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Astarion is one of the first companions you encounter in Baldur’s Gate 3. He also has, like many other companions, a dark backstory.
How to find Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3
You will find Astarion shortly after starting the game when you finish the tutorial in Baldur’s Gate 3.
- Having completed the tutorial on board the Nautiloid ship, you will awaken after crash-landing on the beach. Go and wake up the unconscious Shadowheart just a few metres down the path. Afterwards, walk a bit further and you will encounter a splitting path.
- At this point, turn left to enter the interior of the shipwreck. Here you will encounter a handful of Intellect Devourers, which need to be fought. After the fight, head northwest inside the room and follow the passage until you reach a junction inside the wreck.
- Here you choose the lower exit to the outside and follow the path a little further until you arrive at a junction. Now you should already hear Astarion talking to himself. Follow the fork to the right to the coordinates X: 170 and Y: 287 and speak to Astarion, which triggers a cutscene.
- In the conversation, Astarion is hostile to you at first and wants to get at you, but in the course of the dialogue you have the opportunity to recruit him to the party.
How to start a romance with Astarion
In order to romance Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3, you need to make sure that you rise in his favour, just like with the other companions.
- As the servant of a vampire, Astarion is by nature both a pleasure-loving character and more inclined to the dark side. This means that Astarion enjoys situations where you side with evil creatures. He also welcomes it when you are cruel to others and show your dominance over weaker ones. Likewise, you should let him drink of your blood.
- Inversely, you should refrain from acting particularly virtuous or selfless in his presence, or from condemning him and his vampirism, as this will have a negative effect on his affection towards you.
- To become intimate with Astarion for the first time, you must have rescued Halsin and completed the quest to rescue the refugees, as this leads to a boisterous celebration at the camp. To start the celebration, you need to finish the day at the camp. In the evening at the camp, you should then join Astarion and engage him in conversation.
- In the conversation you should first ask him whether saving lives is really so bad. Then go on to say that Goblins throw much better parties. Now it’s time for flirting: ask Astarion what he thinks “fun” is and then seal the flirtation by agreeing to it.
- For the romance cutscene to happen now, all you have to do is initiate the long rest by interacting with your sleeping bag. During the cutscene, you have the choice of letting Astarion suck blood, which further increases his approval towards you. Afterwards, you will learn more about his backstory and the scars that adorn his back.
- To further develop your relationship with Astarion, you should always make sure to have him in the party in Act 2 as well and choose the right dialogue options. Once you have reached the Last Light Inn, it is important that Astarion is part of your party, as you will once again meet the devil Raphael in the Enclave. He offers his help in deciphering the scars on Astarion’s body. If you agree, Astarion wants to talk to you in the camp.
- In the conversation, first ask him about his love for you. Then you agree with him. Then you confess to him that he is important to you. Finally, reaffirm how much he is worth to you and that it doesn’t matter what he is going through. Now you should decide to hug him to further strengthen your bond with him.
- In Act 3, you must complete Astarion’s companion quest by facing and defeating his vampire master, Cazador. After that, there are two paths you can take. Either you allow Astarion to complete the ritual and become a full vampire himself or you convince him not to. Depending on which route you choose, the subsequent romance cutscene differs.
