Why is Shadowheart so overused?

[女王 [Queen]]

I wanted to take a jab at answering this- And open a discussion around it.
The reason most people finish the game with her and overuse her is purely because she's a Cleric in my experience. In the early game, you meet several characters:
Lae'zel - Fighter
Gale - Wizard
Astarion - Rogue
Shadowheart - Cleric
Karlach - Barbarian
Wyll- Warlock

In early game, Shadowheart just gives the absolute most out of all these. 2nd most used is Astarion too. Why is that? Shadowheart gives strong early healing, utility, is a good frontline, and scales really well PLUS being good looking and having good story. Astarion is in a similar position, Astarion is a rogue (nuff said tbh there lol)- Can pick locks, go invis, and so on.
I wouldn't say Larian dropped the ball on the other companions, because Shadowheart's peak is in Act 2. Astarion's is in Act 3, Karlach's is in Act 3, Gale is prominent all throughout, Wyll is Act 1 and Act 3. This just makes it so by the time the other early companion's stories really start to gain traction- Shadowheart and Astarion are already staples of a player's party and they won't really want to swap them out.
Thoughts?

[Toybox]

Shadowheart can be easily replaced with a bag full of potions.

Despite being a cleric the game makes her the WORST cleric (trickery domain). So for her to be viable in any capacity you have to re-spec her anyway.

[=DeadShot=]

Originally posted by SolviteSekai:

People acting like Larian didnt reveal Shadowheart is by far the most romanced companion (with Astarion predictably being the least).

Who could possibly have guessed that the traditional waifu elf girl is more popular than the aggressively queer coded vampire who ♥♥♥♥♥ on you for helping people.

Asterion would get more mileage if he would be less obvious puppy killing evil.

[SolviteSekai]

Originally posted by =DeadShot=:

Originally posted by SolviteSekai:

People acting like Larian didnt reveal Shadowheart is by far the most romanced companion (with Astarion predictably being the least).

Who could possibly have guessed that the traditional waifu elf girl is more popular than the aggressively queer coded vampire who ♥♥♥♥♥ on you for helping people.

Asterion would get more mileage if he would be less obvious puppy killing evil.

I really do think Astarion is getting no use because most gamers probably feel very uncomfortable when he talks to them due to the queer coding. Not saying he needs to be changed, just that he's pretty effeminate and (especially outside of the US) people get uncomfortable with that.

It's probably part of why everyone uses Gale. If you don't flirt with him he's just a regular dude. He even drops funny MCU quips.

[Caerbannog]

THE CLERIC SPELL SPIRIT GUARDIANS! Run through enemies and make your birds spit radiant energy at them (or imps and necrotic, but I find more things are susceptible to radiant). I have the spell on my Lore Bard, so no need for the cleric.

Cleric is great at buffing... which is why i have her waste all her daily spells and then my real party heads out to destroy everything

[SolviteSekai]

I just cant stress enough how funny the "I use shadowheart because she's a cleric" stuff is.

Other casters can heal, and the game is so laughably easy you dont need to anyway.

If you're consistently needing Shadowheart to heal rather than attack, even on tactician, you're pretty bad and need to evaluate how you're playing this game.

It just makes it super obvious they're BSing because BG3 simply doesnt work that way. It's not final fantasy and clerics aren't white mages.

[Captain Baldy]

Shadowheart is cute and has pretty feet
https://steamcommunity.com/sharedfiles/filedetails/?id=3025196971

[SolviteSekai]

Originally posted by a mite of Nurgle:

Shadowheart is cute and has pretty feet :WH3_nurgling:

This is what you're all secretly thinking. This guy is just far more honest and/or self aware than the rest of you.

[Abysswalker]

Shes the hottest companion in the game and very useful in combat. This is the answer to your question. The strongest companion however is Lae'zel. She can literally one turn bosses.

[TyranntX]

She's a Cleric, a healer. A class people usually only pick because either no one else in the party is one or the DM asked them to.

[Beast of War]

She irritated me up to the point she converted. Relegious fanatics do that of course.

But she is a very dark history brutal torturer and mass murderer, not at all as "innocent" as she appears. Although not be her choice, still she has done unspeakable acts that should carry the death penalty upon being caught and trialed. This becomes more apparent when you visit the torture chambers where she did her vile deeds.

In my first playthrough i repurposed her as an assassin rogue. Much more fitting then a weak melee ( or hybrid spellcasting ) healing cleric.

[=DeadShot=]

Originally posted by SolviteSekai:

Originally posted by =DeadShot=:

Asterion would get more mileage if he would be less obvious puppy killing evil.

I really do think Astarion is getting no use because most gamers probably feel very uncomfortable when he talks to them due to the queer coding. Not saying he needs to be changed, just that he's pretty effeminate and (especially outside of the US) people get uncomfortable with that.

It's probably part of why everyone uses Gale. If you don't flirt with him he's just a regular dude. He even drops funny MCU quips.

I hated Asterion that even decisions that Laezel though it were too far he aproved and I become sick and tired of seeing Asterion disaproves and the rest of companions aproving of my actions.
When even the LE Laezel thinks you are too evil and go too far you have a problem. Otherwise if you go outside this issues he is a fun companion to have. Never going to have his approval too high.

[SolviteSekai]

Originally posted by TyranntX:

She's a Cleric, a healer. A class people usually only pick because either no one else in the party is one or the DM asked them to.

again this isnt final fantasy. DND doesnt work this way

[Caerbannog]

In real DnD, I have played the cleric and needed to provide healing, even afraid to waste a single spell slot with anything else. BG3 makes being a pure/main healer VERY unnecessary. Potions, scrolls, and most casters have a side heal, plus short rest, etc.

In BG3, use your cleric for holy retribution against the unworthy masses. The streets run red with blood in the name of SELUNE!

[Mijj]

Originally posted by VoiD:

I am sure it's simply because she doesn't look like a giant green goblin, or a red demon, and because she isn't just another guy looking for a path to Uranus.

PS: As a cleric, she's REALLY bad, and it's the same reason why humans, elves and half-elves are the most picked races, even though Larian butchered humans taking away all of their advantages, creating possibly the worst race in D&D history, and people still pick them often, nobody wants to look like gobin voldemort, or some weird/short thing.

Yes human mages who can wield a shield is the worst thing ever, you really are a clown

[Sleeprocket]

Originally posted by VoiD:

I am sure it's simply because she doesn't look like a giant green goblin, or a red demon, and because she isn't just another guy looking for a path to Uranus.

PS: As a cleric, she's REALLY bad, and it's the same reason why humans, elves and half-elves are the most picked races, even though Larian butchered humans taking away all of their advantages, creating possibly the worst race in D&D history, and people still pick them often, nobody wants to look like gobin voldemort, or some weird/short thing.

Hey i quite enjoy my Half Orc Barbarian, he basically communicates in Roars