Daria "Foxdari" Sedelnikova Astarion Ancunin is an elven vampire and one of the playable story companions in Baldur's Gate 3, a game based on Dungeons & Dragons. He is also available as a protagonist option in the character creation menu. If you choose the vampire as your main character, his personal mission, "The Pale Elf", will become "The Call of Blood".
This guide explains how to recruit Astarion in the open world, his usefulness to the party, and the skills he possesses.
About the character
Image: Ensigame / Astarion in BG3
- Race: Elf
- Subrace: High Elf
- Class: Rogue
- Location: Crash Site
- Starting Health: 10
- Equipment: Light Armor
- Skills: Acrobatics, Deception, Perception, Performance, Persuasion, Sleight of Hand (x2), Stealth (x2)
- Astarion Voice Actor: Neil Newbon
Basic Character Stats:
| Strength | Dexterity | Constitution | Intelligence | Wisdom | Charisma |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8 | 17 | 14 | 13 | 13 | 10 |
If you choose Astarion as your character in the initial creation screen and play through the story as him, you can customize his attributes. All races start with 8 points in each attribute, and the player is given 27 ability points to distribute across each parameter. If you're unsure how to balance characters in D&D, it's recommended to use the preset settings, which are optimized for the chosen class and race.
Overview
Image: Ensigame
- Appearance: a mature elf with tousled, platinum-blonde hair and striking red eyes that seem to glow against his porcelain-white skin. He has two small marks on the right side of his neck — vampire bite scars. Astarion dresses in an elegant leather doublet and always carries a dagger.
- Personality: Astarion is known for his refined mannerisms and flirtatious nature. He values personal freedom above all else and relies only on himself. He is far from being an altruist and disapproves of helping others without gain. Astarion enjoys pleasures, fun, alcohol, and carnal delights.
- Behavior: the vampire exhibits sadistic tendencies. He often approves of cruel, evil, or selfish actions, sometimes even those with a fetishistic twist. Astarion values hedonism and looks down on those he considers weak or unworthy of his attention.
Backstory before the game
Astarion was born in the Year of the Dead Crow, 1229 Dale Reckoning. He grew up in Baldur's Gate and eventually became a city magistrate. As a judge, Astarion didn’t shy away from corruption, using his position for personal gain. This allowed him to build connections with the local aristocracy, further solidifying his standing in the city.
Image: Ensigame / Astarion with weapon
Astarion's fate took a sharp turn in 1268. He was ambushed by a group of Gur in one of Baldur's Gate's alleys, seeking revenge for an unjust trial. They beat him severely and left him to die. However, an influential noble, Cazador Szarr, head of the Szarr family, "rescued" him by turning him into a vampire spawn. Astarion gained immortality but at the cost of eternal servitude to his new master.
For the next two centuries, Astarion lived in Baldur's Gate, hiding from the sunlight and obeying his master's will. Cazador was brutal to his spawn, but he took special pleasure in torturing Astarion. For example, Astarion was sealed in a coffin for over a year as punishment for an attempted escape and disobedience. His master carved a spell into Astarion's back with scars. He was also used as a lure to attract new victims for his master's pleasure, wandering the city's night streets and becoming a part of its dark underbelly for two centuries.
Image: Ensigame / How to romance Astarion
Astarion's life changed after he was abducted by illithids. The mind flayers implanted a tadpole in his brain, but Astarion only benefited from it. He became immune to sunlight, no longer needed an invitation to enter someone's home, and gained telepathic abilities. Most importantly, he was no longer a slave to Cazador, gaining the ability to resist his former master's commands.
Now, Astarion has the chance to start his life anew, make his own decisions, and perhaps correct the mistakes of the past, finally achieving the freedom and safety he has longed for. How his life unfolds from here is up to the player.
Unique abilities
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
Ascendant Bite  | Astarion can drain blood from a living creature to restore 2–4 health points. If the target is not asleep and you’re not hiding, the target will take 2 to 8 points of piercing damage. The victim will receive the "Bloodloss" status, which imposes a -1 penalty on all attack rolls. This status can be healed by a long rest or with the "Lesser Restoration" spell. |
Racial traits
Astarion is a High Elf, allowing him to move quickly, up to 9 meters per turn. By default, this race is proficient with longswords, shortswords, shortbows, and longbows.
He also has Darkvision, which allows him to see up to 12 meters in the dark. His passive skill, Fey Ancestry, makes High Elves resistant to sleep spells and grants them advantage on saving throws against being charmed.
Class Features
Astarion's class is Rogue, a type of character specialized in stealth with a primary advantage in sneak attacks. To land critical hits during combat, it’s essential to stay in the shadows and attack enemies in melee from behind or from cover at a distance.
Astarion should always maintain an advantage over his opponents: attacking from behind, striking from around corners, from above, or using a nearby ally who is attacking the same target to cover the vampire.
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
Sneak attack (close combat) | In melee combat, Astarion deals additional damage to an enemy against whom he has an advantage. |
Sneak attack (long distance) | The same applies to his ranged attacks with a bow. |
We've already written a detailed build for the Rogue class in Baldur's Gate 3.
Origin
The authors chose a fitting backstory for Astarion — Charlatan. Before his transformation into a vampire spawn, Astarion was a skilled deceiver, using his charm and status to achieve personal goals.
| Title | Description |
|---|---|
| Deception | Astarion gains an advantage on Deception checks, which are based on Charisma. |
| Sleight of Hand | He also gains an advantage on Sleight of Hand checks, which are based on Dexterity. |
Astarion BG3 Build
In the game, there are many classes, but each can gain three feats. However, Rogues have access to four feats at levels 4, 8, 10, and 12. Let's take a closer look at the best feats for Astarion.
Image: Ensigame / Astarion BG3 Build
- Ability Improvement. This is the best choice to start with, allowing you to add two points to any ability score. It's recommended to prioritize Dexterity — the most important trait for a Rogue. Continue upgrading this feat until Astarion reaches 20 Dexterity.
- Sharpshooter. Ranged attacks no longer suffer penalties from height. All long-distance shots receive a -5 penalty to attack rolls, but you deal an additional 10 points of damage. This ability is not passive: it can be toggled on and off.
- Lucky. You gain three luck points, which can be used to reroll attack rolls, ability checks, and saving throws, as well as to reroll an enemy's attack roll.
For more tips on building a Rogue in Baldur’s Gate 3, you can check out our detailed guide, which is also applicable to Astarion.
Where to find Astarion
You can encounter Astarion in the starting area of Act 1, at the crash site in the southeast part of the map. The elf stands in the wilderness near the beach, on the road west of the crashed illithid ship. He draws attention by loudly calling for help.
When you approach Astarion, he stages a scene where he pretends to need assistance. He claims to have spotted a mind flayer in the grass and asks you to kill the creature. You can choose to help him or refuse, but regardless, Astarion will attempt to hold a dagger to the protagonist's throat.
Image: Ensigame / Where to find Astarion
After the tense dialogue, the player has several options: you can recruit Astarion and invite him to join your party, send him to camp, or part ways with him.
Astarion romance guide
Astarion is open to romantic relationships with characters of any gender. He is the only companion who shows equal interest in both men and women, and he begins flirting with the protagonist from the moment they first meet...but don't be fooled!
Astarion approval
To start a romance with the vampire, you need to perform actions that Astarion approves of. Below are the simplest ways to increase his approval: these scenes are easy to activate even during a quick playthrough of Baldur’s Gate 3.
- When you meet Astarion, look for Lae'zel in the suspended cage. In the dialogue with the tieflings, choose the option to "attack". If you convince the tieflings to leave without a fight, make Lae'zel thank you for your help.
- Refuse to help the tieflings in the grove during the conversation with Zevlor, and convince the druids that the tieflings should stay.
- Let Astarion drink your blood at night in camp.
- When you meet Auntie Ethel, trust her and reveal the tadpoles in your head.
- Shout "Boo, get off the stage!" to Volo during his performance in the goblin camp.
- In the goblin camp, participate in the chicken chase mini-game hosted by Krolla. If you win, she'll try to cheat you. Use illithid power to get all your gold back and take hers.
- Explore the outer goblin camp and find Crusher. To gain Astarion's approval, kneel before Crusher and steal the ring from his foot, or force Crusher to kneel and kiss your foot.
Image: Ensigame / Beautiful Astarion
- Fight the priestess Gut in her room or the main hall.
- Refuse Halsin's request to save the grove and say that you need to save yourself first.
- Support Karlach and side with her during the initial encounter and scuffle with Wyll. You won't lose anything and can still recruit the fiery woman to your party.
- Agree to spend the night with Astarion during the party at camp at the end of Act 1.
- Don't turn Astarion over to the vampire hunter in the swamps in Act 2: protect him instead.
- During a long rest, if Astarion offers to keep watch, tell him you'll sleep better knowing he's watching.
- In camp, you might have a dialogue with Astarion where he asks how he might kill you (he won't actually do it, it's just conversation). Choose any method he suggests: beheading, stabbing, or poisoning. Alternatively, tell him you'd gut him. This will result in -1 approval, but continue the dialogue and tell him you'll take him with you, earning +5 approval.
- In Crèche Y'llek, draw on Vlaakith's portrait.
General recommendation: be pragmatic, slightly cynical, and ruthless. Avoid helping every NPC you meet unless there's a benefit. In Act 1, there are many opportunities to show cruelty: provoke NPCs into murder, humiliation, deceive or intimidate them. Astarion will approve of all these actions.
How to romance Astarion
Courtship details. Astarion may show interest not only in the main character but also in other companions. During the party, the player can either propose spending time together or wait for Astarion to take the initiative. If desired, during the conversation, you can try to make Astarion say "please", forcing him to beg for a night together, ironically. However, a failed Persuasion check might offend him and hinder the progress of the relationship.
Image: Ensigame / Naked Astarion in BG3
Romantic Scene. During the intimate scene, it's important to either kiss Astarion immediately or agree to his request to enjoy each other.
Competition. Astarion is jealous when you flirt with other companions, especially Gale. If you simultaneously pursue romantic relationships with other male companions, a fight might break out in camp.
When the druid Halsin offers the protagonist a private moment in the woods, you can tell Astarion about it.
Relationship development. A romance with Astarion is closely tied to his personal growth. Astarion is one of those characters you can "reform". If you think, "He'll be different with me, I'll teach him to love," — that's exactly what will happen if you succeed in passing Charisma and Persuasion checks in dialogues.
The ending depends on how you handle his personal quest and how you respond to Astarion in camp. Despite his dark past, you can build a harmonious and healthy relationship with Astarion. However, if you indulge his dark side, in the end, the crown will weigh down on his curly head, and the vampire might become arrogant and turn the protagonist into his spawn — a slave.
Image: Ensigame / Romance Astarion
You can break up with any companion. If you choose to end the relationship with Astarion, be prepared for an emotional rollercoaster. Especially after the first kiss with the vampire and the moment when Astarion opens up to the protagonist, sharing the horrors he has endured. The team at Larian Studios put a lot of effort into this character's storyline.
Astarion's companion quest
Astarion has two quests: "The Call of Blood" as the protagonist, and "The Pale Elf" as a companion.
The Pale Elf
- This quest becomes available when you take Astarion into your party.
During the first long rest, Astarion will quietly slip out of camp but will return by dawn. Later, in the world, you might come across a dead boar. Upon examining the carcass, you may notice two small puncture wounds that resemble bite marks. If Astarion is in your party, he'll try to divert attention from these details and avoid further questions.
During a full night’s rest, Astarion might attack you and attempt to bite you. If you allow him to drink your blood, you'll need to pass several skill checks to stop him before he drains you completely.
The next morning, Astarion will apologize for the incident and promise it won't happen again. He'll suggest an alternative — drinking the blood of enemies.
Image: Ensigame
During your journey, you may encounter a vampire hunter. If Astarion is in your party, you can either turn him in or help him escape — the latter will improve your relationship with the vampire. There's also a neutral option to stay out of the conflict and not interfere.
After this, you can ask Astarion about his past, and he’ll reveal information about his former master, Cazador, and how the illithid parasite helped him escape and overcome some of the drawbacks of vampirism. If you have a romantic relationship with Astarion, during your first intimate scene, you'll notice strange scars on his back. He’ll explain that Cazador carved them into him.
To decipher the inscriptions on the scars, Astarion makes a deal with the devil Raphael. Through this quest, you'll discover that Cazador, Astarion's former master, plans to perform a ritual to ascend to greater power, which requires sacrificing all his spawn, including Astarion.
Finally, you’ll need to visit the castle of Astarion's former master and decide his fate. In the end, you'll face a difficult choice: allow Astarion to ascend and remove all the drawbacks of vampirism, resulting in the death of the spawn, or convince him to abandon this plan and simply overthrow Cazador.
The Call of Blood
- This is the main quest if you’re playing as Astarion.
The quest almost entirely mirrors the "The Pale Elf" quest, but with some differences that further reveal Astarion's past and personality.
Image: Ensigame / Astarion quest
Unlike the companion quest, this mission does not include the moment where Astarion attacks one of the future allies. There is no night scene where the elf tries to drink from a companion in camp. Instead, he is tormented by nightmares about Cazador. Upon waking, the player will need to decide whether to bite one of the companions or go hunting in the forest.
On the night when Astarion tries to count his scars, he experiences another nightmare about his past.
When Astarion is the main character, dialogue choices allow you to shape his personality. You can make the elf softer or much more ruthless.
Main image: deviantart.com/digitalferox
0 comments