As the adventure in Baldur's Gate 3 continues into Act 2, players will inevitably face a pivotal decision regarding one of their main companions, Shadowheart. The cleric must choose whether to fulfill her lifelong dream of becoming a Dark Justiciar for the goddess Shar by slaying the Nightsong or renouncing her faith to follow Selûne. This choice affects Shadowheart's destiny and heavily impacts the story's narrative with irreversible consequences.

For players aiming to build Shadowheart, or any character, as a formidable Dark Justiciar, gathering the right armor, weapons, and equipment is crucial to unleashing this build's potential. The Dark Justiciar setup empowers you to embrace Darkness, compelling enemies to confront you while shrouded in obscurity. Optimizing your stats and carefully selecting compatible multiclasses and subclasses are key steps to harnessing this build efficiently.

Shadowheart's Character Abilities And Stats

The recommended multiclass combination for a Dark Justiciar knight is a Paladin and Warlock, balanced with five levels each, totaling 10. This combination allows for three attacks per round and grants access to great spells and features. The Dark Justiciar gear enhances this multiclass, amplifying your performance when obscured.

Casting Darkness around you while in melee combat, you will gain an Advantage and impose a Disadvantage on opponents. Additionally, this build grants access to healing spells, enabling you to serve as both the group's healer and a strength-based tank initially, playing a versatile role in your party.

You can allocate the remaining two levels, according to personal preference, for additional features from other classes. This approach allows you to customize your build based on desired abilities or enhancements, tailored to suit specific play-styles or strategic needs.

Starting as a Paladin in BG3 is the best way to set up your build, providing immediate access to essential equipment proficiencies. Begin with a strength score of 17, as at Level 4, both Strength and Dexterity receive a +1 increase. The Dark Justiciar build is melee-based so that you will benefit from a starting constitution of 16 for improved durability.

Unlike traditional Paladin builds, temporarily avoid prioritizing your Charisma stat. Paladin features that utilize Charisma will be significant in Level 8. At that point, you must transition to a Charisma-based build to leverage Warlock traits.

Level 1 to Level 5 Paladin Multiclass

Select Oath of the Ancients as your first Paladin Subclass to maximize damage output. This choice grants Healing Radiance, which heals allies within your vicinity by +5 for two consecutive turns, which is advantageous early on. By Level 2, you will acquire Divine Smite, a potent Weapon Damage enhancement that deals +2d8 Radiant Damage to your attacks. For any melee-based player, this ability is exceptional, given the rarity of resistance or immunity to Radiant Damage among foes.

Selecting a Fighting Style is essentially a matter of preference. For those who enjoy harnessing powerful smite attacks, Defence is the optimal choice, offering a +1 bonus to Armor Class. One of the most critical early spells is Shield of Faith, which compliments the Dark Justiciar Armor acquired later in Act 2.

While the spell is active, it increases your Armor Class by 2, making your character harder to strike. By Level 5, Paladins gain an additional attack opportunity, which is especially effective when combined with Divine Smite, dealing devastating total damage.

Level 1 To Level 5 Warlock Multiclass

Transition to a Warlock in Bladur's Gate 3 at Level 6 to utilize Darkness effects, maintaining this class until Level 10. Select Devil's Sight as one of your Eldritch Invocations at Level 2 Warlock. This ive Feature is crucial for the Dark Justiciar build, allowing you to see in darkness without suffering a Disadvantage on attacks.

Players can choose a Pact Boon as a Level 3 Warlock (Level 8 overall). Pact of the Blade magically binds your primary melee weapon, enhancing your combat abilities. This is also the opportune time to re-spec your attributes, shifting focus from Strength to Charisma to better align with Warlock's abilities.

You must save the weapon-binding feature of Pact of the Blade for when you acquire Shar's Spear of Evening towards the end of Act 2.

As a Level 3 Warlock, you can cast Darkness as a Level 2 Evocation spell, blinding enemies while gaining Advantage. Opt for an Ability Score Improvement at Level 4 to max out Charisma to 20, further enhancing Warlock traits. The following significant change comes at Level 5 Warlock (Level 10 overall), unlocking a third attack per round.

This will allow you to use your Divine Smite melee ability three times consecutively, with exceptional accuracy in Darkness. With your stats optimized and multiclass prepared, players can equip the necessary gear and weaponry, transforming Shadowheart into the ultimate Dark Justiciar.

Where To Find Dark Justiciar Gear

Within the Gauntlet of Shar, just south of the Faith Leap Trial, lies the Library of Silence. Defeat the Librarian Enemy to turn off the Silence spell, easing the battle against the remaining enemies. To solve the library's puzzle, disarm the trapped bookshelves and find the book: "Teachings of Loss: The Nightsinger."

A button northwest of the library's center will unlock the gate ahead, revealing a pedestal. Place the book atop the plaque to unveil a chamber containing an Altar of Shar. Essential items to collect include the Spear of Night, the Dark Justiciar Half-Plate, and the Dark Justiciar Helmet in the gilded chest.

With these items obtained, your party is set to confront Balthazar in BG3 and the Nightsong in the Shadowfell to make a game-changing choice and gather the remaining pieces for the build. Defeating the Nightsong transforms Shadowheart into a full-fledged Dark Justiciar, automatically completing her armor set with the Dark Justiciar Gauntlets and Boots.

This also transforms the Spear of Night into Shar's Spear of Evening and enhances the Half-plate from Rare to Very Rare, increasing its Armor Class. The transformation prominently enhances Shadowheart's damage and defense capabilities, improving her overall performance.

Best Dark Justiciar Armor & Weapon Enhancements

Shar's Spear of Evening, now pact-bound, grants Shar's Blessing and Shar's Darkness, both applicable against enemies during close combat in obscurity. The helmet's Critical Hit boost only adds to Shadowhearts' power when surrounded in darkness. Infused with Shar's Protection, the half-plate also ensures successful Stealth Checks. Aside from Umbral Attack, the gauntlets cast Beckoning Darkness, dealing 2d8 Necrotic damage in obscured areas.

Finally, the boots provide teleportation to obscured locations, which is highly advantageous as a free Cantrip. Completing the Dark Justiciar build significantly amplifies Shadowheart's overall damage, protection, and mobility, positioning her as one of the strongest companions in Baldur's Gate 3.