Your own group is an important part of the feeling in Baldur’s Gate 3. One of the first companions you can meet is Shadowheart, whom you can play as a cleric. This guide explains which spells are best for the cleric.

Update, January 17, 2025: The article has been reviewed and is up to date.

Who is Shadowheart? Shadowheart is a half-elf and cleric. At the beginning of the game, you will find her on the illithid ship. You can see how to free her right at the start in our colleagues’ article at GameStar.

Clerics are not only good healers; they can also be good tanks, support, or deal a decent amount of damage. Overall, they are a true all-round talent and are worth having in any group.

Why clerics are one of the strongest classes in the game is explained by Mein-MMO author Fabienne. In the following section, we will show you the best spells that you can equip with Shadowheart.

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Best Support Cleric Build – Subclass: Domain of Life

The Domain of Life is a good fit for Shadowheart if you need a strong healing force by your side. For this, you need to reskill Shadowheart, who starts in the Trickery Domain, at Lazarus (Withers). As a cleric of the Domain of Life, you can heal and support your group like no other class in Baldur’s Gate 3, which is why this build focuses on that.

Wisdom is your most important attribute. This is how you allocate your attribute points:

Strength: 10
Dexterity: 14
Constitution: 16
Intelligence: 8
Wisdom: 16
Charisma: 10

Which cantrips are worth it?

Sacred Flame, Guidance, Resistance, Create Flame

Loadout at Level 1

The good thing is: As a cleric, you can swap your spells before every fight. This means you don’t have a fixed loadout but can adjust your spells flexibly depending on the situation. You can always change your spells and try out what works best for you.

Healing Word, Inflict Wounds, Guiding Bolt, Shield of Faith, Bane

This is a good mix of healing and defensive abilities that are already established. With Guiding Bolt and Inflict Wounds, Shadowheart also has options to deal damage.

Loadout at Level 2

You swap out Shield of Faith for Command

Command is quite strong, as it allows you to force an enemy to drop their weapons. With this, you can even grab the weapon yourself. You can also make enemies flee, for example – giving you tactical options. One of the best swords in Act 1 can be obtained by using Command.

Loadout at Level 3

Here you simply add Spiritual Weapon to your previous loadout, also Prayer of Healing, Hold Person, or Warding Bond can be useful depending on the situation

With Spiritual Weapon, you can conjure a floating weapon (as a bonus action) that assists you in combat. You can choose from various weapons. All weapons deal force damage, and each has its own special attack.

The weapon acts independently of the cleric. It has its own movement rate, action, and bonus action. The weapon supports you for a full 10 turns after you summon it. This is not a concentration spell.

The spell Warding Bond grants resistances, +1 to AC and saving throws. You bond with an ally. But at the same time, Shadowheart takes the same damage as the bonded target. You should keep an eye on this; in combat, it can happen that you quickly lose track, and suddenly Shadowheart dies.

Loadout at Level 4

If you haven’t equipped Hold Person yet, you can do it here; otherwise, Silence is worth it
With the talent Ability Score Increase, you increase your Wisdom by +2

Hold Person works very well in combination with melee characters in your party. The target must be humanoid. If the spell succeeds, the target cannot move, take actions, or reactions. The best part is: All melee attacks always critically hit the restrained target, allowing you to deal immense damage.

Loadout at Level 5

Silence or Hold Person

Loadout at Level 6

At this level, we recommend Spirit Guardians as the next spell; also Break Curse and Mass Healing Word can be worthwhile

Spirit Guardians is a concentration spell. You summon spirits that protect you in the form of an aura. Enemies who stay nearby take radiant or necrotic damage per round, depending on which type of damage you choose. Additionally, their movement rate is halved within the aura. As a cleric, you can essentially run into your opponents and deal significant damage.

Loadout at Level 7

Banishment is the best new spell here

The opposing target is banished. This means they cannot do anything for two turns, but you cannot deal damage to them either. This is very useful against strong opponents, as you can cast other spells or buffs for the team during that time.

Loadout at Level 8

Freedom of Movement
With the talent Ability Score Increase, you increase your Wisdom by +2

This spell gives you the ability to allow the target to move across difficult terrain and similar obstacles. If an ally is paralyzed, Freedom of Movement can free them from that effect. Additionally, the target cannot be magically paralyzed or restrained.

Loadout at Level 9

Insect Plague and Flame Strike

Swarm of locusts attacks everyone in a certain area. There is a disadvantage on perception checks in the area. Flame Strike is a powerful fire spell.

Loadout at Level 10

At Level 10, Planar Binding is worth it

Planar Binding can be cast on a creature that is to fight for you on the battlefield. However, the target must be a celestial, fey, elemental, or fiend.

Loadout at Level 11

Healing and Planar Ally are also worth it

With Healing, you can heal someone, remove blindness, and alleviate any disease. With Planar Ally, you can summon an otherworldly being to assist you until the next long rest. You can even summon a Deva.

Loadout at Level 12

Add Hero’s Feast or Blade Barrier to your loadout
As a talent, choose Resilient for Constitution

With Hero’s Feast, you gain strong buffs. You can no longer be sick, frightened, or poisoned. Life is increased, and you have advantage on Wisdom checks. With Blade Barrier, you create a barrier that deals damage to anyone who approaches.

Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Support Build – How to Play Shadowheart as a Healing Cleric Correctly