What happens if I let Astarion kill Cazador in Baldur's Gate 3?
In Baldur's Gate 3, Astarion's personal quest revolves around his history with Cazador, the vampire lord who turned him into a spawn. The climax of this quest occurs when you confront Cazador in his lair, and you are presented with a critical choice: allow Astarion to kill Cazador or intervene and prevent him from completing the ritual. Letting Astarion kill Cazador has significant consequences for his character arc and the story.
To achieve this outcome, you must first progress Astarion's personal questline. This begins by recruiting him early in the game, typically near the crash site of the Nautiloid ship. As you travel together, Astarion will reveal bits of his backstory, including his enslavement to Cazador. To fully unlock his quest, you need to gain his trust by making choices that align with his approval. Astarion favors pragmatic, self-serving, and sometimes cruel decisions, so actions that benefit him or show a disregard for others' well-being will increase his approval.
Once you reach Act 3 and enter Baldur's Gate, Astarion will sense Cazador's presence and insist on confronting him. This leads you to Cazador's palace, where the final confrontation takes place. During the battle, Cazador will attempt to complete a ritual that involves sacrificing thousands of vampire spawn, including Astarion, to ascend to a more powerful form. Your goal is to disrupt the ritual while keeping Astarion alive.
The mechanics of the fight are challenging. Cazador is a powerful vampire with high health, resistance to non-magical damage, and abilities like Misty Escape, which allows him to teleport when damaged. He is surrounded by vampire spawn and other minions, making the encounter a test of both strategy and resource management. To succeed, focus on disabling Cazador's minions first, as they can overwhelm your party if left unchecked. Use area-of-effect spells like Fireball or Spirit Guardians to deal with groups of enemies efficiently. Keep Astarion away from Cazador's grasp, as being captured will trigger the ritual and lead to a game over.
Once Cazador's health is low, a dialogue option will appear, allowing Astarion to deliver the killing blow. If you choose to let Astarion kill Cazador, he will stake him through the heart, ending Cazador's tyranny. This choice has profound implications for Astarion's character. He gains a sense of closure and freedom, but it also reinforces his darker tendencies. If you are romancing Astarion, this choice can deepen your bond, as he sees you as an ally who understands his need for vengeance.
However, there are important considerations to keep in mind. Letting Astarion kill Cazador means he will not ascend to become a full vampire, which is an alternative outcome of the quest. Ascending would grant him immense power but at the cost of his humanity, making him more ruthless and detached. By allowing him to kill Cazador without ascending, you preserve his more nuanced personality, though he may still struggle with his darker impulses.
A common mistake is underestimating Cazador's minions or failing to protect Astarion during the fight. Ensure your party is well-prepared with healing potions, scrolls, and spells like Sanctuary or Shield of Faith to keep Astarion safe. Additionally, avoid triggering the ritual by keeping Astarion away from Cazador's grasp.
Advanced techniques include using crowd control spells like Hold Person or Hypnotic Pattern to immobilize enemies, giving your party time to focus on Cazador. Optimize your party composition by bringing characters with high damage output, such as a Paladin or Sorcerer, to quickly deplete Cazador's health.
In terms of D&D 5E rules, Cazador's abilities are based on the vampire stat block, with modifications for the game. His resistance to non-magical damage and regeneration abilities make him a formidable foe, so prioritize magical weapons and radiant damage to bypass his defenses.
In summary, letting Astarion kill Cazador is a pivotal moment in his story, offering closure and freedom while preserving his humanity. To achieve this, focus on gaining his approval, prepare thoroughly for the fight, and make strategic choices during the battle. This outcome enriches Astarion's character and strengthens your relationship with him, making it a rewarding conclusion to his questline.
To achieve this outcome, you must first progress Astarion's personal questline. This begins by recruiting him early in the game, typically near the crash site of the Nautiloid ship. As you travel together, Astarion will reveal bits of his backstory, including his enslavement to Cazador. To fully unlock his quest, you need to gain his trust by making choices that align with his approval. Astarion favors pragmatic, self-serving, and sometimes cruel decisions, so actions that benefit him or show a disregard for others' well-being will increase his approval.
Once you reach Act 3 and enter Baldur's Gate, Astarion will sense Cazador's presence and insist on confronting him. This leads you to Cazador's palace, where the final confrontation takes place. During the battle, Cazador will attempt to complete a ritual that involves sacrificing thousands of vampire spawn, including Astarion, to ascend to a more powerful form. Your goal is to disrupt the ritual while keeping Astarion alive.
The mechanics of the fight are challenging. Cazador is a powerful vampire with high health, resistance to non-magical damage, and abilities like Misty Escape, which allows him to teleport when damaged. He is surrounded by vampire spawn and other minions, making the encounter a test of both strategy and resource management. To succeed, focus on disabling Cazador's minions first, as they can overwhelm your party if left unchecked. Use area-of-effect spells like Fireball or Spirit Guardians to deal with groups of enemies efficiently. Keep Astarion away from Cazador's grasp, as being captured will trigger the ritual and lead to a game over.
Once Cazador's health is low, a dialogue option will appear, allowing Astarion to deliver the killing blow. If you choose to let Astarion kill Cazador, he will stake him through the heart, ending Cazador's tyranny. This choice has profound implications for Astarion's character. He gains a sense of closure and freedom, but it also reinforces his darker tendencies. If you are romancing Astarion, this choice can deepen your bond, as he sees you as an ally who understands his need for vengeance.
However, there are important considerations to keep in mind. Letting Astarion kill Cazador means he will not ascend to become a full vampire, which is an alternative outcome of the quest. Ascending would grant him immense power but at the cost of his humanity, making him more ruthless and detached. By allowing him to kill Cazador without ascending, you preserve his more nuanced personality, though he may still struggle with his darker impulses.
A common mistake is underestimating Cazador's minions or failing to protect Astarion during the fight. Ensure your party is well-prepared with healing potions, scrolls, and spells like Sanctuary or Shield of Faith to keep Astarion safe. Additionally, avoid triggering the ritual by keeping Astarion away from Cazador's grasp.
Advanced techniques include using crowd control spells like Hold Person or Hypnotic Pattern to immobilize enemies, giving your party time to focus on Cazador. Optimize your party composition by bringing characters with high damage output, such as a Paladin or Sorcerer, to quickly deplete Cazador's health.
In terms of D&D 5E rules, Cazador's abilities are based on the vampire stat block, with modifications for the game. His resistance to non-magical damage and regeneration abilities make him a formidable foe, so prioritize magical weapons and radiant damage to bypass his defenses.
In summary, letting Astarion kill Cazador is a pivotal moment in his story, offering closure and freedom while preserving his humanity. To achieve this, focus on gaining his approval, prepare thoroughly for the fight, and make strategic choices during the battle. This outcome enriches Astarion's character and strengthens your relationship with him, making it a rewarding conclusion to his questline.