While wandering through the complex world of Baldur’s Gate 3, you will meet a High Elf companion named Astarion. This guide will explain the details behind that blood-sucking rogue with the striking looks. If you want to know about his sneaky battlefield moves and intriguing backstory or want to ensure he doesn’t try any funny business (like maybe trying to bite you), we’ve got you covered.
How to Recruit Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3
You don’t have to wait long to add Astarion to your party in BG3. After you get through the Escape the Nautiloid quest, you’ll be teleported to Ravaged Beach where you will have an encounter with Astarion who will ask for your help.
Before you stroll over and extend a helping hand, be warned: Mr. Astarion has a flair for the dramatic. The moment you go to him, he’ll make an instead… daring attempt to smother you. But, the mind flayer’s worm in your head comes into play, connecting the two. So, instead of being enemies, you’ve got the shared weird brain thing going on. After this close encounter with the Elven kind, Astarion will swiftly make amends, giving you a quick “my bad,” and then join your party.
Character Profile: Stats, Equipment, and Skills
If we’re going to journey together with Astarion in BG3, it’s good to know what our blood-thirsty (literally) elf brings to the table.
Stats
- Strength: 8 (Not his strongest suit. See what I did there?)
- Dexterity: 17 (Super nimble. Makes sense for a Rogue!)
- Constitution: 14 (He’s got some staying power.)
- Intelligence: 13 (Fairly sharp, if I do say so.)
- Wisdom: 13 (He’s more than just a pretty face.)
- Charisma: 10 (He’s got his moments.)
Gear
- Shortbow (for those long-range nuisances),
- Dagger (you never know when you’ll need a quick stab),
- Padded Armor (comfort and protection, a win-win!) and some striking
- Leather Boots (for sneaking and style)
Skills
- Acrobatics
- Deception
- History
- Perception
- Persuasion
- Sleight of Hand
- Stealth
So, that’s Astarion in a nutshell. Remember that he’s a Rogue with style, skills, and a little sass. Keep him close; he’ll be your sneaky ace in the hole.
Astarion’s Quest: The Pale Elf
If you thought Astarion’s surprise throat-slitting greeting was a shocker, wait until you start his quest, The Pale Elf. Once Astarion is your companion, this quest will start. You don’t need to do much; it happens automatically as you go on your adventure with him. A lot of the action takes place when you kick back and rest at your campsite, but some other bits are sprinkled throughout your journey.
Remember when I mentioned Astarion has a blood-sucking past? Yes, he’s a vampire, but not just any vampire. He’s on the run from the vampire lord named Cazador Szarr. It happens when Astarion wants to sneak a nibble during one of your evening’s rests. But things escalate when the Gandrel, a monster hunter with a vendetta, shows up in the Sunlit Wetlands. This isn’t your typical “hello, nice to meet you” encounter. Nope, there’s drama, tension, and a face-off that could end badly for our elven vampire friend.
To move things along, you’ll have to deal with Gandrel. And here’s a hint: Astarion thinks the hunter was sent by his old enemy, Cazador. As the first chapter of this quest wraps up, you’ll discover a dark secret: Cazador left a poetic mark on Astarion, etched on his back in the Infernal language. Because of that, Astarion should have to follow Cazador’s commands if their paths cross again.
How to Get Astarion Approval to Make Him Your Companion
If you’re aiming to get on Astarion’s good side (and honestly, with his background, you probably should), here’s the rundown on gaining – and losing – his approval.
The Do’s:
- This guy loves a good flirt. Astarion is both cheeky and sarcastic, so don’t be afraid to match his energy.
- When his big “I drink blood for breakfast” secret comes out in the form of a vampire, be understanding. Maybe even offer a sip of your blood (consensually, of course). It sounds a bit weird, I know, but it works.
- He’s not good enough to help others. If you’re assisting someone out, make sure there’s something in it for you.
The Don’ts:
- If you’re siding with Wyll to help the refugees in Druid Grove, Astarion isn’t a fan of that.
- Sounding desperate to get rid of the Tadpole in your noggin? He isn’t in favor of that.
How Astarion Gains Inspiration in BG3
In BG3, Inspiration Points can turn the tide of a sticky situation. Imagine you flub an important ability check, then use an Inspiration Point, and you get a redo. Every companion has their flavor of what inspires them. For our favorite elf-vamp, Astarion, it’s all about the high life. Let’s break it down:
- Astarion has a taste for the finer things. Accumulate a total of 2000 gold, and you’ll earn an Inspiration Point.
- Ever thought of hiring an ogre as a bodyguard? Well, for Astarion, this screams luxury. Do it, and another point in the bag.
- Obtain one of these, and Astarion will be impressed a lot.
Remember, Astarion loves luxury and leisure, and this character doesn’t like to do the work by himself. Play into his noble and slightly decadent background; you’ll keep those valuable Inspiration Points flowing.
Astarion Character Build
Once Astarion reaches level 3, you’ve got a decision to make. Do you fancy him dabbling in magic as an Arcane Trickster? Or would you prefer him lurking in the shadows, striking when least expected as a Thief? Given that our friend doesn’t have a high level in the intelligence department, you might want to lean toward the Thief.
But if you’re set on the Arcane Trickster route, there’s a workaround: the Warped Headband of Intellect. Choose this option and it will increase the stat points up to 18. Still, even with that boost, the Thief class might be the better choice. As a Thief, Astarion gets the feature called Fast Hands. In layman’s terms? His off-hand weapon allows him to deal two hits at a time. At level 4, collect Dual Wielder feat. With this in your toolkit, Astarion can dance around the battlefield, twirling two short blades alongside his valuable sneak attacks. For most of your gameplay, especially in the first act of Baldur’s Gate 3, having Astarion focus on stealth and sneak attacks is the way to go.
Read Next:
