Daria "Foxdari" Sedelnikova Shadowheart is a high half-elf cleric of the Trickery Domain subclass. Outwardly, she seems reserved and troubled, hiding her secrets and goals. To win her heart, you'll need to put in a lot of effort and might even have to make some sacrifices... literally. As a protagonist, Shadowheart appears as a determined and fierce woman, capable of moving mountains to achieve her goals.
About the character
Image: Ensigame / Shadowheart in Baldur's Gate 3
- Race: Half-elf
- Subrace: High Half-elf
- Class: Cleric
- Location: Nautiloid, Wilderness
- Starting Health: 10
- Equipment: Medium armor
- Skills: History, Religion, Insight, Medicine
- Voice Actor: Jennifer English
Basic Character Stats:
| Strength | Dexterity | Constitution | Intelligence | Wisdom | Charisma |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 13 | 13 | 14 | 10 | 17 | 8 |
If you're new to the game, it's better not to allocate stat points yourself. The developers have pre-balanced her stats considering her race and class. Misallocating stats could reduce her effectiveness in both battles and social interactions.
Overview
Image: steamcommunity.com
- Appearance: Shadowheart appears to be a young half-elf, though all elves are much older than they seem. She has dark hair, tied up in a high ponytail, with a neat fringe just above her brows and a few loose black strands framing her face, revealing her sharp ears. Her thick, straight brows emphasize her expressive green eyes. Her hairstyle is adorned with a silver headband, clip, and chain woven into her ponytail. A barely visible scar runs across her right cheek and over the bridge of her nose. On her right hand, there's a wound resembling a black dot, the mark of the goddess Shar, which causes her pain when she "misbehaves". Shadowheart wears simple but elegant armor with religious symbols, including a black disc symbolizing her goddess.
- Appearance after turning away from Shar: During the adventure, Shadowheart gets a chance to escape from the dark goddess. If this happens, you'll see her in the morning at camp, her hair now silver, with a middle part instead of her neat fringe.
- Appearance if she stays with Shar: Her hairstyle changes, but her hair remains black.
- Personality: She is a deeply devoted follower of her deity. While Shadowheart serves Shar, her moral compass leans toward chaotic neutrality, acting in her own interests and avoiding others' problems. After switching deities, she becomes kinder, offering help to those in need and thinking of the group's benefit.
- Behavior: Shadowheart is cautious, revealing little about herself, her motives, or the artifact she carries. She shows a special disdain and mistrust toward the githyanki race, especially Lae'zel. She tends to avoid violent solutions, is empathetic toward animals and children, and acts pragmatically.
Backstory before the game
Shadowheart's real name is Jenevelle. She was born into a family of Selunites who lived in the forests outside Baldur's Gate. Her parents, Arnell and Emmeline Hallowleaf, were devoted followers of the Moon Maiden, raising their daughter in Selune's traditions. When the time came, young Jenevelle was supposed to undergo an ancient initiation rite, surviving in the wilderness relying solely on her skills and faith.
Image: steamcommunity / Shadowheart's story
However, the dark goddess Shar intervened in the girl's fate. Under her command, Viconia DeVir and a group of Shar worshipers kidnapped Jenevelle. Her father, Arnell, rushed to her aid in the form of a wolf, but unaware of his lycanthropy curse, Jenevelle mistook him for a predator. In the end, both were captured by the Shar worshipers and taken to a secret monastery of the Dark Lady in Baldur's Gate.
At the Cloister of Sombre Embrace, Jenevelle underwent brutal training and brainwashing. Viconia DeVir received an order from Shar to turn the girl into a champion. Her memory was erased, and she forgot her past. Nearly half a century later, a new persona emerged: Shadowheart. Thanks to her tiefling friend Rennald, she managed to retain some memories and traits of her former self.
Image: Ensigame
When a mysterious Absolute cult appeared in the city, the Shar followers learned about the existence of a powerful githyanki artifact. The Mother Superior sent a group of elite followers, including Shadowheart, to retrieve it. The mission was deadly, leaving Shadowheart as the only survivor.
Her trials didn’t end there. Shadowheart was soon captured by illithids, who implanted a tadpole in her brain and placed her in a pod on a ship, awaiting her transformation. This is where players can first encounter her in the prologue and rescue her from the pod.
Unique abilities
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
Fear of Wolves  | This passive ability forces Shadowheart to make a Wisdom saving throw. Failing the throw results in fear, imposing penalties such as being unable to move and suffering disadvantage on all rolls. The ability doesn’t trigger if she is near friendly druids in wolf form. This passive ability disappears if Dame Aylin is spared. |
Racial traits
As a high half-elf, Shadowheart can move up to 9 meters per turn. Thanks to the Civil Militia skill, she is proficient with various weapons like spears, pikes, halberds, and glaives, as well as light armor and shields. She can also see in darkness with Darkvision, distinguishing objects up to 12 meters away.
Her unique trait, Fey Ancestry, grants resistance to magical charms. She gains advantage on saving throws against charm effects and is completely immune to sleep spells.
Class Features
In the Dungeons & Dragons universe, gods influence the lives of mortals, particularly in cleric subclasses. One deity acts as a patron for a cleric character, granting them powers through a mechanic called a domain. Baldur’s Gate 3 includes all seven classic DnD subclasses: Trickery Domain, War, Tempest, Nature, Life, Light, and Knowledge.
Interesting fact: When creating a new cleric character, players must choose a deity in addition to a subclass. However, with Shadowheart, this choice is omitted to avoid spoilers. The only information provided is that her domain is Trickery Domain, arguably the most interesting one. Let us know in the comments which cleric domain you find the most intriguing.
The Trickery Domain subclass grants spells related to deception and illusions.
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Blessing of the Trickster | Grants another creature advantage on Stealth checks. This is especially useful if you're playing with Astarion or another rogue in your party. |
For a detailed guide on Clerics in Baldur's Gate 3, where we explain their skills, builds, and advantages, check out our other article.
Origin
In-game origin grants a character additional benefits and can enhance their abilities. Shadowheart has the Acolyte background.
| Characteristics | Description |
|---|---|
| Insight | Helps detect lies and uncover hidden motives of others. |
| Religion | Knowledgeable about the pantheon of gods, sacred rituals, and can recognize hidden altars. |
Shadowheart BG3 Build
The only class with a healing build in Baldur’s Gate 3 is clerics. Therefore, don’t expect Shadowheart to become a road medic for the party; leave the powerful critical strikes to the warriors. However, her base health is quite low, so we recommend equipping medium armor and always using a shield: there’s no downside to carrying one while wielding a weapon.
Let's consider the best feat for Shadowheart.
Image: Ensigame / Shadowheart BG3 Build
- Durable: This will help increase her HP, allowing her to fully recover health during short rests. In battle, Shadowheart must always stay alive to support the party.
- Ability Improvement: It's essential to improve her Wisdom to maintain concentration on spells and increase her Constitution for better health and survivability. This feat allows you to boost both stats.
- Mobile or Lucky: Choose this at level 12. Mobile gives a movement bonus, useful if you need to be close to your target for spells. Lucky allows rerolling dice during attacks, saving throws, and ability checks. While attacks won’t be as useful for a cleric, rerolling saving throws can be a handy skill.
You can find more tips on building a Cleric in Baldur's Gate 3 in our other guide.
Where to find Shadowheart
The first encounter with this mysterious cleric occurs in the prologue aboard the Nautiloid. Trapped in a mind flayer pod, she must be rescued. To free her, you need to activate the nearest console. Once saved, Shadowheart becomes a full party member, but only until the escape from the ship.
Image: Ensigame / Where to find Shadowheart
The next opportunity to meet Shadowheart is at the very beginning of Act 1. If you rescued her in the prologue, you’ll find her unconscious on the sand near the player’s spawn point. Otherwise, you’ll encounter her at the entrance to the abandoned Dank Crypt. Regardless of your actions in the prologue, after a short conversation, you’ll be able to invite Shadowheart to your team.
Didn’t find Shadowheart near the wreckage? Look for her in Druid Grove, where she’ll head in search of a healer. You can chat with her there and invite her to join your adventure. If you reach Goblin Camp without her, Shadowheart will suddenly appear to save you from the sinister voice of the Absolute, using her mysterious artifact.
The developers clearly want Shadowheart in your party. If you avoid the goblin camp, there are two more chances to meet her. She might come to your aid at the bridge leading to the Mountain Pass, or she will appear at the last moment in the Underdark when you’re about to enter the lift to the Shadow-Cursed Lands. In any case, her intervention is necessary to protect the party from the cult, as she is the only one with the artifact that can block the Absolute’s influence on the mind.
Image: Ensigame
How to romance Shadowheart
Shadowheart is open to romantic relationships with the protagonist, regardless of gender. You can have an "open relationship" with her.
Shadowheart Approval: Nightsong
Shadowheart has a unique approval system that includes regular and special Nightsong points. The latter influence the progression of the quests "Find the Nightsong" and "Find Ketheric Thorm's Relic".
To earn Nightsong points, you need to make Shadowheart doubt her loyalty to the goddess Shar. A total of six Nightsong points are available in the first two acts. Gaining at least four points unlocks new dialogue options during the encounter with Nightsong.
- Nightsong 1: Earned after the memory scene in the Daughter of Darkness quest. You need to pass a Religion check or read the "Selûnite Rite" in the Owlbear Nest, then ask Shadowheart about the moonstone worn by Selune followers.
- Nightsong 2: Continue the conversation. Tell Shadowheart that she serves Shar out of a sense of duty. When she talks about her training, tell her that the training was cruel.
- Nightsong 3: After Shadowheart experiences pain from Shar’s mark four times, you can earn the third point. Show concern for her condition and pass a Religion or Persuasion check. You need at least 20 approval points with Shadowheart for success.
- Nightsong 4: Convince Shadowheart to eat Noblestalk. This triggers the event "A Familiar Face", earning you the fourth point.
- Nightsong 5: Simply give Shadowheart the Night Orchid at camp. This sweet gesture will earn you the fifth point.
- Nightsong 6: Earned in the Gauntlet of Shar. Agree to help Shadowheart pass the trials or support her desire to complete them independently.
Shadowheart Approval
Image: steamcommunity / How to romance Shadowheart
Shadowheart values practical actions and efficient problem-solving. She appreciates restraint, respect for privacy, and open-mindedness in the protagonist. While she may approve of heroic acts, she can also display cruelty and react positively to torture and manipulation.
Shadowheart dislikes being judgmental about her faith or persistently questioning her life. She dislikes senseless cruelty or violence, and may react negatively to excessive frankness with untrustworthy or unfamiliar people.
Things Shadowheart approves of:
- Free her from the pod aboard the Nautiloid.
- Accept Astarion's apology during the first meeting and tell him you would have done the same.
- Calm the boar.
- Convince the tieflings to kill Lae’zel or attack her yourself. You won’t be able to recruit the warrior into the party afterward.
- If you spare the githyanki, ask Lae’zel to say a polite word after you convince the tieflings to leave.
- Refuse to help Zevlor convince the druids.
- Persuade Kagha to release Arabella.
- After Arabella's trial, tell Kagha that you defend your own.
- Agree with Shadowheart when she asks you not to loot the Selunite chest.
- Swear to Nettie that you will take the wyvern poison (though it’s not necessary to actually do so).
- Intimidate Auntie Ethel to give you both Mayrina and the hag hair.
- Tell Ethel that the best solution is a dead witch.
- Convince Fezzerk to leave the mill peacefully.
- Untie Barcus Wroot and ask for nothing in return for his rescue.
Image: steamcommunity / Shadowheart with clown makeup
- Save Halsin.
- Support Karlach during her conflict with Wyll.
- Give the Idol of Shar found in Grymforge to the cleric.
- Deceive the githyanki patrol when speaking to Voss.
- Convince Ko'kuu to hand over the githyanki egg.
- During a conversation at camp, when Shadowheart suggests finding a healer quickly, agree with her.
- When Shadowheart fails a Wisdom saving throw near wolves and becomes frightened, reassure her that you’ll avoid wolves in the future, if possible.
How to Romance Shadowheart
Image: steamcommunity / How to Romance Shadowheart
- Romantic Scene. In Act 1, Shadowheart will offer to have a drink alone with you: the most intimate moment you can share with her. Players often joke about this scene, as instead of a bedroom encounter, the reserved cleric invites you for a friendly chat with wine. You’ll meet her away from camp, have a heart-to-heart, and afterward, the camera will show the characters lying on the ground, holding hands. You can kiss her during this moment.
- Relationship Progression. In Act 2, you can find the Night Orchid in the Shadow-Cursed Lands. Give this flower to Shadowheart, and she’ll appreciate the gesture. In the Gauntlet of Shar, a pivotal event will occur that will significantly affect the development of your romance. Here, Shadowheart faces a decision that will shape the direction of your relationship in Act 3. She will either become more devoted to Shar or begin to question her faith, opening a new narrative arc where the cleric adopts a new belief system.
Shadowheart's Quest
Shadowheart's personal quest is called "Daughter of Darkness" and spans all three acts of the game. The main objective is to uncover the mystery of Shadowheart's past and determine her future — will she remain in the dark embrace of the goddess Shar, or free herself from the past?
In Act 1, Shadowheart joins the party after the shipwreck. She suffers from amnesia and carries a mysterious artifact. As she gradually opens up to the protagonist, she reveals that she is a Shar worshiper, carrying out a secret mission.
In Act 2, the story takes you to the Temple of Shar, where Shadowheart undergoes trials to become a dark justiciar. The key moment involves choosing whether to kill Aylin or renounce Shar. Shadowheart's fate will depend on this decision.
If you've collected Nightsong points, it will be easier to convince Shadowheart to spare the prisoner.
Image: Ensigame / Shadowheart in BG3
In Act 3, Shadowheart discovers the truth about her past. It turns out that Shar worshipers kidnapped her as a child, and her real parents are still imprisoned. She meets Mother Superior Viconia DeVir, who reveals Shadowheart's true name: Jenevelle Hallowleaf.
The quest's finale forces Shadowheart to make a choice: save her parents at the cost of eternal suffering, or let them die and heal herself.
Main image: youtube.com/@Johnsen1972
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