Shadowheart is one of the most complex and intriguing companions in Baldur’s Gate 3. As a devoted cleric of Shar, she values pragmatism, discretion, and occasional ruthlessness—but she also has a softer side. Gaining her approval is key to deepening your relationship, unlocking unique dialogue, and even romancing her.
This guide covers everything you need to know about Shadowheart’s approval system, including her likes, dislikes, and key moments where your choices matter.
Understanding Shadowheart’s Personality
What She Likes
- Pragmatic decisions – solutions that are effective, even if morally grey.
- Selective compassion – kindness when it benefits your party.
- Discretion – don’t pry into her past too early.
- Deception, persuasion, and trickery – cunning is admired.
- Support for Shar – or at least, non-judgmental curiosity.
- Respect for privacy and boundaries.
What She Dislikes
- Overt cruelty or brutality without reason.
- Naïve heroism – helping others without clear benefit.
- Favoring Lae’zel in conflicts.
- Mocking Shar or forcing her to explain her faith.
- Needless violence or humiliating others.
She also has a secondary approval system that affects critical decisions like the fate of the Nightsong and her alignment in Act 3.
Key Approval Moments by Act
Shadowheart’s approval is earned gradually through thoughtful choices and how you respond in key questlines. Her judgment leans toward pragmatism, secrecy, and spiritual loyalty to Shar. Below is a detailed breakdown of impactful approval moments in each act, explained with contextual relevance before listing the specific choices.
Act 1 – First Impressions Matter
In Act 1, the foundation of your relationship with Shadowheart is laid. She’s suspicious but curious. Subtle kindness, cleverness, and moral ambiguity in your decisions will catch her attention early on. These early actions help secure her long-term trust and open the door to romance possibilities.
Ravaged Beach & Emerald Grove
- Wake her up on the beach and recruit her early (+10)
- Let Astarion apologize (+1)
- Calm the scared boar (via Animal Handling or Speak with Animals) (+1)
- Convince tieflings to free Lae’zel, then make her beg (+1)
- Refuse to help Zevlor persuade Kagha (+1)
- Persuade Kagha to release Arabella (+5)
- Lie to Arabella’s parents if she died (+1)
- Tell Arka to seek vengeance (+1)
- Help Guex or support Arabella (+5)
Sunlit Wetlands & Auntie Ethel
- Tell Demir & Johl to fend for themselves (+5)
- Intimidate Auntie Ethel for Mayrina’s safety (+5)
- Attack Mask of Regret after killing Ethel (+1)
Goblin Camp & Blighted Village
- Smear dung on your face (+1)
- Make Crusher kiss your foot (+1)
- Use Illithid power to demand gold from Krolla (+1)
- Invite the Owlbear Cub to camp (+1)
- Don’t loot the Selûnite chest (+5)
Underdark & Grymforge
- Tell Derryth you’re keeping the Noblestalk (+1)
- Call BOOOAL a fake god (+1)
- Convince duergar to release gnomes (+1)
Act 2 – Gauntlet of Shar and Hard Choices
This act delves deep into Shadowheart’s internal conflict with her faith and family. Your support or disagreement with her religious trials and Nightsong choices drastically shape how she views you. It’s a test of loyalty, empathy, and understanding.
Last Light Inn
- Refuse Jaheira’s spiked wine (+1)
- Tell Isobel about Marcus’s plan (+1)
- Distrust Raphael and warn her (+5)
- Support her faith when Isobel mocks Shar (+1)
- Keep the Strange Ox’s secret (Speak with Animals) (+1)
- Rescue tieflings and modestly accept the reward (+1)
Gauntlet of Shar
- Agree to blood sacrifice trial (+5)
- Help her obtain the Spear of Night (+5)
- Let Shadowheart kill or spare Nightsong (+10 approval swing depending on support)
- Convince her to spare Nightsong (DC 21 Persuasion, unlocks Selûne path)
Moonrise Towers
- Help Minthara escape without cruelty (+1)
- Refuse to give the Moonlantern to the pixie (+1)
- Attack Yurgir immediately (+1)
- Convince Balthazar to lend Flesh (+1)
Act 3 – Loyalty or Redemption
In the final act, Shadowheart’s path reaches its emotional climax. Whether she finds peace or plunges deeper into Shar’s darkness depends on previous choices and how you continue to support (or challenge) her. These late-game approvals are subtle but powerful.
- Give her a Night Orchid at camp (+5)
- Compliment her hairstyle (Selûne path) (+1)
- Promise to help save her parents (+5)
- Support her in the House of Grief (e.g., sit on the bench or let her complete the ritual)
- Encourage her to choose Selûne or Shar—based on Act 2 decisions
Shadowheart Romance Guide
To romance Shadowheart, you must maintain high approval and hit key emotional beats:
Act 1 – Tiefling Celebration
- Flirt by sharing a bottle: “I’d be glad to share a bottle.”
- Follow up: “I’ll find you after everyone turns in.”
- Kiss her by the cliffside waterfall scene (+5)
Act 2 – Post-Nightsong Bonding
- If she spared Nightsong, she will appear with changed hairstyle and new faith alignment (Selûne)
- If she killed Nightsong, she stays with Shar and embraces the Dark Justiciar path
Act 3 – Endgame Romance
- Selûne Path: Skinny-dipping beach scene
- Shar Path: Dark ritual at a Selûne statue
Romance scenes and final outcomes depend heavily on your earlier choices in Acts 1 & 2.
Avoid These Approval-Losing Actions
- Siding with Lae’zel in disputes
- Mocking Shar or forcing Shadowheart to confess her past
- Killing for pleasure or humiliating weaker characters
- Trusting Raphael blindly or doing favors for devils
- Acting overly righteous or altruistic without strategic purpose
Pro Tips for Gaining Shadowheart’s Trust
- Use Persuasion, Deception, and Illithid powers to solve problems without brute force
- Lean into class/race-specific dialogue when available
- Don’t pry too early—let her reveal herself gradually
- Flirt subtly and respect her space to unlock romantic moments
- Her arc is deeply tied to the Nightsong and Shar vs Selûne choices—decide wisely
Conclusion
Whether you’re chasing romance or strategic alliance, Shadowheart offers one of the most nuanced and emotionally rich character arcs in Baldur’s Gate 3. Her approval system is tightly linked to how you play: not just what you do, but why and how you do it. Support her without smothering her, show wit over wrath, and you’ll gain a loyal cleric, a conflicted soul, and possibly, a love that transcends faith.
