Summary
- Shadowheart is a versatile character who can excel as a healer or DPS dealer/melee fighter.
- Different builds and gear choices can enhance Shadowheart's performance in various roles.
- Unique armors like Browbeaten Circlet, Dark Justiciar Half-Plate, and Adamantine Shield offer powerful abilities.
Shadowheart is one of the most popular Companion characters in Baldur's Gate 3, and that's not only because she has one of the best storylines. The Cleric is one of the most versatile classes, so even though Shadowheart is cast as a healer by her fellow Sharrans she can also be a DPS dealer or melee fighter once she's recruited by Tav.
Baldur's Gate 3: Best Shadowheart Build
Shdowheart is a great healer and addition to the player's party in BG3.
There are a variety of roles and builds that she can take as a member of your party, and it's possible to change her subclass or multiclass with the help of Withers. That makes it difficult to say what gear would be the best for her overall when the choices are highly dependent on the specific, unique build.
Updated February 14, 2025 by Kristy Ambrose: The steady stream of awards for BG3 continued to fill up the shelves at Larian Studios well into 2024, along with excited talk about the studio's future projects.
Although Sven Vicke and his team won't be adding any content in the shape of DLCs or sequels, small patches, and maintenance will continue along with some bigger additions in Patch 8, which includes a new Domain for Clerics and even more possibilities to customize Shadowheart.
12 Luminous Armor
In A Locked, Opulent Chest In The Selunite Outpost
- 15 AC + Dexterity modifier, grants the Radiating Shockwave ability
Clerics and Paladins are the classes known for their Radiant damage, and the former has access to several spells to choose from that do either Necrotic or Radiant damage. Regardless of her chosen Domain, Shadowheart always has Guiding Light and 
Spirit Guardians, and the Luminous Armor makes spells like these even better.
It's stashed in an opulent chest in the Selunite Outpost in the Underdark, so it's easy to find provided you can pick a lock. Thanks to Radiating Shockwave, every time Shadowheart deals Radiant damage, she causes a Radiant Shockwave like the spell of the same name. This condition also takes -1 from an enemy's attack rolls and casts Radiating Orb in an area that covers a 10ft radius.
11 Elegant Studded Leather
Locked In High-Security Vault 9 Of The Counting House
- 14 AC + Dexterity modifier, grants the Ambusher ability and the Shield condition
The Elegant Studded Leather has decent stats for Light Armor and is of an impressive Very Rare quality. For those times when Shadowheart wants to stay out of combat and heal, it's one of the best choices. Its one major drawback is that it's a reward for a quest in the Baldur's Gate Counting House, which happens later in Act 3.
Baldur's Gate 3: Top 10 Shadowheart Quotes
As one of the most romanced characters, players have been really taken by Shadowheart's witty repartee. These are some of her best lines.
The Ambusher ability gives Shadowheart a +2 bonus to Initiative, which can be crucial to getting an advantage in battle and organizing the fight. The Shield is a level one Abjuration spell that gives the caster immunity from 
Magic Missile, and a +5 increase to their armor class.
10 Browbeaten Circlet
In The Evidence Chest Of Moonrise Towers Prison
- Uncommon quality and grants the wearer the Browbeaten condition
This item is ideal for a Shadowheart build that emphasizes her spellcasting powers, in particular those of a healer. The circlet is light armor that can worn by any class or spec, and it can be found locked in the evidence chest in Moonrise Towers. The chest is locked, but it's possible to pick it, or kill the Warden and loot the key.
The Browbeaten condition is a beneficial, passive ability that gives the wearer a +1 bonus to their spell save DC while they have the Threatened condition. This is when a character is within striking distance of an enemy, which usually gives Shadowheart a Disadvantage on her attack rolls.
9 Armour Of The Sporekeeper
Sold By Mystic Carrion
- 13 AC + Dexterity modifier, grants abilities Malefic Funghi and Spore Sacks
It's quite clear that this armor is designed specifically for a Druid of the Sporekeeper Conclave. However, should the player decide to build Shadowheart with a focus on Necrotic damage, this would be the ideal armor for her. Every time she deals Necrotic damage with a spell, like Harm or 
Vampiric Touch, the ability Malefic Funghi gives her +1 to all damage and another +1 bonus to her spell save DC.
Baldur’s Gate 3: 10 Best Weapons For Shadowheart
Though she's a Cleric, Shadowheart can equip some incredibly powerful weapons in Baldur's Gate 3. Here are the best ones that players should give her.
Spore Sacks, meanwhile, allows the wearer to use the ability to spread different kinds of spores that can harm enemies and benefit allies. This is an ability that only Sporekeeper Druids have, and they get it when they choose their Circle. Multiclassing Shadowheart into a few Druid levels just to give her this ability would give her a deadly DPS or healing build, but even without this feature, it's still a nice chest piece.
8 Dark Justiciar Half-Plate
Reward From Shar For Slaying The Nightsong
- 17 AC + Dexterity modifier, Advantage on Constitution saving throws, ability to cast Shar's Aegis once per day
- Passive abilities: Shar's Umbrae and Shar's Protection
The death of the Nightsong has interesting consequences for both the storyline of the game and its immediate environment, along with Shadowheart's personality. If the player chooses this route, it solidifies her connection to the dark goddess Shar, who gives her the Dark Justicar Half-Plate as a reward for her loyalty.
This armor is of Very Rare quality, and even though it includes "plate" in its name, it's classified as Medium armor, so a Cleric can use it. It comes with several handy spells and abilities related to Shar, as well as typical Cleric spells like 
Shield of Faith, which works with Shar's Protection to create an AoE field of Necrotic damage around the wearer.
7 Glowing Shield
In A Locked Chest In The Goblin Camp
- +2 AC, grants the Loving Protection ability
Clerics can use shields, and sometimes it's helpful for Shadowheart to have one to boost her AC. She can wield weapons like spears and clubs as one-handed weapons, so if players don't mind her doing a bit less damage, it's a decent trade-off.
The 
Glowing Shield is hidden in a locked chest behind the Goblin Camp, so it's not hard to obtain but it is challenging to find. In addition to the AC boost, it also grants the ability Loving Protection, which allows the user to heal themselves once they drop below half of their health.
6 Dark Justiciar Mail
Looted From A Skeleton In Grymforge
- 13 AC + Dexterity modifier, grants the ability Nightsinger's Reply
It's an obvious choice for a Cleric of Shar, and easy to loot from one of two long-dead Dark Justiciars in Grymforge. One is by the dock, the other is by the Ancient Forge Waypoint. The Dark Justicar Mail is of an Uncommon quality and gives Shadowheart the passive ability, Nightsinger's Reply.
Baldur's Gate 3: How to Complete the Soft-Step Trial
Players that are struggling to reach the end of Baldur's Gate 3's Soft-Step Trial can find details on how to easily complete the test here.
Shadowheart has several abilities and spells that do Necrotic damage, and this unique skill gives her one more. Nightsinger's Reply automatically does 1d4 Necrotic damage to any enemy that hits her while she's Obscured.
5 Elven Chain
Purchase From Exxvikyap At The Rivington General Store
- 14 AC + Dexterity modifier, grants the passives Elven Chain and Elven Ability
Not every class can enjoy the protection of chain mail, but thanks to the passive skill Elven Chain, anyone who puts on this armor is automatically proficient with it. That also makes it ideal for other squishy classes like spellcasters, Druids, or Rogues.
Meanwhile, Elven Ability gives the character two advantages in battle by adding a +2 to their Initiative bonus and giving them Advantage on Dexterity saving throws. One more great thing about this armor is that it's easy to find from a vendor. Players don't need to go to the trouble of unlocking a chest or killing a boss.
The 
Elven Chain is found in the inventory of the Rivington General Store, and its price depends on how much proprietor Exxvikyap likes you. She's fond of her boss, the blacksmith Angleiron, who works upstairs on the roof. So, try not to kill him when he blames the party for Orin attacking him and taking his shape.
4 The Jolty Vest
Purchase Or Steal From Zhentarim Trader Brem
- +14 AC plus Dex modifier, grants Countershock and Superior Material
This Rare piece of Medium armor is available fairly early in the game, provided the player explores the Wilderness and finishes the "Find The Missing Shipment" quest. This quest leads the player to the Zhentarim hideout, where a trader named Brem is hawking his wares. This is also where the "Save The Artist" quest starts and where one of the entrances to the Underdark can be found, so it's worth a visit.
Baldur's Gate 3: Characters You Should Not Kill
Player decisions in Baldur's Gate 3 have a lot of power and can determine the fate of certain characters. The following should be kept alive.
One of the items in his inventory is 
The Jolty Vest. It's ideal for any Cleric, but especially for one of the Tempest subclass. Which specializes in Lightning damage. Superior Material gives the wearer +1 against Slashing damage, which is nice for a melee-fighting Cleric. Finally, Countershock has the potential to make an attacker Shocked if they fail a saving throw, but only if the wearer already has the Lightning Charges condition.
3 Armor Of Landfall
Purchase In Sorcerer's Sundries
- 13 AC + Dexterity modifier, Advantage on Constitution saving throws, grants the passive abilities High Spellcasting and Green Bed Regeneration
-
Level 3 Transmutation spell,
Plant Growth
This is a Druid's armor judging solely by the design, but there's nothing about the 
Armour of Landfall that another class couldn't use. Many of its properties are useful to a Cleric who focuses on healing and ranged damage. It can be found in Sorcerer's Sundries, but exactly who has it depends on how many survivors made it to the city from Act 1.
High Spellcasting gives Shadowheart a +1 to her spell-saving throws, and any kind of plant growth or vines will heal her thanks to Green Bed Generation. Plant Growth is a level 3 Transmutation spell that several classes can learn, and it gives her the ability to make pesky weeds and plants appear in a 60ft area to slow down enemies.