Best Shadowheart build in Baldur’s Gate 3

Shadowheart is an incredibly useful companion in Baldur’s Gate 3, so it’s useful to know her best build. I never once had her leave my party, being that she is an excellent healer, support, and fighter with the right build.

But I soon came to realize I didn’t think she suited the Trickery domain very well. If you want a Shadowheart who has some incredible AoE attacks, but also serves as a dedicated healer, continue reading.

Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Light domain Shadowheart build

There are quite a few different subclasses for Clerics, but I find that the Light Domain produces very powerful spellcasters. While the Life Domain is arguably the best Cleric subclass, the Light Domain allows Shadowheart to lean into being a well-rounded support character. Once you reach the highest levels, Shadowheart gains some amazing spells that I can’t do without. Read on to find out how to build the best Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3.

Related: Best Gale build in Baldur’s Gate 3

Best Shadowheart ability scores and skills in Baldur’s Gate 3

If you’re looking to respec Shadowheart’s main ability scores, here is a suggestion on how you should number them:

• Strength: 11
• Dexterity: 13
• Constitution: 16 (+1)
• Intelligence: 9
• Wisdom: 17 (+2)
• Charisma: 8

Shadowheart starts with the +1 bonus on Strength. While this may be good for your Cleric if she’s War Domain, it’s best to have her Constitution be the second-highest score. Not only does it give her extra health, but she’ll have better chances at succeeding on Concentration checks, which are Constitution saving throws. Shadowheart has plenty of spells that require Concentration, so apart from her Wisdom, Constitution should be relatively high.

• Best Skills:
  • Medicine
  • Insight

When choosing which skills Shadowheart should most definitely have Proficiencies in, go for Medicine and Insight. Both are Wisdom-based skills, so your Proficiency bonus will be extra high with them. Clerics will find the Medicine skill useful, and Insight is good for detecting whether someone is being truthful or not.

Related: Best Baldur’s Gate 3 College of Swords Bard Build Guide

Shadowheart Light domain leveling guide

• Level 1
  • Choose the Light Domain.
    • Domain Spells: Faerie Fire, Burning Hands.
    • Warding Flare feature: Use your reaction to impose Disadvantage on the attacker. Attacker is immune to effect if they cannot be blinded.
    • Light feature (Cantrip): Infuse an object with an aura of light.
• Level 2
  • Channel Divinity Charges
    • Turn Undead: Any undead in 9m range is Turned and forced to flee on its next three turns until it takes damage.
    • Radiance of the Dawn: 2d10 + (Cleric level) Radiant damage. Enemies in 9m range make a CON save, if succeed take half damage.
  • Unlocks Level 2 spells.
• Level 3
  • Domain Spells: Flaming Sphere, Scorching Ray.
• Level 4
  • Feat: War Caster
    • Gain advantage on saving throws to maintain Concentration on a spell.
    • Can cast Shocking Grasp as a reaction when a target moves out of your melee range.
• Level 5
  • Domain Spells: Daylight, Fireball.
  • Channel Divinity: Destroy Undead
    • If you successfully Turned an undead with Turn Undead, it also takes 1d6 Radiant damage.
  • Unlocks Level 3 spells.
• Level 6
  • +1 Channel Divinity Charge
  • Improved Warding Flare Feature: Same as Warding Flare, except you can use reaction when allies are getting attacked too.
• Level 7
  • Domain Spells: Wall of Fire, Guardian of Faith.
  • Unlocks Level 4 spells.
• Level 8
  • Feat: Ability Score Improvement
    • Increase Wisdom score by +2
  • Potent Spellcasting feature: You can add your Wisdom modifier to damage you deal with Cleric Cantrips.
• Level 9
  • Domain Spells: Flame Strike, Destructive Wave
  • Unlocks Level 5 spells.
• Level 10
  • Divine Intervention Feature: Call upon your God for aid. Can only be used once and never again.
    • Arm Thy Servant: Grants you a legendary weapon.
    • Golden Generosity: Creates a chest with camp supplies and potions.
    • Opulent Revival: Resurrects fallen allies with half their HP within an 18m radius.
    • Sunder the Heretical: Deals 8d10 Radiant damage to all enemies within 15m. Must make a WIS save, if succeeds take half damage.
• Level 11
  • Unlocks Level 6 spells.
• Level 12
  • Feat: Shield Master
    • Gain a +2 bonus to Dexterity saving throws while wielding a shield. If a spell forces you to make one, you can use a reaction to shield yourself and diminish the damage. On a failed throw, talk half damage. On a succeeded throw, take no damage.

The main reasoning behind making Shadowheart a Light Domain Cleric is honestly because of her Domain Spells. At Level 9, Shadowheart can cast Destructive Wave, using either Necrotic or Radiant damage. This is a very powerful AoE attack that can wipe out entire enemies. Flame Strike is also an incredible AoE spell, so Shadowheart was always the one to take out clusters of enemies.

Also, Shadowheart must have the War Caster feat. She’s one of the few people in your party who’ll be Concentrating on spells most, and she needs that advantage on CON saving throws. It’s also important to give her Wisdom a boost, but once you get to your last feat, Shield Master is perfect. Since she was the only one in my party to use a shield, I thought it was a great addition to her build.

Related: Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Cleric multiclass build

Best spells for Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3

Other than her Domain Spells, there are plenty of Cleric spells that Shadowheart can make use of. Here is a list of some of the best spells per spell level. My most commonly used and favorite of these spells have to be Inflict Wounds, Spirit Guardians, and Guiding Bolt.

• Level 1 spells
  • Cure Wounds
  • Guiding Bolt
  • Inflict Wounds
• Level 2 spells
  • Lesser Restoration
  • Prayer of Healing
  • Spiritual Weapon
• Level 3 spells
  • Revivify
  • Spirit Guardians
  • Mass Healing Word
• Level 4 spells
  • Death Ward
  • Banishment
• Level 5 spells
  • Mass Cure Wounds
  • Greater Restoration
  • Insect Plague
• Level 6 spells
  • Heal
  • Harm
  • Heroes’ Feast

The Life Domain makes your healing spells more powerful thanks to Disciple of Life, Preserve Life, and Blessed Healer. However, to make Shadowheart more well-rounded, the Light Domain is the way to go. Shadowheart naturally has a lot of healing capabilities because she is a Cleric, so going with the Light Domain allows her to gain incredibly strong spells while also being a strong healer.

Best Feats for Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3

• War Caster: Gives advantage on concentration checks to maintain concentration spells, and allows her to cast Shocking Grasp for an Opportunity Attack. She’ll be using concentration spells often, so this is a vital Feat.
• Shield Master: Since Shadowheart works well with shields, it’ll grant her +2 to DEX saving throws while holding a shield. Also if you succeed at DEX saving throws against a spell, you can take absolutely no damage.
• Spell Sniper: As Shadowheart will be relying on spells quite often, this Feat allows you to learn a Cantrip, alongside being able to score a critical hit on both a 19 and 20.

There are a lot of great Feats in Baldur’s Gate 3, but War Caster, Shield Master, and Spell Sniper are some of the best ones you can take for Shadowheart. However, they definitely aren’t the best Feats for the best Astarion build in BG3.