Shadowheart Questline Question

[Calvin the Cat]

I'm just gonna be blunt, I'm trying to romance Shadowheart and all I know is I need to complete her questline to do so. I have some quests I know of (Thanks to the internet) that must be completed to complete Shadow's questline but I am unsure if some of them are necessary. Without spoilers if possible, Can somebody please tell me out of these following quests are a must for romance and which ones can be skipped without harm. (I am going for Selune Shadowheart) TLDR experienced players pick out which of these quests is important for Full Shadow Romance and which are not.

EDIT: SPOILERS IN COMMENTS:
EDIT: SPOILERS IN COMMENTS: If you clicked on this expecting no spoilers turn away.
Save the Nightsong
Gauntlet of Shar
Silent Library
Find the Mushroom Picker
Kill Raphael's Old Enemy
Investigate the House of Grief

[seeker1]

https://bg3.wiki/wiki/Shadowheart/Romance

[Calvin the Cat]

Originally posted by seeker1:

https://bg3.wiki/wiki/Shadowheart/Romance

What I found from my sources and that page had one thing that conflicted. I got spoiled of the parents already some time ago, Does Shadowheart's future with the player change depending on if you let her parents die or live? because the Wiki says "If her parents were saved, she talks about her desire to live in a rural cottage surrounded by animals with the player by her side." Does this change if her parents die or no? If it does change what would be the "correct" answer for a full Shadowheart romance, let them live or die?

[ltolman4]

If there was a wedding in BG3 I feel like I'd be there with Shadowheart. I declared my relationship status after the Nightsong questline. I dont think my approval was that high, I did have some negative feedback from her before nightsong. But after saving Nightsong I was able to declare my love to Shadowheart.

Sleeping together though didnt happen til after House of Grief and the parents situation. (just dont forget to do full nights rest in between)

[ltolman4]

Meaning long rests is what advances the relationships lol

[seeker1]

Originally posted by Calvin the Cat:

Does this change if her parents die or no? If it does change what would be the "correct" answer for a full Shadowheart romance, let them live or die?

Spoiler warning.

The romance can progress regardless of what happens to her parents. BUT:

If they live, she will move in with them, and you, and you will share a common house.
Otherwise - obviously not - but in your final scene she will discuss with you about how she misses them.

BTW - them living may seem like the "happy ending" but IMHO it's not -- as her wound/curse will never go away. They know it, which is why if you tell SH to do what her parents want, this is what they want her to do.

[Underdark Knight]

The "correct" answer is for her to save her parents - that's the decision she's supposed to make if she's recovered as many of her memories as she can. Unfortunately there's a bug that makes her prone to killing them anyway, so you have to tell her to let them live. It's finally fixed in patch 8 so she can decide to save them without the player's imput.

As a note, if you want Shadowheart to turn to Selune, make sure you have at least 40 Approval by the end of the Silent Library.

[Underdark Knight]

Originally posted by seeker1:

Originally posted by Calvin the Cat:

Does this change if her parents die or no? If it does change what would be the "correct" answer for a full Shadowheart romance, let them live or die?

BTW - them living may seem like the "happy ending" but IMHO it's not -- as her wound/curse will never go away. They know it, which is why if you tell SH to do what her parents want, this is what they want her to do.

Of course they're ready to sacrifice themselves, they're kind and loving people who would give anything to see their daughter happy. But she's much sadder in the end if she let them die. She's been living with that wound her whole life and takes the pain in stride. IMO losing her parents is the greater loss.

[Calvin the Cat]

Originally posted by Underdark Knight:

The "correct" answer is for her to save her parents - that's the decision she's supposed to make if she's recovered as many of her memories as she can. Unfortunately there's a bug that makes her prone to killing them anyway, so you have to tell her to let them live. It's finally fixed in patch 8 so she can decide to save them without the player's imput.

As a note, if you want Shadowheart to turn to Selune, make sure you have at least 40 Approval by the end of the Silent Library.

How far up the relation bar is 40 approval? Any dialogue that happens when it's reached that stands out, or an image for it so I don't absolutely throw. Pretty new to the game so sorry for the bombardment of questions lol.

[Underdark Knight]

You should see the exact number if you hover your mouse over your portrait in her Approval Bar.

And to answer the original question, Shadowheart isn't involved in Killing Raphael's Old Enemy, that's an Astarion thing. Find the Mushroom Picker does involve one memory of hers. The rest you'll complete as you go through Act 2. And the House of Grief is in Baldur's Gate, so much further in Act 3.

[Lazydrones]

This thread is kind of funny, I've learned something:

I've never romanced Shadowheart fully, just kind of left her dry after a point.

Through the end of the House of Grief segment:
I always figured her parents were illusions, created by Shar / mother superior so as to control Shadowheart and hold that much more influence over her.
The entire segment where they are strapped to the mirrors felt oh so very illusion-y to me so I never second guessed having her kill them. Not to mention the comment Shar makes just before you make the choice is suspicious even more so to this effect. They also simply disappear at the end of the segment, which furthers my reasoning that they aren't even real.

I find it funny, if you do fully romance Shadowheart that you would get this happy ever after ending with her and her parents in tow if you do save them.

... Trickery domain ...

[mushashi]

Without spoiling things:

1. The 'main quest line' for Shadowheart is more or less obvious: Keep track of her interest in Shar and encourage her shar worship. Find things/stuff/encounters related to Shar. Bring her along when Shar related missions and objects are present.
Let her act on the things you encounter and avoid doing them your self. There are incidents where you definetely should let her do things. Especially in Act 2.

2. Be very aware of her dialogues. But it is actually rather simple here as well: Show interest for her PERSONAL likes and dislikes. By this I mean things that are explicit connected to her and her past. You will also have to act on come of her revealings. Just like you would do in real life.
Keep talking with her at every given chance.

[seeker1]

Originally posted by Lazydrones:

I always figured her parents were illusions, created by Shar / mother superior so as to control Shadowheart and hold that much more influence over her.

Spoilers again.

They aren't, but Shar, as she says, makes them her final no-win situation for SH, the final punishment for abandoning her cult.

Because she is forced to choose, either end their lives, or rescue them, and never be free of Shar's curse/wound which will torment her for the rest of her life.

I know my opinion is divergent from someone else in the thread - that happens, when you think independently, it's why I argue with people over "woke" (but I digress) - but IMHO, I think the best thing is to do what her parents want, and end her suffering. JMPO.

[wtiger27]

Originally posted by Underdark Knight:

The "correct" answer is for her to save her parents -

For you, it is the correct answer.

Her parents said saving herself and letting them die is what they "all" need. A sacrifice for the better good for all at the cost of others, can be the right choice. WW2 teaches us that.

Even after patch 8 when it releases, that is the choice I will make.

[Nucleator]

It is necessary to trigger the conversation with her in act 1 about swimming and night orchids. When you will have high approval with her, you should have an option to choose "Tell me something about yourself" dialogue line. In act 3 do few long rests in order to trigger her romance scene (for Selune version).

And take her for Nightsong confrontation, it is also necessary.

[jonnin]

If no one said it, its more than just her quests. There are little things, try talking to her. Like early on, if you respect her privacy instead of prying, you get liked. If you find a statue of shar and give it over, you get liked. If you find her favorite flower, you get liked. Promise to keep away from wolves, side with her over lazel (at first at least), ... its like social media, keep talking to her and racking up the likes.