Baldur’s Gate 3: The BEST Shadowheart Companion Build

Make the most out of your Shadowheart companion by giving her the best build in Baldur's Gate 3!

Baldur’s Gate 3 presents players with the option to have a companion by their side during their gameplay, and this companion can not only be personalized, but players can also have a specific build for their companion. Such is the Shadowheart, and players might want to know a few subclass options alongside an overview of a few Baldur’s Gate 3 Shadowheart Build. 

Important: Players need to free Shadowheart before they can recruit and build her!
Key Takeaways
  • The Shadowheart companion in Baldur’s Gate 3 will focus on having a healer or a melee War Domain build. 
  • She will start with a Half-Elf race, allowing her to see in the dark and have features like Civil Militia, Darkvision, and Fey Ancestry. 
  • Players will want the Life Domain subclass for their Healer to build. 
  • Players can choose the War Domain to gear more toward a melee build. 

Baldur’s Gate 3 Shadowheart Build 

Below is an overview of the best builds for Shadowheart companion, including a Healer and War Domain subclass build. 

Baldur's Gate 3 Shadowheart Companion BuildDescription
Starting DomainTrickery
Starting RaceHalf-Elf
ClassCleric
Life Domain FeaturesDisciple of Life, Bless, Cure Wounds, Heavy Armor Proficiency
Life Domain SpellsBless, Cure Wounds, Aid, Lesser Restoration, Beacon of Hope, Revivify, Death Ward, Guardian of Faith, Greater Restoration, Mass Cure Wounds.
War Domain FeaturesWar Priest, Shield of Faith, Divine Favor
War Domain SpellsDivine Favor, Shield of Faith, Magic Weapon, Spiritual Weapon, Spirit Guardians, Crusader's Mantle, Stoneskin, Freedom of Movement, Flame Strike, Hold Monster.

Shadowheart Companion Overview 

Shadowheart Starting StatsAttributes
Strength13
Dexterity13
Constitution14
Intelligence10
Wisdom17
Charisma8
Movement Speed9 meters 
Range of Darkvision12 meters
Weight75 kg
Type of CompanionHumanoid

First, let’s examine Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3. She’s a recruitable companion who assists players in combat and comes with her own background story.

Shadowheart Overview
Shadowheart Overview (Image Credits Exputer)

Shadowheart, a Trickery Domain cleric companion, is highly valuable in combat. As a Cleric, she provides buffs and strong support through her spells, making battles against enemies much easier.

Trickery Domain 

As a Trickery Domain subclass of the Cleric class, its primary abilities are Wisdom, with Saving Throw Proficiencies in Charisma and Wisdom. It also possesses specific domain features, as listed below.

Trickery Domain FeaturesEffects
Charm PersonPlayers are able to charm a humanoid in order to stop it from attacking you, and you also get an advantage on your Charisma Checks during dialogue. 
Disguise SelfPlayers will be able to change their entire appearance.
Blessing of the Trickster You can grant another creature an advantage for their Stealth checks. 

Starting Race 

At the start of recruiting her, she will already have a race that will be assigned to her, and it ranges from quite a few options of races such as the Dwarf, gnome, elf, Half-orc, and many others. 

Race
Race (Image Credits Exputer)

She will be a Half-Elf race which grants creatures of this race to see when it is incredibly dark. She will also get a few key features as she is a Half-Elf that are listed as follows. 

Race FeaturesEffects
Civil MilitiaPlayers can get weapon proficiency with Halberds, Pikes, Spears, and even Glaives. 
DarkvisionA creature can see in the dark within a range of 12 meters. 
Fey AncestryYour mind will veil it, and you get an advantage over your Saving Throws against being affected with Charm. 
Base Racial SpeedTrait for Half-Elf

Cleric Class 

The Cleric class primarily emphasizes Wisdom as its main ability, with Saving Throw Proficiencies in Charisma and Wisdom. Clerics excel in providing support through healing spells and applying debuffs to dangerous enemies.

Cleric Class Overview
Cleric Class Overview (Image Credits Exputer)
  • Players can choose a few domains for their Baldur’s Gate 3 Shadowheart Build, but players would mostly want to focus on choosing a class that can allow them to flourish as a healer/support. 

The class options are as follows. 

Cleric SubclassesFeatures 
Life 
  • Heavy Armor Proficiency 
  • Disciple of Life 
  • Bless 
  • Cure Wounds 
Light 
  • Warding Flare 
  • Faerie Flare 
  • Burning Hands 
Trickery 
  • Charm Person 
  • Disguise Self 
  • Blessing of the Trickster 
Knowledge 
  • Sleep 
  • Command 
  • Blessings of Knowledge 
Nature 
  • Acolyte of Nature 
  • Shillelagh 
  • Animal Friendship 
  • Speak With Animals 
Tempest 
  • Fog Cloud 
  • Wrath of the Storm 
  • Thunderwave 
  • Bonus proficiencies
War 
  • War Priest 
  • Divine Favor 
  • Shield of Faith

Shadowheart Healer Build 

The Shadowheart companion would mostly focus on support and healer build, as it can take advantage of the healing spells and cantrips to make the most of it. 

Subclass 

Choose the Life Domain class, where Wisdom serves as the primary ability, and proficiencies include Charisma and Wisdom saving throws.

Features 

Life Domain
Life Domain (Image Credits Exputer)

When it comes to the overall features of the class, there are a total of 4 that are all listed as follows. 

Life Class FeaturesEffects
Disciple of LifeThe player’s devotion will determine the number of healing spells they can use. When you cast a healing spell, the target will get extra hit points. 
BlessPlayers can bless a total of 3 creatures and get a bonus towards their Saving Throws and Attack Rolls.
Cure Wounds Heal a creature that you can interact with. 
Heavy Armor ProficiencyWhile wearing heavy armor, it won’t cause there to be a disadvantage toward your attack rolls or your spell-casting. 

Other than that, they also have a few other features that players will be able to take advantage of, which are as follows. 

  • Wisdom Saving Throw Proficiency
  • Light Armor Proficiency
  • Charisma Saving Throw Proficiency
  • Medium Armor Proficiency
  • Shield Proficiency
  • Simple Weapon Proficiency

Level Progression 

As you progress while being a Life Domain central, you can unlock a few different features, actions, and spells that can gain you an advantage for a Shadowheart. 

Level ProgressionFeatures/Action/Spells
1Domain Spells Unlocked 
1Players gain Heavy Armor Proficiency 
1Disciple of Life 
2Preserve Life 
3Aid and Lesser Restoration spells 
5Beacon of Hope and Revivify spells 
6Blessed Healer 
7Death Ward and Guardian of Faith spells 
8Divine Strike (Life) 
9Greater Restoration and Mass Cure Wounds spells 

Cantrips 

Cantrips
Cantrips (Image Credits Exputer)

Regarding the cantrips, you can choose from a wide selection, as follows. 

CantripsEffects
ThaumaturgyPlayers can manifest a fourth power that can give them an advantage in their Performance and Intimidation checks. 
Sacred Flame You can bring forth a flame-like radiance that can deal with radiant damage. 
Guidance Grant guidance to your teammates. 
Light Infuse any object with light. 
Blade Ward Players can take half damage from all types of attacks, such as Piercing, Slashing, or Bludgeoning attacks. 
Produce FlameFire damage cantrip. 

Spells 

Life Spells
Life Spells (Image Credits Exputer)

As far as the spells are concerned for the Baldur’s Gate 3 Shadowheart Build, specifically for the healer build, you would want to go for spells that capitalize on healing and enhance it. 

Spells Effects 
Healing Word Players will be able to heal a creature that they can see 
Bless Go ahead and bless a total of 3 creatures, and they will get a bonus to their Attack rolls and Saving Throws. 
Cure Wounds Interact with a creature to heal them up. 
Protection From Evil and Good Protect any teammate against attacks launched by aberrations, celestials, the undead, or even fiends. 
Aid Bolster forth your teammates using toughness and enhance their overall max hit points. 
Lesser Restoration Cure any features that have been poisoned, is paralyzed, or is blinded. 
Prayer of Healing Heal teammates that are in your field of sight. 
Beacon of Hope You can bolster your teammates using vitality and hope; they will get max hit points. 
Mass Healing Word You can call out restoration words to heal 6 creatures. 
Revivify Teammates can get revived, and they will get revived with one hit point. 
Remove Curse You can interact with a creature and object to remove curses from it. 
Guardian of FaithCreatures that are hostile within a 10-foot radius of the garden must succeed with a dexterity save. 
Death Ward If the target drops to 0 HP for the first time, it regains it back to 1 HP. 
Greater Restoration End any one condition (either being charmed or petrified) or even HP reduction. 
Mass Cure Wounds It can affect a total of 6 creatures. 
Heal One creature can regain 70 HP and will be cured of all diseases. 

War Domain Subclass Build 

For a specialized Shadowheart build in Baldur’s Gate 3, consider the War Domain subclass. If Shadowheart needs more support, equip her with heavier armor and choose spells that enhance her build.

Subclass 

The War Domain subclass will focus on the primary ability also being Wisdom, while the Saving Throw proficiencies will focus on Charisma and Wisdom. 

Features 

War Domain Features
War Domain Features (Image Credits Exputer)

As far as the Features are concerned for the War Domain class, they are as follows. 

War Domain FeaturesEffects 
War Priest Anytime you make a weapon attack, you can spend a War Priest Charge to cast out an extra attack as a bonus. 
Shield of Faith Players can surround a creature using a field of magic to enhance its overall armor class by 2. 
Divine Favor Your prayers will be able to empower you further with radiance, and the attacks will deal extra radiant damage. 

For the other features, they are primarily proficiencies such as: 

  • Wisdom Saving Throw 
  • Charisma Saving Throw 
  • Light Armor 
  • Shield 
  • Medium Armor 
  • Simple Weapon. 

Level Progression 

Level Progression
Level Progression (Image Credits Exputer)

The below-listed level progression will occur as you figure out how Baldur’s Gate 3 How To Free Shadowheart and use her with the War Domain subclass. 

Level Progression Features/Spells/Actions 
1Divine Favor and Shield of Faith spells 
1Proficiency in Martial Weapon 
1Proficiency in Heavy Armor 
1War Priest
2Guided Strike 
3Spiritual Weapon and Magic Weapon spells 
5Crusader’s Mantle and Spirit Guardians spell 
6War God’s Blessing 
7Freedom of Movement and Stoneskin spells 
8Divine Strike (Warmaster) 
9Hold Monster and Flame Strike spells

Spells 

As far as the spells are concerned, there are a few that players can use as they level up, and they are and are specific to the War Domain. 

Class Specific Spells Effects 
Divine Favor Players can have their prayers empower them further using divine radiance, and the weapon attacks will also deal extra Radiant damage. 
Shield of Faith Use a field of magic around a creature to increase the Armor Class by 2. 
Magic Weapon You can infuse a weapon using arcane energy, and the weapon will become magical, and you get a +1 bonus to Damage and attack rolls. 
Spiritual Weapon If the spell attack ends up hitting, then you can deal damage. 
Spirit Guardians Call forth spirits that will protect the area that surrounds you, and the enemies close by will take in radiant damage. 
Crusader’s Mantle Friendly creatures tha are present in a 30 feet radius will end up dealing extra radiant damage anytime they are hit with a weapon attack. 
Stoneskin Turn the flesh from a creature stone-like. 
Freedom of Movement The target’s movement won’t get slowed by spells, topography, or water. 
Flame Strike Creatures within a 10-foot radius will need to succeed with a Dex save. 
Hold MonsterPlayers can paralyze a creature, and it won’t be able to act or move at all. 

My Tips On Using Shadowheart

I have played BG3 a number of times, and each and every time, I always save Shadowheart. She is simply too fun not to have around you at all times. Clerics are very hard to make use of properly, but the builds listed above will give you the best performance in most scenarios.

ibrahim bg3 save slot
My Baldur’s Gate 3 save slot (Image by eXputer)

Personally, I run a hybrid damage and healer build with Shadowheart. It helps me deal consistent damage with a safety net to fall back on. Additionally, in the case I am demolishing my opponents, Shadowheart gets to join in on the fun.

And that’s just about it! All that players need to know about the Baldur’s Gate 3 Shadowheart Build guide, and with that, let’s wrap up the guide! While you’re here, why not read up on the BG3 All Feats New Old guide, which tells you all that you need to know about the feats present? Besides that, the Baldur’s Gate 3 Halsin guide will tell you about Halsin as a companion!

The Strange Ox guide will also make you read about the mystery behind the Strange Ox. Wanna make love with a bear? (I’m judging) The BG3 Bear Scene guide can showcase exactly that.

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Mina Anwar


Mina is a Senior Guides Writer and a fanatic who’s obsessed with playing games and writing about them. She’s invested more than 2,500 hours in games like Genshin Impact and Honkai Star Rail. With a Bachelor’s Degree in Journalism, she loves to write detailed guides for beginners and pros in the Gacha Games world. You can follow Mina's gaming activity on her Steam and PSN Profiles. Experience: 3+ Years || Education: Bachelor's in Journalism || Written 400+ Articles

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