What Do You Miss If You Kill Astrid in Skyrim? A Comprehensive Guide

Killing Astrid early in Skyrim represents a significant branching point, effectively severing your ties to the Dark Brotherhood questline. In essence, by choosing to end Astrid’s life prematurely, you sacrifice access to one of the most extensive and arguably most engaging questlines in the game, along with its associated rewards, characters, and lore. You will trade it in for the chance to role-play as a hero by destroying the Dark Brotherhood.

The Tangible Losses: Rewards and Abilities

The most immediate losses are the tangible rewards tied directly to the Dark Brotherhood questline. These include:

• Shadowmere: This unique and powerful horse is a staple for many players. Shadowmere possesses high health, stamina, and the ability to regenerate health quickly, making it an invaluable companion for traversing the vast landscapes of Skyrim.

• Summon Spectral Assassin: This power allows you to summon a ghostly assassin to aid you in combat. The Spectral Assassin is essentially the ghost of Lucien Lachance, a prominent figure from the Dark Brotherhood in Oblivion. This ability provides a significant tactical advantage, especially in challenging encounters.

• Dark Brotherhood Initiate Followers: These followers are unique in that they are considered “essential” and therefore cannot die. They’re useful for players looking for a hardy follower who won’t permanently bite the dust, though their dialogue and personalities are somewhat limited.

• Master Trainers: The Dark Brotherhood sanctuary houses master trainers for two valuable skills: Alchemy and Light Armor. Access to these trainers allows you to efficiently level up these skills, enhancing your character’s capabilities.

• Cicero as a Follower: Sparing Cicero after a specific questline event enables him to become a follower. Cicero’s unique fighting style and eccentric personality make him a fan-favorite companion.

• Unique Armor Sets and Weapons: Completing various Dark Brotherhood quests rewards you with unique armor sets and weapons that are specifically tailored for stealthy and assassin-oriented playstyles. Some of these items have powerful enchantments that cannot be obtained elsewhere.

The Intangible Losses: Story, Characters, and Experience

Beyond the physical rewards, killing Astrid prevents you from experiencing the intricate narrative and memorable characters that define the Dark Brotherhood questline.

• A Rich and Compelling Story: The Dark Brotherhood questline is known for its well-written story, filled with intrigue, betrayal, and dark humor. You’ll be involved in various assassination contracts, each with its own unique story and challenges.

• Memorable Characters: The Dark Brotherhood is home to a cast of unforgettable characters, each with their own quirks and backstories. From the eccentric Cicero to the wise and ancient Babette, these characters add depth and personality to the game world.

• A Moral Gray Area: The Dark Brotherhood questline presents a moral gray area, forcing you to confront the consequences of your actions and question your own values. This moral ambiguity adds a layer of complexity to the game and allows you to explore the darker aspects of the Skyrim universe.

• Unique Locations: The Dark Brotherhood questline takes you to various unique and atmospheric locations, including the Dark Brotherhood sanctuaries and the homes of your targets. These locations are filled with secrets, lore, and hidden treasures.

The Alternative: Destroying the Dark Brotherhood

If you kill Astrid, you initiate the quest “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!”, which essentially tasks you with wiping out the entire organization. While this offers a sense of righteous justice for some players, the rewards are significantly less compelling than those obtained by joining the Dark Brotherhood. You will be handsomely rewarded for destroying the Dark Brotherhood, but the Gold reward will not be worth the treasures and adventures the player is missing by choosing this alternative quest.

Is It Worth It?

Ultimately, the decision of whether to kill Astrid depends on your personal playstyle and preferences. If you value a compelling story, memorable characters, and unique rewards, then joining the Dark Brotherhood is the way to go. However, if you prefer to role-play as a heroic character and abhor the idea of becoming an assassin, then destroying the Dark Brotherhood may be a more suitable option.

Understanding the ramifications of your choice is key to enjoying your Skyrim experience. Consider the potential gains and losses carefully before making your decision.

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Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

1. Can you join the Dark Brotherhood after killing Astrid?

No, killing Astrid immediately and permanently locks you out of the Dark Brotherhood questline. Instead, it initiates the “Destroy the Dark Brotherhood!” quest.

2. What happens if you destroy the Dark Brotherhood?

You receive a modest gold reward from Commander Maro and eliminate the Dark Brotherhood presence in Skyrim. However, you miss out on all the rewards and story content associated with joining them.

3. Is it better to join or destroy the Dark Brotherhood?

This depends on your playstyle and moral alignment. Joining offers a rich story, unique rewards, and compelling characters. Destroying them provides a sense of righteous justice but lacks the depth and rewards of the joining questline.

4. Who is the right one to kill in the Abandoned Shack?

There is no “right” choice from a moral standpoint; they are all likely criminals. However, from a gameplay perspective, killing any of them allows you to continue the Dark Brotherhood questline. Vasha is arguably the most deserving of death, as indicated by Astrid.

5. What are the disadvantages of joining the Dark Brotherhood in Skyrim?

The main disadvantage is the moral implications of becoming an assassin. You are forced to kill innocent or semi-innocent targets, which may conflict with a “good” character’s role-playing experience.

6. Can I marry Astrid in Skyrim?

No, Astrid is not a marriage candidate in Skyrim.

7. Does Astrid betray you in Skyrim?

Yes, Astrid ultimately betrays the Dragonborn due to her ambition and desire for control within the Dark Brotherhood.

8. Why does Astrid say “Well done” if you kill her?

Her “Well done” is a mix of accepting her fate and possibly acknowledging the Dragonborn’s skill in combat, proving they were indeed someone to be reckoned with.

9. Should I let Astrid live?

If you want to experience the Dark Brotherhood questline, you must let Astrid live initially. Her death is an inevitable part of the storyline if you choose to follow that path.

10. Where is Cicero if you Destroy the Dark Brotherhood?

If you choose to destroy the Dark Brotherhood, Cicero will go into hiding. He disappears from the game world, leaving his ultimate fate unknown unless you spared him during the Dark Brotherhood quest line and continued with him as a follower.

11. Can you have both Shadowmere and Arvak?

Yes, you can have both Shadowmere (from the Dark Brotherhood questline) and Arvak (from the Dawnguard DLC). They are separate horses and can be summoned independently.

12. What is the Blade of Woe?

The Blade of Woe is a unique dagger, which is obtained from Astrid during her death after completing the Dark Brotherhood Questline and can only be obtained after her death. This dagger is known for its damage and has a powerful enchantment to absorb health.

13. What happens if you kill one of the targets in the Abandoned Shack and then kill Astrid?

You will receive a modest reward from Commander Maro for eliminating a criminal and initiating the Destroy the Dark Brotherhood quest. However, the game treats this as simply choosing the Destroy the Dark Brotherhood path from the start.

14. Are there any mods that allow you to join the Dark Brotherhood after killing Astrid?

Yes, there are mods available on platforms like Nexus Mods that allow you to bypass the game’s limitations and join the Dark Brotherhood even after killing Astrid. However, using such mods may have unintended consequences or stability issues.

15. What level should I be to start the Dark Brotherhood questline?

There is no level requirement, but it’s generally recommended to be at least level 10 to handle the challenges and combat encounters that the Dark Brotherhood questline presents.