What happens if I let Astarion ascend in Baldur's Gate 3?
Letting Astarion ascend in Baldur's Gate 3 is a significant story choice that occurs during his personal questline, "The Pale Elf." This questline revolves around Astarion's desire to free himself from the control of his former master, Cazador Szarr, and gain power for himself. Ascension is a pivotal moment in Astarion's story, and it has major consequences for his character, your relationship with him, and the overall narrative. Here's a detailed breakdown of how to achieve this outcome, the mechanics involved, and what to consider.
To let Astarion ascend, you must first progress through his personal questline. This begins when you encounter a Gur hunter named Gandrel in the Sunlit Wetlands, who reveals that Astarion is a vampire spawn. As you continue to explore the world, you will eventually reach Act 3, where Astarion's questline culminates in a confrontation with Cazador in his palace. During this confrontation, you will learn about the Rite of Profane Ascension, a ritual that Cazador has been preparing for centuries. This ritual involves sacrificing thousands of vampire spawn, including Astarion, to ascend to a higher form of vampiric power.
To allow Astarion to ascend, you must support his decision to take Cazador's place in the ritual. This involves several key steps. First, you must defeat Cazador in combat. This is a challenging fight, as Cazador is a powerful vampire lord with access to high-level spells and abilities. You will need to prepare your party for this encounter by ensuring you have strong damage dealers, crowd control abilities, and healing options. Astarion himself can be a valuable asset in this fight, as he has unique abilities that can counter Cazador's powers.
Once Cazador is defeated, Astarion will have the opportunity to complete the ritual himself. At this point, you will be presented with a choice: encourage Astarion to ascend or persuade him to abandon the ritual. To let him ascend, you must choose dialogue options that support his desire for power and freedom. This will lead to Astarion performing the ritual, sacrificing the other vampire spawn, and ascending to become a Vampire Ascendant. This transformation grants him immense power, including new abilities and a significant boost to his stats.
However, there are important considerations to keep in mind. Ascending Astarion has major consequences for his character and your relationship with him. While he gains incredible power, he also becomes more ruthless and detached. His personality shifts, and he may become more controlling and less empathetic. This can affect your ability to romance him or maintain a positive relationship, depending on your choices and his approval of your actions throughout the game.
One common mistake to avoid is rushing into the decision without fully understanding the implications. Ascending Astarion is a permanent choice, and it locks you into a specific path for his character. If you prefer a more morally ambiguous or redemptive arc for Astarion, you may want to consider persuading him to abandon the ritual instead. This choice allows him to break free from Cazador's control without sacrificing his humanity, leading to a different but equally compelling outcome.
Advanced techniques for this questline include optimizing your party composition and combat strategies for the fight against Cazador. Since Cazador is vulnerable to radiant damage and sunlight, characters like Shadowheart, who can cast spells like Sunbeam or Spirit Guardians, can be particularly effective. Additionally, using abilities that can restrain or incapacitate Cazador, such as Hold Monster or Silence, can give you a significant advantage in the fight.
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 the lore of vampires and necromantic rituals in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. Vampires in D&D are typically bound by their alignment and the control of their creators, and the concept of ascending to a higher form of vampirism reflects the themes of power and corruption that are central to Astarion's story.
In summary, letting Astarion ascend in Baldur's Gate 3 is a complex and impactful decision that requires careful consideration. By following his questline, defeating Cazador, and supporting his desire for power, you can achieve this outcome. However, it is important to weigh the consequences and consider the long-term effects on your relationship with Astarion and the overall narrative. With the right preparation and understanding of the mechanics involved, you can navigate this pivotal moment in the game and shape Astarion's destiny according to your choices.
To let Astarion ascend, you must first progress through his personal questline. This begins when you encounter a Gur hunter named Gandrel in the Sunlit Wetlands, who reveals that Astarion is a vampire spawn. As you continue to explore the world, you will eventually reach Act 3, where Astarion's questline culminates in a confrontation with Cazador in his palace. During this confrontation, you will learn about the Rite of Profane Ascension, a ritual that Cazador has been preparing for centuries. This ritual involves sacrificing thousands of vampire spawn, including Astarion, to ascend to a higher form of vampiric power.
To allow Astarion to ascend, you must support his decision to take Cazador's place in the ritual. This involves several key steps. First, you must defeat Cazador in combat. This is a challenging fight, as Cazador is a powerful vampire lord with access to high-level spells and abilities. You will need to prepare your party for this encounter by ensuring you have strong damage dealers, crowd control abilities, and healing options. Astarion himself can be a valuable asset in this fight, as he has unique abilities that can counter Cazador's powers.
Once Cazador is defeated, Astarion will have the opportunity to complete the ritual himself. At this point, you will be presented with a choice: encourage Astarion to ascend or persuade him to abandon the ritual. To let him ascend, you must choose dialogue options that support his desire for power and freedom. This will lead to Astarion performing the ritual, sacrificing the other vampire spawn, and ascending to become a Vampire Ascendant. This transformation grants him immense power, including new abilities and a significant boost to his stats.
However, there are important considerations to keep in mind. Ascending Astarion has major consequences for his character and your relationship with him. While he gains incredible power, he also becomes more ruthless and detached. His personality shifts, and he may become more controlling and less empathetic. This can affect your ability to romance him or maintain a positive relationship, depending on your choices and his approval of your actions throughout the game.
One common mistake to avoid is rushing into the decision without fully understanding the implications. Ascending Astarion is a permanent choice, and it locks you into a specific path for his character. If you prefer a more morally ambiguous or redemptive arc for Astarion, you may want to consider persuading him to abandon the ritual instead. This choice allows him to break free from Cazador's control without sacrificing his humanity, leading to a different but equally compelling outcome.
Advanced techniques for this questline include optimizing your party composition and combat strategies for the fight against Cazador. Since Cazador is vulnerable to radiant damage and sunlight, characters like Shadowheart, who can cast spells like Sunbeam or Spirit Guardians, can be particularly effective. Additionally, using abilities that can restrain or incapacitate Cazador, such as Hold Monster or Silence, can give you a significant advantage in the fight.
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 the lore of vampires and necromantic rituals in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. Vampires in D&D are typically bound by their alignment and the control of their creators, and the concept of ascending to a higher form of vampirism reflects the themes of power and corruption that are central to Astarion's story.
In summary, letting Astarion ascend in Baldur's Gate 3 is a complex and impactful decision that requires careful consideration. By following his questline, defeating Cazador, and supporting his desire for power, you can achieve this outcome. However, it is important to weigh the consequences and consider the long-term effects on your relationship with Astarion and the overall narrative. With the right preparation and understanding of the mechanics involved, you can navigate this pivotal moment in the game and shape Astarion's destiny according to your choices.