Whether you are interested in this game from the start or got interested after Neil Newbon won Best Performance in TGA 2023, it doesn’t matter. Either way, you are likely very interested in his character Astarion. If you are one of the people who fell in love with this adorable, but deadly, vampire, then you’re in luck. Here’s our Baldur’s Gate 3 guide on how the player can increase the Approval of Astarion, as well as how to romance him afterward.

Baldur’s Gate 3 – Astarion Romance and Approval Guide

To romance a character, the player must first increase that character’s Approval of them. This is affected by the player’s words during conversations, as well as their actions during the game. Needless to say, each Companion in Baldur’s Gate 3 has different likes or dislikes. What works for one Companion will not necessarily work for the other. As such, the player must adjust their actions depending on whose approval they are trying to raise,

Astarion Approval Guide

To increase Astarion’s approval of the player, they must first understand what Astarion likes and dislikes. Here is a general list of the things that Astarion likes and dislikes when it comes to conversation and actions:

  • Approval up:
    • Making fun of people. Astarion is a character that thrives in making fun of others, especially in a cruel way. Choosing choices that do this will definitely increase his Approval of the player.
    • Personal loyalty. Astarion values loyalty above all else thanks to his backstory. As such, taking every opportunity to affirm and prove the player’s loyalty, as well as approve of the concept itself, is sure to increase his Approval.
    • Making others suffer. Astarion is a vampire, made to serve a sadistic master for centuries. As such, actions that make others suffer give the player points with him.
    • Personal survival and self-interest. He thinks about his survival above all else, as well as freedom against Cazador, the vampire he served under.
    • The Tadpdole that the Mind Flayers implanted in Astarion’s brain nullified his various Vampiric Banes. As such, he has an extreme attachment to it. Any dialogue or action that approves of using the Tadpole, as well as keeping it in their brain, will increase his Approval of the player.
  • Approval down:
    • Astarion hates playing as the hero. If the player chooses options or actions that Astarion considers heroic, his Approval of the player will go down.
    • Going against any of the things listed in “Approval up” will of course lower his Approval of the player as well.

Should the player want to pursue dialogue options, actions, or quests that will cause Astarion’s Approval to go down, it is possible to do so in a way that will prevent the Approval from lowering. The player can do this by leaving Astarion in the camp, or by making sure that he is not nearby when the player does the quest or dialogue.

Astarion Romance Guide

Act 1

To romance Astarion in Act 1, the player must first reach a certain point of approval with him. Afterward, they must make some progress in the main storyline. For Astarion, the player must first complete the Druid’s Grove questline, choosing to rescue Halsin and the refugees. Afterward, they must then take a long rest at their campsite. Upon finishing the long rest, the refugees will hold a celebration for the player and their companions. The player can then go to Astarion to initiate a conversation. They will then need to make the following dialogue options:

  • Really? Saving lives is awful?
  • True, the goblins would have thrown a wilder party.
  • And what’s your idea of ‘a little fun’?
  • All right, let’s do it. I’ll see you later.

Afterward, the player must return to their bedroll and interact with it for the chance to go to bed with Astarion. This will lead to another conversation, in which the player must make the following dialogue options:

  • You don’t have me yet.
  • And what do you want?
  • Nod

This will lead to a cutscene of the player spending a romantic evening with Astarion.

Act 2

In Act 2, players should continue raising their approval with Astarion. This includes letting him suck your blood, as well as doing all of the things listed above. Additionally, there are certain points in Act 2 that will raise his affection for you quickly, specifically in the Last Light Inn, and in the Ruined Battlefield.

The player must also take Raphael’s deal to hunt down Orthon for information about Astarion’s scars. This will trigger a scene once you head back to camp to rest for the night. When Astarion talks to the player, they must make the following choices:

  • About your undying love for me?/Are you alright?
  • So do I. More than anything./So the nights we spent together didn’t mean anything?
  • I care about you. Deeply
  • You are worth a great deal to me, no matter what you’re going through

This won’t lead to any romance scene like in Act 1, but it will advance Astarion’s romance for the player. Not only that, but this will give more information about Astarion’s past, and contextualize why he is the way he is. This is an important trigger for Act 3.

Act 3

In Act 3, players can further improve their relationship with Astarion. One important time to increase your approval and romance with Astarion is when you meet Zethino, the Master of Love. Answer the questions in the following order:

  • “When he is up to his elbows in blood”
  • “Me” or “Revenge”
  • “Actually, he is afraid of almost everything” or “Break a nail”

There’s also an event where Astarion refuses intimacy out of spite, so the player can make him jealous by threatening to be intimate with the Orlith twins.

Afterward, the player will be met with an important choice. By doing Astarion’s companion quest, the player will encounter and fight Cazador, Astarion’s master. After defeating Cazador, the player has the option to allow Astarion to complete the ritual and ascend or to stop it. It’s important to note that the player will experience different romance scenes depending on which route they pick.

If the player chooses to allow Astarion to complete the ritual, they must not disturb and interrupt him until he finishes the ritual. The player must also kill Gur while leaving Cazador’s place. After resting in the camp, Astarion will initiate a conversation with the player. The player can pick anything for the first options, but must select the following for the next choices:

  • I want to be a vampire, like you/I want you. I want your body.
  • Yes, that’s all I want.
  • Please, yes.

This will trigger a sex scene with Astarion, and when the scene is over, the player must kneel for Astarion. Astarion will then feed on the player and turn them into a vampire, which will give the vampire bite ability.

If the player chooses instead to stop the ritual, the player must then head back to camp and do a long rest. There, Astarion will express his thoughts about the stopped ritual. The player is free to choose whatever option for the first two prompts. He will then ask the player to follow him, which you should do. This will lead to you and Astarion heading to a graveyard. There, Astarion will open up to the player. The player is free to choose any option until he tells the player that he would like to enjoy living again with everything life has to offer. The player must then choose one of the following options:

  • Oh? Do you want a little fun?/I thought you’d never ask
    • This will lead to a short romance scene
  • Let’s just… stay here? Together?
    • This doesn’t have a romance scene, but Astarion will be grateful for your presence.

The screen will then fade to black and transition to the next morning.

That’s all the information we have so far about how to romance Astarion. We also have guides for Gale, Shadowheart, Wyll, and Lae’zel should you be interested in romancing other characters.The game is available on PlayStation 5 and PC via Steam and GOG.

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