Pros and Cons of Choosing Ascension for Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3

Baldur’s Gate 3 is a sprawling adventure that hinges on countless decisions, making it a challenge for players to track them all. While the main plot drives your party’s journey forward, each Origin character has their own personal storyline, where the choices you make could lead to significant consequences.

Astarion’s tale is separate from the central narrative of Baldur’s Gate 3, yet its themes resonate powerfully with your character and the rest of the party. His defining moment comes in Act 3, during a confrontation with Cazador. You have the option to persuade Astarion not to ascend or encourage him to complete Cazador’s ritual, transforming him into a Vampire Ascendant. Each path offers its own benefits and drawbacks, fitting naturally into the diverse approaches Baldur’s Gate 3 supports. What you decide will profoundly affect Astarion, highlighting either his best or worst traits as a character.

Reasons to Ascend Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3

Opting for Astarion’s ascension means embracing a ritual born from a devil’s pact, demanding a large-scale sacrifice of 7,000 souls, including his vampire spawn siblings and past victims he helped ensnare for Cazador. This transformation grants him unparalleled power among vampires, immunity to sunlight without relying on the tadpole, and the ability to create new vampire spawn.

Mechanically, ascending Astarion introduces abilities like Ascended Bite and Misty Escape (Vampire Ascendant), along with dealing an additional 1d10 Necrotic damage on damage rolls. Importantly, he retains his sunlight immunity after ascension, unlike the vampire spawn version, who is doomed to a life in the shadows.

In a romantic subplot, Ascended Astarion demands submission from the player. This might appeal to some, but it requires a character willing to embrace this dynamic, often aligning best with ruthless and power-seeking players.

Reasons to Keep Astarion a Vampire Spawn in Baldur’s Gate 3

Choosing not to let Astarion complete the ritual and remain a vampire spawn offers no immediate mechanical gains, yet it opens numerous story and role-playing possibilities, particularly in romantic plots or when aligning with a good character. To ascend Astarion, one must rationalize the loss of 7,000 souls, many of whom are innocent victims in the wrong place at the wrong time.

While ascended, Astarion’s newfound confidence may initially seem appealing, but it can lead to him following Cazador’s dark path, offering to make the player character a vampire spawn. This transformation strips Astarion of his more humanizing qualities, like his vulnerability and emotional connection with the player.

As a vampire spawn, Astarion develops confidence in a quieter, more grounded manner, celebrating his autonomy and forming a bond founded on trust and respect with the player. This creates a healthy narrative arc that mirrors the journey of other Origin characters and is particularly poignant for those on a path of redemption. Players must weigh whether Astarion’s ascension, offering ruthless power at the cost of his soul, is worth the exchange for a few combat advantages. Alternatively, embracing Baldur’s Gate 3’s core themes can turn Astarion’s journey into one of the game’s most compelling narratives.