Summary
- Astarion, the party's elven rogue in Baldur's Gate 3, is highly valuable due to his unparalleled rogue abilities, especially in picking locks, pickpocketing, and combat.
- Astarion's character quest and arc delve into deep emotions, exploring themes of freedom, servitude, and power, and provide touching and heartwarming moments.
- Astarion's unique take on the Illithid parasites in the game adds depth and variety to the central conflict, as he is intrigued by their power and encourages the player to embrace their influence.
Like any good RPG, Baldur's Gate 3 does not skimp on offering the player many party members to choose from. The game has a total of ten companions, although some are mutually exclusive and may leave depending on the player's decisions. Each companion in the game is well-written, with character quests, tons of voice lines, and - in most cases - a romance storyline that deepens their bond with the player if they so choose. However, not all Baldur's Gate 3 companions are created equal. Among the many options, the party's elven rogue, Astarion, stands out for his unequaled usefulness, surprisingly deep character story, and unique opinions on the game's central conflict.
Like the player character and the other "Origin" companions, Astarion was captured by BG3's Illithids and has been infected by one of their parasites. He joins up with the party to learn more about the parasites and potentially seek a cure, although he quickly becomes intrigued by the power they provide. Initially snarky, cruel, and uninterested in looking out for anyone but himself, Astarion - especially when romanced - gradually softens and genuinely comes to care for his fellow adventurers. Players can learn more about his backstory as the servant to a powerful vampire, and can even choose to free him from this torment.
Having A Rogue In The Party Is Extremely Valuable
Players can choose three characters other than themselves to be part of the active party and can switch their choices up by returning to camp (unless they are mid-dungeon.) While every character has skills they offer both in combat and out, Astarion's Rogue abilities are unparalleled in their usefulness. His sky-high Sleight of Hand lets him pick the many locked chests and doors players will find throughout their adventure. He can also pickpocket gold and items from NPCs, possibly preventing the need for difficult social rolls or combat.
Of course, players can simply head back to camp and pick up Astarion whenever they find themselves needing a Rogue - but this is less than convenient, especially given the sheer frequency with which locked items appear. This is particularly notable during Act 1, where locations such as the Goblin Camp in BG3, the Zhentarim hideout, and the Emerald Grove feature many treasures and locations locked away from greedy players. Naturally, Astarion is no slouch in combat either, dual-wielding weapons with ease and finesse and taking down powerful enemies with the aid of Sneak Attacks.
Astarion's Character Quest And Arc Feature Deep Emotions
Astarion may look on the surface just like any particularly pretty High Elf, but he's got a lot more going on. He is a vampire spawn, partially turned several hundred years ago by the cruel vampire Cazador in Baldur's Gate 3. Prior to the game's events, Astarion spent centuries as Cazador's slave, forced to endure torture and bring back humans to his master while he himself could only feed on rats and flies. Unlike almost every other party member, he sees being captured by mindflayers as a blessing rather than a curse.
If the player chooses to pursue Astarion's character quest, they can take down Cazador for good and grant Astarion his freedom. This is one of Baldur's Gate 3's most touching emotional moments, and seeing the snarky elf react with such genuine gratitude is heartwarming. However, they're also presented with a choice - allowing Astarion to take Cazador's place and ascend into a true vampire will unlock new dialogue and scenes as well as multiple variant endings for the vampire spawn's romance path. It's an interesting tale that explores questions of morality, freedom vs. servitude, and power vs. relationships.
The pale elf Astarion's romance plotline is also one of the game's best-written. Initially, he seduces the player character because he wants to keep them dependent on him. His first intimate scene is casual, almost dismissive, with little emotion involved. However, if the player chooses to continue romancing him, he begins to develop genuine feelings for the first time in his life. He is confused by this strange new "love," but ultimately decides to accept these feelings and stand by the player's side. He is one of the romanced companions who will stay with the player no matter what decisions they make - even if they are forced to transform themselves into a mindflayer. Seeing this once self-interested vampire learn how to truly value and love another is a masterfully written story.
Astarion Has A Unique Take On The Parasite Situation
Besides the player, six characters - Astarion, Shadowheart, Lae'zel, Gale, Wyll, and Karlach in BG3 - have been infected by Illithid parasites. This provides Baldur's Gate 3's central conflict, as the characters must search for a cure or risk transforming fully into mindflayers. Each character has different thoughts on the parasites, which flavor most of their discussions and conflicts throughout the game. However, most of the group are against the parasites and want to see them removed as soon as possible.
Astarion is the exception. Rather than be put off or frightened by the parasites, he is intrigued. He encourages the player character to experiment with and ultimately embrace their new Illithid powers in BG3, especially when they can be used to manipulate and control others. Astarion is one of the few companions who will gain approval when the player uses their abilities, rather than losing it. This is partially due to his desire to maintain his freedom and avoid returning to Cazador's control and partially because the parasite removes his vampiric weaknesses, allowing him to walk in the sun.
Seeing Astarion's take on the parasites in Baldur's Gate 3 is a breath of fresh air, and prevents the player feeling that everyone is in complete agreement regarding how to handle their situation. It also encourages players to experiment with their Illithid abilities, which they might otherwise ignore given how much companions like Wyll or Lae'zel caution against them. A large part of Baldur's Gate 3's appeal comes from its replayability, and going along with Astarion and embracing the parasite's influence makes for a particularly unique playthrough that explores some of the darker elements of the game's world.
Baldur's Gate 3 is currently available for PC, with a PlayStation 5 version available on September 6. An Xbox Series X/S release is planned for late 2023.
