Baldur’s Gate 3: How to Free Shadowheart on the Ship in BG3

Want to know how to free Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3? One of the companions you can encounter early in BG3 is Shadowheart, a mysterious cleric who is trapped in a mind flayer pod. Quite the pickle she’s in! But don’t worry, helping her out isn’t that tough, and it’s a pretty nice moment in the game. It’s a part of the game where you can decide to bring a new buddy into your squad a bit earlier than usual. In this guide, we will tell you how to free Shadowheart from the pod, whether should you free her and what are the consequences for that.

How to Free Shadowheart from the Pod in BG3

BG3 - Obtained the Eldritch Rune from Dead Thrall's body.

To free Shadowheart from the pod, you need to find an Eldritch Rune that can activate the console next to her pod. Here are the steps to follow:

Enter the room on the eastern side of the pod, where you will see another pod with a Dead Thrall inside.
Loot the Dead Thrall’s body and get the Eldritch Rune. You can also see a few other useful items in the chest and on the other dead bodies in the room, feel free to collect all the loot as you don’t want to miss it.
Return to the console beside Shadowheart’s pod and insert the rune into the socket.

Select the command ‘Will the pod to open’ to free Shadowheart.

Place your hand on the console and use your Illithid Power to allow the pod to open. For that, select the command ‘Will the pod to open’. You will need to pass a wisdom check of 2, which is fairly easy to do.
The pod will open and Shadowheart will be released. You can then choose to recruit her to your party or leave her behind.

After freeing her from the Mind Flayer pod, you get the option to invite her to join your party straight away. It’s pretty cool because you can start adventuring together right off the bat. But if you decide not to recruit her immediately, or maybe things just don’t go as planned. No worries! You’ll get another shot at teaming up with her. After you make your escape from the Nautiloid, you can locate Shadowheart hanging out near the Ancient Door. It’s the entrance to the Dank Crypt – sounds inviting, right?

Just a heads up, though – if you try and fail to save her on the Nautiloid, you won’t be able to recruit her to your team at that moment. But don’t sweat it, you can still meet up with her later at the Ancient Door and decide if you want her to join your crew then. It’s all about second chances in this game and that’s one of the amazing things this game brings to us.

How to Free Shadowheart without the Eldritch Rune

If you don’t have the eldritch rune or you fail the wisdom check, you can still try to open the pod using other methods. However, these methods are more risky and may have negative consequences. Here are some alternatives to opening the pod:

Use your Strength to force the pod open – you’ll need to pass a strength check of 10, which, let’s be honest, isn’t exactly a walk in the park. If you pull it off, Shadowheart will be saved but a bit worse for wear health-wise. But if you fail, you might end up damaging the pod and there goes your chance to save her right then and there.
Use your Arcane knowledge to hack the console – this one’s for the wizards or sages out there, or anyone who’s got some arcane tricks up their sleeve. You’ll need to ace an intelligence check of 7, nail it and Shadowheart’s out without needing the rune. But if you botch it, you might set off an alarm and get the Mind Flayers’ attention.
If all else fails, you can always leave Shadowheart in the pod and make your escape from the Nautiloid. Sure, you’ll miss out to free Shadowheart on the ship in BG3, but it’s not the end of the world. She’ll appear later near the Ancient Door that leads to the Dank Crypt. You can decide then if you want her to tag along or not.

Should You Free Shadowheart on the Ship in Baldur’s Gate 3?

There is no drawback in freeing Shadowheart on the ship but has some good benefits.

Absolutely yes, you should go for it and free Shadowheart from that Mind Flayer’s pod, and let me tell you why it’s a smart move. First off, it’s not that hard once you get the hang of it, and there’s no downside to rescuing her from the pod.

In terms of what Shadowheart brings to the table, she’s strong as a cleric regarding healing, buffing your team, and debuffing enemies. Moreover, she can hold her own in a fight with her mace and shield which makes her valuable when you’re up against the upcoming enemies and especially the optional boss, Commander Zhalk. Once you beat him, you will get his magic greatsword, the ‘Everburn Blade’.

Furthermore, she’s a potential romance option too, no matter what your character’s gender or race is. She has a really deep and fascinating personality, and as you move forward in the game, you’ll get to uncover her secrets and what drives her. To add more, she’s got a unique connection to the Tadpole in your head, which could be a big deal for the main story.

Alternatively, rescuing her also means she’ll think more highly of you. That boosts her approval, making her more loyal and friendly. This opens up more dialogue options and quests, and she’s more likely to back you up in your decisions throughout the game. So yeah, saving Shadowheart? Definitely a win-win move.

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