Free Shadowheart from her pod is the first side quest in Baldur’s Gate 3 that you will come across while fighting your way through the Mind Flayer ship, Nautiloid. She is the earliest recruitable character and plays a major role in how the events turn out later in the game.
Shadowheart is kept inside a pod, like you, and apparently, she has no way of freeing herself. So, it is all up to you to devise a plan to open the hatch of the pod and free your party’s future cleric.
Freeing Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3
Freeing Shadowheart is straightforward and can be done by following a few steps. First, find Shadowheart’s pod, located on the upper floors of the Nautiloid ship, in the Northeast corner of the room.
Once you interact with the pod’s console nearby, the narrator’s voice will make it clear that you need something to open it. The key in the question for the pod is an Eldritch Rune. To get the eldritch rune, head into the adjacent room and follow these steps.
- Loot the bodies, and you will find the elaborate key on one.
- Use the Elaborate key to open the Elaborate Reliquary chest in the room housing Shadowheart’s pod.
- Obtain the Eldritch Rune and return to the pod’s terminal to unlock it.
- Then, choose the Illithid wisdom option “Will the Pod to open.”
Alternative method
There is an alternative method of freeing Shadowheart as well in Baldur’s Gate 3. If you have a Wizard on your team or are playing as a character with Arcana proficiency, you can hack the terminal. This hacking process will require you to pass a few checks. But after passing them successfully, Shadowheart will be free in Baldur’s Gate 3.
Free Shadowheart from the Pod or not
Now the big question arises, should you help the condescending High Half-Elf or not? The answer is a big Yes. Shadowheart not only plays a major role in the game’s events, but she is also one of the best clerics and a potential romance option. Even if you don’t save Shadowheart from the pod, you will still find her later. She will be angry with you, though, and now it requires a lot more effort to win her over.
