The Chosen of Shar

Key takeawaysSpoilers

These are the quest’s essential progression points and its most important warning.

• Shadowheart’s personal arc The quest is about Shadowheart’s aspiration to become a Dark Justiciar and the pressure that Shar’s teachings place on her identity. Shadowheart’s arc
• The Gauntlet is the central dungeon Exploration of the Gauntlet of Shar provides the Umbral Gems and access route needed to reach the Inner Sanctum. Gauntlet of Shar
• Save before the final descent The decision surrounding the Nightsong has major consequences. Preserve a separate save before committing to the final part of the Gauntlet if you want to compare outcomes. Nightsong choice
• Rewards depend on the outcome Shar’s Spear of Evening and the Dark Justiciar armor set are associated with the quest’s possible rewards, but the final outcome affects what becomes available. Possible rewards

The Chosen of SharSpoilers

The Chosen of Shar is Shadowheart’s major companion quest in Baldur's Gate 3, following her ambition to become a Dark Justiciar of Shar and confronting the beliefs that have shaped her life.

The Chosen of Shar is a significant companion and origin quest centered on Shadowheart. Its early development is tied to building trust with her and uncovering information about the history of Dark Justiciars, while its later stages take the party into the Gauntlet of Shar and the Inner Sanctum. The quest is part of the broader Daughter of Darkness narrative arc and becomes increasingly important as Shadowheart’s personal loyalties are tested.

The Gauntlet of Shar is the quest’s main trial ground. The party must navigate its puzzles, combat encounters, and ritual spaces while securing Umbral Gems needed to progress. These trials are not simply a series of fights: exploration, party positioning, and the use of the environment matter, and some routes become difficult to revisit once the party commits to the deepest section of the dungeon.

Balthazar the necromancer and the creature known as the Nightsong are central to the quest’s later revelations. The decisive moment concerns Shadowheart’s choice over whether to spare or sacrifice the Nightsong. That decision can alter Shadowheart’s path, the available rewards, and the consequences that follow for the wider story, so players who want to see more than one outcome should make a separate save before entering the final stage of the Gauntlet.

Where this sits

Requirements

The quest is tied to Shadowheart’s companion story and becomes actionable through exploration of Shar-related history and the Gauntlet of Shar.

• RequiredShadowheart in the party or camp relationshipThe quest centers on Shadowheart, so her presence and relationship with the player are important for seeing the companion-focused conversations and reactions.
• RequiredProgress into the Gauntlet of SharThe major dungeon section cannot be completed until the party reaches the Gauntlet and begins its trials.
• RecommendedA party prepared for exploration and combatBring tools for solving environmental challenges, surviving multiple encounters, and handling a consequential story scene rather than preparing only for a single battle.
• RecommendedA separate save before the final commitmentCreate a manual save before entering the deepest part of the Gauntlet. This protects the ability to revisit the Nightsong decision without replaying the entire dungeon.

ObjectivesSpoilers

1. Support Shadowheart’s pursuit of the Dark Justiciar path.Follow the companion storyline and allow her personal beliefs and history to shape the quest’s conversations.
2. Explore the Gauntlet of Shar.Search the trial complex rather than rushing directly onward; its rooms contain the progression needed for the Inner Sanctum.
3. Complete the Gauntlet’s trials.Solve the dungeon’s challenges and survive its encounters while collecting the Umbral Gems.
4. Reach the Inner Sanctum.Use the progress earned in the Gauntlet to access the inner area where the quest’s central revelation occurs.
5. Decide the fate of the Nightsong.Choose whether to spare or sacrifice the Nightsong, accepting that the decision can change Shadowheart’s story and later consequences.

WalkthroughSpoilers

1. 01

   Advance Shadowheart’s companion story

   Keep Shadowheart involved in the quest

   Make Shadowheart part of the active party when investigating Shar-related history and entering the Gauntlet. Her presence keeps the companion quest’s context visible and gives the player access to her reactions during the major story scenes.

   Location: Party and camp

   TipIf Shadowheart is central to your intended outcome, speak with her between major areas so you do not miss companion dialogue.

2. 02

   Uncover information about Dark Justiciar history

   Investigate the history of Dark Justiciars

   Follow the available Shar-related leads and examine the signs of Dark Justiciar activity before committing to the dungeon’s deepest route. This establishes why the Gauntlet matters to Shadowheart and makes the later decision more meaningful.

   Location: Shar-related areas before the Gauntlet of Shar

   Watch outDo not treat the early investigation as disposable flavor; the quest is built around Shadowheart’s understanding of this history and her desire to join that tradition.

3. 03

   Begin the Gauntlet’s trials

   Enter the Gauntlet of Shar

   Once the party reaches the Gauntlet, search the complex methodically and identify its connected trial areas. The dungeon is designed to reward exploration, so mark unopened routes and avoid spending progression items before you understand where they are needed.

   Location: Gauntlet of Shar

   TipKeep the whole party together while testing mechanisms and routes; isolated characters can trigger encounters or become difficult to reposition.

4. 04

   Secure the Umbral Gems

   Complete the Gauntlet’s trials

   Work through the trial sequence using observation, movement, and combat rather than assuming every obstacle is solved by force. The trials provide the Umbral Gems required for deeper progression, and a failed attempt can cost resources or force a reload.

   Location: Gauntlet of Shar

   Watch outSave before unfamiliar trial mechanisms. A mistake may not end the quest immediately, but it can leave a character separated, start a fight in a poor position, or consume resources needed later.

5. 05

   Prepare the route to the Inner Sanctum

   Search the Gauntlet for the required progression

   After each trial, check nearby rooms and routes before moving on. The Umbral Gems are the practical key to advancing, while the surrounding dungeon also supplies context for Shar’s servants and the role Shadowheart hopes to claim.

   Location: Gauntlet of Shar

   TipDo not rush past unexplored side rooms simply because the main objective points downward; return to the Gauntlet’s earlier spaces while the party can still safely do so.

6. 06

   Deal with Balthazar’s involvement

   Confront the quest’s necromantic opposition

   Balthazar the necromancer is one of the key figures connected to the later section of the quest. Approach the confrontation with spell slots, healing, and a formation plan ready, because the encounter is part of the route toward the Nightsong rather than an isolated detour.

   Location: Later section of the Gauntlet of Shar

   Watch outKeep ranged characters and support characters out of a single vulnerable cluster. The exact battle state can vary with earlier dialogue and choices.

7. 07

   Locate the Nightsong

   Enter the Inner Sanctum

   Use the Umbral Gems and the progress from the trials to reach the Inner Sanctum. Before crossing the point of no easy return, finish any Gauntlet exploration you still want to complete and make a separate save for the upcoming story decision.

   Location: Inner Sanctum

   Watch outThe next scenes contain major consequences for Shadowheart and the wider story. A separate save is the safest way to preserve alternate outcomes.

   CheckpointMissable
8. 08

   Resolve Shadowheart’s personal crisis

   Speak with Shadowheart before the decision

   Allow Shadowheart to respond to the situation in the Inner Sanctum rather than treating the scene as a normal objective marker. Her aspiration to become a Dark Justiciar is directly challenged here, and the party’s earlier relationship with her can affect the tone and available resolution.

   Location: Inner Sanctum

   TipIf you want Shadowheart’s outcome to reflect a developed relationship, keep her in the active party and exhaust the available conversation options before selecting the final response.

9. 09

   Determine the fate of the Nightsong

   Choose whether to spare or sacrifice the Nightsong

   The decisive choice is whether the Nightsong is spared or sacrificed. Read the dialogue carefully before confirming, because this is not a cosmetic branch: it can determine Shadowheart’s path, affect later events, and change which rewards are available.

   Location: Inner Sanctum

   Watch outThis is the quest’s major spoiler choice. Confirming it can lock in a different narrative route, so use the earlier manual save if you want to compare consequences.

   Missable
10. 10

    Finish The Chosen of Shar

    Complete the aftermath of the choice

    After the decision, remain with Shadowheart and finish the resulting conversation and scene rather than immediately leaving the area. The quest’s resolution establishes the consequences of her allegiance and determines how the party proceeds from the Gauntlet.

    Location: Inner Sanctum and the Gauntlet of Shar

    Checkpoint

Mission mechanics

The Gauntlet of Shar combines environmental problem-solving with conventional encounters. The party’s progress depends on completing trials and securing Umbral Gems, so the most reliable approach is to inspect rooms, identify how each challenge communicates its solution, and preserve mobility and healing for the later section. The dungeon’s structure makes exploration discipline more valuable than simply following the most obvious objective marker.

Shadowheart’s role changes the way the quest should be approached. This is not only a dungeon-clear mission: conversations, companion approval, and the meaning Shadowheart assigns to Shar’s traditions all feed into the final scene. Bringing her along, speaking with her at natural breaks, and making a save before the Inner Sanctum help ensure that the player can see the quest as a companion storyline rather than only as a route to rewards.

The quest also has a commitment point. Once the party reaches the Inner Sanctum, the choice involving the Nightsong can settle a major branch of Shadowheart’s story. Players pursuing completion should finish desired exploration first, because the aftermath may alter the state of the surrounding narrative and the availability of associated rewards.

What works and what does not

Encounter phasesSpoilers

1. 1

   Shar-related investigation

   Starts: The party follows Shadowheart’s companion storyline and uncovers information about Dark Justiciars.

   This phase establishes Shadowheart’s ambition and frames the Gauntlet as a test connected to her faith.

   • Keep Shadowheart involved in conversations and inspect relevant areas before entering the main dungeon.
2. 2

   Gauntlet trials

   Starts: The party enters the Gauntlet of Shar and begins solving its challenges.

   The party navigates trials and encounters while securing Umbral Gems for deeper progression.

   • Trial hazardsTell Environmental mechanisms and hostile spaces signal that the party has entered a test area.Answer Inspect the room, separate exploration from combat, and save before committing to an unfamiliar mechanism.
   • Track collected Umbral Gems and revisit safe routes before descending further.
   • Use party positioning deliberately so one failed interaction does not expose every character.
3. 3

   Balthazar’s involvement

   Starts: The party reaches the later section of the Gauntlet and encounters Balthazar the necromancer.

   The necromancer becomes part of the route toward the Inner Sanctum and the Nightsong.

   • Necromantic encounterTell Balthazar’s presence marks a transition from trial exploration toward the quest’s central revelation.Answer Prepare healing, spell resources, and a formation that prevents the party from being overwhelmed at the start of combat.
   • Do not spend every limited resource on optional encounters immediately before this section.
4. 4

   The Nightsong decision

   Starts: The party reaches the Inner Sanctum and resolves the confrontation surrounding the Nightsong.

   Shadowheart’s aspiration to become a Dark Justiciar is tested, and the player determines whether the Nightsong is spared or sacrificed.

   • Create a separate save before the scene and read the dialogue carefully; this phase contains the quest’s major branch.

Key confrontationSpoilers

• Location
  Inner Sanctum and the later section of the Gauntlet of Shar
• Health
  Varies by encounter and difficulty; no fixed value is supplied.

Treat the Gauntlet’s later section as a sequence rather than a single arena fight. Preserve healing and key abilities, keep the party positioned so that one hostile opening does not catch everyone, and make a manual save before the Inner Sanctum. Balthazar the necromancer is a key opposing figure, but the ultimate resolution centers on the Nightsong and Shadowheart’s choice.

Choices and consequencesEnding spoilers

• Support the path that allows Shadowheart to pursue becoming a Dark Justiciar.

  This aligns with her stated aspiration and can lead toward the branch in which the Nightsong is sacrificed. The decision has major consequences for Shadowheart and the wider story.

  Spoiler
• Encourage Shadowheart to spare the Nightsong.

  This rejects the sacrificial resolution and redirects Shadowheart’s personal path. The surrounding aftermath and later story state differ from the Dark Justiciar-aligned outcome.

  Spoiler
• Delay the decision by reloading a save before the Inner Sanctum.

  Reloading is the practical way to compare the two major outcomes without replaying the full Gauntlet. It does not create a third narrative resolution, but it preserves the player’s ability to choose deliberately.

  Spoiler

Completion checklist

• Keep Shadowheart involved in the companion quest.Her story is the quest’s central thread.
• Investigate information about Dark Justiciar history.This supplies context for the Gauntlet and Shadowheart’s ambition.
• Explore the Gauntlet of Shar before committing to the deepest route.Complete desired side exploration while the area remains accessible.
• Complete the Gauntlet’s trials.The trials are part of the route to the Inner Sanctum.
• Secure the Umbral Gems.They are required for deeper progression.
• Prepare for Balthazar the necromancer’s involvement.Preserve resources for the later section.
• Create a separate save before entering the final decision scene.The Nightsong outcome is a major branch.Optional
• Choose whether to spare or sacrifice the Nightsong.This determines the quest’s principal outcome.
• Finish the aftermath conversation with Shadowheart.Do not leave immediately after the decision.Optional

Collectibles and progression items

• 01
  Umbral Gems

  Where: Gauntlet of Shar

  Collect the gems awarded or found through the Gauntlet’s trials. They are the central progression items used to reach the Inner Sanctum.

• 02
  Dark Justiciar armor set

  Where: Quest outcome and Shar-related progression

  This unique reward is associated with the quest’s Dark Justiciar-aligned outcome, although the exact pieces and availability can depend on the resolution.

  Missable
• 03
  Shar’s Spear of Evening

  Where: Quest outcome

  A unique reward associated with the quest’s possible outcomes. Its availability depends on how the Nightsong decision is resolved.

  Missable

Failure conditionsSpoilers

• The party commits to the Nightsong decision without a backup save.The quest can continue, but the player may lose the ability to compare the alternate major outcome without replaying the Gauntlet.
• Shadowheart is not present for key companion scenes.The broader quest may remain connected to the party’s progression, but the central companion context and reactions can be reduced or missed.
• The party rushes through the Gauntlet without collecting the required Umbral Gems.Progress toward the Inner Sanctum can stop until the necessary trial progression is completed.
• The party enters a trial or encounter without preparation.Poor positioning, depleted resources, or an unplanned environmental interaction can cause a fight failure or force a reload.

Rewards and dropsSpoilers

• Shar’s Spear of Evening
  A unique reward associated with the quest’s possible resolution and Shadowheart’s Shar-focused path.
• Dark Justiciar armor set
  A unique armor reward associated with the Dark Justiciar outcome.
• Shadowheart’s story resolution
  The quest advances Shadowheart’s personal narrative and establishes the consequences of the Nightsong decision.
• Access to later story consequences
  The chosen outcome changes the state of Shadowheart’s arc and can affect subsequent events in the campaign.

Characters in this missionSpoilers

• ShadowheartCompanion and central subject of the quest.

AftermathEnding spoilers

Trivia

• The quest’s title refers to Shadowheart’s connection to Shar and her aspiration to become a Dark Justiciar.
• The Gauntlet of Shar serves both as a physical dungeon and as a test of the beliefs Shadowheart has inherited.
• Umbral Gems are more than ordinary loot in this quest: they are the progression items that connect the trials to the Inner Sanctum.
• The quest is presented as part of the Daughter of Darkness narrative arc rather than as an unrelated dungeon objective.

Sources

• bg3.wiki — bg3.wiki
• Gauntlet of Shar and quest guide — fextralife.com
• Video guide — youtube.com
• Quest guide — ign.com
• Video guide and outcome coverage — youtube.com
• Video guide — youtube.com

Relationships