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Shadowfell in Baldur's Gate 3.
Screenshot by Dot Esports

Baldur’s Gate 3: When to enter Shadowfell in the Gauntlet of Shar in BG3

The place is right, but is the time?

One important side quest that occurs during your adventures in Baldur’s Gate 3 is exploring the Gauntlet of Shar just before entering Shadowfell.

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Up until Shadowfell, you’ll be searching for four Umbral Gems, and the hunt for them could have prevented you from interacting with all the storylines in the area. Entering Shadowfell will mean that you won’t get to interact with any of the remaining adventures.

If the time is right, however, you can enter without a single worry in your mind. Here’s how.

What is Shadowfell in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Shadowfell is an area in Act 2. It is a plane created by the goddess of Darkness and Loss, Shar. This plane holds key story elements and is one of the more crucial areas in Baldur’s Gate 3 that contribute to the main storyline. Halsin, the druid companion, accompanies you throughout the plane, ushering you to find the relation of the Shadow Curse, a little boy named Thaniel. Shadowheart, another companion has a quest to obtain the title of Dark Justiciar from her goddess, Shar. However, killing the Nightsong is required for Shadowheart to gain this title and there are plenty of consequences when doing so.

In this specific point of no return, you will be making game-changing decisions that lead to important outcomes.

When should you enter Shadowfell in BG3?

The best time to enter Shadowfell is after you are finished exploring Moonrise Towers. If you’re staring at the “Are you sure you want to proceed? Depending on your choices, the state of the region could change, and some active quests may become unavailable.” pop-up that appears before entering Shadowfell, we recommend pressing no for the time being and completing the following quests first.

All quests to complete before entering Shadowfell in BG3

Though we left no loose ends before entering Shadowfell in BG3, you may need more time to complete all the possible side quests. Making sure to discover and close out Moonrise is important as well. If you’re only looking to complete the major and most impactful stories before Shadowfell, the following list will be enough to keep you updated with the quest lines that you may have already started.

It is very important to know that the quest Find Ketheric Thorm’s Relic is an important link to the entrance of Shadowfell. Do all of your other missions before finding Ketheric Thorm’s mission as it will lock you out of completing other missions within Moonrise.

Rescuing Wulbren and the Tieflings from the dungeon is an important quest as well since if you do not do this, the quest will fail once entering and completing Shadowfell. Again, it is an area of no return, finishing other things first is highly important.


If you’re also looking for the smoothest transition when it comes to the storyline, you should consider completing the Moonrise Towers before the Shadowfell since it will create a sense of build-up. When you enter Shadowfell, you cannot return. Finishing up these quests and tying any loose ends will ease your mind when entering Shadowfell.

Others Asked

What does Act One of Baldur's Gate 3 introduce to players?

Act One of Baldur's Gate 3 introduces players to the world, core game mechanics, and prepares them for the open world beyond the starting zone.

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What is one way players can first encounter Shadowheart in Baldur's Gate 3?

Players can first encounter Shadowheart by saving her from a Mindflayer pod.

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Where does the player first encounter Shadowheart in Baldur's Gate 3?

The player first encounters Shadowheart in the game's opening moments aboard the Nautiloid and again on the beach after the crash landing.

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Author
Image of Gökhan Çakır
Gökhan Çakır
Gökhan is a Staff Writer and Fortnite Lead at Dot Esports. Gökhan graduated as an industrial engineer in 2020 and has since been with Dot Esports. As a natural-born gamer, he honed his skills to a professional level in Dota 2. Upon giving up on the Aegis of Champions in 2019, Gökhan started his writing career, covering all things gaming, while his heart remains a lifetime defender of the Ancients.