How to Fix Baldur’s Gate 3 Black Party Member Portrait

By Lidia Rozo | 2023-08-14 03:40:22
Learn How to Fix Baldur’s Gate 3 Black Party Member Portrait with our easy-to-follow guide. Get back to gaming quickly.
Baldur's Gate 3 has quickly become one of the most captivating role-playing games of recent times. However, like any complex game, it is not immune to occasional issues. One such issue that players have encountered is the black party member portrait bug. This bug can be frustrating and diminishes the immersive experience of the game. In this blog post, we will discuss various solutions to help you fix the black party member portrait issue and regain the full enjoyment of Baldur's Gate 3.

 Restart BG3


One of the simplest and most effective solutions to address the black party member portrait bug is to restart the game. This may seem like an obvious step, but it is often overlooked. To restart Baldur's Gate 3, follow these steps:
  • 1. Save your progress and exit the game.
  • 2. Close the game completely.
  • 3. Restart your computer to ensure a fresh start.
  • 4. Open Baldur's Gate 3 and check if the black party member portrait issue has been resolved.

Restarting the game can help clear any temporary glitches or conflicts that may be causing the bug. If the issue persists, we can explore other solutions.

 Use Mask of the Shapeshifter


The Mask of the Shapeshifter is a powerful in-game item that can potentially resolve the black party member portrait issue. This item allows your character to transform into various creatures, which can sometimes fix graphical glitches. To use the Mask of the Shapeshifter and potentially resolve the issue:

  • 1. Locate the Mask of the Shapeshifter in your inventory.
  • 2. Equip the Mask on your character.
  • 3. Activate the Mask's transformation ability.
  • 4. Check if the black party member portrait issue is resolved.


While this solution may not work for everyone, it has been successful for some players. If your issue persists, there are still other avenues to explore.


 Change your class/Respec through Necromancer Withers


In Baldur's Gate 3, your character's class defines their abilities, skills, and appearance. Changing your class or respec (re-speccing) your character can sometimes resolve the black party member portrait bug. Necromancer Withers is an NPC (non-player character) in the game who can help you with this process. Here's how you can change your class or respec your character through Necromancer Withers:

  • 1. Locate Necromancer Withers in the game world.
  • 2. Speak to Necromancer Withers and express your desire to change your class or respec your character.
  • 3. Follow the dialogue options provided by Necromancer Withers to make the desired changes.
  • 4. Once the changes are made, check if the black party member portrait issue is resolved.


Changing your class or respecing your character can not only potentially fix the bug but also offer the opportunity to explore different playstyles and abilities within the game.


 Level up your character


Leveling up your character is an essential aspect of any role-playing game, and it can also help resolve the black party member portrait bug in Baldur's Gate 3. When you level up, your character's attributes and abilities improve, and this progression can often address graphical glitches. Here are some tips to efficiently level up your character:

  • 1. Engage in combat encounters and defeat enemies to gain experience points (XP).
  • 2. Complete quests and objectives to earn additional XP.
  • 3. Allocate attribute points strategically to maximize your character's strengths.
  • 4. Choose new abilities and spells that complement your playstyle.
  • 5. Regularly save your progress to avoid losing any hard-earned XP.


Leveling up your character not only enhances your gameplay experience but also increases the likelihood of resolving the black party member portrait bug.


 Other solutions


If the above solutions did not resolve the black party member portrait bug, here are some additional steps you can try:


1.  Repair the game: Sometimes, game files can become corrupted or damaged, resulting in various issues. To repair the game files, follow these steps:

  • i. Open the Steam client and navigate to your library.
  • ii. Right-click on Baldur's Gate 3 and select "Properties."
  • iii. Go to the "Local Files" tab and click on "Verify Integrity of Game Files."
  • iv. Wait for the process to complete and check if the issue is resolved.


2. Try switching APIs: Baldur's Gate 3 offers two different APIs (Application Programming Interfaces) – DirectX11 and Vulkan. Switching between these APIs can sometimes resolve graphical issues. To switch APIs, follow these steps:

  • i. Open the game and navigate to the settings menu.
  • ii. Look for the graphics options and find the API selection.
  • iii. Change the API from DirectX11 to Vulkan or vice versa.
  • iv. Restart the game and see if the black party member portrait issue is resolved.


3. Update the game: Developers often release patches and updates to address bugs and improve gameplay. Ensure that you have the latest version of Baldur's Gate 3 installed. To update the game, follow these steps:

  • i. Open the Steam client and navigate to your library.
  • ii. Right-click on Baldur's Gate 3 and select "Properties."
  • iii. Go to the "Updates" tab and choose to update the game automatically.
  • iv. Wait for the update to download and install, then check if the issue is resolved.


4. Load a previous save: If all else fails, loading a previous save file can act as a temporary workaround. Ensure you have a recent save file where the black party member portrait bug does not occur and load that save to continue playing until a permanent solution is found.


In this blog post, we have explored various solutions to fix the black party member portrait bug in Baldur's Gate 3. Restarting the game, using the Mask of the Shapeshifter, changing your character's class or respecing through Necromancer Withers, leveling up your character, repairing the game files, switching APIs, updating the game, and loading a previous save are all potential solutions that can help resolve this issue. Remember to try these solutions one at a time and test if the bug has been addressed before moving on to the next option. It is important to enjoy the full immersive experience of Baldur's Gate 3, and fixing the black party member portrait issue will undoubtedly enhance your gameplay journey.

Tags: Dungeons & Dragons, Larian Studios, RPG game, Baldur’s Gate 3 characters, Baldur’s Gate 3 tips, Baldur’s Gate 3 up
Platform(s): Microsoft Windows PC, Stadia, macOS
Genre(s): Role-playing
Developer(s): Larian Studios
Publisher(s): Larian Studios
Release date: 6 October 2020
Mode: Single-player, multiplayer
Age rating (PEGI): 16+
Video preview



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