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Hello, Gamers!
In the rich tapestry ofBaldur’s Gate 3, companions are more than mere followers; they are intricate characters with deep backstories, complex motivations, and the potential to significantly impact your journey. Among these companions, Shadowheart stands out as a beacon of intrigue and complexity. As a High Half-Elf Cleric serving the enigmatic deity Shar, she navigates a delicate balance between her inherent spellcasting prowess and her proclivity for stealth and deception under the Trickery Domain. Yet, Shadowheart’s depth extends beyond her divine connection and skills, for she wrestles with internal doubts and fears, making her a multifaceted ally or a challenging companion, depending on the paths you choose.
Shadowheart’s journey intertwines with the player’s, offering not only combat support and story enrichment but also a unique perspective on the unfolding events within theBaldur’s Gate 3universe. The companions you meet along your adventure, including Shadowheart, can drastically shape your experience, presenting opportunities for romance, conflict, and personal growth.
However, the essence of this guide delves into the heart of Shadowheart’s potential—not as a Trickery Cleric, but reborn under the auspices of the Life Domain. This transition from the shadows of trickery to the resplendent light of life not only aligns with her complex narrative but also amplifies her effectiveness in your party.
Shadowheart’s Core Features & Mechanics
In the early stages of the game, players have the unique opportunity to respec or reroll companions, allowing for significant customization of their class, subclass, abilities, and more. While the essence of their character, their race, and their story remain constant, this flexibility enables players to tailor companions like Shadowheart to their strategic preferences or narrative inclinations.
This guide will navigate you through the process of transforming Shadowheart from a Trickery Cleric to a Life Cleric, leveraging her innate abilities and your strategic foresight to forge a build that not only complements her narrative arc but also makes her an indispensable asset to your party’s success. We will explore the mechanics of this transition, the strategic advantages it offers, and how it harmonizes with Shadowheart’s complex character, ensuring that she shines brightly as a Life Cleric in the darkened world ofBaldur’s Gate 3.
Firstly, we want to keep in mind that this Shadowheart build is going to besupport-based. We’re going to reroll her stats and Cleric Domain, because Trickery Domain simply falls short of what we need out of her. So, as soon as you can, go to Withers and reroll her. Her stat distribution should look like this:
Constitution
Intelligence
You will unlock 3 cantrips at this level. you’re able to pick pretty much any of these, but the most useful early-game ones will beThaumaturgy,Sacred Flame, andGuidance.
If you drop any of these, drop Sacred Flame. It’s pretty much useless after Act 1.
As for your spells, you’re going to want these:
We skipCure Woundsbecause there’s never an instance where you want to use Cure Wounds over Healing Word.
At this level, you will get your Channel Divinity abilities - Preserve Life, and Turn Undead.
You’ll also get the ability to pick 2 other spells. Pick either Command or Protect from Evil and Good.
At Level 3, you get to pick 2 level 2 spells and 1 level 1 spell. You can pick what you like of the level 1 spells. As for the level 2 spells, you should pick up these:
Plenty of builds would argue to take Spiritual Weapon at this point, but this summoned pet is not nearly as useful as healing and support utility from Warding Bond.
Upon reaching level four, the Cleric gains several enhancements: an additional cantrip, another spell ready for use, and a choice between a new feat or enhancing an existing ability. We recommend opting for the latter, specifically boosting your Wisdom score by 2 points. This strategic increase is aimed at bolstering the potency of your healing capabilities. Therefore, allocate yourAbility Score Improvement towards enhancing Wisdom. For the new spell, opt forHold Person, and for the cantrip, selectBlade Ward.
Hold Person
Blade Ward
Upon advancing to level 5, Life Clerics in BG3 receive significant enhancements to their spellcasting arsenal. Included in these upgrades are two spells granted automatically by your subclass specialization. Additionally, you have the opportunity to select a Level 3 spell. For those focusing on maximizing their healing impact,Mass Healing Wordstands out as the premier choice. This spell’s strength lies in its ability to deliver extensive area-of-effect (AOE) healing, and it’s especially notable for requiring only a bonus action to cast, as opposed to a full action. This efficiency allows you to maintain healing support while still having the flexibility to perform other actions during your turn.
You will also get two subclass spells - Revivify and Beacon of Hope.
Beacon of Hope
Reaching level six as a Life Cleric brings with it a series of notable advancements. First and foremost, you are granted the ability to choose an additional Level 3 spell, expanding your repertoire and strategic options. Here are the spells we recommend:
Spirit Guardians
Glyph of Warding
Remove Curse
Additionally, this level awards you an extra charge of Channel Divinity, enhancing your divine capabilities and offering more versatility in how you support your allies and confront adversaries during encounters.
Moreover, level six introduces the Blessed Healer passive. This passive ability significantly bolsters your healing effectiveness, ensuring that when you cast a spell to heal others, you also receive a portion of that healing. This symbiotic relationship between healing others and sustaining yourself makes the Life Cleric an even more resilient and indispensable member of any adventuring party.
Upon reaching level 7, Life Clerics experience further enhancement in their divine spellcasting abilities. This advancement includes the acquisition of a Level 4 spell slot, allowing access to more powerful and impactful spells. Additionally, level 7 brings two subclass-specific spells that are automatically added to the Life Cleric’s repertoire:Death WardandGuardian of Faith.
As for your spell choice, pick any of the spells you haven’t picked from level 6.
At level 8 you get your second feat - take War Caster. You will also get another spell slot, and you should pick the third spell you didn’t take from level 6.
Level 9 gives Shadowheart a choice of a level 4 and 5 spell. You should pick these:
Insect Plague
Banishment
Upon reaching level 10, Life Clerics are bestowed with a remarkable array of enhancements that further amplify their divine capabilities with Divine Intervention.
In addition to this powerful feature, level 10 also grants Life Clerics one additional cantrip (pick any you like), expanding their repertoire of minor magical effects that can be used at will. Furthermore, they receive an extra spell slot, which provides increased flexibility and the ability to cast more spells between rests. Alongside this, they also gain another prepared spell, allowing them to tailor their selection of spells to better suit the challenges of their current adventure. We recommend this:
Planar Binding
At level 11, Life Clerics unlock the pinnacle of their spellcasting prowess with access to the Level 6 spell slot. This advancement opens up opportunities for casting some of the most powerful and game-changing spells available to the Cleric class. With this new spell slot, Life Clerics can select from a range of Level 6 spells, each offering significant enhancements to their healing capabilities, protective measures, or combat effectiveness. This level marks a significant milestone, empowering Life Clerics to influence the battlefield and support their allies in more profound ways.
You’re going to want to drop Planar Binding now and consider these spells instead:
Planar Ally
At level 12, Shadowheart will get her last feat. Take this opportunity to increase her Wisdom to 20. Additionally, you will get another sixth level spell choice. Pick any you like, but the most useful of them left is this:
Blade Barrier
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