How do I recruit Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3?
Recruiting Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3 is a relatively straightforward process, but it requires you to follow specific steps and make certain choices early in the game. Astarion is a high elf rogue with a mysterious and somewhat sinister background, and he can be a valuable addition to your party due to his stealth and combat abilities. Here is a detailed guide on how to recruit him, along with tips and considerations to ensure you successfully add him to your team.
To recruit Astarion, you need to encounter him during the early stages of the game. After the prologue, where you escape the Nautiloid ship, you will find yourself on the Ravaged Beach. This is the starting area of Act 1, and it is here that you will first meet Astarion. He is located to the west of the crash site, near a rocky outcrop. As you approach, you will trigger a cutscene where Astarion will confront you, pretending to need help. He will claim to be in danger and ask for your assistance. However, this is a ruse, and he will quickly reveal his true intentions by attempting to attack you. At this point, you have the opportunity to recruit him by choosing the right dialogue options.
When Astarion confronts you, it is important to remain calm and avoid hostile actions. If you choose aggressive dialogue options or attack him, he will become hostile, and you may lose the chance to recruit him. Instead, select dialogue options that show you are willing to cooperate. For example, when he asks if you are a friend or foe, choose the option that indicates you are not a threat. This will de-escalate the situation and allow you to continue the conversation. After a brief exchange, Astarion will realize that you are also infected with the Mind Flayer parasite, and he will propose joining forces to find a cure. Agree to his proposal, and he will join your party.
Once Astarion is in your party, you can manage his abilities and equipment like any other companion. As a rogue, Astarion excels in stealth, lockpicking, and dealing high damage with sneak attacks. He is particularly useful in situations where you need to avoid detection or take out enemies quickly. To optimize his effectiveness, consider equipping him with light armor and finesse weapons, such as daggers or rapiers, which take advantage of his Dexterity-based combat style. Additionally, you can assign him skills like Sleight of Hand and Stealth to make him even more effective in exploration and combat.
One important consideration when recruiting Astarion is his personality and approval mechanics. Astarion has a sarcastic and self-serving nature, and he tends to approve of actions that benefit him or involve deception and manipulation. To build a positive relationship with him, make choices that align with his values, such as lying to NPCs or taking advantage of situations for personal gain. However, be cautious, as some of these choices may conflict with the morals of other companions, such as Wyll or Karlach, who prefer more honorable behavior. Balancing these relationships can be challenging, so it is important to consider the long-term impact of your decisions.
A common mistake players make when recruiting Astarion is failing to de-escalate the initial confrontation. If you choose aggressive dialogue options or attack him, he will become hostile, and you may have to kill him, losing the opportunity to recruit him. To avoid this, always choose dialogue options that show you are willing to cooperate and avoid unnecessary conflict. Additionally, some players may overlook Astarion's potential in combat due to his rogue class, which is often seen as less durable than other classes. However, with the right equipment and tactics, Astarion can be a powerful asset, especially in situations that require stealth and precision.
Advanced techniques for optimizing Astarion's performance include multiclassing and leveraging his sneak attack ability. In Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition, the ruleset on which Baldur's Gate 3 is based, rogues gain sneak attack damage when they have advantage on an attack roll or when an ally is within 5 feet of the target. To maximize this, position Astarion so that he can attack enemies from stealth or flank them with other party members. Additionally, consider multiclassing Astarion into a class like Fighter or Ranger to give him more versatility in combat. For example, a few levels in Fighter can grant him access to Action Surge, allowing him to make additional attacks in a single turn.
In summary, recruiting Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3 involves encountering him on the Ravaged Beach, de-escalating the initial confrontation, and agreeing to join forces with him. Once recruited, he can be a valuable member of your party, especially if you optimize his rogue abilities and build a positive relationship with him. By following these steps and considering the tips and strategies outlined above, you can successfully add Astarion to your team and make the most of his unique skills and personality.
To recruit Astarion, you need to encounter him during the early stages of the game. After the prologue, where you escape the Nautiloid ship, you will find yourself on the Ravaged Beach. This is the starting area of Act 1, and it is here that you will first meet Astarion. He is located to the west of the crash site, near a rocky outcrop. As you approach, you will trigger a cutscene where Astarion will confront you, pretending to need help. He will claim to be in danger and ask for your assistance. However, this is a ruse, and he will quickly reveal his true intentions by attempting to attack you. At this point, you have the opportunity to recruit him by choosing the right dialogue options.
When Astarion confronts you, it is important to remain calm and avoid hostile actions. If you choose aggressive dialogue options or attack him, he will become hostile, and you may lose the chance to recruit him. Instead, select dialogue options that show you are willing to cooperate. For example, when he asks if you are a friend or foe, choose the option that indicates you are not a threat. This will de-escalate the situation and allow you to continue the conversation. After a brief exchange, Astarion will realize that you are also infected with the Mind Flayer parasite, and he will propose joining forces to find a cure. Agree to his proposal, and he will join your party.
Once Astarion is in your party, you can manage his abilities and equipment like any other companion. As a rogue, Astarion excels in stealth, lockpicking, and dealing high damage with sneak attacks. He is particularly useful in situations where you need to avoid detection or take out enemies quickly. To optimize his effectiveness, consider equipping him with light armor and finesse weapons, such as daggers or rapiers, which take advantage of his Dexterity-based combat style. Additionally, you can assign him skills like Sleight of Hand and Stealth to make him even more effective in exploration and combat.
One important consideration when recruiting Astarion is his personality and approval mechanics. Astarion has a sarcastic and self-serving nature, and he tends to approve of actions that benefit him or involve deception and manipulation. To build a positive relationship with him, make choices that align with his values, such as lying to NPCs or taking advantage of situations for personal gain. However, be cautious, as some of these choices may conflict with the morals of other companions, such as Wyll or Karlach, who prefer more honorable behavior. Balancing these relationships can be challenging, so it is important to consider the long-term impact of your decisions.
A common mistake players make when recruiting Astarion is failing to de-escalate the initial confrontation. If you choose aggressive dialogue options or attack him, he will become hostile, and you may have to kill him, losing the opportunity to recruit him. To avoid this, always choose dialogue options that show you are willing to cooperate and avoid unnecessary conflict. Additionally, some players may overlook Astarion's potential in combat due to his rogue class, which is often seen as less durable than other classes. However, with the right equipment and tactics, Astarion can be a powerful asset, especially in situations that require stealth and precision.
Advanced techniques for optimizing Astarion's performance include multiclassing and leveraging his sneak attack ability. In Dungeons and Dragons 5th Edition, the ruleset on which Baldur's Gate 3 is based, rogues gain sneak attack damage when they have advantage on an attack roll or when an ally is within 5 feet of the target. To maximize this, position Astarion so that he can attack enemies from stealth or flank them with other party members. Additionally, consider multiclassing Astarion into a class like Fighter or Ranger to give him more versatility in combat. For example, a few levels in Fighter can grant him access to Action Surge, allowing him to make additional attacks in a single turn.
In summary, recruiting Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3 involves encountering him on the Ravaged Beach, de-escalating the initial confrontation, and agreeing to join forces with him. Once recruited, he can be a valuable member of your party, especially if you optimize his rogue abilities and build a positive relationship with him. By following these steps and considering the tips and strategies outlined above, you can successfully add Astarion to your team and make the most of his unique skills and personality.