Shadowheart is one of the companions in Baldur’s Gate 3. She is a Half-Elf Acolyte who is on her own mission to deliver a special artifact to Baldur’s Gate. Unbeknownst to everybody, and even to herself, Shadowheart has been living a different life than what she should have been living. Read ahead as we talk more about Shadowheart and how to recruit her as a companion in Baldur’s Gate 3.
BG3: How to recruit Shadowheart
Shadowheart can be first seen in a pod within the Nautiloid where you can choose to rescue her. She will offer herself to join your party and will join you up until the ship crashes. If you are successful in setting her free, you will then see Shadowheart again by the Ravaged Beach unconscious, otherwise she will be at the entrance to the Dank Crypt just north of the beach.
BG3: Shadowheart Companion Quest – Daughter of Darkness
After recruiting Shadowheart into the party, her companion quest called Daughter of Darkness will start. Continue progressing through the game until you reach the Blighted Village where a statue in the village will cause something strange to Shadowheart’s magic.
Throughout more interactions, you will slowly discover that Shadowheart isn’t what she seems and that she is actually a worshiper of Shar. If you wish to keep her in the party, you can do so, otherwise you will have the option to let her take her own journey at this point and end her quest abruptly.
If you decide to keep Shadowheart in the party, the next objective on her quest will take you to the Underdark, and eventually in the Grymforge where she learns more about Shar and her followers. As you venture further into the second act, you will find yourselves in the Gauntlet of Shar which houses different trials to test those who enter it. After completing the trial, your party will be sent to a realm where you meet the Nightsong.
During the confrontation, Shadowheart will be left conflicted on what to do. Choosing to spare Nightsong will cause Shadowheart to learn the truth behind her identity; that Shadowsong was once a Selunite who has been taken away from her family by the followers of Shar. She was then raised and conditioned to be part of the church to do Shar’s bidding.
This revelation, together with knowing that both her parents are still alive, causes Shadowheart to disavow Shar as her goddess and finally accept Selune’s blessings. She then sets out to find where the other Sharrans are hiding to learn more about where her parents are being kept.
After facing Mother Superior and the rest of the Sharran forces within the House of Grief, Shadowheart then learns that her parents are kept within the Chamber of Loss. There, she is forced to make a very difficult decision: she can set her parents free and live with them once more, but Shar’s curse will still be with her, or she can let their souls be laid to rest and finally sever her ties with Shar. Going through with any of the options will complete the quest.
BG3: Shadowheart Personality and Preferences
Shadowheart highly values privacy and resolution through peaceful ways, which also makes her often disapprove not only of decisions that involve violence, but she is also against other people that have violent tendencies like Lae’zel. Choices that involve deception and trickery are part of the choices that Shadowheart approves of, as long as it does not result in an immediate fight.
Shadowheart is also romanceable and to gain her approval even more, you will need to spend more time with her during long rests in the camp. While conversing with her, you don’t have to be pushy, especially when she expresses some discomfort about the topic.
One important turning point for your relationship with Shadowheart is during your confrontation with the Nightsong; convincing Shadowheart to spare the Nightsong will make Shadowheart abandon Shar, otherwise she will keep her role as the one chosen by Shar who is fully devoted to even be in a relationship with someone.
Your relationship with Shadowheart will be set once you get the intimate moment where she invites you to go swimming in the water; an activity that she is deathly afraid to do because of some past trauma.
BG3: Shadowheart Stats
Shadowheart is a Cleric following the Trickery Domain with an Acolyte background. She is a High Half-Elf which gives her the ability to gain one High Elf Cantrip, plus Darkvision. She has the following base stats:
- Str: 13
- Dex: 13
- Con: 14
- Int: 10
- Wis: 17
- Cha: 8
- Initiative: +1
After successfully recruiting Shadowheart, players will begin to choose which spells, classes, and gear she is best suited to use. Check out our Best Shadowheart build guide as such for complete details.