How do I get Astarion to join my party in Baldur's Gate 3?
To recruit Astarion in Baldur's Gate 3, you need to encounter him early in the game and make specific choices that allow him to join your party. Astarion is a high elf rogue with a mysterious and somewhat sinister background, and he can be a valuable addition to your team due to his stealth, lockpicking, and combat abilities. HereÔÇÖs a detailed guide on how to recruit him, along with tips and considerations to ensure a smooth process.
First, you will encounter Astarion shortly after the prologue, during Act 1. After the crash of the Nautiloid ship, you will find yourself on the Ravaged Beach. Head north from the crash site, and you will come across a scene where Astarion is pretending to be in distress, calling for help. This is a trap, as he is actually trying to lure you closer to ambush you. When you approach, he will hold a knife to your throat and demand to know if you are a threat. This is a critical moment where your dialogue choices will determine whether he joins your party or not.
When Astarion confronts you, you have several dialogue options. The key is to remain calm and non-threatening. Choosing options like "IÔÇÖm not a threat" or "IÔÇÖm just trying to survive" will help de-escalate the situation. If you choose aggressive or hostile responses, Astarion may attack you or refuse to join your party. After the initial confrontation, Astarion will explain that he is also infected with the Mind Flayer tadpole, just like you, and he will propose that you work together to find a cure. At this point, he will offer to join your party, and you can accept his offer.
Once Astarion is in your party, you can start building a relationship with him. Astarion has a unique personality and set of preferences, so your dialogue choices and actions will affect his approval of you. He tends to approve of selfish, cunning, and morally ambiguous choices, while he disapproves of overly altruistic or lawful behavior. Pay attention to his reactions during conversations and quests, as gaining his approval can unlock new dialogue options and even lead to a romance subplot.
In terms of gameplay, Astarion is a rogue, which means he excels in stealth, lockpicking, and dealing high damage with sneak attacks. To optimize his effectiveness in combat, consider giving him light armor that boosts his Dexterity, as this will improve his AC and attack rolls. Equip him with finesse weapons like daggers or rapiers, which allow him to use his Dexterity modifier for attack and damage rolls. Additionally, make use of his Cunning Action ability, which allows him to Dash, Disengage, or Hide as a bonus action, giving him great mobility and survivability in combat.
One common mistake players make is not utilizing AstarionÔÇÖs stealth abilities effectively. Rogues rely on sneak attacks to deal significant damage, so positioning Astarion in a hidden or advantageous spot before combat begins can give you a strong opening move. Another mistake is neglecting his lockpicking and trap disarming skills. Astarion can open locked doors and chests, as well as disarm traps, which can save you resources and provide access to valuable loot. Always have him scout ahead in dungeons and dangerous areas to avoid surprises.
Advanced techniques for optimizing AstarionÔÇÖs performance include multiclassing. If you want to enhance his combat abilities, consider multiclassing him into a fighter or ranger. A few levels in fighter can give him access to Action Surge, which allows him to take an additional action in combat, while ranger levels can provide him with additional skills and spells that complement his rogue abilities. However, be mindful of the trade-offs, as multiclassing can delay his access to higher-level rogue features.
In terms of D&D 5E rules, AstarionÔÇÖs rogue class follows the standard mechanics, with a focus on Dexterity and stealth. His sneak attack ability allows him to deal extra damage to enemies that are flanked or otherwise disadvantaged, making him a powerful asset in combat. Additionally, his ThievesÔÇÖ Cant feature allows him to communicate secretly with other rogues, though this is more of a flavor ability in the context of BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3.
Specific examples of scenarios where Astarion shines include infiltrating enemy camps, assassinating key targets, and exploring dangerous areas. For instance, in the Goblin Camp, Astarion can sneak past guards, pickpocket important items, and set up ambushes to take out enemies before they can react. His ability to disarm traps and open locked doors also makes him invaluable in dungeons like the Shattered Sanctum, where hidden treasures and secret passages abound.
In summary, recruiting Astarion involves encountering him on the Ravaged Beach, making non-threatening dialogue choices, and accepting his offer to join your party. Once recruited, focus on building his approval through morally ambiguous choices, optimize his rogue abilities for combat and exploration, and avoid common mistakes like neglecting his stealth and lockpicking skills. With the right strategies, Astarion can become a powerful and versatile member of your party, capable of turning the tide in both combat and exploration.
First, you will encounter Astarion shortly after the prologue, during Act 1. After the crash of the Nautiloid ship, you will find yourself on the Ravaged Beach. Head north from the crash site, and you will come across a scene where Astarion is pretending to be in distress, calling for help. This is a trap, as he is actually trying to lure you closer to ambush you. When you approach, he will hold a knife to your throat and demand to know if you are a threat. This is a critical moment where your dialogue choices will determine whether he joins your party or not.
When Astarion confronts you, you have several dialogue options. The key is to remain calm and non-threatening. Choosing options like "IÔÇÖm not a threat" or "IÔÇÖm just trying to survive" will help de-escalate the situation. If you choose aggressive or hostile responses, Astarion may attack you or refuse to join your party. After the initial confrontation, Astarion will explain that he is also infected with the Mind Flayer tadpole, just like you, and he will propose that you work together to find a cure. At this point, he will offer to join your party, and you can accept his offer.
Once Astarion is in your party, you can start building a relationship with him. Astarion has a unique personality and set of preferences, so your dialogue choices and actions will affect his approval of you. He tends to approve of selfish, cunning, and morally ambiguous choices, while he disapproves of overly altruistic or lawful behavior. Pay attention to his reactions during conversations and quests, as gaining his approval can unlock new dialogue options and even lead to a romance subplot.
In terms of gameplay, Astarion is a rogue, which means he excels in stealth, lockpicking, and dealing high damage with sneak attacks. To optimize his effectiveness in combat, consider giving him light armor that boosts his Dexterity, as this will improve his AC and attack rolls. Equip him with finesse weapons like daggers or rapiers, which allow him to use his Dexterity modifier for attack and damage rolls. Additionally, make use of his Cunning Action ability, which allows him to Dash, Disengage, or Hide as a bonus action, giving him great mobility and survivability in combat.
One common mistake players make is not utilizing AstarionÔÇÖs stealth abilities effectively. Rogues rely on sneak attacks to deal significant damage, so positioning Astarion in a hidden or advantageous spot before combat begins can give you a strong opening move. Another mistake is neglecting his lockpicking and trap disarming skills. Astarion can open locked doors and chests, as well as disarm traps, which can save you resources and provide access to valuable loot. Always have him scout ahead in dungeons and dangerous areas to avoid surprises.
Advanced techniques for optimizing AstarionÔÇÖs performance include multiclassing. If you want to enhance his combat abilities, consider multiclassing him into a fighter or ranger. A few levels in fighter can give him access to Action Surge, which allows him to take an additional action in combat, while ranger levels can provide him with additional skills and spells that complement his rogue abilities. However, be mindful of the trade-offs, as multiclassing can delay his access to higher-level rogue features.
In terms of D&D 5E rules, AstarionÔÇÖs rogue class follows the standard mechanics, with a focus on Dexterity and stealth. His sneak attack ability allows him to deal extra damage to enemies that are flanked or otherwise disadvantaged, making him a powerful asset in combat. Additionally, his ThievesÔÇÖ Cant feature allows him to communicate secretly with other rogues, though this is more of a flavor ability in the context of BaldurÔÇÖs Gate 3.
Specific examples of scenarios where Astarion shines include infiltrating enemy camps, assassinating key targets, and exploring dangerous areas. For instance, in the Goblin Camp, Astarion can sneak past guards, pickpocket important items, and set up ambushes to take out enemies before they can react. His ability to disarm traps and open locked doors also makes him invaluable in dungeons like the Shattered Sanctum, where hidden treasures and secret passages abound.
In summary, recruiting Astarion involves encountering him on the Ravaged Beach, making non-threatening dialogue choices, and accepting his offer to join your party. Once recruited, focus on building his approval through morally ambiguous choices, optimize his rogue abilities for combat and exploration, and avoid common mistakes like neglecting his stealth and lockpicking skills. With the right strategies, Astarion can become a powerful and versatile member of your party, capable of turning the tide in both combat and exploration.