What happens if I let Astarion ascend in Baldur's Gate 3?
Letting Astarion ascend in Baldur's Gate 3 is a major story decision that significantly impacts his character arc and the overall narrative. This choice occurs during Astarion's personal questline, which revolves around his past as a vampire spawn and his desire for power and freedom. To achieve this outcome, you must make specific choices throughout the game, particularly during the quest "The Pale Elf" and its culmination in Act 3. Here is a detailed explanation of the mechanics, steps, and considerations involved in letting Astarion ascend.
First, to trigger Astarion's personal quest, you need to build a strong relationship with him. This involves gaining his approval through dialogue choices and actions that align with his personality, such as being pragmatic, self-serving, or chaotic. Astarion appreciates cunning, manipulation, and a willingness to embrace darker solutions. You can increase his approval by allowing him to feed on you or others, supporting his schemes, and avoiding overly altruistic or lawful behavior. Once his approval is high enough, he will share more about his past and his desire to confront his former master, Cazador Szarr.
In Act 3, Astarion's quest reaches its climax when you confront Cazador in his palace. During this encounter, you will learn about the Rite of Profane Ascension, a ritual that Cazador has been preparing for centuries. The ritual requires the sacrifice of seven thousand vampire spawn, including Astarion and his siblings, to grant Cazador immense power. Astarion, however, can choose to take Cazador's place and complete the ritual himself, ascending to become a true vampire with unparalleled strength and abilities.
To let Astarion ascend, you must support his decision to take over the ritual. This involves defeating Cazador in combat and then allowing Astarion to use the ritual dagger to complete the rite. During the fight, focus on protecting Astarion and preventing Cazador from interrupting the ritual. Cazador is a powerful opponent with access to high-level spells and abilities, so prepare your party with healing items, crowd control spells, and damage-dealing abilities. Once Cazador is defeated, Astarion will have the opportunity to ascend.
There are several important considerations to keep in mind when making this choice. First, ascending grants Astarion significant power, including new abilities and increased stats, but it also changes his personality. He becomes more ruthless and detached, losing some of the vulnerability and humanity that defined his character earlier in the game. This can affect your relationship with him, especially if you were pursuing a romance. Additionally, allowing the ritual to proceed means sacrificing the seven thousand vampire spawn, including innocent victims. This choice has moral implications and may conflict with the values of other party members, such as Wyll or Karlach, who may disapprove.
Common mistakes to avoid include failing to protect Astarion during the fight with Cazador or making choices that prevent him from completing the ritual. For example, if you destroy the ritual circle or convince Astarion to spare the spawn, he will not ascend. Additionally, if Astarion's approval is not high enough, he may not trust you to support his decision, leading to a different outcome. To optimize this path, ensure that Astarion's approval is maximized and that your party is well-prepared for the fight with Cazador.
From a D&D rules perspective, the Rite of Profane Ascension is a homebrew mechanic unique to Baldur's Gate 3, but it draws inspiration from vampire lore and the concept of ascension in Dungeons & Dragons. In traditional D&D, vampires are powerful undead creatures with specific weaknesses and abilities, and ascension would represent a significant transformation beyond their normal capabilities. The ritual's requirement of sacrificing thousands of souls aligns with the dark, sacrificial magic often associated with necromancy and evil deities in D&D.
In summary, letting Astarion ascend is a complex and morally ambiguous choice that requires careful planning and consideration. By building a strong relationship with Astarion, supporting his goals, and successfully navigating the fight with Cazador, you can achieve this outcome. However, be prepared for the consequences, as this decision will shape Astarion's character and your party's dynamics for the rest of the game.
First, to trigger Astarion's personal quest, you need to build a strong relationship with him. This involves gaining his approval through dialogue choices and actions that align with his personality, such as being pragmatic, self-serving, or chaotic. Astarion appreciates cunning, manipulation, and a willingness to embrace darker solutions. You can increase his approval by allowing him to feed on you or others, supporting his schemes, and avoiding overly altruistic or lawful behavior. Once his approval is high enough, he will share more about his past and his desire to confront his former master, Cazador Szarr.
In Act 3, Astarion's quest reaches its climax when you confront Cazador in his palace. During this encounter, you will learn about the Rite of Profane Ascension, a ritual that Cazador has been preparing for centuries. The ritual requires the sacrifice of seven thousand vampire spawn, including Astarion and his siblings, to grant Cazador immense power. Astarion, however, can choose to take Cazador's place and complete the ritual himself, ascending to become a true vampire with unparalleled strength and abilities.
To let Astarion ascend, you must support his decision to take over the ritual. This involves defeating Cazador in combat and then allowing Astarion to use the ritual dagger to complete the rite. During the fight, focus on protecting Astarion and preventing Cazador from interrupting the ritual. Cazador is a powerful opponent with access to high-level spells and abilities, so prepare your party with healing items, crowd control spells, and damage-dealing abilities. Once Cazador is defeated, Astarion will have the opportunity to ascend.
There are several important considerations to keep in mind when making this choice. First, ascending grants Astarion significant power, including new abilities and increased stats, but it also changes his personality. He becomes more ruthless and detached, losing some of the vulnerability and humanity that defined his character earlier in the game. This can affect your relationship with him, especially if you were pursuing a romance. Additionally, allowing the ritual to proceed means sacrificing the seven thousand vampire spawn, including innocent victims. This choice has moral implications and may conflict with the values of other party members, such as Wyll or Karlach, who may disapprove.
Common mistakes to avoid include failing to protect Astarion during the fight with Cazador or making choices that prevent him from completing the ritual. For example, if you destroy the ritual circle or convince Astarion to spare the spawn, he will not ascend. Additionally, if Astarion's approval is not high enough, he may not trust you to support his decision, leading to a different outcome. To optimize this path, ensure that Astarion's approval is maximized and that your party is well-prepared for the fight with Cazador.
From a D&D rules perspective, the Rite of Profane Ascension is a homebrew mechanic unique to Baldur's Gate 3, but it draws inspiration from vampire lore and the concept of ascension in Dungeons & Dragons. In traditional D&D, vampires are powerful undead creatures with specific weaknesses and abilities, and ascension would represent a significant transformation beyond their normal capabilities. The ritual's requirement of sacrificing thousands of souls aligns with the dark, sacrificial magic often associated with necromancy and evil deities in D&D.
In summary, letting Astarion ascend is a complex and morally ambiguous choice that requires careful planning and consideration. By building a strong relationship with Astarion, supporting his goals, and successfully navigating the fight with Cazador, you can achieve this outcome. However, be prepared for the consequences, as this decision will shape Astarion's character and your party's dynamics for the rest of the game.