Series Finale: Yennefer of Vengerberg (The Witcher) vs Shadowheart (Baldur's Gate)

 

Greetings and Welcome to another Edition of my Who Would Win Series and it is going to be a Match up between Yennefer, the Prodigy Sorceress of the Witcher Series vs Shadowheart, the Disciple of Lady Shar of Baldur's Gate.

This match up will mainly focus on the Video Games, although, for Yennefer, she does have notable moments in the Books and the TV show that do stand out as "Impressive" (We Will get to that point)

Shadowheart will also be given Supplement Material, not just from the Baldur's Gate series but other resources from The Dungeons and Dragons Manual such as the Player's Handbook.

Stats, Abilities, Weaponry, Feats, Weaknesess and of course, The Fight Segment. 




That's Pretty much it really. 





This Match up is also the Winner of a Fan Poll I made last year, well, I can assure you, researching this match up was a real joy :D!!! No wonder my fans voted for Yennefer vs Shadowheart, Fantasy is just a rich Genre of Story and Action and World Building :D.

Let's Begin!!

Yennefer of Vengerberg

Yennefer of Vengerberg, Born as Janka, is one of the main characters of the Fantasy Series "The Witcher"


Yen had a very tough childhood. From Birth, she had a terrible deformity that turned her into a hunchback and was so ridiculed, her father detested her, to the point that he even left not just Yennefer but also her mother on their own for another woman......... What a Jerk!!!

However, you would think Yennefer's Mother was better than her Dad right? Nope. She too beat Yennefer for her ugliness... Worst Parents ever!!!!

However, one faithful day became salvation for Yen, as a Magical School from Aretuza found great potential in Yennefer due to her mixed Elven Blood from her Mother's Side and her Magical Capabilities.

Eventually, Yennefer was taught under the Sorceress Tissaia De Vries, who became both Mentor and Mother Figure to Yennefer.

One day, Yennefer eventually took on a Surgical Procedure that transformed her hideous into a beautiful Woman.

Now, more than just a Pretty Face with Magic Powers, Yennefer eventually went on seperate ways from her School and eventually met the love of her Life "Geralt of Rivia".



Also, Yennefer became a Mother Figure to Ciri, who also happens to be an adoptive daughter of Geralt.

Canonically speaking, Yennefer and Geralt and Ciri ended up as a Family and have embarked on multiple adventures both Exciting and Terrifying.

That is a Brief backdrop on Yennefer's Story. Let's look at what she can do.

Magical Capabilities 

It goes without saying, Yennefer is a Sorceress and has A huge chunk load of Spells that she can conjure that is ideal for Exploration, Problem Solving and Combat.

Unlike Witcher Signs, Spells are far more potent and Powerful and can be so devastating, a highly skilled Magic User like Yennefer can simply kill an enemy faster than the blink of an Eye. That is essentially Super Sonic speeds. And this is not even factoring the more powerful spells that I shall list.

Yennefer can use the following types of Spells

• Fire Magic
• Ice Magic
• Lightning Magic
• Telekinesis
• Dark Magic
• Necromancy
• Weather Manipulation
• Teleportation
• Portal Creation
• Magical Shields
• Absorbing Magic from Magical Entities
• Magic Blasts

How Powerful are Yennefer's Spells?

Considering that Yennefer is one of Temeria's Most Powerful Sorceresses, she is likely around the Continent Level Tier thanks to her Weather Manipulation. 

Also worth noting is that her Portals can be highly valuable since they provide Transportation to another Dimension, or simply removing someone from combat and sending them into a Empty Space, thus a Battlefield Removal.

And, Yennefer's Magical Absorption can boost her Power, but at the cost of reducing Yennefer's Stamina, to the point she has to rest in order to perform magic once more.

So, in a broader sense, Yennefer is around Continent Level :D!!!!!!

Skills  

Yennefer is by far, one of the Most Powerful Characters in the Witcher Series. Infact, Geralt at times needed Yennefer's Help with many situations that were well beyond his capabilities, and Geralt is a character who took on the likes of the Grandmaster, a being who can create separate dimensions and the Dijnn, a being who can grant any wish, for a price. 

Yennefer is also quite skillful in Trickery and Roguish Skills, she has pickpocketed characters in the past and even outsmarted those who attempt fight and capture her. 

 Notable Feats 

Yennefer has achieved a fair amount of feats, considering she is one of the main characters of the Witcher Series. Here is a list of noteworthy Feats

• Has officially, and cleanly, succeeded with helping Geralt find Ciri

• Did "Most" of the Work during her fight with the Djinn, a Genie that grants Wishes. 

• Protected Kaer Morhen from incoming blast with her Magical Shield Bubble. This goes to around City Level in Power

• Has helped Geralt take down numerous foes that would have outright defeated him if not for Yennefer's assistance.

• Managed to overpower the Wild Hunt with her Magic

• Is my favorite Female character of the Witcher Series

Weaknesses 

There is a good reason why Yennefer's Section of this blog is quite small.......... Aside from all the Powerful Magic at her disposal, Yennefer is physically weak.

Now, Yennefer isn't really a featless character, but if a simple knife wound can somehow severely harm her, I highly doubt she is capable of taking anything beyond Wall Level physically.

It is also worth noting that Yennefer simply lacks notable equipment that otherwise would have made her more versatile, she has fought and defeated foes with more weapons and such, but that is with the use of her Magic, which is also a double edged sword.

Constant usage of her magic can lead to fatigue and weakening ones physical body. But it is also scary that Anti Magic can shut down Yennefer's Magical Power to the point she is just a human being in the end.

Also, while Yennefer's Kaer Morhen feat is indeed impressive, the Magical Bubble Shield is actually very easy to bypass physically. You can still walk through the Force Field and wala, you can still harm Yennefer from the inside. Which brings up one final point

Yennefer has to concentrate with a certain spell at a time, infact, a very sneaky foe could simply backstab or shoot her from behind and she would simply lose control of her magic. 

But, aside from her faults, Yennefer is a powerhouse. 

Shadowheart

Shadowheart, born as Jenevelle Hallowleaf, is one of the Companion and Origin characters of the Roleplaying Game "Baldur's Gate 3"

Born into a rather strange family, Shadowheart lived most of her childhood in a Selunite Household.

One Night, her father was revealed to be cursed by Lycanthropy, thus, transformed him into a Great Wolf. This in turn caused a traumatizing event that made Shadowheart more afraid of Wolves.

Eventually, a Secret Society, or Cult, who follow Lady Shar, took Shadowheart in as another Disciple, thus become one of the Sharrans.

Years later, Shadowheart embarked on a mission to retrieve a mysterious artefact, which unfortunately resulted in the death of all of Shadowheart's Sharran followers because of a Mind Flayer Nautiloid Ship just so happens to be at the wrong place at the wrong time.

Despite the ordeal, and the fact that a Mind Flayer Larvae was implanted inside Shadowheart, a faithful moment occured. 


A Heroic Character managed to rescue Shadowheart and a couple of more survivors from the Mind Flayers, despite the fact that it also resulted in the crash landing of the Nautiloid ship, Shadowheart remained alive. 

After meeting up with a Certain Githyanki, a Vampire, a Wizard who has hidden power beyond imagination, a Warlock who has one of fiction's Sexiest Demons as his fellow companion and even a Hot, Badass Tiefling who is on the run from Zariel's Forces and a group of "Wannabe" Paladins, Shadowheart had a team of unlikely heroes who managed to tackle every single entity that came on their way. For good or bad, it never mattered since in the end of the Day, Shadowheart managed, or didn't manage, to achieve her one and true goal.......... Either Serve or Leave Lady Shar..... Hah Hah!!!





Note: Baldur's Gate is a series of Choices, so it is almost impossible to tell which decisions that are made into the story are considered canon or not. So, as of now, this will be the stopping point of Shadowheart's Story. 

Let's Look at this adorable and beautiful High Half-Elf's Capabilities

Physical Stats     

Contrary to a first glance, Shadowheart has quite a list of amazing feats for Strength, Speed and Durability. Although, the Mechanics of Dungeons and Dragons do rely on the roll of the dice, for the sake of Maximum Potential, I will give Shadowheart's moments the benefit of "Success" Results.

Strength    

• Can Slice/Crush Enemies wearing Full Plate Armor. The Same Armor that can withstand a Dragon's Bite, which is capable of destroying materials that can withstand physical force that can destroy a City

• Comparable to Karlach, who managed to break down a Door and cause tremors into the ground with her Raging Strikes

• Can damage a Red Dragon's Skin. Skin that is strong enough to withstand Spells that can outright Pierce through a moon

• Blocked Attacks from Giants and Ogres

Speed    

• Casually avoided Spectator Beam Attacks, which are Light Speed

• Can Silence a group of Magic users in a second. This means Shadowheart is capable of silencing Magic in a blink of an eye

• With Teleportation Magic and Equipment, Shadowheart can, well, Teleport.

• Combat Speed is likely comparable to Astarion and Lae'zel, both can do 2 Attacks per turn which is 2 attacks in a second. Lae'zel's Action Surge can allow her to do 4 attacks in 2 seconds. In the case of Shadowheart, she sometimes can avoid and block up to 6 Attacks in 3 Seconds from enemies who are Hasted and Use Action Surge

Durability

• Survived the Crash Landing of the Nautiloid.

• Survived Strikes from Fighters, who again, can dish out up to 6 Attacks in 3 Seconds. This is important because Fighters can actually kill not one, not two, but three Days in that time span.

• Tanked Spells that can cause Erasure Capabilities. Yes..... Shadowheart, survived Erasure...........

• Managed to fight on while being Poisoned, Burned and even covered in Oil..... haha....

• Survived Paladin Smites, which are essentially blessed by Deities and cause a huge single target damage that actually surpasses a Fighter's Damage Output which again, can Kill a Dragon in around 2 hits.

• Has of course tanked Fireballs, Hail Storms, Lighting Magic and Poison Magic. All these Magic capabilities can wipe out large numbers of Forces.

 

Spells and Abilities  

As a Cleric, Shadowheart is a Support Class Character. That said, I will only list a handful of her spells that are more Combat Oriented for the sake of this blog. You see, not every spell in the Cleric's Book is actually made for Combat. Some are for Exploration and Social Skills.

So, here are her Combat Oriented Spells

• Sacred Flame
• Healing Magic (Can overheal to the point that she gives herself and her party a health boost)
• Fire Manipulation
• Turn Undead
• Bless for Stat Boosts and Especially Damage Output and Attack Rating
• Dimension Door for phasing through Dimensions
• Heroes Feast for Unlimited Food and Water (This is Important)
• Summoning Spells, which give Shadowheart a numeric advantage.
• Sanctuary, which is essentially Invulnerability to "Most" Attacks
• Silence, which shuts Down Magic in a Circle
• Spirit Guardians, which Surround Shadowheart. Two Versions include Holy Magic, which is effective against Demons and Undead and Necrotic, which can melt down anyone into a molecular level.
• Spirit Weapon for a Extra "Weapon" which can be used as a Long ranged attack by being right next to the enemy. It can be a Sword, Axe, Spear and Polearm

Withers?  

Withers is a Character in Baldur's Gate 3 that can be recruited as a Non Playable NPC that can change the class of any character. However, the reason he will not be a factor into this match up is because Withers is mainly outside help and, it requires prep time for the characters to take advantage of Withers. If Withers was not such of a outside help, then everyone In Baldur's Gate 3 would defeat, well, everyone.

So, as much as Withers is a huge help, he is not "Helping" Shadowheart in this match up.

What about the Mind Flayer Parasite? 

This is where it gets tricky. Later in Baldur's Gate 3, you have the choice of either embracing the Mind Flayer Parasite, to the point that it makes you partially an Ilithid, which grants you immense power. 

The Issue with this is that again, as mentioned before, Baldur's Gate 3 is a game full of decision making. And it is very much unclear if Shadowheart would take the Parasite without insistence from the Player.

So, despite the Ilithid Powers, I am excluding them for the match up.

Iconic Weapons and Equipment  

Shadowheart has used Limitless amounts of Weapons and Armor. However, I will list Key Items that are pretty much Iconic for Shadowheart. 

• Maces
• Shields
• Chain Mail
• Plate Mail
• Spear of Night, Which can not only Pierce but also cause Necrotic Damage
• Healing Potions
• Angelic Potions for Refilling Spell Slots
• Resurrection Scrolls
• Throwable Grenades and Bombs

Skills  

Shadowheart is quite Skilled in alot of, well, skills.

As a Cleric, her innate ability to boost Stats and even boost Success rate chance is highly valuable in any Dungeons and Dragons Party. Clerics are generally considered to be the single best Support Class in the Game, rivaled by Bards and a Dedicated Paladin.

Combat Wise, Shadowheart and Clerics are capable of dishing out big damage. They are especially devastating against Undead, with Magic that can erase Undead from Existence. 

Clerics can also be very powerful against Magic Users, especially with Silence, a Spell that literally renders all Magic from the Circle Unusable. This in turn allows anyone to fight those Magic Users in melee combat.

Finally, Shadowheart's Domain with Trickery allows her and her Party to be very efficient in Stealth and Ambush. Which can be very handy in situations that would be outright silly to engage in full on combat and the element of surprise can be a massive advantage.

Feats for Shadowheart 

Shadowheart has a list of really impressive feats that make her a staple in Baldur's Gate 3. Here is a list of noteworthy Feats for the High Half-Elf Cleric

• Has officially, and cleanly, defeated the Avatar of Myrkul. Myrkul is the God of Death and yet Shadowheart and her Party, managed to defeat his Avatar. 

• Defeated Ketheric Thorm

• Defeated Gortash

• Defeated Orin

• Depending on the Decision, defeated Lady Shar's Followers

• Either Saved, or Enslaved Baldur's Gate, or.... Turned into a Mind Flayer outright.

• Is my favorite character of Baldur's Gate 3. Sorry Karlach and Astarion Fans.

• Voiced By Jennifer English

• Baldur's Gate 3 is one of the Greatest Video Games of All Time!!

Weaknesses

Being a Cleric may be ideal as a Support Class, but in terms of overall combat, exploration and Social skills, Clerics are not exactly special.

Unless the scenario tweaks the situation at hand, Clerics need help from other Companions in order to effectively overcome many threats and challenges. Clerics themselves are not as tough as Fighters, Barbarians and Paladins and not as Socially Skilled as Bards, nor have the Infiltration Capabilities of Rogues and Druids.

Clerics also have one major factor that is both a great asset, but also a huge catch. 

Concentration is when a Character casts a spell and has to "Focus" on using One Spell at a time for the Duration of the Limit of Turns. If the Character loses Concentration from Physical or Magic Force, that Spell will be Shut Down and they either have to Cast it once more quickly or by Ritual, and Ritual Spells take much longer than Cantrips.

However, Spells are a very much reliant on Spell slots, and if Shadowheart uses up the spell slots, she much take a long rest to regain those spell slots or drink Angelic Potions. 

Finally, Clerics can be a massive target for a cunning foe, since they give the party many benefits, eliminating the Cleric would be ideal for strategic combat.

Despite her faults, Shadowheart is adorable, powerful and very well written :D

She has White Hair Now?

Yep, Shadowheart also can have White Hair, depending on certain decisions :D

The Fight

Yennefer: Geralt, I am gonna find a place to relax.

Geralt: Sure, as long as you don't keep Ciri Waiting.

(Yennefer creates a Portal and goes to a Beach Bed)  

Yennefer: Well, its time to stay out of trouble for once. 

(Suddenly, as Yennefer sits down, leaning against a nearby tree, she suddenly hears a commotion)  

And Then....

????: HELP!!!!!! SOMEONE!!!!!!!

(Yennefer, surprised and confused, follows the Screams of a dying Woman. Eventually, she finds a dead body. Suddenly, Yennefer hears steps from a bed of leaves nearby)

????: Did you do that?

Yennefer: No, I just ca-

Shadowheart: I detest Murder. Especially from a Dark Cultist like you.

Yennefer: Wait a minute, you got the Wrong idea!!

Shadowheart: I see no one else but you, perhaps I shall put you in your place, 6 feet under....

FIGHT!!!!

(Shadowheart starts off with a Sacred Flame Cantrip. This burns most of Yennefer's Clothing)

Yennefer: Ugh, what gives?

Shadowheart: You really are not quite sharp are you?

Yennefer: Damn you, I'll make you pay for that!!!

(Yennefer then blasts Shadowheart with Telekinesis. Shadowheart then hits her head against a Tree and is momentarily knocked out)

Yennefer: Seriously, what is her problem?

(Yennefer then attempts to put out the flames with Ice Magic. However....)

Shadowheart: Did you think you beat me?

Yennefer: Hey! I only got here to relax and it so happens that I found this Dead Body and you making things hard like a bitch

Shadowheart: A body that is murdered by you. I am not stupid. Now how about I give you a taste of your own medicine, Witch.

(Shadowheart, now angry, conjures up a Fireball and blasts at Yennefer's Position. This time, Yennefer blocks the spell with her Bubble Shield)

Shadowheart: Impressive, but not enough to stop me.

Yennefer: Shut Up!!

(Yennefer then uses her left hand to conjure a fire ball towards Shadowheart)

Shadowheart: Oh no........

(The Fireball hits Shadowheart..... But Shadowheart is Unharmed)

Yennefer: What?????

(Turns out, Shadowheart's Sanctuary Spell completely nulled the Blast)

Shadowheart: Well, that about does it. 

(Shadowheart then walks towards Yennefer. Slowly, but menancinly)

Yennefer: You got to be kidding?

(Yennefer attempts to blast at Shadowheart with every single spell possible, but Shadowheart is still unphased)

Yennefer: Who the hell are you?



Shadowheart: Who am I? None of your business

(Pulling out her Spear of Night, Shadowheart is just at striking distance...... but then Yennefer pulls out a trick)

Yennefer: Well, here goes.....

(Shadowheart thrusts the Spear towards Yennefer, but Yennefer not only avoids the thrust, she grabs Shadowheart's arm, and creates a Portal and throws Shadowheart towards the Portal. Shadowheart tries to resist but Yennefer then kicks Shadowheart towards the Portal, and Shadowheart Suddenly reaches the other Dimension)

Yennefer: Farewell........ You unpleasant Sorceress.....

(However........ Just before the Portal Closes...... Shadowheart appears right behind Yennefer and JAB!!!!)

Yennefer: Wha----

(Shadowheart thrusts the Spear of Night towards Yennefer's Back, piercing through the back)

Shadowheart: You really are a nuisance aren't you. Now, Justice shall be done.

(Necrotic Effects melt away Yennefer's body, causing both decay and disfiguring Yennefer.... However..... it isn't over)

Yennefer: I can sti----

(Yennefer tries a spell, but is surprised it doesn't work. Why? Shadowheart casts Silence)

Shadowheart: Too late now..... before you die....

(Shadowheart pulls out a Mace and whacks at Yennefer's head until it is as flat as a pancake)

Shadowheart: I never knew such a liar possessed magic like that, but she still isn't strong enough. Well, time to go!!!

(As Shadowheart leaves Yennefer's lifeless, head squashed body, from a distance, a doppelganger with a bloodied knife comes out of hiding and smiles from a distance. Turns out, the Doppelganger took on Yennefer's Appearance, thus, all this time, the Murder of the Dead Woman shall forever be the work of someone who isn't actually that same someone..... XD!!!!)

K.O!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! 

This was a stomp.... An Absolute Stomp. Yennefer may be powerful but Shadowheart outright crushed her in every category possible.

First, the fact that Shadowheart took on the likes of Myrkul's Avatar and Magic Users outright already gives her the experience against characters like Yennefer. Battlefield Removal? Not really effective when Misty Step and Dimension Door are around. 


Even if Shadowheart was stuck in a separate Dimension, she can still conjure up Food and Water to stay alive, and even still, she can teleport back to certain locations with waypoints anyway. 

Despite the BFR Factor, the Speed difference is astronomical. Light Speed Reactions to Spectator Beams is already enough to clap Yennefer's Faster than Blinking Speed. So really, Yennefer simply lacked any options to beat Shadowheart. To the Point that she is just a sitting duck.

It is also important to note, the difference of Power between the Witcher and Dungeons and Dragons.

The Witcher is a more realistic setting with a more grounded approach to fantasy and thus, Magic Users in the Witcher can still be beaten by foes far weaker than them while Dungeons and Dragons is a much more Fantastical Setting that has Magic Users busting out Spells to defeat Dragons and Celestial Beings. 

Yennefer

Advantages

• ............

Disadvantages

• Lacked any options and Stats to Compete with Shadowheart

Shadowheart  

Advantages

• Every single category and Factor Possible

Disadvantages

• Nothing....

See, this is why Shadowheart "Had a Dark Heart, and she Yennever gave up on opening that Gate to Victory"...... Hahaha!!!!

The Winner is Shadowheart

This is now officially the End of Who Would Win.

Yes, that's right. I am officially ending the series. I now have a huge announcement to make, I now have a major shift in life that will make my time with Who Would Win virtually impossible to continue. But, its not bad news, I am actually getting married and I want to spend all my time with my Future Wife and my Family :)





Thank you to all of the people who have read all my blogs to date. Words cannot express just how grateful I am for the support you guys have given me. This series has become a staple of my schedule for years and now, I am about to embark on another journey with my newfound Family. 



Thank you for your support. May you have many miracles in life and remember, if anything goes wrong.... Say George Hancock.... XD!!!






Farewell Everyone :D