What happens if I let Astarion ascend and spare Cazador in Baldur's Gate 3?
In Baldur's Gate 3, the decision to let Astarion ascend and spare Cazador is a pivotal moment in Astarion's personal questline, "The Pale Elf." This choice has significant consequences for Astarion's character development, your relationship with him, and the overall story. To achieve this outcome, you need to navigate a series of specific choices and actions during the quest. HereÔÇÖs a detailed breakdown of how to achieve this, along with important considerations and tips.
First, to reach the point where you can make this decision, you must progress through Astarion's personal quest. This involves learning about his past as a vampire spawn and his connection to Cazador, the vampire lord who turned him. The quest culminates in a confrontation with Cazador in his palace, where you will face a critical decision about Astarion's fate.
To let Astarion ascend, you must allow him to complete the Rite of Profane Ascension. This ritual requires the sacrifice of 7,000 souls, including the seven vampire spawn that Cazador has bound to him. Astarion can only ascend if he takes Cazador's place in the ritual. However, sparing Cazador while still allowing Astarion to ascend is a complex and morally ambiguous choice. HereÔÇÖs how to achieve it:
1. Progress through Astarion's questline by engaging in conversations with him and supporting his desire for power and freedom. This will increase his approval of you and make him more likely to trust your guidance during the confrontation with Cazador.
2. When you reach Cazador's palace, you will face a series of battles and puzzles. Ensure your party is well-prepared for combat, as Cazador and his minions are formidable opponents. Focus on disabling Cazador quickly to prevent him from completing the ritual himself.
3. During the confrontation, Astarion will have the opportunity to take Cazador's place in the ritual. To spare Cazador, you must convince Astarion to let him live. This requires high approval with Astarion and successful persuasion checks. Use dialogue options that appeal to Astarion's desire for power and freedom, emphasizing that he can achieve ascension without killing Cazador.
4. If successful, Astarion will complete the ritual and ascend, gaining immense power and becoming a true vampire lord. Cazador will be spared, but he will be weakened and no longer a threat. This outcome has significant consequences for Astarion's character, as he becomes more ruthless and power-hungry.
Important tips and considerations:
- Ensure your party is well-equipped and leveled before facing Cazador. This includes having strong healing items, resistance to necrotic damage, and abilities to counter Cazador's vampiric powers.
- Build high approval with Astarion throughout the game by supporting his goals and making choices that align with his personality. This will make it easier to persuade him to spare Cazador.
- Be prepared for the moral implications of this choice. Ascending Astarion and sparing Cazador will change his personality and affect your relationship with him. He may become more distant and less empathetic.
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Failing to prepare adequately for the fight with Cazador can lead to a party wipe. Ensure you have a balanced party with strong damage dealers, healers, and crowd control abilities.
- Neglecting to build approval with Astarion can make it difficult to persuade him to spare Cazador. Engage in conversations and support his goals throughout the game.
- Misunderstanding the consequences of this choice can lead to unintended outcomes. Be aware that ascending Astarion and sparing Cazador will have lasting effects on the story and your relationship with Astarion.
Advanced techniques and optimizations:
- Use spells and abilities that can incapacitate Cazador quickly, such as Hold Person or Silence, to prevent him from completing the ritual.
- Focus on crowd control to manage Cazador's minions, allowing your party to concentrate on defeating him.
- Consider using items that grant resistance to necrotic damage or provide healing over time to sustain your party during the fight.
Related D&D rules and mechanics:
- The Rite of Profane Ascension is based on the concept of vampiric rituals in D&D lore, which often involve the sacrifice of souls to gain immense power.
- Persuasion checks are a key mechanic in this scenario, requiring high Charisma and proficiency in Persuasion to succeed.
- The consequences of this choice reflect the alignment system in D&D, where actions can shift a character's alignment and affect their relationships with others.
Specific examples and scenarios:
- If you successfully persuade Astarion to spare Cazador, he will express gratitude but also a newfound sense of power and detachment. This can lead to interesting role-playing opportunities as you navigate his changed personality.
- Failing to persuade Astarion may result in him killing Cazador and ascending anyway, or refusing to complete the ritual altogether. Both outcomes have different consequences for the story and your relationship with Astarion.
In summary, letting Astarion ascend and sparing Cazador is a complex and morally challenging decision that requires careful preparation, high approval with Astarion, and successful persuasion checks. This choice will significantly impact Astarion's character and your relationship with him, making it one of the most consequential moments in Baldur's Gate 3.
First, to reach the point where you can make this decision, you must progress through Astarion's personal quest. This involves learning about his past as a vampire spawn and his connection to Cazador, the vampire lord who turned him. The quest culminates in a confrontation with Cazador in his palace, where you will face a critical decision about Astarion's fate.
To let Astarion ascend, you must allow him to complete the Rite of Profane Ascension. This ritual requires the sacrifice of 7,000 souls, including the seven vampire spawn that Cazador has bound to him. Astarion can only ascend if he takes Cazador's place in the ritual. However, sparing Cazador while still allowing Astarion to ascend is a complex and morally ambiguous choice. HereÔÇÖs how to achieve it:
1. Progress through Astarion's questline by engaging in conversations with him and supporting his desire for power and freedom. This will increase his approval of you and make him more likely to trust your guidance during the confrontation with Cazador.
2. When you reach Cazador's palace, you will face a series of battles and puzzles. Ensure your party is well-prepared for combat, as Cazador and his minions are formidable opponents. Focus on disabling Cazador quickly to prevent him from completing the ritual himself.
3. During the confrontation, Astarion will have the opportunity to take Cazador's place in the ritual. To spare Cazador, you must convince Astarion to let him live. This requires high approval with Astarion and successful persuasion checks. Use dialogue options that appeal to Astarion's desire for power and freedom, emphasizing that he can achieve ascension without killing Cazador.
4. If successful, Astarion will complete the ritual and ascend, gaining immense power and becoming a true vampire lord. Cazador will be spared, but he will be weakened and no longer a threat. This outcome has significant consequences for Astarion's character, as he becomes more ruthless and power-hungry.
Important tips and considerations:
- Ensure your party is well-equipped and leveled before facing Cazador. This includes having strong healing items, resistance to necrotic damage, and abilities to counter Cazador's vampiric powers.
- Build high approval with Astarion throughout the game by supporting his goals and making choices that align with his personality. This will make it easier to persuade him to spare Cazador.
- Be prepared for the moral implications of this choice. Ascending Astarion and sparing Cazador will change his personality and affect your relationship with him. He may become more distant and less empathetic.
Common mistakes to avoid:
- Failing to prepare adequately for the fight with Cazador can lead to a party wipe. Ensure you have a balanced party with strong damage dealers, healers, and crowd control abilities.
- Neglecting to build approval with Astarion can make it difficult to persuade him to spare Cazador. Engage in conversations and support his goals throughout the game.
- Misunderstanding the consequences of this choice can lead to unintended outcomes. Be aware that ascending Astarion and sparing Cazador will have lasting effects on the story and your relationship with Astarion.
Advanced techniques and optimizations:
- Use spells and abilities that can incapacitate Cazador quickly, such as Hold Person or Silence, to prevent him from completing the ritual.
- Focus on crowd control to manage Cazador's minions, allowing your party to concentrate on defeating him.
- Consider using items that grant resistance to necrotic damage or provide healing over time to sustain your party during the fight.
Related D&D rules and mechanics:
- The Rite of Profane Ascension is based on the concept of vampiric rituals in D&D lore, which often involve the sacrifice of souls to gain immense power.
- Persuasion checks are a key mechanic in this scenario, requiring high Charisma and proficiency in Persuasion to succeed.
- The consequences of this choice reflect the alignment system in D&D, where actions can shift a character's alignment and affect their relationships with others.
Specific examples and scenarios:
- If you successfully persuade Astarion to spare Cazador, he will express gratitude but also a newfound sense of power and detachment. This can lead to interesting role-playing opportunities as you navigate his changed personality.
- Failing to persuade Astarion may result in him killing Cazador and ascending anyway, or refusing to complete the ritual altogether. Both outcomes have different consequences for the story and your relationship with Astarion.
In summary, letting Astarion ascend and sparing Cazador is a complex and morally challenging decision that requires careful preparation, high approval with Astarion, and successful persuasion checks. This choice will significantly impact Astarion's character and your relationship with him, making it one of the most consequential moments in Baldur's Gate 3.