How to free Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3

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.

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, and Baldur’s Gate 3 romance options. If you want to pursue either of those relationships with her, read on.

How to free Shadowheart

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 ship in Act One.
2. Examine the console just to the right of her pod. There will be an empty socket which something can be placed into.
3. Head through the sphincter to the room to the east of the chamber 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 Cartilaginous Chest. They’ll have an Eldritch Rune on them.
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.

Once freed, you can speak to her. She’ll then become a party member for the remainder of the Nautiloid tutorial.

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

Should you free Shadowheart?

We would definitely recommend freeing Shadowheart from the Mind Flayer pod when you reach it. Not only is the puzzle pretty easily solved, 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.

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 or unsure of where to find Halsin, we’ve got you covered.

How do you get Shadowheart to like you?

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 make her a versatile and competent support unit in almost any engagement.