Baldur's Gate 3 has many romance options, and Shadowheart, the trickery cleric, is one of the more popular options. In the very busy opening weekend for Baldur's Gate 3, Larian revealed that Shadowheart was the most romanced character. There are many reasons why players have become particularly enthralled by the mysterious cleric, despite having many other choices.

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From her intriguing past to her emotional arc that weaves throughout the narrative, Shadowheart is a very tempting choice. For the few players who haven't romanced Shadowheart yet, or for the many who adore her and no doubt have their own thought processes, these are the many reasons why players should consider romancing the much-loved cleric.

Updated March 20, 2024, by Nyah Payne: Just as Shadowheart won the hearts of many, Baldur's Gate 3 captured the hearts of players enough to claim Game of the Year at the 2023 Game Awards. Since then, Larian brought the game to Xbox Series X|S, introduced heaps of new content, and has continued to frequently update the game to keep improving on the experience that so many players have come to adore. Baldur's Gate 3 thrives on its vast array of choices and paths for the player to take, in particular with the romances. Shadowheart's romance is still a particularly strong one, and players looking for a new run should consider romancing the trickery cleric.

11 Neglecting Shadowheart Can Be Perilous

Lacking A Bond With Shadowheart Can Drastically Alter Pivotal Events

Some romance options are very particular about not wanting to be ignored, and Shadowheart is certainly one of them. While players aren't required to romance Shadowheart by any means, they might actually be putting many lives on the line if they neglect to travel with Shadowheart and form some sort of bond with her. This primarily comes down to a pivotal story moment in act two.

Players work through a gauntlet to Shadowheart's goddess, Shar, in order to find the immortal Dame Aylin trapped inside. If players don't have a strong bond with Shadowheart, it can be incredibly hard to convince her not to sacrifice Aylin, even though doing so condemns the many innocents at The Last Light Inn. Excluding Shadowheart altogether can be just as detrimental, however, as it can push her to go her separate way and leave the party altogether.

10 Together From Beginning To End

Shadowheart Is The Second Character Players Will Come Across

Besides Lae'zel, Shadowheart is one of the earliest recruited characters in Baldur's Gate 3. This provides a huge benefit to her romance storyline. Players can come to Shadowheart's aid, earn her appreciation, and begin getting to know her and her past almost from the get-go.

This means that players quickly establish a connection that teases gradual development. Romancing Shadowheart feels like a very complete experience, due to players being familiar with her for such a long time.

9 Heavy Plot Ties In All Acts

Shadowheart's Story Ties Into The Main Plot Throughout The Narrative

Many Baldur's Gate 3 players remark that Shadowheart feels like the companion character that is most connected to the core storyline, and it is easy to see why. She has strong connections to the main plot in all three acts. In act one, her strange relic, which she is so cautious to protect, is what gives the party their autonomy.

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Act two sees a huge moment of character progression for Shadowheart. In act three, while less relevant to the main plot, Shadowheart has one of the most emotional character backstory interactions. Aside from the player character, it seems like Baldur's Gate 3 really is Shadowheart's game, and a romance with her is bound to provide a satisfying storyline.

8 Shadowed Past

Shadowheart's Intriguing Nature Draws Many Players In

When Gale first meets Shadowheart, he describes her as a lady with shadows for eyes, later explaining that if eyes are the windows to the soul then hers is veiled by shadow. He seems to have read her to a tee, as her whole past seems shrouded in mystery.

This intrigue is bound to draw players in, as they seek to uncover the truth behind her past. The problem is, even if players earn Shadowheart's trust, she doesn't know the full extent of her past, having had her memories wiped. Learning who Shadowheart is takes some dedication.

7 Show The Healer Some Love

A Cleric Is Always A Great Choice For Party Composition

As a cleric, Shadowheart is the go-to healer for most party compositions. But even healers, who go to such lengths to care for the party, deserve some care themselves. Her healing, alongside her ability to effectively deal with large groups of undead, makes her a very useful addition to any party, even if players don't plan on romancing her.

But healers tend to draw a lot of love, perhaps due to their more supportive role within a group, and Shadowheart is no exception. She takes care of the party, but the poor girl deserves to receive some care, too. Who better to provide than the player character?

6 Loving Teasing

Her Sharp Wit Comes Into Play When Flirting

Despite her role in the party as a caregiver, Shadowheart is far from the soft and gentle type. Players who want to romance Shadowheart can expect to be on the receiving end of some loving teasing. Shadowheart can be more than a little abrasive to those that she dislikes, as Lae'zel finds out all too quickly, but those that she cares about are not going to escape her barbed tongue either.

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While Shadowheart softens up the closer players get to her, her expressions of affection are usually served with a large helping of tongue-in-cheek teasing. For many, though, her sharp wit only adds to her charm.

5 Lower Her Walls

Her Trust Is Hard To Earn, Making It All The More Special

While players are introduced to Shadowheart very early in the game, getting close to her can still be quite a challenge. Shadowheart has been raised in a cold and unforgiving environment, which has made it hard to earn her trust.

Despite earning her initial trust by helping her on the nautiloid, enough to be able to travel with her, lowering Shadowheart's walls enough to be her lover takes some time and commitment. Once her trust is earned, though, there is a very sincere depth to her relationship with the player.

4 Gradual Intimacy

Intimate Scenes Come After A Lot Of Build Up

Baldur's Gate 3 has gained a level of infamy for its bold intimacy scenes. They don't shy away from the physical side of relationships, and neither do a lot of the characters. Karlach, for one, will gladly blurt out that she wants to ride the player character until they see stars on their first night together.

For those who want a partner with a little more tact, Shadowheart is one of the better options. While Shadowheart can be as flirtatious as any of the romance options, her intimate references are typically a little more veiled than others, and her intimacy scene comes quite late game, despite being able to have a high relationship with her for a long time before that. For those who want a character who takes their time when it comes to intimacy, Shadowheart makes sure the eventual moment is very special.

3 Face Fears Together

Shadowheart Has A Very Dark Storyline

From her fear of wolves to her mysterious past, Shadowheart is a very troubled character. Throughout each act, there are a lot of dark moments that Shadowheart must face, varying from extreme conflicts of faith to family troubles.

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While all the romance options in Baldur's Gate 3 have their troubles, Shadowheart seems to have more than most. She needn't face them alone, though. For players who want a love interest that they can support through increasingly troubling trials, Shadowheart is the pick.

2 Biggest Character Change

Shadowheart's Growth Is Beautifully Written

Linked with her incredible story arc over the three acts, Shadowheart almost certainly goes through the biggest character progression throughout her journey. Starting as a closed-off and mistrustful character, certain in her personal goals, players can guide her through a severe crisis of faith, and the heart-wrenching familial conflict that arises from it.

End game Shadowheart is indistinguishable, in character and appearance, from the enigmatic shadowed woman that players meet in the beginning. If players want their Baldur's Gate 3 love interest to undergo some huge personal development, Shadowheart is the option to go for.

1 Making New Memories

A Romance With Shadowheart Covers Themes Of Identity And Memory

As previously mentioned, a lot of Shadowheart's memories are wiped. She remembers that she likes night orchids, can't swim, and is afraid of wolves, but not much else. While the players and Shadowheart can uncover some of her memories, either through story progression or a certain flower in the Underdark, a lot of these moments from her past remain a mystery.

The beauty of this, as Shadowheart herself can acknowledge, is that it means that she and her lover can focus on making new memories together. Ultimately, Shadowheart's story is one about discovering one's own identity, the importance of memories, and the beauty of making new ones. It is a joy to experience this alongside her as a partner.

Baldur's Gate 3

Released

August 3, 2023

Developer(s)

Larian Studios

Genre(s)

RPG

Platform(s)

PC , macOS , PS5 , Xbox Series X