Summary
- Baldur's Gate 3 companions have game-changing choices, but Astarion's potential to become a true vampire was missed out on.
- Astarion could have gained powers like shapeshifting and summoning if he became a true vampire.
- There may be reasons why Astarion didn't become a true vampire, such as gameplay balance and narrative consequences.
Baldur’s Gate 3 features lots of game-changing choices for its companions, such as Shadowheart embracing Shar or defying her and Wyll breaking his pact with Mizora or remaining in her service. Yet, there’s one companion in Baldur’s Gate 3 that could have had a big game-changing choice that was missed out on.
At the end of Astarion’s personal quest in Act 3, the player is given two choices: letting Astarion become the vampire ascendant or letting him remain a spawn forever. However, there should have been a third choice that would have allowed Astarion to become a true vampire.
Baldur's Gate 3: Astarion's Hug in the Epilogue Party Explained
Baldur's Gate 3's epilogue party has some adorable moments for romanced companions, and Astarion's moment appears to have a deeper meaning.
Astarion Could Have Become a True Vampire
A True Vampire
In Dungeons and Dragons, there’s a distinction between a normal vampire and a true vampire. However, in Dungeons and Dragons 5e, normal vampires and true vampires are the same thing. These vampires, unlike vampire spawn, are regular vampires, and thus they have all the abilities that come with being a vampire:
- Summoning animals such as wolves, bats, and rats.
- Shapeshifting into wolves, bats, and rats.
- Dominate others with their gaze.
- Superhuman strength.
- Fast healing and regenerating health.
- Transform into mist or gaseous form.
- Create vampire spawn of their own.
A Spawn Must Drink Their Master's Blood
A vampire spawn isn’t a proper vampire, but an undead slave to a true vampire with all the weaknesses of their master, but none of the benefits or powers other than to drink the blood of their victims. The lore for vampires in Dungeons and Dragons states that a vampire spawn can only become a true vampire by drinking the blood of their master, and Baldur’s Gate 3’s Astarion backs this piece of lore with a line in Act 1:
"In theory, the next step is to drink their blood. Once you’ve done that, you’re free and a true vampire."
The Benefits of Astarion Being A True Vampire
There are many benefits to Astarion becoming a true vampire. For one, he wouldn’t have to live out eternity with all the weaknesses of a vampire spawn and their lack of vampiric powers. Astarion would have gained the ability to shapeshift like a druid and to summon a familiar like a ranger. Astarion could have easily become a true vampire at the end of his personal quest, The Pale Elf, in Act 3, yet he didn’t and there are a few reasons why Larian Studios didn’t include an option for Astarion to drink Cazador’s blood.
Why Astarion Didn’t Become A True Vampire
A True Vampire Has Similar Abilities to the Vampire Ascendant
One potential reason why there was no option for Astarion to become a true vampire at the culmination of Astarion's personal quest is that a true vampire might be seen as too similar to a vampire ascendant. From a gameplay point of view, the two outcomes would have been too similar and would have granted players the same stats and abilities. The only difference between a vampire ascendant and a true vampire is that the latter would not be able to walk in the sun, but would have the same personality and attitude as a spawn or any other vampire, unlike the former.
Not Having Astarion As a True Vampire Fits Baldur’s Gate 3’s Narrative
Another potential reason there was no choice for Astarion to drink Cazador’s blood may have been that the choice to either remain a spawn or become the ascendent would lead to better consequences. Spawn Astarion must forever live with the weaknesses of a spawn, and Baldur's Gate 3's ascended Astarion will forever live with his newfound power-hungry and manipulative attitude.
Although this next reason is uncertain, it could be that Cazador has to give his blood willingly to Astarion, as in Act 1 he hints about the unlikelihood of a vampire giving up control of a spawn to create a competitor. Still, if this is the case, there could have been a persuasion check to convince Cazador to give his blood to Astarion.
It is unsure why Larian Studios did not include or explore a true vampire route in Baldur’s Gate 3 after Astarion spoke of how he could become a true vampire. Maybe he was so caught up with becoming a vampire ascendant or too focused on making Baldur's Gate 3's Cazador suffer that testing out the idea of becoming a true vampire slipped his mind.
Baldur's Gate 3
-
OpenCritic Reviews
- Top Critic Avg: 96 /100 Critics Rec: 97%
- Released
- August 3, 2023
- ESRB
- M for Mature: Blood and Gore, Partial Nudity, Sexual Content, Strong Language, Violence
- Developer(s)
- Larian Studios
- Publisher(s)
- Larian Studios
- Engine
- Divinity 4.0
- Multiplayer
- Online Co-Op, Local Co-Op
- Cross-Platform Play
- Full cross-platform play.
WHERE TO PLAY
- Franchise
- Baldur's Gate
- Number of Players
- 1-4
- Split Screen Orientation
- Vertical Only
- Platform(s)
- PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X, Xbox Series S, PC, macOS
- Genre(s)
- RPG
- How Long To Beat
- 100+ Hours
- Metascore
- 96
- PS Plus Availability
- N/A
- Local Co-Op Support
- 1-2 Players
