As players fight through the Nautiloid during the prologue of Baldur's Gate 3, they will encounter an elf woman that is trapped inside a Mind Flayer Pod. That woman is known as Shadowheart, and while it is not requisite that fans release her, it is possible for them to do so. This guide is here to explain how that is done, and it will make it easy for players to free Shadowheart from her pod in Baldur's Gate 3.
Updated September 26th, 2023: Players will find themselves making decisions almost immediately when they drop into Baldur's Gate 3. One of the most important things they'll need to do is figure out how to free Shadowheart. The enigmatic potential party member is found stuck in a Mind Flayer Pod and players will need to work out how to get Shadowheart out of the pod. To better help players with the necessary steps to take and how exactly to free Shadowheart in Baldur's Gate 3, the following guide now includes a video.
Baldur's Gate 3: How to Free Woman Trapped in Pod (Shadowheart)
Players that are attempting to free Shadowheart in BG3 should begin by passing through the door on the east side of the room in which she is trapped. Upon entering the room that is beyond that door, players should walk to the east end and interact with the Dead Thrall on the ground. This body holds an Elaborate Key, and players should take it and return to Shadowheart's room.
There is an Elaborate Reliquary chest in the southeast corner of the room with Shadowheart, and it can be opened with the Elaborate Key that was just obtained. Inside this container, players will find an Eldritch Rune, which can be used to activate the console that is situated just to the right of Shadowheart's pod. Once the console "hums to life," Baldur's Gate 3 fans should opt to place their hands upon it, and this action will ultimately lead to the elf woman's release.
To note, some classes in Baldur's Gate 3 are able to free Shadowheart without ever obtaining the Elaborate Key and the Eldritch Rune. That is done through various skill checks and class-specific dialogue options, and players should feel free to pursue those options if they present themselves when interacting with the Mind Flayer Pod and the associated terminal. Indeed, while the end result may be the same, it can still be quite interesting to solve this problem in a more unique fashion.
One final thing to mention is that players that do not free Shadowheart from her pod can still encounter her later in the game. In fact, that encounter occurs very shortly after the prologue comes to an end, and leaving her to die will not preclude her from joining the party in BG3. That said, it is very easy to free Shadowheart using the method detailed in this guide, and players might as well take a moment to do so, provided that it does not interfere with their roleplaying plans.
Baldur’s Gate 3 releases on August 3 for PC and September 6 for PS5. An Xbox Series X/S version is in development.
