Cover-Credits:
Shadowheart is one of the companions that you can recruit in Baldur’s Gate 3. You can run into her during the game’s starting area (Nautiloid) and you have the option of rescuing her from a Mind Flayer pod that she is kept captive in. As long as you attempt to save her, you can recruit her later in the game but there is a way to get Shadowheart to join your party early by saving her.
How to free Shadowheart from the Mind Flayer Pod in Baldur’s Gate 3
Right next to Shadowheart’s Mind Flayer Pod, you will notice that there is a console that you can interact with. If you interact with the console, the game will tell you that there is something that can be placed inside.
Head to the East room (use the map for guidance) and interact with the Dead Thrall that is next to the Cartiliganous Chest. You can highlight all interactable items in your vision by pressing the Alt key on your keyboard. You will find an Eldritch Rune inside and you can bring it back to the console.
Once you palace the Rune inside the console you can use Illithid (Wisdom) to will the pod into opening itself, making Shadowheart become a party member. But this is not the only method you can use to free her. There are some classes that can hack open the console so if you are a Wizard or trained in the Arcane, you will get an attempt to unlock the console using your ability but you will still be forced to use the Illithid powers.
Even if you are hesitant about using Illithid powers, we recommend using them to free Shadowheart and take on Commander Zhalk, an optional boss. If you beat Zhalk, you get his magic greatsword which will be a powerful asset to have during the early hours of your campaign.
Should you save Shadowheart?
Since Shadowheart is a Cleric, you do not want to miss out on recruiting her as she can heal your party members and give you an added layer of survivability. There are limited sources of healing in Baldur’s Gate 3 and unless you have a custom character from the Cleric class, things can get a little difficult as a new player. Without Shadowheart or a different healer, you will be overly reliant on potions, Short Rests and Long Rests to keep your health replenished.
