What are the consequences of letting Astarion ascend in Baldur's Gate 3?
Letting Astarion ascend in Baldur's Gate 3 is a major decision that significantly impacts his character, your relationship with him, and the overall story. This choice occurs during Astarion's personal questline, "The Pale Elf," which culminates in a confrontation with Cazador, his former master. To understand the consequences of letting Astarion ascend, it's important to first explore the mechanics and steps involved in reaching this point, as well as the implications of the decision.
To begin, Astarion's personal questline is triggered as you progress through the main story and interact with him. You must build a strong relationship with him by gaining his approval, which is influenced by your dialogue choices and actions. Astarion tends to approve of selfish, chaotic, or morally ambiguous decisions, so aligning with his worldview will help you gain his trust. As you progress, you will eventually learn about his past and his desire to confront Cazador. This leads to the quest "The Pale Elf," where you must infiltrate Cazador's palace and confront him.
During the confrontation with Cazador, you will discover that Cazador is attempting to perform a ritual called the Rite of Profane Ascension. This ritual requires the sacrifice of 7,000 souls, including Astarion's, to transform Cazador into a Vampire Ascendant, a being of immense power. Astarion will have the opportunity to take Cazador's place in the ritual and ascend himself, but this choice comes with significant consequences.
If you choose to let Astarion ascend, he will gain immense power, becoming a Vampire Ascendant. This transformation grants him new abilities, such as enhanced vampiric powers, increased strength, and the ability to summon bats. However, it also changes his personality. Astarion becomes more arrogant, power-hungry, and detached from his former self. His relationship with you will shift, as he views himself as superior and may become more controlling. If you are romancing him, the dynamic of the relationship will change, with Astarion asserting dominance and potentially losing some of the vulnerability and connection you previously shared.
From a gameplay perspective, letting Astarion ascend can be beneficial in combat, as his new abilities make him a formidable ally. However, it comes at the cost of his humanity and the moral implications of sacrificing thousands of souls. This decision aligns with a more power-focused, morally ambiguous playthrough, and it may alienate other companions who disapprove of such actions.
On the other hand, if you convince Astarion not to ascend, he will reject the ritual and destroy Cazador. This choice allows Astarion to retain his humanity and continue his journey of self-discovery. He will express gratitude for your support and may deepen his relationship with you, especially if you are romancing him. This path aligns with a more morally upright playthrough and may earn the approval of other companions who value compassion and redemption.
When making this decision, it's important to consider your character's alignment and the overall tone of your playthrough. If you are playing a character who values power and is willing to make morally questionable choices, letting Astarion ascend may be the right choice. However, if you are playing a character who values redemption and personal growth, convincing Astarion to reject the ritual may be more fitting.
One common mistake to avoid is rushing through the dialogue options during the confrontation with Cazador. Take your time to explore all the dialogue options and consider the implications of each choice. Additionally, ensure that you have built a strong relationship with Astarion before this point, as his willingness to listen to your advice may depend on your approval rating with him.
In terms of advanced techniques, you can optimize your party composition and combat strategy to ensure success during the confrontation with Cazador. Bring companions who can deal high damage and control the battlefield, as Cazador and his minions can be challenging opponents. Spells like Hold Person or Silence can be particularly effective in neutralizing threats.
From a D&D rules perspective, the concept of vampiric ascension is not explicitly detailed in the 5th edition rules, but it draws inspiration from the lore of vampires and their pursuit of power. The Rite of Profane Ascension is a unique creation for Baldur's Gate 3, reflecting the game's narrative depth and the moral dilemmas it presents.
In summary, letting Astarion ascend in Baldur's Gate 3 is a pivotal decision with far-reaching consequences. It offers powerful gameplay benefits but comes at the cost of Astarion's humanity and the moral implications of the ritual. Carefully consider your character's alignment, your relationship with Astarion, and the overall tone of your playthrough when making this choice. By understanding the mechanics and implications, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your vision for the story.
To begin, Astarion's personal questline is triggered as you progress through the main story and interact with him. You must build a strong relationship with him by gaining his approval, which is influenced by your dialogue choices and actions. Astarion tends to approve of selfish, chaotic, or morally ambiguous decisions, so aligning with his worldview will help you gain his trust. As you progress, you will eventually learn about his past and his desire to confront Cazador. This leads to the quest "The Pale Elf," where you must infiltrate Cazador's palace and confront him.
During the confrontation with Cazador, you will discover that Cazador is attempting to perform a ritual called the Rite of Profane Ascension. This ritual requires the sacrifice of 7,000 souls, including Astarion's, to transform Cazador into a Vampire Ascendant, a being of immense power. Astarion will have the opportunity to take Cazador's place in the ritual and ascend himself, but this choice comes with significant consequences.
If you choose to let Astarion ascend, he will gain immense power, becoming a Vampire Ascendant. This transformation grants him new abilities, such as enhanced vampiric powers, increased strength, and the ability to summon bats. However, it also changes his personality. Astarion becomes more arrogant, power-hungry, and detached from his former self. His relationship with you will shift, as he views himself as superior and may become more controlling. If you are romancing him, the dynamic of the relationship will change, with Astarion asserting dominance and potentially losing some of the vulnerability and connection you previously shared.
From a gameplay perspective, letting Astarion ascend can be beneficial in combat, as his new abilities make him a formidable ally. However, it comes at the cost of his humanity and the moral implications of sacrificing thousands of souls. This decision aligns with a more power-focused, morally ambiguous playthrough, and it may alienate other companions who disapprove of such actions.
On the other hand, if you convince Astarion not to ascend, he will reject the ritual and destroy Cazador. This choice allows Astarion to retain his humanity and continue his journey of self-discovery. He will express gratitude for your support and may deepen his relationship with you, especially if you are romancing him. This path aligns with a more morally upright playthrough and may earn the approval of other companions who value compassion and redemption.
When making this decision, it's important to consider your character's alignment and the overall tone of your playthrough. If you are playing a character who values power and is willing to make morally questionable choices, letting Astarion ascend may be the right choice. However, if you are playing a character who values redemption and personal growth, convincing Astarion to reject the ritual may be more fitting.
One common mistake to avoid is rushing through the dialogue options during the confrontation with Cazador. Take your time to explore all the dialogue options and consider the implications of each choice. Additionally, ensure that you have built a strong relationship with Astarion before this point, as his willingness to listen to your advice may depend on your approval rating with him.
In terms of advanced techniques, you can optimize your party composition and combat strategy to ensure success during the confrontation with Cazador. Bring companions who can deal high damage and control the battlefield, as Cazador and his minions can be challenging opponents. Spells like Hold Person or Silence can be particularly effective in neutralizing threats.
From a D&D rules perspective, the concept of vampiric ascension is not explicitly detailed in the 5th edition rules, but it draws inspiration from the lore of vampires and their pursuit of power. The Rite of Profane Ascension is a unique creation for Baldur's Gate 3, reflecting the game's narrative depth and the moral dilemmas it presents.
In summary, letting Astarion ascend in Baldur's Gate 3 is a pivotal decision with far-reaching consequences. It offers powerful gameplay benefits but comes at the cost of Astarion's humanity and the moral implications of the ritual. Carefully consider your character's alignment, your relationship with Astarion, and the overall tone of your playthrough when making this choice. By understanding the mechanics and implications, you can make an informed decision that aligns with your vision for the story.