Best Weapons For Shadowheart In Baldur’s Gate 3

Key Takeaways

• Shadowheart suits various roles in Baldur’s Gate 3.
• Weapons like the Handmaiden’s Mace and Selune’s Spear enhance her abilities.
• Unique weapons like Shar’s Spear offer powerful abilities exclusive to Shadowheart.

Shadowheart is one of the many recruitable characters in Baldur’s Gate 3 and introduces herself using the name that the Sharrans gave her. When her Mother Superior sent her into the wilderness to retrieve a mysterious weapon, her memories of almost everything else were taken from her, and this is how the protagonist meets her.

Whether or not players experience her story as an Origin character or keep her in the party as a healer or DPS, several weapons in Baldur’s Gate 3 suit her play style more than others. Clerics are limited when it comes to their choice of arms, which means that they can only use flails, morningstars, and simple weapons like spears, clubs, and hammers. Shadowheart is a Half-elf, so she can also use short bows, her only option for a ranged physical weapon.

Updated November 10, 2024 by Kristy Ambrose: Cleric is one of the least-played classes in BG3, but they’re a versatile class with several possible roles. Building Shadowheart as a DPS or even a tank by changing her subclass can be an interesting experiment in how much a Cleric can do just with Feats and gear as opposed to multi-classing. That means there are even more choices for her when it comes to weapons. Hopefully, in the pile of awards that BG3 has won since its official launch, there’s also something for Jennifer English, the voice and motion-capture artist and actor who brought Shadowheart to life.

1 Handmaiden’s Mace

Drops From Viconia DeVar In The Sharran Enclave

• Damage: 1d6 + 2 + Strength modifier of Bludgeoning; 1d6 poison damage
• Sets the user’s Strength to 18

One of the most frustrating battles in Act 3 is the showdown with Viconia DeVir, the Mother Superior of the Sharran Enclave in Baldur’s Gate and a recurring character in the series. She’s in a big room surrounded by her followers and can cast Sanctuary on herself, but if Shadowheart defeats her, she can take her Very Rare-quality mace.

The Handmaiden’s Mace is not just a nice Cleric weapon; it’s a matter of poetic justice that Shadowheart gets to pry it from Viconia’s cold dead hand. It was Viconia who took Shadowheart from her parents in the forest under the pretense of rescuing her, and depending on how the story goes, Shadowheart might be able to take Mother Superior’s place.

It would add insult to injury by wielding the previous Mother Superior’s mace in the process. Setting the user’s Strength to 18 and offering poison damage, this weapon is a must-have for those looking to give Shadowheart some additional power.

2 Selune’s Spear Of Night

Selune’s Gift For Sparing Her Daughter, The Nightsong

• Selune’s Blessing: Advantage on Wisdom Saving Throws, grants Darkvision, grants spells Moonbeam and Moonmote
• One-handed: 1d6 + 3 + Strength modifier, piercing damage
• Two-handed damage: 1d8 + 3 + Strength modifier, piercing damage

There are two choices before Shadowheart when she steps into the realm of Lady Shar and faces the Nightsong. She can either kill her as Lady Shar has commanded or spare her and defy her dark goddess. If Shadowheart chooses to spare Aylin, the daughter of Selune will reward her with this Legendary spear when they meet at camp later.

Shadowheart can carry a shield, so she has a choice if she wants to roll for 1d6 or 1d8 damage while using Selune’s Spear Of Night. Moonbeam is a level 2 spell from the Evocation school that can be used for its AoE effect in addition to lighting a dark area, making this spear even more useful in unique situations.

3 Shar’s Spear Of Evening

Kill The Nightsong And Be Rewarded

• Shar’s Blessing: Roll with Advantage when obscured, Blind immunity, Edge of Darkness, and Shar’s Darkness
• One-handed: 1d6 + 3 + Strength modifier, piercing damage
• Two-handed damage: 1d8 + 3 + Strength modifier, piercing damage

If the Nightsong dies by Shadowheart’s hand as the Lady of Loss has decreed, she’ll be rewarded with another spear that’s just as impressive. It’s also a Legendary spear with the same damage stats as the Selunite spear, but it offers unique spells and abilities that are connected to Shar.

Shadowheart can’t be Blinded when this spear is equipped, and she will also have the power to cast the level 2 Evocation spell Shar’s Darkness every turn. The passive ability Edge of Darkness spreads a cloud of Darkness every time she hits an enemy. All in all, Shar’s Spear of Evening is an incredibly powerful weapon, but sadly, it’s only available to those who opt for a darker Shadowheart path.

4 Staff of the Emporer

Disarm Or Kill The Emporer

• Passive abilities: Arcane Enchantment and Imperial Retaliation
• One-handed: 1d6 + 3 + Strength modifier, piercing damage
• Two-handed damage: 1d8 + 3 + Strength modifier, piercing damage

Shadowheart has a special connection to the Mysterious Artefact, which is later revealed to be an astral prison. As the story progresses, players learn that the Emperor is holding a Githyanki prince inside of it. Should the Emperor be killed or disarmed, his Rare staff would be ideal for Shadowheart if she’s a healer or a DPS caster.

Arcane Enchantment grants the wielder a +1 bonus to spell save DC and spell attack rolls, which is great for any class, but has extra importance for one with a healing role. Imperial Retaliation is another passive ability related to spell casting. If the wielder of the Staff of the Emperor succeeds in a Saving throw after an enemy targets them, they have to pass an Intelligence saving throw of their own or have the Stunned condition for one turn.

5 Twist Of Fortune

Dropped by Gerringothe Thorm in Reithwin

• Damage: 1d8 + 1 + Strength modifier
• +1 weapon enchantment
• Grants the abilities Twist of Fortune, Tenacity, and Blood Money

There are a lot of sad stories in Reithwin Town, and many of them end in the Tollhouse. Abandoned suitcases, piles of stolen money, and spirits of greed, regret, and anger are scattered across every floor and upstairs is where Gerringothe Thorm is waiting for the party to pay her toll.

For a minor boss, Gerringothe is pretty tough, which is why most players just talk her into killing herself. To slay her, the trick is to survive her initial attack and destroy the skull familiars in the other rooms. Either way, she drops this Morningstar, which has the usual damage buffs along with some other handy passive abilities.

Twist of Fortune lets the wielder roll again if they get a two or less, Tenacity grants Bludgeoning damage even on a miss, and Blood Money gives Shadowheart a damage-dealing buff every 300g the target is carrying. Players have discovered that if they can reverse-pickpocket a target and give it or them a big pile of gold, it’s a way to get a significant advantage in a fight.

6 Skybreaker

In A Locked Chest Near The Arcane Tower

• Damage: 1d6 + 4 + Strength modifier Bludgeoning damage
• Cast Searing Smite once per Long Rest

A nice weapon for several classes, this light hammer can also be thrown, which also means this would give Shadowheart a ranged weapon option or a two-handed weapon ability should the player choose to give her one. It’s also a nice complement to a DPS build that would change Shadowheart’s Domain to Light or Tempest because it gives them a handy extra spell.

Skybreaker is easy to get in the sense that it doesn’t require fighting any bosses, but the obscure location in a dark corner of the Underdark is easy to miss. Before rushing toward the arcane tower, search the open area in front of the main entrance to find a locked chest that contains this hammer, along with a few other useful goodies.

7 Adamantine Mace

Crafted Using The Adamantine Forge

• Damage: 1d6 + 1 + Strength modifier, bludgeoning damage
• Grants the Diamondsbane and Lethal Weapon abilities.

Shadowheart is officially a healer, but that doesn’t mean Baldur’s Gate 3 players can’t change her build or give her a weapon that’s effective at close range. With the Adaminte Mace, Shadowheart gains access to Diamondsbane, which ignores any kind of resistance to bludgeoning damage, and Lethal Weapon which makes sure that every hit is a critical one.

For those that venture to the Grymforge and find the Adamantine Forge, there are only two pieces of mithril ore available, and players will have to carefully consider their options before deciding to forge the Adamantine Mace. The mold for the mace can be found on a table near the Ancient Forge Waypoint, and those looking to create a powerful weapon for Shadowheart should ensure they use it.

8 Darkfire Shortbow

Buy From Dammon At Last Light Inn

• Damage: 1d6 + 2 + Dexterity modifier, piercing damage
• Cast Haste once per Long Rest

Normally, Clerics as a class don’t have access to bows or crossbows, but Shadowheart can use them as part of her racial abilities. The Darkfire Shortbow is one of the best ones for Shadowheart, even if Baldur’s Gate 3 players re-spec her as a melee fighter or DPS caster.

Aside from the usual benefits that equipping a bow grants, like Hamstring Shot, equipping this bow also makes the user resistant to Fire and Cold damage. It’s also easy to find in Dammon’s inventory at Last Light Stables.

9 The Argument Solver

Dropped By Mig The Ogre In Moonrise Towers

• Damage: 1d8 + 1 + Strength modifier, bludgeoning damage
• Poison Mist skill
• Grants Concussive Smash, Tenacity, and Backbreaker provided the wielder has Proficiency

For an Uncommon weapon of such basic design, the Argument Solver has a number of handy abilities that include both passive abilities and special weapon actions. If the character is proficient in simple melee weapons (and Clerics are given this ability), they are proficient in Greatclubs such as the Argument Solver.

Concussive Smash deals extra physical damage and has the potential to damage a target, Backbreaker knocks the target Prone, and Tenacity ensures that the player deals damage to a target even if they miss. Regardless of proficiency, the wielder of this two-handed club is given the Poison Mist skill. When Shadowheart strikes an enemy with this weapon, Poison Mist deals Poison damage equal to her proficiency bonus and has a chance to create an AoE that damages anyone within.

10 Blood Of Lathander

A Legendary Item Hidden In Act One

• Dammage: 1d6 + 3 + Strength modifier, bludgeoning damage
• Passive Abilities: Lathander’s Light and Lathander’s Blessing
• Cast Sunbeam once per long rest

A weapon of this power at this stage in Baldur’s Gate 3 is just ridiculous, but that’s not the only reason it’s one of the best weapons for Shadowheart. This is a mace of Legendary quality, the only one of its kind in the game, and there’s something joyous in the blasphemy of giving a relic of Lathander to a Cleric of Shar.

Blood of Lathander has the passive ability of always shining with Lathander’s Light, which is great when exploring dark areas like the Underdark and Shadow-Cursed Lands, but it could be a drawback for those trying to sneak around. Sunbeam is a Level 6 evocation spell, and it’s situational but devastating. If Shadowheart hits a friend with it by accident, she can use Lathander’s Blessing to heal them.