What happens if I let Shadowheart kill Aylin in Baldur's Gate 3?

In Baldur's Gate 3, Shadowheart's personal questline revolves around her devotion to Shar, the goddess of darkness and loss. One of the pivotal moments in her story occurs when she is faced with the decision to kill Aylin, also known as Dame Aylin, the immortal daughter of Sel├╗ne, Shar's eternal enemy. Allowing Shadowheart to kill Aylin has significant consequences for her character, your relationship with her, and the overall story. HereÔÇÖs a detailed breakdown of what happens and how to navigate this choice.

To reach the point where Shadowheart can kill Aylin, you must first progress through her personal questline. This involves finding the Nightsong in the Shadow-Cursed Lands, which is tied to the main story. The Nightsong is revealed to be Aylin, who is imprisoned in the Shadowfell. When you confront her, Shadowheart will be faced with a critical decision: to kill Aylin and fully embrace her devotion to Shar, or to spare her and potentially turn away from SharÔÇÖs teachings.

If you choose to let Shadowheart kill Aylin, she will perform the act, and this will have several immediate and long-term effects. First, Shadowheart will undergo a transformation, becoming a Dark Justiciar, a powerful servant of Shar. This grants her new abilities and a significant boost in power, making her a more formidable companion in combat. However, this choice also locks her into a darker path, and her personality will shift to reflect her deepened devotion to Shar. She will become more ruthless and less empathetic, which can affect her interactions with you and other companions.

From a gameplay perspective, allowing Shadowheart to kill Aylin can be beneficial if you are building her as a damage-dealing or support character with a focus on dark magic. Her new abilities as a Dark Justiciar can synergize well with certain party compositions, especially if you are playing a morally ambiguous or evil-aligned character. However, this choice will also close off other story paths, such as the possibility of redeeming Shadowheart or exploring her potential connection to Sel├╗ne.

One important consideration is the impact on your relationship with Shadowheart. If you have been building a romantic relationship with her, allowing her to kill Aylin can strengthen your bond if you are both aligned with darker choices. However, if you have been encouraging her to question SharÔÇÖs teachings, this choice can create tension and potentially lead to a breakdown in your relationship. ItÔÇÖs crucial to consider how this decision aligns with your overall story and character goals.

In terms of combat tactics, ShadowheartÔÇÖs transformation into a Dark Justiciar can be optimized by focusing on her new abilities. For example, her enhanced spellcasting and dark-themed powers can be used to control the battlefield, debuff enemies, and deal significant damage. Pairing her with other characters who can complement her abilities, such as a tank to draw enemy attention or a rogue for additional damage, can create a powerful and balanced party.

A common mistake to avoid is making this decision without considering the long-term consequences. While the immediate power boost for Shadowheart is tempting, itÔÇÖs important to think about how this choice will affect the rest of your playthrough. If you are aiming for a more heroic or redemption-focused story, allowing Shadowheart to kill Aylin may not align with your goals. Additionally, failing to prepare for the combat encounter with Aylin can lead to difficulties, as she is a formidable opponent. Make sure your party is well-equipped and has a solid strategy before engaging in this fight.

Advanced techniques for this scenario include using environmental advantages and positioning to gain the upper hand in combat. For example, using high ground to increase your chances of hitting Aylin with ranged attacks, or setting up traps and area-of-effect spells to control her movements. Additionally, ensuring that Shadowheart has access to healing and support spells can help sustain your party during the fight.

From a D&D 5E rules perspective, ShadowheartÔÇÖs transformation into a Dark Justiciar can be seen as a form of multiclassing or gaining a prestige class, granting her new abilities and altering her class features. This reflects the flexibility and depth of character development in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3, allowing players to shape their companions in unique ways based on their choices.

In summary, allowing Shadowheart to kill Aylin in BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3 is a significant decision with far-reaching consequences. It can enhance her combat abilities and deepen her devotion to Shar, but it also closes off other story paths and can affect your relationship with her. Careful consideration of your overall goals, party composition, and combat strategy is essential to making the most of this choice. By understanding the mechanics and implications, you can navigate this pivotal moment in ShadowheartÔÇÖs story and shape her destiny in the game.