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Can I Romance Astarion Later On? A Deep Dive into Baldur’s Gate 3’s Pale Elf

The short answer is: it depends. You can potentially romance Astarion later on in Baldur’s Gate 3, but it requires careful management of your relationship with him and meeting specific conditions throughout the early game. Missing key opportunities or making decisions that heavily displease him early on can effectively lock you out of a romantic path later. Let’s unpack this complicated dynamic and explore the nuances of winning Astarion’s affections.

Understanding Astarion’s Romance Arc

Astarion is arguably one of the most popular and complex companions in Baldur’s Gate 3. His backstory, motivations, and personality make him a compelling, if sometimes problematic, romance option. Unlike some other companions, Astarion isn’t necessarily looking for true love or traditional romance. He’s driven by survival, power, and a desire to escape his past. This means that your approach to him needs to be nuanced.

The Importance of Approval

Astarion’s approval of your character is crucial for unlocking his romance. He favors actions that are self-serving, clever, and sometimes ruthless. Showing kindness for the sake of kindness, selflessness, or adhering to overly strict moral codes will often decrease his approval. Here’s what affects his approval positively:

Humor and Wit: Astarion appreciates a sharp wit and enjoys sarcastic or cynical responses.
Self-Preservation: Prioritizing your own survival and interests will generally please him.
Power and Influence: Seeking out opportunities to gain power or influence, even through morally questionable means, aligns with his ambitions.
Embracing Your Tadpole Powers: Astarion is fascinated by the potential of the tadpole and generally approves of using its abilities.
Cruelty (in moderation): While not entirely sadistic, he appreciates displays of dominance and can find a certain dark humor in cruelty directed towards enemies.

Conversely, these actions will decrease his approval:

Excessive Altruism: Actions that are purely selfless or motivated by unwavering morality.
Blind Trust: He dislikes naivety and trusting people without question.
Rejecting Tadpole Powers: Refusing to use the tadpole’s abilities disappoints him.
Weakness: Showing weakness or vulnerability can sometimes decrease his approval, especially in situations where strength or cunning is needed.

Key Moments and Dialogue Choices

Several key moments in the early game are crucial for establishing a positive relationship with Astarion. These include:

The Initial Encounter: How you react to finding him trying to bite you is critical. Being understanding (or at least not immediately hostile) is essential.
Revealing His Vampire Spawn Nature: Your reaction to discovering he’s a vampire spawn. Accepting him and understanding his situation is vital.
The Grotesque Necklace: Offering to help him investigate the grotesque necklace, even if you don’t condone his past actions, shows support.
The Gur Hunter: How you handle the encounter with the Gur hunter hunting Astarion is extremely important. Protecting him, or at least finding a solution that benefits him, is crucial.
Nightwarden’s Song quest: In Act 2, Astarion’s personal quest becomes central to his romance. Making choices that support his goals, even if you disagree with them, will significantly impact your relationship.

Missed Opportunities: Failing to gain his approval during these early encounters or making choices that drastically lower it can make it extremely difficult, if not impossible, to romance him later.

The Camp Scene and Act I Lock-In

A significant camp scene usually occurs towards the end of Act I, where you have the opportunity to solidify your romantic interest in a companion. This is a crucial moment for Astarion. If his approval is too low, he may not even initiate the dialogue, or he may reject your advances. Even if the dialogue is initiated, failing to say the right things can shut down the romance permanently.

Can you Recover from a Rocky Start?

While starting off on the wrong foot can be detrimental, it’s not always a death sentence for your romance prospects. If you’ve made some mistakes early on, here are some strategies to try:

Focus on Approval-Boosting Actions: Actively seek out opportunities to perform actions that will increase his approval.
Choose Dialogue Options Carefully: Prioritize dialogue options that align with his values and interests.
Complete His Personal Quest: Successfully navigating his personal quest will significantly boost your relationship.
Gifts and Trade (Limited): While there isn’t a gift system in the traditional sense, helping him acquire specific items relevant to his quest can improve his disposition.
Be Patient: Building trust takes time, so don’t get discouraged if you don’t see immediate results.

However, it’s important to be realistic. If his approval is consistently negative, or you’ve made major decisions that directly contradict his goals, it’s unlikely you’ll be able to recover the relationship enough to trigger a romance.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Here are 15 frequently asked questions about romancing Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3, designed to address common concerns and provide further clarification:

What is Astarion’s alignment, and how does that affect the romance? Astarion is generally considered to be Neutral Evil. He prioritizes his own survival and advancement, and his morality is flexible. This means you need to be comfortable with his sometimes questionable actions.
Does playing a specific race or class impact my chances of romancing Astarion? No, your race and class have minimal impact on your ability to romance Astarion. However, your actions and dialogue choices are what truly matter. A charismatic character might have an easier time persuading him, but a cunning or powerful character can also gain his respect.
Can I romance other companions while pursuing Astarion’s romance? Yes, but be cautious! Attempting to romance multiple companions can lead to conflicts and ultimately ruin your chances with all of them. Astarion is generally tolerant of casual relationships, but he might disapprove of you pursuing a serious romance with someone else.
What happens if I kill Cazador Szarr? Does it ruin the romance? Killing Cazador Szarr is a complex issue tied directly to Astarion’s personal quest. While he might initially react negatively to the idea (depending on your choices prior), ultimately freeing him from Cazador’s control is crucial for progressing his personal story and unlocking his true potential (and often solidifying the romance).
Is there a “good” or “bad” ending to Astarion’s romance? Yes, there are different outcomes depending on your choices during his personal quest. Siding with him in his quest for power can lead to a morally ambiguous ending, while helping him overcome his vampiric nature can result in a more positive and fulfilling conclusion.
What are some specific dialogue options that will increase Astarion’s approval early in the game? Look for opportunities to be sarcastic, witty, and self-serving. Show interest in his past and motivations, even if you don’t agree with them. When faced with moral dilemmas, consider options that prioritize your own survival or offer a strategic advantage.
How can I tell if I’ve locked myself out of Astarion’s romance? If you consistently receive negative approval from him, he rejects your advances during the camp scene in Act I, or you make decisions that directly contradict his goals, you’ve likely missed your chance.
Does siding with the Absolute affect my chances of romancing Astarion? Generally, yes. While Astarion appreciates ambition, blindly siding with the Absolute and sacrificing your own free will will likely displease him. He values independence and control above all else.
Can I romance Astarion as a Dark Urge character? Yes, you can romance Astarion as a Dark Urge character. However, it adds a layer of complexity, as the Dark Urge’s violent tendencies can either attract or repel him, depending on how you manage your urges and interact with him.
What happens if I let Astarion bite me? Allowing Astarion to bite you can increase his approval and unlock specific dialogue options related to his vampiric nature. However, be aware that there may be consequences to consider, depending on your choices.
Is it possible to “cure” Astarion of his vampirism? While a complete “cure” isn’t explicitly offered, there are choices you can make during his personal quest that will significantly alter his relationship with vampirism and potentially lead him down a more positive path.
How important is it to long rest frequently for Astarion’s romance? Long resting is crucial for triggering companion-specific cutscenes and dialogue. Many key moments in Astarion’s romance arc occur during camp scenes after a long rest.
Can I romance Astarion if I’m playing a multiplayer game? Yes, you can romance Astarion in a multiplayer game. However, only one player can romance him, leading to potential conflicts among players who are interested in the same companion.
What if I accidentally made a choice that lowered Astarion’s approval? Is there any way to fix it immediately? Unfortunately, there’s no immediate “fix” like reloading a save. You’ll need to actively work to regain his approval by making different choices in future interactions and quests. Consider using Inspiration to reroll crucial dialogue checks.
Where can I find more information and community discussions about romancing Astarion? Online forums, Reddit communities dedicated to Baldur’s Gate 3, and websites such as Games Learning Society are excellent resources for finding tips, guides, and community discussions about romancing Astarion and other companions: https://www.gameslearningsociety.org/. You can also search for specific keywords like “Astarion romance guide” or “Baldur’s Gate 3 romance options.”

Final Thoughts

Romancing Astarion is a challenging but rewarding experience in Baldur’s Gate 3. It requires a deep understanding of his character, careful consideration of your actions, and a willingness to navigate his complex motivations. While starting late can be difficult, it’s not always impossible. By focusing on boosting his approval, making the right dialogue choices, and successfully completing his personal quest, you might just win the heart of this alluring pale elf. Just remember to be true to your own character and make choices that you can live with, even if they occasionally ruffle Astarion’s feathers.

Can I romance Astarion later on?