Baldur’s Gate 3 bug creates horrifying hybrid companion

A screenshot from the game Baldur's Gate 3Larian Studios

A Baldur’s Gate 3 glitch has introduced some players to a horrifying combination of companions fans are calling “Shale.”

Baldur’s Gate 3 lets players meet a variety of potential companions as they journey across the Sword Coast, like the vampire Astartion and druid Halsin.

However, a recently found bug has created a new party member, one you’re probably not ready for.

As Reddit user pick_nerri shared, it’s possible for Gale and Shadowheart to somehow fuse, and the result is about as unsettling as you’d expect.

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Baldur’s Gate 3 glitch makes Gale and Shadowheart way too close

In a post to the BaldursGate3 subreddit, pick_nerri shared a screenshot of the monstrosity they dubbed “Shale,” a portmanteau of the characters’ names.

It’s not clear how the bug, which causes Shadowheart’s head to appear on Gale’s shoulder, is triggered. However, it’s not an isolated incident, as at least two commenters say they’ve encountered the same or similar fusions.

Of course, the bug has some Baldur’s Gate 3 players contemplating how “Shale” would actually work in game.

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“Now with twice the religious trauma!” said one commenter, referencing how both Shadowheart and Gale have pretty complex relationships with deities from their respective backstories.

“Shale has a 100% chance to miss sacred flame (nothing’s changed),” commented the original poster.

The name also reminded some of the Dragon Age: Origins DLC companion, Shale, leading one to ask “Does this shale also hate pigeons?”

It’s not clear how this bug impacts gameplay or if there’s a solution other than reloading the game and hoping for the best. This may be yet another issue introduced by Patch 6, one that will hopefully be addressed in the next Hotfix.

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