How to free Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3 – Prologue in BG3

Looking to free Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3? Shadowheart is one of the first, and arguably the best companions you’ll run into at the opening of Baldur’s Gate 3. Most players will want to make sure they don’t miss out and get the opportunity to add her to the party.

There are plenty of companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, each with their own playstyle. You may want to check out our best Karlach build in Baldur’s Gate 3 as well as our best Wyll companion build.

Here, we’ll cover how you can free Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3 and add her to your party. Shadowheart is one of the game’s most popular Baldur’s Gate 3 companions. She also has a Baldur’s Gate 3 romance questline that spans all the game’s three Acts. If you want to pursue either of those relationships with her, read on.

How to free Shadowheart in BG3

To free Shadowheart from the Mind Flayer pod, you’ll need to complete the following steps.

1. Reach the room where Shadowheart’s pod is located, near the end of the Nautiloid ship in Act One.
2. Examine the console just to the right of Shadowheart and her pod. An Arcana check lets you spot that “there’s magic at work here.” There will be an empty socket which something can be placed into.
3. Head through the sphincter to the room East of the Mindflayer Pod Shadowheart is in.
4. You’ll find another pod with a figure inside. Walk past it to the opposite end of the room.
5. Search the body of the “Dead Thrall” next to the Elaborate Chest (Cartilaginous Chest). They’ll have an Eldritch Rune on them. The Elaborate key or a Sleight of Hand check can be used to open the chest.
6. Return to Shadowheart. Place the Rune into the socket on the console and then interact with the console again.
7. Select the option that pops up: “Illithid (Wisdom): Will the pod to open.” This will free Shadowheart with the powered-up console.

Once freed, you can speak to her. She’ll then become a party member for the remainder of the Nautiloid tutorial. As a Barbarian, a Strength check lets you rip the pod lid straight off. If you don’t save her here, you’ll find Shadowheart near a large doorway that leads to the Abandoned Ruins. Otherwise, head to Druid Grove and you’ll find her with the Tiefling refugees and Druids.

Note that certain Baldur’s Gate 3 classes, like the Wizard and Warlock, or characters with certain Arcane skills can attempt to hack the console without the Eldritch Rune, bypassing this part of the sequence.

Should you free Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3?

We would definitely recommend freeing Shadowheart from the Mind Flayer pod when you reach it. Not only is the puzzle pretty easily solved, but there’s little downside to doing it unless you’re trying everything to stay on Lae’zel’s good side.

Shadowheart is a capable companion, and her assistance is a real boon throughout the rest of the first act. She’ll also be grateful to you for freeing her when you run into her later on in the game. This makes freeing her a quick and easy way to score some good repertoire with the character. Don’t expect elaborate dialog options just yet. Lae’zel will cut your conversation short and ask you to get to the helm.

As a Trickery Domain Cleric, she has access to powerful spells like Guidance and Guiding Bolt. The former is a godsend while clearing skill checks like the ones in Baldur’s Gate 3 Necromancy of Thay. Shadowheart can also hold her own in combat with radiant damage bonuses on her weapons.

She’s a godsend against Commander Zhalk, the first boss in the game. Defeat him and his cambions to get the Everburn Blade, a magic greatsword. This lets you fulfill the tutorial’s ultimate goal of getting to the helm of the ship and teleporting it elsewhere. As a recent prisoner of the mindflayers, she also has a tadpole in her brain like your other allies.

That covers everything you need to know about how to free Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3. There are plenty of other moments like this throughout the game that are easy to miss out on if you’re not sure what to do. If you’re struggling to move the Baldur’s Gate 3 scuffed rock, we’ve got you covered. Check out our Baldur’s Gate 3 Arcane Tower guide if you’re scouring the Underdark for loot.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Free Shadowheart – FAQ

How do you get Shadowheart to like you in BG3?

Shadowheart, despite being a follower of Shar, likes kindness and compassionate actions, as well as good use of persuasion and deception in speech to avoid unnecessary violence.

Is Shadowheart a good companion?

Shadowheart is an excellent companion. Not only is she a well-written and often endearing character, but her vast utility as a Cleric makes her a versatile and competent support unit in almost any engagement.