Today we are going to take a look at how to recruit Shadowheart as your companion in Baldur’s Gate 3. Shadowheart is one of the few available companions that you can recruit in BG3. Like Lae’zel you will also find Shadowheart on the Nautiloid ship in the tutorial area of the game. So basically you can recruit her at the start of the game.

You also get the choice of not freeing her from the pod. She will survive the crash with the ship and you will get the chance to recruit Shadowheart a few more times later in the game.

Note: As of the release of the game you won’t have to get the key anymore. You just gotta success the dice roll at the console to open the pod.

How to recruit Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3

While you make your way forward on the Nautiloid tutorial ship you will enter a room with a big console and two guys tied to a chair in the middle. You will notice someone screaming for help on the left side inside the pod. You can go talk to the pod, Shadowheart is in there. Now you have the choice to leave her and recruit her later or immediately free her.

Shadowheart trapped in the pod on Nautilod ship BG3

You also notice a console on the right side of the pod. Inside the console a socket is empty. Now we need to find what fits in there. On the right side of the room there is a small treasure chest that holds the item that belongs into the socket. However, we first have to find the key to unlock it.

Walk into the next room and get to the end of the area where you will find a dead body on the ground. Loot it, you will find the necessary key among the dead body. The key is called “Elaborate Key”.

Get the key to unlock the small chest on Nautilod ship BG3

Now make your way back to the small treasure chest in the room with Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3. When you unlock the chest you will find the item “Eldritch Rune” that belongs into the empty socket. Pick it up and go back to the console, insert the rune.

Eldritch Rune item to free Shadowheart in Baldurs Gate 3

After you unlocked the pod Shadowheart will jump out of it and become your companion if you want her in your group.

Shadowheart alive and recruited on Nautilod ship in BG3

Other ways to recruit Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3

There are currently 3 known locations where you can find and recruit Shadowheart as a companion in Baldur’s Gate 3.

  1. Nautiloid ship inside the pod. We covered this method above.
  2. She can be found right at the start of the Ravaged Beach.
  3. Shadowheart can be found near the entrance of the Dank Crypt (Abandoned Ruins) northern end of the Ravaged Beach. She will once again offer to join your party
  4. Inside Druid’s Grove, she is sitting on a rock near the training area in the Hollow. She will once again offer you to join the party.

One thing to remember, if you free Shadowheart on the Nautiloid ship she will make a comment once you get to the Ravaged Beach. She will thank you for freeing her and you will gain Shadowheart approval.