As you embark on your journey to save Faerûn in Baldur’s Gate 3, you’ll encounter a rich tapestry of characters, each with their own intricate stories and struggles. One particularly intriguing character is Astarion, who you will meet early in Act 1 while exploring the beach. As your bond deepens, Astarion reveals his dual existence as a vampire. This revelation brings about a complex dilemma: his former master, a powerful vampire seeking to reclaim him, complicates his newfound freedom.
Throughout your adventure, nearly every companion in Baldur’s Gate 3 has captivating personal quests that unfold over the course of the three acts, intertwining with the overarching narrative. As the narrative climax approaches in the final act, it’s crucial to resolve these quests. Astarion’s journey culminates in a confrontation with his old master, Cazador, at the mansion that symbolizes both his former enslavement and his significant trials.
Exploring Astarion’s Companion Quest: A Cycle of Abuse
Confronting Cazador to Halt the Dark Ritual
To begin addressing his past, you’ll find a way to gain Astarion’s trust by choosing to spend the night with him after the tiefling party. During this intimate moment, he reveals large, intricate scars on his back, which serve as a gateway to deeper understanding of his past. This leads to Astarion seeking your assistance in Act 2, where he contemplates asking Raphael for guidance.
If you choose not to romance Astarion, a scene will unfold at camp during a long rest once you have met a sufficient approval threshold, typically around Act 2. In this scene, Astarion appears shirtless, grappling with the meaning of his scars, allowing for further exploration of his backstory.
Should you choose to engage with Raphael, he agrees to assist Astarion in exchange for the death of Yurgir during the Gauntlet of Shar. Should you accept this deal, Astarion uncovers that his scars are a component of a ritual designed to elevate Cazador into a Vampire Ascendant, a significantly more formidable creature. Alternatively, you can uncover this knowledge by providing Astarion with vital artifacts in Act 3, such as the Necromancy of Thay and the Tharchiate Codex.
Eventually, in Act 3, Astarion must face Cazador. The party can learn about the ritual’s location through other vampire spawns or the Gur. Arriving at Cazador’s Palace in Baldur’s Gate, you must victoriouly confront him to thwart his dark ambition of sacrificing 7,000 spawn for his ascension. Astarion then faces a pivotal choice: to eliminate Cazador or to proceed with the ritual for his own ascendance.
Consequences of Astarion Completing the Ritual
Astarion’s Transformation: Embracing New Power
Upon agreeing to assist Astarion, your first dialogue option is: “All right, what do you need?” Utilizing the connection established by the illithid parasites, Astarion can transfer his scars onto Cazador, who will subsequently take Astarion’s place in the ritual circle as he starts the incantation. During this moment, another companion may intervene, shedding light on the grave costs of the ritual, offering one last chance to reconsider.
Upon the ritual’s completion, Astarion experiences an immediate transformation, speaking of his newfound sense of power and diminished hunger. He gains access to enhanced abilities, including an upgraded bite attack and a unique variant of Gaseous Form , both of which recharge on a short rest and function as bonus actions, synergizing well with the Thief subclass's bonus action capabilities.
| Power | Casting Time | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Ascendant Bite | Bonus Action | Deal 6d6 necrotic damage while healing Astarion for 6d6, granting the Happy buff. |
| Misty Escape | Bonus Action | Transform into mist, gaining resistance to all damage and the ability to slip through small openings. |
As you proceed, the Gur will confront the party outside the ritual chamber, becoming hostile and thus precluding their recruitment for “Gather Your Allies.” Nevertheless, an ascended Astarion will provide formidable support in the final battle as a Vampire Ascendant, facilitating the summoning of shadows and other powerful allies against the Netherbrain forces.
What If Astarion Chooses to Kill Cazador?
Astarion’s Choice: Turning Away from Darkness
Alternatively, you can persuade Astarion to forgo the ritual by choosing specific dialogue options that remind him of its cost. Successfully stopping Astarion requires a DC 18 Persuasion check, which can be lowered to DC 15 if you first succeed on an Insight check. This secondary option reinforces the notion that power does not equate to freedom.
If Astarion is ultimately persuaded, he will confront Cazador and eliminate him before turning towards the other vampire spawn. Here, you’ll assist in deciding the fate of Cazador’s 7,000 spawn, providing options to either kill them, release them into the Underdark, or leave them be. Regardless of your decision at this juncture, your party will be free to depart.
Be sure to loot Cazador, as he carries a rare weapon that effectively serves Astarion as an endgame tool.
Upon emerging, the Gur will have different reactions based on your choices regarding the spawn. If they were released, Ulma expresses surprise and gratitude, while if they were slain, she may initially react with anger before offering to join forces for the final battle.
Reasons to Prevent Astarion’s Ascendance
The Dangers of an Ascended Astarion
Ultimately, it is advisable to stop Astarion from completing Cazador’s ritual. While Astarion’s ascendance may provide mechanical advantages, from a narrative and character development perspective, this path leads him toward darkness. This choice can evolve differently based on your decisions throughout your playthrough, but pursuing ascension often embodies a morally questionable choice.
Additionally, there are two other outcomes that result in Astarion leaving the party: completely refusing to assist him or agreeing to aid him but interrupting the ritual, which will cause an immediate conflict between Astarion and the party.
In my own experience helping him achieve ascendance, I noted a marked change in his demeanor; he became colder and more aloof, even toward characters with whom he had developed a romantic rapport. This transformation underscores the paradox of Astarion perceiving his newfound power as liberation while simultaneously planning to dominate others.
In the epilogue, Astarion envisions himself as the puppet master of Baldur’s Gate and expresses a shocking detachment from the well-being of other characters, revealing a disconnect from their individual lives. In contrast, if he does not ascend, Astarion seems genuinely content, embracing a more profound understanding of true freedom beyond power.
It is noteworthy that persuading Astarion not to complete the ritual grants a significant boost to your approval rating with him. This ending feels more fulfilling, benefiting both Astarion and the larger world of Baldur’s Gate 3. In this scenario, he expresses congratulations for the happiness of his companions and reflects positively on shared adventures.