Baldur’s Gate 3 Shadowheart guide

Like all the companions in the DnD Game, Baldur’s Gate 3 Shadowheart is a complex hero with a story waiting to be uncovered. The dark-haired Cleric is secretive and more than a little sarcastic, but she can also be a cooperative and capable member of your adventuring party. Whether your interest is in combat or canoodling, there are plenty of reasons to learn more about Shadowheart before your next journey to Baldur’s Gate.

Now the Baldur’s Gate 3 release date is here, we can start uncovering all of Shadowheart’s secrets. We’ve still got plenty to play through, so we’ll be regularly updating this guide with details. For now, keep an eye on our other BG3 guides for top tips on Baldur’s Gate 3 classes, Baldur’s Gate 3 races, and Baldur’s Gate 3 romances – or maybe give our Baldur’s Gate 3 review a peruse. But now, let’s talk about our new favorite Baldur’s Gate 3 companion.

Here’s everything you need to know about Baldur’s Gate 3’s Shadowheart:

How to recruit Shadowheart

During Baldur’s Gate 3’s prologue, you’ll find Shadowheart trapped in a pod aboard the Mind Flayer Nautiloid. Place the right rune in a nearby console, and you’ll free the DnD Cleric. She’ll then join your party as you escape from the ship. After a successful escape, you’ll find Shadowheart unconscious on the Ravaged Beach, and she’ll offer to join your party as thanks for liberating her.

If you didn’t free Shadowheart on the Nautiloid, you’ll instead meet her outside of the abandoned ruins at the end of the Ravaged Beach. You may not have helped her out, but she’ll still offer to join you on your quest.

If you’ve still chosen to ignore Shadowheart (seriously, a bit rude), she’ll turn up again in the Druid’s Grove. She’s clearly very forgiving, as she’ll offer to join you again – though you’ll need to pass a Persuasion check to recruit her if Lae’zel is with you. 

Shadowheart stats

Shadowheart starts the game with leather boots, a chain shirt, a circlet, and a studded shield. She also has proficiency in Histroy, Medicine, Religion, and Insight.

Shadowheart companion quest

Beware of story spoilers ahead, gang.

Shadowheart’s individual story quest is ‘Daughter of Darkness’, and it can be activated in Chapter One, Act One of Baldur’s Gate 3. The starting objective is as follows: “We recruited a Half-Elf named Shadowheart. She was also aboard the Nautiloid – and infected with a parasite”.

Spend enough time talking to Shadowheart, and she’ll admit she’s a worshipper of the goddess Shar. Even if you don’t get friendly with Shadowheart, a vision from a mysterious source will force her to use the mysterious box you found her holding on the Nautiloid ship. This, it turns out, is some kind of weapon – and one your enemies are hunting for.

It turns out Shadowheart lost her memories so she couldn’t betray Shar or her mission – which is to deliver the weapon to Baldur’s Gate. She’s unable to tell you why a wound on her hand regularly causes her pain, and she doesn’t truly remember who she is outside of worshipping Shar.

Unless you’re planning to hand over Shadowheart’s weapon to the nearest Drow, this quest will progress naturally as you continue your adventure. Beware of spending too much time with enemies, however, as you’ll have to pass a lot of skill checks to avoid them figuring out the weapon they seek is right under their nose.

Shadowheart approval guide

Your actions during Baldur’s Gate 3 will increase or decrease Shadowheart’s approval. The most obvious way you can boost Shadowheart’s opinion of you is by making yourself an enemy of the Githyanki companion, Lae’zel.

Shadowheart really hates Lae’zel. If you can disagree with, challenge, or humiliate her, Shadowheart’s approval goes up. This also means Shadowheart’s approval improves any time you prioritize finding a healer and decline other options (including the one suggested by Lae’zel).

Shadowheart generally responds positively to non-violent solutions to your party’s problems. Showing mercy after battle and using Persuasion or Deception rather than force boosts Shadowheart’s approval in multiple scenarios (though trying to sweet-talk an enemy of the party might not always be the way to go).

You can also level up your relationship by showing kindness to animals. Using Speak with Animal and Animal Handling earns her approval on multiple occasions, and being friendly with Scratch the dog is an easy way to win her over.

Shadowheart also approves of your attempts to get to know her. She’ll need some persuasion to be open with you, and pushing too hard may actually upset her, but generally talking to her is a good way to get her to warm to you.

How to romance Shadowheart

Here’s the walkthrough on how to smooch your favourite Shar Cleric. First, ensure you have a positive relationship with Shadowheart, so your future advances aren’t rejected. Next, when speaking to Shadowheart at the campsite celebration, choose the following dialogue options:

• “Refugees?”
• “Are you worried Shar won’t approve?”
• “I’d be glad to.”
• “I’ll find you after everyone’s turned in for the night.”

If you’re a major D&D games lover we recommend trying out the original tabletop RPG. You can even get character sheets of characters like Shadowheart free on D&DBeyond.