Rescue Shadowheart from the Pod in Baldur's Gate 3

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To release Shadowheart from the pod in Baldur’s Gate 3, you need to find the right item to properly interface with the Nautiloid. If you miss this step, don’t worry — there are alternative methods to free the Cleric of Shar, but they tend to be more dangerous.

This quest is optional. However, skipping it means missing out on some meaningful interactions between Shadowheart and Lae’Zel, and it also makes the rest of your journey through the Nautiloid more challenging. Here’s what you need to do to rescue Shadowheart and add her to your team.

How to open the Mind Flayer pod and free Shadowheart in Baldur’s Gate 3

Getting Shadowheart out of the pod is straightforward and safe. Follow these simple steps:

Examine the console next to Shadowheart’s pod. You’ll notice a socket that requires an item to be inserted.

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Proceed through the corridor called the Sphincter to the room east of Shadowheart’s location.
In this room, you’ll see another pod with a figure inside similar to Shadowheart’s. Walk past it to the far end of the room.
Near a Cartilaginous Chest, find a dead body labeled “Dead Thrall.” Search this body to find an Eldritch Rune.
Return to Shadowheart’s console and select the options to insert the Rune into the socket, then choose “Place Your Hand on the Console.”
A mental prompt will activate. Choose the option to “Will the pod to open” using Illithid (Wisdom).

Once you do this, the pod will open, and Shadowheart will be freed. She will join you as a party member for the rest of the Nautiloid area. Some characters, like Wizards or those skilled in arcane arts, might be able to hack the console without the Rune, but you’ll still need the Parasite.

You can have Shadowheart fight alongside you immediately, where she becomes a valuable ally. She’s a powerful cleric and arguably one of the best companions in the game. But is rescuing her worth the effort? That’s up to you.

Should you free Shadowheart?

Absolutely. It’s an easy task once you know how, and there’s no downside to freeing her. Plus, she can be a big help in combat, especially when fighting the devils in the next room. She might even assist you in defeating the optional boss, Commander Zhalk, and claiming his magic greatsword.

Additionally, rescuing her improves your relationship with her later on. She’ll be grateful, which can lead to one of the many romance options in the game. How you encounter her later might depend on whether you free her from the pod: if you do, she’s nearby after waking up; if not, she’s farther up the beach trying to access the Dank Crypt.

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