Baldur’s Gate 3 presents players with numerous evil choices that they may be hesitant to make. Yet, there is one decision in particular that becomes difficult to overlook after witnessing the immense power it can bring to your gameplay experience.
Despite the allure of romance, power, or an opportunity to embrace their dark side, numerous players are reluctant to choose the path of ascension for Astarion. Witnessing the suffering he endured and the consequences of their actions, it is understandable why some players opt for the path of righteousness.
Despite this, it is common for fans of Baldur’s Gate 3 to choose to elevate their companion based solely on their strength, desire, or both.
The Baldur’s Gate 3 Reddit featured a post highlighting a player’s realization that they should never hold a position of power, after playing the game.
They continued, “I understand that power can corrupt, but witnessing Cazador’s actions and the sight of innocent people trapped in cages made me feel truly terrible. The thought of being confined for 170 years made me physically ill. However, when I discovered that Astarion could heal up to 72 health and cast mist form as a bonus action, any sense of remorse vanished. As they say, power corrupts.”
The decision to have Astarion ascend was a difficult one, and unfortunately, it resulted in a negative change in his character. While he did gain confidence and strength, he also began to adopt the same questionable morals as Cazador, causing many to see him as a villain.
A fellow player also recounted a comparable encounter to that of the original poster: “I recently completed my playthrough with Astarion as my main character and decided to experiment by reloading from a previous save. However, the added 1d10 necrotic damage on each of my 4 to 5 attacks per turn and the bite were surprisingly satisfying, making it difficult for me to hit that reload button.”
Some individuals tried to rationalize their actions, stating that “it appeared to be the most effective method of handling 7000 vampire spawn.”
Undoubtedly, the issue of dealing with vampire spawn is complex, but it appears that the true explanation lies in Astarion’s immense strength, especially when his class is altered.
As a monk, AA is incredibly powerful and insane. With two flurries and two hits, he can deal an extra 6D10 necrotic damage per round on top of whatever other damage he is capable of. I felt a bit guilty about using him in my Honour Mode playthrough, but his abilities were just too strong to pass up.
Naturally, some rationalized it as a result of romantic motives: “What’s more egregious – committing such actions for personal gain and advancement, or succumbing to the allure of a romanced Ascended Astarion? Ultimately, we must bear the consequences of our choices and the sins that come with them.”
One person also commented, stating: “Yes, I may have condemned 7000 souls to eternal suffering, but have you thought about the fact that I now have a handsome vampire referring to me as his treasure every morning? Have you taken that into consideration?”
One of the most enjoyable aspects of Baldur’s Gate 3 is the option to engage in evil actions, which is why Larian created the Dark Urge. Whether it be driven by love, desire for power, or simply for entertainment, players of Baldur’s Gate 3 seem to have a fondness for making morally questionable choices.
Leave a Reply