To rescue Shadowheart, the enigmatic cleric trapped within a Mind Flayer pod in Baldur’s Gate 3, players must navigate the perilous Nautiloid ship during the prologue. This guide will walk you through the essential steps to free her, ensuring you don’t miss out on this vital companion. Locate the Eldritch Rune, activate the console, and make a crucial Illithid Wisdom check to unlock her pod. Your decision to save her not only impacts your party’s strength but also influences your relationship with Shadowheart, making this rescue mission a pivotal moment in your adventure.
Shadowheart is a Half-Elf who serves as a Trickery Domain Cleric, which can join your party and provide you with healing abilities, buffs, and intriguing spells for stealth and deception. So, if you want Shadowheart to join your party, it’s important to rescue her from the Mind Flayer Pod, where she’s captive.
Where To Find Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3
To find Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3, players will encounter her early in the game while exploring the Nautiloid ship during the prologue. She is trapped inside a Mind Flayer pod, and rescuing her is crucial for adding her to your party. After defeating some enemies, players will come across her pod and need to locate an Eldritch Rune in a nearby room to unlock it. Once freed, Shadowheart will fall out of the pod, and players must speak with her to officially recruit her into their party. If players miss this opportunity, she can also be found later on the beach near the Abandoned Ruins, where she will still offer to join the party, albeit with a potential decrease in approval if she was not rescued earlier.
You will find Shadowheart captive in the Mind Flayer Pod on the Nautiloid ship shortly after you have added an Intellect Devourer (the talking brain) and Lae’zel to your party. Simply approach her pod, and a cutscene will begin where she asks you to release her.
Go through the dialogue options and let her know that you’ll look for a way to get this thing open.
The other Mind Flayer Pods won’t have anyone interesting except for the one located next to the room you are about to enter.
How To Open the Mind Flayer Pod To Save Shadowheart in BG3
To open the Mind Flayer pod and rescue Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3, players must first locate the Eldritch Rune. This rune can be found on a Dead Thrall corpse in an adjacent room to the right of the pod. After retrieving the rune, return to the console next to Shadowheart’s pod and insert it into the socket. This action activates the console, allowing players to interact further. They can either place their hand on the console or attempt an Arcana check to gain additional context about the device. To successfully free Shadowheart, players must then pass a simple Wisdom check by choosing to “will the pod to open.” If successful, the pod will open, releasing Shadowheart and allowing her to join the party. Failing to rescue her does not result in her death, but it may affect her approval rating later in the game.
Once you’re done talking to Shadowheart, head towards the eastern room. Enter through the “Sphincter” door and collect the Scimitar and the Gold Key of the Dead Thrall nearby. We will use the key to open a locked chest for some extra loot a bit later.
Now, go to the back of the room behind the Mind Flayer Pod and take the stairs to find another Dead Thrall on the ground. Interact with it and take all the loot, including the Eldritch Rune, which will allow you to open the pod. Also, collect all the nearby loot by opening the Cartilaginous Chest and picking the Slave Mind.
Return to the room with Shadowheart’s pod, and open the Elaborate Reliquary (chest) using the Gold Key you found earlier for a bit of loot. The chest is on the opposite side of Shadowheart’s pod. Now, interact with the console near the Shadowheart’s pod, and go through the available choices for a chance to free her.
Although it is possible to open the pod without the Eldritch Rune, it may not be as satisfying. While it is a simple task, it takes away from the sense of accomplishment that comes with doing things your own way. If you happen to be playing as a Sorcerer, Warlock, or Barbarian, you can simply bypass the rune and release Shadowheart.
Afterward, she will suggest accompanying you to the helm. As soon as you leave the Nautiloid ship, you’ll discover her lying unconscious on the nearby Ravaged Beach. She’ll express her gratitude for your earlier rescue and propose joining your group.
In case Shadowheart is not released from her pod on the Nautiloid ship, you can locate her at the entryway of the Dank Crypt (Abandoned Ruins) located at the northern tip of the Ravaged Beach. There, she will propose to join your group.
What other companions can I recruit early in Baldur’s Gate 3
In Baldur's Gate 3, players can recruit several companions early in the game, each contributing unique abilities and storylines to your adventure. Here’s a list of the companions you can find shortly after the prologue:
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Astarion: A High Elf Rogue, Astarion can be found on the beach after the crash of the Nautiloid. He will initially appear to be in need of help, but a successful Perception check reveals his ulterior motives. Helping him leads to his recruitment.
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Gale: This Human Wizard is located just north of the crash site, near a magical portal. Interacting with the portal allows you to rescue him, making him a valuable addition to your party with his spellcasting abilities.
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Lae'zel: A Githyanki Fighter, Lae'zel is encountered on the Nautiloid and will join you almost immediately after the crash due to your shared predicament. She is known for her combat prowess and straightforward demeanor.
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Wyll: After escaping the crash site, you can find Wyll, a Human Warlock, in the Emerald Grove. He is involved in a skirmish against goblins, and assisting him will allow you to recruit him.
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Karlach: A Barbarian, Karlach can be recruited after you help her fend off pursuers in the Emerald Grove. If you handle the situation diplomatically, she will gladly join your party.
These companions not only enhance your combat capabilities but also enrich the narrative with their individual backstories and quests.
What are the best classes for each companion
In Baldur's Gate 3, each companion has a class that aligns with their unique abilities and lore. Here are the best classes for each of the main companions you can recruit early in the game:
Astarion
- Best Class: Rogue (Thief or Assassin)
- Reason: Astarion's background as a vampire spawn and his stealthy nature make him an ideal fit for the Rogue class, particularly as a Thief for enhanced mobility and utility or as an Assassin for high burst damage.
Gale
- Best Class: Wizard (Evocation or Divination)
- Reason: As a wizard with a focus on arcane knowledge and magical prowess, Gale thrives in the Wizard class. Evocation allows him to deal significant damage, while Divination can enhance party tactics.
Lae'zel
- Best Class: Fighter (Battle Master)
- Reason: Lae'zel's martial prowess and combat skills align perfectly with the Fighter class, particularly the Battle Master subclass, which emphasizes tactical superiority in battle.
Shadowheart
- Best Class: Cleric (Trickery Domain)
- Reason: Shadowheart's role as a cleric of Shar fits well with the Trickery Domain, allowing her to utilize deception and stealth while providing healing and support to the party.
Wyll
- Best Class: Warlock (Fiend Pact)
- Reason: Wyll's pact with a devil aligns him with the Warlock class, specifically the Fiend Pact, which enhances his spellcasting and reflects his dark backstory.
Karlach
- Best Class: Barbarian (Berserker)
- Reason: Karlach's fierce and aggressive nature makes her a natural fit for the Barbarian class, particularly the Berserker subclass, which focuses on raw power and rage in combat.
These class choices not only enhance the companions' individual strengths but also contribute to a well-rounded party dynamic, allowing players to tackle various challenges throughout the game.
