How to save Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3

There are a lot of choices in Baldur’s Gate 3 and one of the first happens in the game’s prologue where you’ll have to decide whether to save Shadowheart or not.

As a High Elf and Cleric who belongs to the Trickery domain in Baldur’s Gate 3, Shadowheart will come in handy in numerous situations as she can heal, deal damage, and also raise ally defenses. However, you’ll find her trapped in a Mind flayer pod captured by the Illithid mind flayers.

If you want to save her (which we recommend doing as she can become a powerful ally) here’s exactly how you can do so.

How to free Shadowheart from the Mind flayer Pod?

Shadowheart is a valuable party member in Baldur’s Gate 3 who will come in quite handy if you want to defeat Commander Zhalk and the Mindflayer. Here’s how you can rescue and recruit her:

1. Travel through the fleshy door marked Sphincter north of the pod and walk forward.
2. Go up the stairs and loot the body of the Dead Thrall to get the Eldritch Rune. You can also loot the other valuable items such as a Gold Key which can be used to unlock a chest outside the room.
3. Head back to Shadowheart, interact with the console, and select “Insert the rune into the socket.”
4. As you place your hand on the console, you will be prompted to use your Illithid Wisdom to “Will the pod to open” or “Ignore the sensation.”
5. Select Illithid Wisdom and set Shadowheart free which will automatically add her to your party.

There is also a way to save her without using the Key or the Rune. This can only be done if using a Wizard or Warlock class though. In such cases, you will need to pass the skill check. If this works, then you can free Shadowheart without following any of the steps mentioned above.

What happens if you don’t save Shadowheart?

Not saving Shadowheart does not have any repercussions, as you will encounter her right after the prologue regardless.

The only difference is that she won’t be waiting on the beach where you wake up but will be waiting by the entrance of the Dank Crypt, as indicated on the map above. You can then choose to recruit her and even romance her.

Can you save Shadowheart and her parents?

Spoiler warning: Spoilers for Act 2 and 3 of Baldur’s Gate 3

Yes, you can save Shadowheart and her parents, but doing so has significant consequences. To find Shadowheart’s parents, you must first travel to the House of Grief, where they’re located in the deepest chamber, as indicated on the map above.

Shadowheart’s personal quest will lead her to find Nightsong. If she chooses to kill her, she will become a Dark Justiciar, and if she chooses to free her, she will turn her back on Shar. 

If you go down the Dark Justiciar Shadowheart path, Shar will demand that Shadowheart kill her parents as part of her final trial. This will make Shadowheart all the more powerful but also condemn her parents to Shar’s torment forever.

If you go with the Selûnite Shadowheart path, choosing to turn her back on Shar, Shar will again demand Shadowheart’s parents’ deaths, but this will free her of the painful curse of Shar. Additionally, Shadowheart’s parents will become Moonmotes and always travel with Shadowheart as celestial lights.

Now you know how to save Shadowheart and the repercussions it has on the story. You can even get more of her story by choosing to romance Shadowheart. Check out whether or not you can romance multiple companions if you wish to romance other characters as well.