Shadowheart Companion Build Guide

Welcome to my Shadowheart Build Guide for Baldur’s Gate 3! The goal of this guide is to show you the best way to setup Shadowheart in BG3. You can follow the recommendations below to play Shadowheart as your main character or have her assist your Tav as a Companion!

Table of Contents

• Who is Shadowheart
  • How to Recruit Shadowheart
  • Origin Info
• Best Class
• Cleric Class
  • Tempest Domain
• Additional Info
• How to Play Shadowheart
• Build Leveling Options
• Best Weapon
• Best Armor

Who is Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Shadowheart is one of the available Origin Characters that you can pick in Baldur’s Gate 3. As an origin character, you can pick Shadowheart at the start of the game as your main character and complete the game with her. Alternatively you can recruit her as a Companion and let her join your party.

How to Recruit Shadowheart in BG3?

Shadowheart is one of the first Companions you will meet in the game. The first time you see her, she is trapped inside a pod on the Nautiloid. You can choose to assist her or ignore her. If you get her out of the pod she will follow you inside the Nautiloid and help you escape. After the crash you will find her on the beach near your starting location. If you ignore her on the Nautiloid, you will still have a chance to recruit her later a few times.

Shadowheart Origin Info

Origin Characters have their own unique background, Class, abilities, skills and of course Race. Some of these options are impossible to change but you can alter the rest. As an Origin Character Shadowheart comes with the following:

• Race: High Half Elf
• Class: Trickery Domain Cleric
• Bakcground: Acolyte
• Skills: History, Religion, Insight, Medicine

It is impossible to change the Race and Background of Shadowheart in BG3 but we can pick a more appropriate Class, abilities and skills that will help more in the game!

What is the Best Class for Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3?

The Best Class for Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3 is Tempest Cleric! A flexible Cleric subclass that offers access to a few devastating spells. Shadowheart starts the game as a Trickery Domain Cleric which is simply not that useful. By switching her to the Tempest Domain we turn Shadowheart into an amazing Support character with strong Heals and powerful offensive spells. As a Tempest Cleric, Shadowheart is a great character to play as your main but also a very helpful BG3 Companion.

You can easily change the Class of Shadowheart but also every other character you can control in the game(Tav, Companions, Hirelings) with the help of Withers! You can find Withers by clearing the Dank Crypt early in the game, near your starting location basically. After that Withers will join your camp and offer various services, including the ability to change Classes!

Cleric Class in Baldur’s Gate 3

The Cleric is a Support Class in BG3 that also has access to offensive spells, buffs and debuffs. Depending on the Subclass you choose, you can play Cleric as a pure Healer or a more offensive support character that can use powerful spells against your enemies. The Subclasses of Cleric are called Domains and they are:

• Life
• Light
• Trickery
• Knowledge
• Nature
• Tempest
• War

The main ability for Clerics is Wisdom! Constitution is important for hit points and Concentration checks while Dexterity determines their armor class. The Best Cleric Domain for Shadowheart is the Tempest Domain.

Tempest Cleric Domain in BG3

Tempest is an amazing Cleric Domain that offers unique benefits to the Character. With the Tempest Domain you gain Heavy Armor and Martial Weapons proficiency, increasing your gearing options! You also unlock the following as you level up:

• Level 1 – Wrath of the Storm reaction and two Domain Spells(Thunderwave, Fog Cloud)
• Level 2 – Destructive Wrath Reaction
• Level 3 – two Domain Spells(Gust of Wind, Shatter)
• Level 5 – two Domain Spells(Call Lighting, Sleet Storm)
• Level 6 – Thunderbolt Strike Passive
• Level 7 – two Domain Spells(Freedom of Movement, Ice Storm)
• Level 8 – Divine Strike: Tempest
• Level 9 – two Domain Spells(Destructive Wave, Insect Plague)

Shadowheart Build Additional Info

Below you can see the best options for Shadowheart as a Tempest Cleric. Which abilities to choose and the best skills you should take.

Shadowheart Tempest Cleric Abilities

Wisdom is the most important ability for Shadowheart as a Tempest Cleric! This is why you should raise this ability as high as possible. Constitution and Dexterity are important as well and will offer a smoother experience. You can allocate the points to the other abilities in any way you like. However if you plan to play with Shadowheart as your main character, putting a few points to Charisma might make your life easier in dialogues. For a strong and reliable Shadowheart Tempest Cleric Build you should allocate your abilities like this:

• Strength – 10
• Dexterity – 14
• Constitution – 14
• Intelligence – 9
• Wisdom – 17
• Charisma – 10

Shadowheart Skills

You can pick the same skills for your Tempest Cleric Shadowheart Build. History, Religion, Insight, Medicine. If you wish you could remove points from Medicine or History and apply them to Persuasion for better and easier dialogues!

How to Play Shadowheart Cleric Tempest Build in BG3

Shadowheart is an amazing Companion that can offer support with her Heals and offensive Spells! As a Cleric your main goal is to strengthen your team with Buffs and keep them alive with strong heals. Thanks to the Tempest Domain Spells you can also assist offensively with powerful AOE Spells, that devastate groups of enemies.

Starting with a Bless spell is the best way to buff your allies and boost your party’s potential. Bless requires concentration to stay active, so make sure you stay away from enemies. Ice Storm, Sleet Storm, Call Lightning and Insect Plague are strong AOE Spells that can block off choke points and deal massive damage! Use your multiple Heal abilities to restore Health on your allies and keep fighting.

Shadowheart Tempest Cleric Build Leveling Process in Baldur’s Gate 3

Below you can find the best options and spells for Shadowheart in every level. Follow these recommendations to create a powerful Shadowheart Build that can support you in combat with heals and devastating spells.

Level 1 Best Options

When you change Shadowheart’s Class to the Tempest Domain you get to pick new Cantrips and spells for her! As a High Half Elf, Shadowheart has access to one extra Cantrip. Pick Fire Bolt for a more offensive approach. After all this is why you are switching to the Tempest Domain. The Best Cleric Cantrips for Shadowheart are:

• Guidance: Offers a boost to ability checks
• Sacred Flame: Offensive cantrip that deals Radiant damage
• Light: Infuses an object with Light.

You can also pick four Spells to prepare. These are the Best Spells for Shadowheart at level 1:

• Guiding Bolt – Deals Radiant damage and gives advantage against a target.
• Bless – Grants bonus to Attack Rolls and Saving Throws to your chosen allies.
• Cure Wounds – Heal a target in melee range
• Healing Word – Ranged Healing Spell

At this level you also gain the Wrath of the Storm reaction from your Tempest Domain as well as two Domain Spells

• Thunderwave: Pushes away creatures and objects while dealing Thunder damage.
• Fog Cloud: Blinds and obscures creatures within it.

Level 2 Best Options

At level 2 you unlock the Turn Undead spell and your Destructive Wrath Subclass reaction. You can also prepare five spells. Prepare the following Spells:

• Bless
• Cure Wounds
• Healing Word
• Guiding Bolt
• Sanctuary – You or an ally cannot be targeted until you attack or harm a creature.

Level 3 Best Options

When you reach level 3 you gain access to two more spells from the Tempest Domain:

• Shatter: Deals Thunder damage and hurts all nearby creatures and objects.
• Gust of Wind: Summons a wind that pushes creatures back.

You unlock level 2 Spells and can use them to prepare the following six Spells:

• Bless
• Cure Wounds
• Healing Word
• Guiding Bolt
• Sanctuary
• Aid – Heals allies and increases hit points.

Level 4 Best Shadowheart Build Options

When you reach level 4 you can pick your first Feat! Feats are powerful passive effects that can enhance your play style or help you alter your build! You can pick 3 Feats for your Shadowheart Build at levels 4, 8 and 12! As your first Feat, pick Ability Improvement and add 2 points to Wisdom. Like this your Wisdom score will rise up to nineteen(19) and your Tempest Cleric will be more effective! The Best Feats for Shadowheart as a Cleric are Ability Improvement, War Caster, Spell Sniper and Shield Master!

You can also pick one more Cantrip and prepare seven spells. Pick Blade Ward as your new Cantrip. Blade Ward reduces the damage you take from Bludgeoning, Piercing and Slashing attacks by half! Prepare the following spells:

• Bless
• Cure Wounds
• Healing Word
• Guiding Bolt
• Sanctuary
• Aid
• Hold Person – Holds a Humanoid still! Great crowd control spell.

Level 5 Best options

When you reach Level 5 you will unlock the Destroy Undead from the Cleric Class but also two more superb AOE spells from the Tempest Domain:

• Call Lightning: Deals AOE Lightning damage that you can move freely for the next rounds.
• Sleet Storm: Disrupts enemy casters and creates an Ice Surface.

At this level you unlock Level 3 Spells and can prepare the following Nine(9) Spells:

• Bless
• Cure Wounds
• Healing Word
• Guiding Bolt
• Sanctuary
• Aid
• Hold Person
• Prayer of Healing – Strong out of combat Heal
• Spirit Guardians – Summons spirits to protect you and deal Necrotic or Radiant Damage. Requires Concentration to maintain the spell.

Level 6 Best Options

At Level 6 you unlock the Thunderbolt Strike passive that pushes back targets when you deal Lightning or Thunder damage to them. You can now prepare the following ten(10) Spells:

• Bless
• Cure Wounds
• Healing Word
• Guiding Bolt
• Sanctuary
• Aid
• Hold Person
• Prayer of Healing
• Spirit Guardians
• Mass Healing Word – AOE Healing ability.

Level 7 Best Options

You can now start using powerful Level 4 Spells. You also unlock the amazing Ice Storm AOE Spell, that will help you deal easily with multiple enemies, along with Freedom of Movement!

• Ice Storm: Deals massive AOE Ice Damage and creates an Ice surface.
• Freedom of Movement: Removes stun from an ally and makes it so difficult terrain cannot slow them down.

At this level you can prepare Eleven(11) Spells:

• Bless
• Cure Wounds
• Healing Word
• Guiding Bolt
• Sanctuary
• Aid
• Hold Person
• Prayer of Healing
• Spirit Guardians
• Mass Healing Word
• Lesser Restoration – Cures a variety of afflictions.

Level 8 Best Shadowheart Cleric Build Options

At Level 8 you can pick another Feat for your Shadowheart Build. War Caster is the best option, a Feat that allows you to maintain Concentration easier but also unlocks the Shocking Grasp Cantrip as a Reaction! You get access to the Divine Strike: Thunder Action, that deals extra Thunder Damage when you make a melee attack. You can now prepare the following twelve(12) Spells:

• Bless
• Cure Wounds
• Healing Word
• Guiding Bolt
• Sanctuary
• Aid
• Hold Person
• Prayer of Healing
• Spirit Guardians
• Mass Healing Word
• Lesser Restoration
• Guardian of Faith – Summons a guardian to protect an area

Level 9 Best Options

You can now use Level 5 Spells! The Tempest Domain grants you access to two more strong spells:

• Destructive Wave: Deals massive damage and knocks enemies Prone!
• Insect Plague: Massive AOE Damage spell that turns the area into a difficult terrain.

You can now prepare the following thirteen(13) Spells:

• Bless
• Cure Wounds
• Healing Word
• Guiding Bolt
• Sanctuary
• Aid
• Hold Person
• Prayer of Healing
• Spirit Guardians
• Mass Healing Word
• Lesser Restoration
• Guardian of Faith
• Mass Cure Wounds – Massive AOE Healing Spell

Level 10 Best Options

Gain a new Cantrip! Pick Resistance to make allies more resistant to Spell effects and conditions. You also unlock the Cleric feature Divine Intervention, that allows you to invoke your God’s Aid! Prepare the following fourteen(14) Spells:

• Bless
• Cure Wounds
• Healing Word
• Guiding Bolt
• Sanctuary
• Aid
• Hold Person
• Prayer of Healing
• Spirit Guardians
• Mass Healing Word
• Lesser Restoration
• Guardian of Faith
• Mass Cure Wounds
• Revivify – Revive an ally.

Level 11 Best Options

You can now start using even more powerful Level 6 Spells and Prepare the following fifteen(15):

• Bless
• Cure Wounds
• Healing Word
• Guiding Bolt
• Sanctuary
• Aid
• Hold Person
• Prayer of Healing
• Spirit Guardians
• Mass Healing Word
• Lesser Restoration
• Guardian of Faith
• Mass Cure Wounds
• Revivify
• Heroes’ Feast – You and your allies cannot be poisoned, diseased, frightened, your HP increases and you make Wisdom Saves with Advantage.

Level 12 Best Shadowheart Tempest Cleric Build Options BG3

For your final Feat, pick Shield Master! Shield Master grants a +2 bonus to Dexterity Saving Throws while wielding a Shield. If a spell forces you to make a Dexterity Saving Throw, you can use a reaction to shield yourself and diminish the effect’s damage. On a failed Saving Throw, you only take half damage. On a successful Saving Throw you do not take any damage. You can also prepare sixteen Spells:

• Bless
• Cure Wounds
• Healing Word
• Guiding Bolt
• Sanctuary
• Aid
• Hold Person
• Prayer of Healing
• Spirit Guardians
• Mass Healing Word
• Lesser Restoration
• Guardian of Faith
• Mass Cure Wounds
• Revivify
• Heroes’ Feast
• Heal – Massive single target heal that removes blindness and diseases.

What is the Best Weapon for Shadowheart Build in Baldur’s Gate 3?

The Best Weapon for Shadowheart as a Tempest Cleric Build in Baldur’s Gate 3, is The Blood of Lathander! A Legendary Mace that deals Bludgeoning and Radiant Damage, that also offers:

• Lathander’s Blessing – Once per Long Rest, when your hit points are reduced to 0, you regain 2-12 hit points. Allies within 9m also regain 1-6 hit points.
• Lathander’s Light – Sheds holy light in a 6m radius. In combat, fiends and undead standing in the light are Blinded, unless they succeed a Constitution Saving Throw.
• Weapon Enchantment +3
• Sunbeam Level 6 Evocation Spell

A powerful Weapon for Shadowheart that you can find early in the game(Githyanki Creche, Act 1) and use until the end! To complement The Blood of Lathander use the Viconia’s Walking Fortress Shield! A Legendary Shield that you can get from Viconia DeVir in Act 3! Viconia’s Walking Fortress offers:

• Rebuke of the Mighty: When a foe hits you with a melee attack, you can use your reaction to deal force damage and knock them prone unless they succeed a Dexterity Saving Throw.
• Spellguard: You gain advantage on Saving Throws against Spells. Spell Attack Rolls against you have Disadvantage.
• Reflective Shell
• Warding Bond

Early in the game you can use the Adamantine Shield by crafting it in the Adamantine Forge in Act 1! Add a Ranged Weapon of your choice if you wish! The table below shows you the best Gear for the Shadowheart Build, as well as early alternative options you can use.

Piece	Best	Early Game
Head	Helm of Balduran/Hood of the Weave	Wapira’s Crown
Cape	Cloak of the Weave	Cloak of Protection
Chest	Helldusk Armor	Adamantine Splint Armor
Gloves	Helldusk Gloves	Hellrider’s Pride
Boots	Helldusk Boots	Vital Conduit Boots
Necklace	Spellcrux Amulet	Amulet of Misty Step
Ring	Killer’s Sweetheart	The Whispering Promise
Ring	Ring of Regeneration	Ring of Protection
Melee Weapon	The Blood of Lathander	The Blood of Lathander
Shield	Viconia’s Walking Fortress	Adamantine Shield
Ranged Weapon	Any	Any

What is the Best Armor for Shadowheart Build in Baldur’s Gate 3?

The Helm of Balduran is a great head Armor for the Cleric Build in Baldur’s Gate 3. You can get it by completing the Wyrmway Trials, along with the Balduran’s Giantslayer! This Helmet offers:

• Balduran’s Vitality: The helmet heals you 2 hit points at the beginning of every turn.
• Balduran’s Favour: You have a +1 bonus to Armour Class and Saving throws.
• Stun Immunity: You can’t be Stunned.
• Attackers can’t land Critical Hits on the wearer.

Another great alternative is the Hood of the Weave. A Very Rare armor that you can get from Mystic Carrion in Baldur’s Gate, in Act 3 and offers the Arcane Enchantment Effect. Arcane Enchantment grants you a +2 bonus to Spell Save DC and Spell attack rolls. Cloak of the Weave complements the Build extremely well. A Very Rare Cloak that grants a bonus to Spell Save DC and Spell Attack Rolls, as well the ability to absorb Elemental Damage once per Short Rest. You can buy the Cloak from Helsik in Act 3.

The Helldusk Armor is the best Armor option for Chest! A legendary Heavy Armor that you can loot from Raphael in House of Hope(Act 3). The Armor offers:

• Helldusk Armor: You are considered Proficient with this armor while wearing it.
• Infernal Retribution: When you succeed a Saving Throw, the caster receives Burning for 3 turns.
• Prime Aegis of Fire: You have resistance to Fire damage and cannot be Burned. You take 3 less damage from all sources.
• Fly level 3 Spell

The Helldusk Gloves and Boots complement the Build well! You can loot the Helldusk Gloves from Haarlap in the House of Hope again in Act 3. They offer:

• Infernal Acuity: You gain a +1 bonus to Spell Attack Rolls and Spell Save DC.
• Infernal Touch: Your weapon attacks deal an additional 1-6 Fire damage. Your unarmed attacks deal an additional 1-6 Necrotic damage, and can possibly inflict Bleeding.
• Strength Saving Throws +1

You can get the Helldusk Boots by looting a gilded chest in Gortash’s room on the top floor of Wyrm’s Rock Fortress. With them you get:

• Steadfast: You cannot be forcibly moved by a foe’s spells or actions, and you ignore the effects of Difficult Terrain.
• Infernal Evasion: When you fail a Saving Throw, you may use your reaction to succeed instead.
• Hellcrawler Class Action

The Spellcrux Amulet is the best Amulet in BG3 for a Shadowheart Cleric Build, thanks to its Spell Slot Restoration Class Action, that allows you to restore a Spell Slot once every Long Rest! You can get the Amulet by defeating and looting the Warden in Moonrise Towers Prison during Act 2.

Killer’s Sweatheart and Ring of Regeneration are finally the best ring options for the Build! You can get the Killer’s Sweatheart ring by defeating yourself in the Self-Same Trial inside the Gauntlet of Shar(Act 2). The ring grants you the Executioner effect: When you kill a creature, your next Attack Roll will be a Critical Hit. Once spent, this effect refreshes after a Long Rest. You can buy the Ring of Regeneration from Rolan at the Sorcerous Sundries in Act 3 and get Combat Regeneration: At the beginning of your turn, the ring activates and heals you for 1-4 hitpoints.

There are a few great alternative items that you can get early and will help you advance your game until you can get one of the Best Armor pieces above.

• Wapira’s Crown gives you back hit points when you heal another. You receive the Helmet from Zevlor as a reward during the Save the Refugees Quest in Act 1.
• Cloak of Protection offers a +1 to Armor Class and Saving Throw and is a nice Cape Armor that you can get from Quartermaster Talli(loot or buy) in the Last Light Inn in Act 2.
• Adamantine Splint Armor is an excellent Heavy Armor that you can craft at the Adamantine Forge. It reduces incoming damage, sends enemies reeling and attackers cannot land Critical Hits on the wearer.
• Hellrider’s Pride gives resistance to Bludgeoning, Piercing and Slashing damage to a target when you heal them. You can buy or loot it from Zevlor in the Druid Grove, Act 1.
• Vital Conduit Boots grant you temporary Hit Points when you cast a spell that requires Concentration. You can buy them from A’jak’nir Jeera in the Creche(Act 1).
• Amulet of Misty Step provides the Misty Step spell and you can get it from a gilded chest next to the bed behind Polma in Defiled Temple.
• The Whispering Promise grants a bonus to Attack Rolls and Saving Throws to a target when you heal them. You can buy it from Volo after completing the Rescue Volo Quest.
• Ring of Protection grants +1 to Armor Class and Saving Throw and you can get it as a reward from Mol for stealing the Druids’ Idol(Act 1).

The above options will help you create a powerful Shadowheart Tempest Cleric Build in Baldur’s Gate 3, that you can use as your main character or as a party Companion! For more Baldur’s Gate 3 content you can take a look at my Baldur’s Gate 3 Builds and Baldur’s Gate 3 Guides!