days later. He occasionally digs up random items to share with the party, and may be called into battle with the find familiar spell.

Speak with animals is one of the best spells in Baldur's Gate 3. It can be learned by characters of many different classes, or even imitated with the proper potion, so it's easy enough to pick up. Between useful quest interactions, handy little secrets, and entertaining characters, speak with animals reveals a lot about the Forgotten Realms, unlocking tons of content that wouldn't otherwise be available. One way or another, it's worth having in the party in Baldur's Gate 3.