What happens if I let Astarion drink my blood in Baldur's Gate 3?

In Baldur's Gate 3, allowing Astarion to drink your blood is a significant story moment that occurs early in the game and has both immediate and long-term consequences. This event is tied to Astarion's personal questline and can influence your relationship with him, as well as your overall gameplay experience. HereÔÇÖs a detailed breakdown of what happens, how to achieve it, and what to consider when making this choice.

The mechanics of this event are tied to the camp system in Baldur's Gate 3. After a certain point in the game, typically after your first long rest, Astarion will approach you during the night. He will reveal that he is a vampire spawn and ask for your permission to drink your blood. This is a pivotal moment in his character arc, as it reveals his true nature and sets the stage for his personal questline. The choice to allow or refuse him has immediate and long-term consequences.

To trigger this event, you need to have Astarion in your party and progress the story to the point where you take your first long rest. During the long rest, a cutscene will play where Astarion sneaks up on you while you sleep. He will explain his situation and ask for your blood. At this point, you have the option to allow him to drink your blood or refuse him. If you allow him to drink, he will bite you, and you will lose a small amount of health. However, this also grants you a temporary buff called "Happy," which increases your approval rating with Astarion. If you refuse, he will respect your decision, but your approval rating with him will decrease.

There are several important tips and considerations to keep in mind when making this choice. First, allowing Astarion to drink your blood can significantly improve your relationship with him, which is important if you want to pursue his personal questline or romance him. However, it also comes with a risk, as you will lose a small amount of health, which could be problematic if you are already low on health or in a dangerous area. Additionally, this choice can have long-term consequences for your character, as it reveals Astarion's true nature and sets the stage for future interactions with him.

One common mistake to avoid is not considering the long-term consequences of your choice. While allowing Astarion to drink your blood can improve your relationship with him, it can also lead to complications later in the game. For example, if you allow him to drink your blood, he may become more dependent on you, which could lead to conflicts or difficult choices down the line. On the other hand, refusing him could make it harder to gain his trust and approval, which could limit your options in his personal questline.

Advanced techniques and optimizations for this choice include considering your character build and party composition. If you are playing a character with high Constitution or access to healing spells, the health loss from allowing Astarion to drink your blood may be less of a concern. Additionally, if you are planning to romance Astarion or focus on his personal questline, allowing him to drink your blood can be a strategic choice to improve your relationship with him. However, if you are playing a character with low health or are in a dangerous area, it may be wiser to refuse him to avoid unnecessary risk.

In terms of related D&D rules and mechanics, this event is based on the vampire spawn creature type from the Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition rules. Vampire spawn are undead creatures that are created by a vampire and are under its control. They have the ability to drain blood from their victims, which can weaken or kill them. In Baldur's Gate 3, Astarion is a vampire spawn, and his ability to drink your blood is a reflection of this. The health loss you experience when he drinks your blood is a representation of the blood drain ability from the D&D rules.

Specific examples and scenarios where this choice can have a significant impact include situations where you are trying to build a strong relationship with Astarion or are facing difficult moral dilemmas. For example, if you are trying to romance Astarion, allowing him to drink your blood can be a key moment in building trust and intimacy with him. On the other hand, if you are facing a situation where you need to conserve your health or are in a dangerous area, refusing him may be the more practical choice.

In conclusion, allowing Astarion to drink your blood in Baldur's Gate 3 is a significant story moment that can have both immediate and long-term consequences. It is important to consider the mechanics of the event, the potential risks and benefits, and the long-term impact on your relationship with Astarion when making this choice. By carefully weighing these factors, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your character's goals and playstyle.