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 decision has profound consequences for Astarion's character, your relationship with him, and the overall narrative. To understand how to achieve this outcome, it's important to follow the steps of his questline carefully and make specific choices that align with his desire for power and freedom.
The quest begins when you encounter a mysterious figure named Raphael in Act 1. Raphael offers to help Astarion decipher the scars on his back, which are part of an infernal contract. This sets the stage for Astarion's personal quest, which culminates in Act 3 when you reach the city of Baldur's Gate. In Act 3, you will learn that Astarion's scars are part of a ritual called the Rite of Profane Ascension, which can grant him immense power but at a great cost.
To let Astarion ascend, you must first locate the Szarr Palace in the Lower City of Baldur's Gate. This is where Cazador, Astarion's former master and the vampire lord who turned him, resides. Cazador is preparing to perform the Rite of Profane Ascension, which requires the sacrifice of seven spawn, including Astarion. Your goal is to confront Cazador and decide whether to help Astarion complete the ritual or stop it.
When you reach the ritual chamber, you will face Cazador in a challenging boss fight. It's crucial to prepare for this encounter by ensuring your party is well-equipped and has a solid strategy. Cazador is a powerful vampire with access to high-level spells and abilities, so you should focus on crowd control, damage mitigation, and dealing consistent damage. Spells like Daylight can weaken him, as vampires are vulnerable to sunlight. Additionally, having characters with high mobility or ranged attacks can help you deal with his minions and avoid his area-of-effect spells.
During the fight, Astarion will be drawn into the ritual circle, and you will have the option to either free him or let him complete the ritual. If you choose to let him ascend, Astarion will kill Cazador and take his place as the new vampire lord. This grants him immense power, including new abilities and a significant boost to his stats. However, it also changes his personality, making him more ruthless and power-hungry. This choice has lasting consequences for your relationship with Astarion, as he becomes more dominant and less empathetic.
One important consideration is the moral implications of letting Astarion ascend. The ritual requires the sacrifice of thousands of innocent lives, and allowing it to proceed means condoning this act of mass murder. This decision will affect your character's alignment and how other companions perceive you. For example, characters like Wyll and Karlach, who value justice and compassion, may disapprove of your choice, while others like Lae'zel and Minthara may see it as a display of strength.
A common mistake to avoid is rushing into the fight without proper preparation. Cazador is a formidable opponent, and underestimating him can lead to a party wipe. Make sure to stock up on healing potions, scrolls, and other consumables before the fight. Additionally, pay attention to the positioning of your party members, as Cazador's abilities can quickly turn the tide of battle if you're not careful.
Advanced techniques for this encounter include using environmental hazards to your advantage. The ritual chamber has several traps and obstacles that can be used to hinder Cazador and his minions. For example, you can use spells like Grease or Web to slow down enemies, or use teleportation abilities to reposition your party members strategically. Additionally, focusing on debuffing Cazador with spells like Hold Person or Bane can make the fight more manageable.
From a D&D rules perspective, the Rite of Profane Ascension is a homebrew ritual created specifically for Baldur's Gate 3. It draws inspiration from the lore of vampires and infernal contracts in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. Vampires are typically bound by certain weaknesses, such as sunlight and running water, but ascending allows Astarion to overcome these limitations, making him a more powerful and dangerous entity.
In conclusion, letting Astarion ascend is a complex and morally ambiguous choice that requires careful consideration of the consequences. By following the steps of his questline, preparing for the final confrontation with Cazador, and understanding the implications of your decision, you can achieve this outcome and shape Astarion's destiny in Baldur's Gate 3. Whether you choose to let him ascend or not, this choice will have a lasting impact on your playthrough and the relationships you've built with your companions.
The quest begins when you encounter a mysterious figure named Raphael in Act 1. Raphael offers to help Astarion decipher the scars on his back, which are part of an infernal contract. This sets the stage for Astarion's personal quest, which culminates in Act 3 when you reach the city of Baldur's Gate. In Act 3, you will learn that Astarion's scars are part of a ritual called the Rite of Profane Ascension, which can grant him immense power but at a great cost.
To let Astarion ascend, you must first locate the Szarr Palace in the Lower City of Baldur's Gate. This is where Cazador, Astarion's former master and the vampire lord who turned him, resides. Cazador is preparing to perform the Rite of Profane Ascension, which requires the sacrifice of seven spawn, including Astarion. Your goal is to confront Cazador and decide whether to help Astarion complete the ritual or stop it.
When you reach the ritual chamber, you will face Cazador in a challenging boss fight. It's crucial to prepare for this encounter by ensuring your party is well-equipped and has a solid strategy. Cazador is a powerful vampire with access to high-level spells and abilities, so you should focus on crowd control, damage mitigation, and dealing consistent damage. Spells like Daylight can weaken him, as vampires are vulnerable to sunlight. Additionally, having characters with high mobility or ranged attacks can help you deal with his minions and avoid his area-of-effect spells.
During the fight, Astarion will be drawn into the ritual circle, and you will have the option to either free him or let him complete the ritual. If you choose to let him ascend, Astarion will kill Cazador and take his place as the new vampire lord. This grants him immense power, including new abilities and a significant boost to his stats. However, it also changes his personality, making him more ruthless and power-hungry. This choice has lasting consequences for your relationship with Astarion, as he becomes more dominant and less empathetic.
One important consideration is the moral implications of letting Astarion ascend. The ritual requires the sacrifice of thousands of innocent lives, and allowing it to proceed means condoning this act of mass murder. This decision will affect your character's alignment and how other companions perceive you. For example, characters like Wyll and Karlach, who value justice and compassion, may disapprove of your choice, while others like Lae'zel and Minthara may see it as a display of strength.
A common mistake to avoid is rushing into the fight without proper preparation. Cazador is a formidable opponent, and underestimating him can lead to a party wipe. Make sure to stock up on healing potions, scrolls, and other consumables before the fight. Additionally, pay attention to the positioning of your party members, as Cazador's abilities can quickly turn the tide of battle if you're not careful.
Advanced techniques for this encounter include using environmental hazards to your advantage. The ritual chamber has several traps and obstacles that can be used to hinder Cazador and his minions. For example, you can use spells like Grease or Web to slow down enemies, or use teleportation abilities to reposition your party members strategically. Additionally, focusing on debuffing Cazador with spells like Hold Person or Bane can make the fight more manageable.
From a D&D rules perspective, the Rite of Profane Ascension is a homebrew ritual created specifically for Baldur's Gate 3. It draws inspiration from the lore of vampires and infernal contracts in the Dungeons and Dragons universe. Vampires are typically bound by certain weaknesses, such as sunlight and running water, but ascending allows Astarion to overcome these limitations, making him a more powerful and dangerous entity.
In conclusion, letting Astarion ascend is a complex and morally ambiguous choice that requires careful consideration of the consequences. By following the steps of his questline, preparing for the final confrontation with Cazador, and understanding the implications of your decision, you can achieve this outcome and shape Astarion's destiny in Baldur's Gate 3. Whether you choose to let him ascend or not, this choice will have a lasting impact on your playthrough and the relationships you've built with your companions.