Baldur's Gate 3 – How To Romance Astarion

The blood-sucking elf generally known as Astarion has develop into considered one of Baldur’s Gate 3’s most beloved companion characters, with voice actor Neil Newbon taking house the award for Best Performance at 2023’s The Game Awards. But regardless of his recognition amongst gamers, Astarion can show to be one of the vital troublesome companions to romance, particularly for good-aligned participant characters.Astarion does develop into extra agreeable as time goes on, however incomes his approval early on within the recreation can show irritating, as he usually disapproves of variety actions whereas approving of outright abhorrent conduct. This makes Astarion a perfect accomplice for anybody enjoying as The Dark Urge, although issues can get tough for gamers who need to romance him with out watching the world burn. But no matter what kind of ethical compass your character is following, we have you covered–keep studying for a step-by-step information to romancing Faerûn’s sassiest vampire spawn.How To Romance Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3RecruitmentAstarion’s sophisticated previous and duplicitous nature could make for a romance that’s each difficult and very rewarding.Naturally, gamers might want to meet and recruit Astarion earlier than they’ll woo him. Unlike Shadowheart and Lae’zel, you will not discover Astarion on the Nautiloid, so do not hassle attempting to hunt him down till after the Illithid vessel has already crash-landed on the seaside close to The Grove.Speaking of the seaside, that is precisely the place you will discover him. Astarion might be discovered on the sting of the map close to an unoccupied stasis pod from the wreckage of the Nautiloid (coordinates: X: 170, Y: 287). He’ll ask to your assist speaking on an Intellect Devourer he is managed to nook, and as soon as the participant passes a talent verify, he’ll supply to hitch you. Taking him up on this supply will see him formally be part of your celebration.Approval and disapprovalAs beforehand talked about, triggering Astarion’s approval (and disapproval) can show fairly vexing, particularly early within the recreation. In basic, Astarion approves of sarcasm and intimidation, and disapproves of excellent deeds carried out with out pay. He detests shows of weak point and infrequently lacks empathy for the enslaved people gamers will meet all through the story–despite spending practically 200 years as a slave himself.Still, that does not imply gamers have to behave like sociopaths to win his coronary heart, particularly given the truth that his tastes will change over time. For instance, he’ll disapprove of gamers saving a (comparatively) harmless baby from a snake in Act 1, however by Act 3, he’ll approve of the participant serving to a distinct baby whose mom has seemingly met a grim destiny.Act 1: Love at first biteLetting Astarion have nibble will increase each his approval rating and his efficiency in fight.During considered one of your first lengthy rests of the sport, you will awaken to a sure pointy-toothed somebody creeping as much as your bedroll within the hopes of discovering some dinner. Not anticipating to be caught within the act, Astarion will apologize, clarify that he is a vampire, and ask if he can have a midnight snack. Saying sure will earn his approval, and is likely one of the greatest methods to get a head begin on the romance within the first act of the sport. Players must also inform Astarion they belief him when prompted for added approval factors, and much more factors might be earned by telling Astarion he could feed on the blood of enemies in battle.The GroveIncomes Astarion’s approval in Act 1 is troublesome, however avoiding his disapproval is well the tougher of the 2 duties. Astarion disapproves of saving The Grove (and the tiefling refugees inside it), however approves of siding with Minthara and the goblins–an act that can consequence within the dying of many innocents, and likewise result in Halsin, Karlach, Wyll, and probably Gale all completely leaving the participant’s celebration.If you do not need to spend your time in The Grove kicking squirrels and murdering innocents to earn Astarion’s approval, you continue to have some choices. The first choice is to easily go away Astarion at camp–generally talking, characters who’re left at camp won’t have their approval scores affected by actions the participant performs when that character shouldn’t be within the celebration. So while you go to inform Zevlor you will assist him and his fellow tieflings, ship Astarion again to camp first to keep away from incomes his disapproval, then add him again to the celebration as soon as you’ve got spoken to Zevlor.The different choice is to have Astarion do your not-so-dirty be just right for you. Instead of sending him again to camp to keep away from disapproval when it is time to communicate to Arabella’s dad and mom and conform to lend their sticky-fingered daughter a hand, you’ll be able to merely swap from controlling your player-character to controlling Astarion, and have him method Arabella’s dad and mom with a suggestion to assist. It appears Astarion does not thoughts doing good deeds when you make him assume it was his thought. Save usually and do not be afraid to reload the sport for a do-over when you unexpectedly do one thing that triggers his disapproval, however needless to say there might be loads of alternatives to make up for missed approval later on–just give attention to avoiding disapproval within the first act of the sport.The Necromancy Of ThayLetting Astarion get his fingers on The Necromancy Of Thay is an effective way to earn approval in Act 1, and might result in fight bonuses afterward.Now that we have lined easy methods to mitigate the injury that good deeds can do to Astarion’s opinion of you, let’s take a look at an early-game alternative to earn some approval with out having to do something significantly horrific: The Necromancy Of Thay.The Necromancy Of Thay is an historical magical tome gamers can choose up in Act 1. Head to the Blighted Village and enter the deserted constructing instantly subsequent to the fast-travel level. Your character will make a remark in regards to the constructing having previously served as an apothecary, so be certain that to choose up all of the helpful alchemical elements you will discover inside. Once you are carried out scouring the place for consumables, try the trapdoor behind the counter (coordinates: X: 33, Y: 380), which results in a basement. Use the lever hidden behind some bins on the north aspect of the room (X: -704, Y: -354) to open a passage behind a secret bookcase.The constructing containing The Necromancy of Thay is correct subsequent to the Blighted Village waypoint.Near the top of the passage, you will encounter a magic mirror. Select the choice to intimidate the mirror into letting you move for some approval from Astarion (who shouldn’t be a fan of mirrors), and make your means deeper into the underground lair. Eventually, you will stumble throughout a ebook locked behind a cage. Disable the close by traps, unlock the cage, and choose up the ebook. Astarion will instantly specific curiosity within the ebook, so ignore the choice to destroy it. Instead, head again up into the overworld and make your means in direction of the properly throughout from the apothecary (X: 23 Y: 398). Climb down the properly and you will find your self in a darkish cave that is lined in spider webs.Once you’ve got taken out the entire cave’s eight-legged inhabitants, begin looting, and preserve an eye fixed out for a purple stone you will discover on the ground after the combat. Once you’ve got acquired your fingers on it, mix the stone with The Necromancy Of Thay. Pass the next talent checks, and finally, Astarion will pipe up once more and supply to carry onto the ebook. Hand it over for a big increase to your approval rating, and do not worry–despite the truth that the sport repeatedly warns you the ebook may be very, very cursed, there are not any adverse in-game penalties for giving it to Astarion, and he can truly achieve a everlasting buff from passing talent checks to completely decipher the textual content afterward within the questline.GandrelNear the doorway to the hag’s teahouse within the Sunlit Wetlands, gamers can meet Gandrel, monster-hunter from a nomadic Gur tribe. Unfortunately for Astarion, the monster Gandrel occurs to be searching is Astarion himself. If he is already revealed his standing as a vampire to the participant (and the participant hasn’t outed him to Gandrel, which can earn disapproval), Astarion will finally ask, “May I?” Giving Astarion the go-ahead to take out Gandrel will earn you one other 10 factors of approval, the identical quantity you will get for handing over The Necromancy of Thay.The tiefling celebrationDepending on the way you play your playing cards, this romance scene can happen sooner than the tiefling celebration (we managed to set off it lengthy earlier than we might even visited the swamp to research Kagha) however both means, as soon as your approval is excessive sufficient, talking to Astarion will end in a suggestion to spend a night collectively. Say sure to earn some approval, and choose the choice to let him chunk you to earn further approval.Act 2: Scars and shadowsDeciphering the which means behind Astarion’s scars is crucial when you plan to romance him.If gamers sleep with Astarion, they’re going to be given the choice to ask in regards to the scars on his again the morning after. Astarion will inform the participant that the scars are a poem that was carved into his again by his former grasp, the vampire lord Cazador Szarr. Depending on the participant’s race, class, and skill to move talent checks, they might even be capable to decipher the language the poem is written in, and later, gamers may have a possibility to indicate Astarion what his scars appear like, as he has no reflection. Still, the thriller of his scars stay, however in Act 2, a pleasant Infernal face seems within the Shadow-Cursed Lands, providing to assist decipher the scars. Unfortunately, they are not prepared to work at no cost.Kill YurgirJourney to the northwest nook of the map, the place you will uncover the Grand Mausoleum fast-travel waypoint (X: -171 Y: 79) and set off a cutscene by which the satan Raphael seems, warning the participant in regards to the harmful beast–an orthon–lurking within the depths of the Thorm Mausoleum. If Astarion is with the participant, he’ll ask Raphael to translate the scars on his again. Raphael will agree to take action provided that the participant kills Yurgir, the aforementioned orthon.Upon reaching Yurgir’s lair, gamers can select to combat him, spare him, or persuade him to kill himself. The combat itself generally is a wrestle, particularly on increased difficulties, however sparing him will end in Raphael refusing to translate Astarion’s scars, and Astarion, in flip, will finish his romance with the participant. The most suitable choice is to persuade Yurgir to take himself out, as it can can help you progress your romance with Astarion and provide the choice of combating alongside Yurgir to take down a a lot stronger foe afterward. Once you’ve got handled Yurgir, take a protracted relaxation and Raphael will seem to learn Astarion’s scars.Moonrise TowersUpon reaching moonrise towers, gamers will encounter a drow alchemist named Araj Oblodra. She’ll supply every character within the celebration a particular potion custom-tailored to their race, however will even supply to make the participant a particular potion that can completely elevate considered one of their stats… in trade for guiding Astarion to chunk her. As a vampire spawn, Astarion can not rework different characters into vampires, and Araj signifies that her request primarily comes from a need to cross “get bitten by a vampire” off her bucket checklist slightly than a need for sanguine energy. Telling Araj that Astarion is his personal individual will web you 5 factors of approval, and telling Astarion to not do something he does not need to do will web you one other 5 approval factors. Ultimately, he’ll flip Araj down.Act 3: Fate on the GateAct 3 reveals the complete reality of Astarion’s previous, and the alternatives gamers make decide his future.To proceed to romance Astarion, gamers should full his companion quest, The Pale Elf. Upon making it to Act 3, Astarion will start mentioning Cazador with growing frequency and mentioning acquainted landmarks. Eventually, Astarion should face his former grasp and make a troublesome selection.Fraygo’s FlophouseOnce gamers attain Wyrm’s Crossing, they’re going to need to try Fraygo’s Flophouse, which is positioned instantly throughout the road from Sharess’ Caress close to the South Span Of Wyrm’s Crossing fast-travel waypoint (X: 15 Y: 74). On the second ground of the flophouse, two of Astarion’s vampire spawn “siblings” are lurking. Interact with them to set off a cutscene that reveals the placement of Cazador’s upcoming ascension ritual and progresses the hunt.Ascended Astarion & CazadorAstarion’s private storyline culminates in a significant choice relating to Cazador’s ascension ritual. Players can select handy Astarion over for the ritual, however this isn’t suggested, as it can end in his (everlasting) dying. Players may also select to combat Cazador and cease the ritual, or combat Cazador and permit Astarion to take his ex-master’s place and ascend, granting him the ability of a completely fledged vampire lord.Players who permit Astarion to ascend will profit from the assorted new powers he can wield in fight, however finally, letting Astarion full the ritual is mostly a foul transfer (particularly when you’re romancing him), as it can irrevocably change his character, and it additionally requires the sacrifice of 7,000 harmless souls. Ascended Astarion is extraordinarily hungry for energy, and can supply his in-game lover a style of that energy by turning them right into a vampire spawn. This would possibly sound like an excellent deal, however by this level within the marketing campaign, Astarion has made it very clear that vampire spawn haven’t any selection however to observe the orders of the vampire that sired them, which means letting Astarion flip you’ll put your character beneath his management, unable to disclaim his calls for. Naturally, it is smart to inform Astarion no when he brings up the subject, however gamers who permit Astarion to ascend but refuse the supply to develop into his spawn will rapidly discover themselves single, as Astarion will promptly dump them for saying no. He’ll achieve this in a threatening method, telling the participant he has the ability to take no matter he desires, and that he ought to have turned them right into a vampire spawn anyway simply to show them that lesson. Going via with the ascension ritual appears to provide Astarion Cazador’s powers and a few of his extra unsavory character traits.If you are aiming for a “good” ending for Astarion, you will need to cease the ascension ritual and persuade him to not take Cazador’s place. Once he is had a while to course of issues, he’ll thank the participant, then take them to go to his gravesite, the place they’ll participate in an non-compulsory romance scene. At this level, Astarion will think about your relationship official, and his verbal greetings will change to replicate this.Romances with Non-Origin Characters and NPCsAstarion’s response to the sport’s varied non-compulsory romances can differ drastically relying on the participant’s selections.Drow twin scene: Players have the choice of partaking in a one-off encounter with Astarion and a pair of drow twins within the Sharess’ Caress brothel throughout Act 3. Astarion will solely agree to participate if Cazador is lifeless, and the scene doesn’t have an effect on Astarion’s approval in direction of the player-character except they both drive him to interact when he says he is not , or flip down the encounter after Astarion states he’s . Still, plainly this is not the best means for Astarion to discover his newfound sexual freedom. There are a number of particulars that time to him finally being uncomfortable with the setup, together with The Narrator ending the scene with the road, “But when you meet his eye for a moment, there’s a look about him that reveals he’s a million realms away.”Emperor romance: Amusingly, gamers who handle to romance The Emperor will at all times be caught by their companions once they fall asleep. Despite how disgusted everybody appears to be like, getting caught with The Emperor won’t have any impact on approval from any companions, together with Astarion.Halsin romance: When Halsin propositions you for a threesome, you may have the choice to speak to your accomplice about it. If that accomplice is Astarion, he’ll agree–perhaps a bit too eagerly, and never earlier than asking when you’re searching for out Halsin’s firm merely since you’ve grown bored of Astarion. You can romance each Halsin and Astarion all through the sport, and though some gamers have expressed that Astarion’s usually contradictory conduct with regard to polyamory and intercourse made them really feel responsible for going ahead with the encounter, sleeping with Halsin won’t have an effect on your approval rating with Astarion.Mizora romance: Similar to the scene with The Emperor, your romantic accomplice will at all times catch you when you sleep with Mizora. Thankfully, it appears Astarion is not upset within the slightest–instead, he desires to know all of the juicy particulars. Wyll, nevertheless, will (understandably) disapprove of you getting down and soiled along with his Infernal patron.