Since the release of Baldur’s Gate 3, there have been ongoing discussions about how one of the most popular companions in battle seems useless. Shadowheart is only taken along as a buff bot and healer, if at all. However, you are probably just misunderstanding her.
This is Shadowheart’s problem:
- Among all companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, Shadowheart is one of the most popular, especially due to her deep story and the many plot twists.
- By default, she is a cleric, so she fights with weapons like maces, wears a shield and armor, and casts divine magic. Actually one of the strongest classes in the game.
- However, Shadowheart’s basic spells, Fire Bolt and Sacred Flame, as well as her weapon attacks, generally hit less often than those of any other companions. There’s a reason for that.
Why does she never hit? On Reddit, user Odocaver_0476 explains that the spells Shadowheart masters are actually not good for the game and her character. Fire Bolt is a cantrip that actually belongs to wizards.
Shadowheart only masters the spell because she is a half-elf. However, the hit chance and damage are calculated with intelligence due to the origin of the spell. As a cleric, Shadowheart’s main attribute is wisdom.
The same applies to weapon attacks. These generally rely on strength or dexterity. By default, Shadowheart has little of both, resulting in significantly lower hit chances and damage compared to fighters, rogues, or barbarians.
Sacred Flame, on the other hand, does not use your attributes but those of the opponent, specifically: dexterity. Enemies must succeed on a saving throw. Many enemies in Baldur’s Gate 3 are extremely dexterous, so Sacred Flame is really only strong against bulky, slow enemies.
This is how to re-spec Shadowheart:
You just need to use the right spells; then Shadowheart will hit too
If you want reliable hits with Shadowheart, the best way is to re-spec her completely. For Honor runs, it is even essential that she gains another class or at least another domain. Trickery is the worst domain a cleric can have.
Make sure that she doesn’t stay stuck on 13 points in strength and dexterity but instead focus on one of them if she is to be useful in melee combat. Strength scales with more weapons and her best spear, while dexterity additionally increases armor.
However, if you don’t want to change her character, there are a few spells that allow Shadowheart to really shine in battle. Odocaver recommends:
- Spiritual Weapon: This spell conjures a weapon as a companion that fights on its own initiative and with its own attributes. You can summon it as a bonus action and do not need to concentrate on it.
- Guardian Spirits: Similar to the trick with the sword Phalar Aluve, you have an aura around you that deals radiant or necrotic damage when enemies enter it. Extremely useful against many foes.
- Guiding Bolt and Inflict Wounds: Unlike Fire Bolt, these spells use wisdom as a modifier for attacks and damage. You will hit significantly more reliably, and with Guiding Bolt, you also provide an advantage on the next weapon attack against the enemy.
Later on, however, you will also gain the spells Guardian of Faith and Revivify. Both abilities, like Spiritual Weapon, grant an additional companion in battle.
Alternatively, Shadowheart masters Hold Person, one of the best spells in the game, at least against humanoid enemies. Many foes have not particularly high wisdom, making it easier to hit with the spell.
However, Shadowheart does not have any really strong cantrips. Once her spell slots are exhausted, she becomes significantly weaker. You can stretch this situation a bit further with elixirs and scrolls. You hardly use those anyway. Or you give her bombs that can deal more damage than the spells of wizards if used correctly.
