Astarion/Approval

Astarion likes displays of power and cruelty, and appreciates snarkiness and mocking. He is inspired when the player gains access to areas/information by deceiving others. The player does not have to be "evil" to gain his approval, however — he approves when the player makes choices that support independence and autonomy, and when the player helps certain characters in need.

Astarion dislikes displays of weakness and does not like acts of kindness or charity that offer no reward. He disapproves when the player tries to reign him in or restrict him in some way.

The actions and choices listed on this page will raise or lower Astarion's Approval.

For more information about the approval system, see Approval.

Approval

The following story and dialogue choices will cause Astarion to gain approval.

Act One

Act 1 Spoilers! This section reveals details about the story of Baldur's Gate 3.

Ravaged Beach

• Attack the Tieflings holding Lae'zel in a cage. ( +1)
• Ask Lae'zel to say 'please' after rescuing her ( +1)
• Choose the 'Attack' dialogue option when speaking to Taman and Gimblebock

Druid Grove

• Refuse to help Zevlor persuade Kagha to let the Tieflings stay. ( +1)
• Tell Elegis that she is pathetic of being scared of a few goblins. ( +1)
• While speaking with Arron, say the refugees will be fine due to their devilish powers. ( +1)
• Tell the Tielfling kids trained by Asharak that they are going to die ( +1)
• Make Zorru bow to Lae'zel ( +1)
• After the conversation with Zorru tell Lae'zel that she is good at interrogations ( +1)
• Let Arka shoot Sazza ( +1)
• In the Underground Passage, after reviving Findal tell him you are here to finish the job and kill him. ( +1)
• When confronting Kagha about the shadow druids, choose to attack her instead of persuading her
• Telling Auntie Ethel about the tadpole in your head. ( +1)
• When speaking to Mattis, take the ring, pocket the ring and tell him you paid him in experience.
• After saving Mirkon, tell him to "stop snivelling or they'll be back."
• Attack the Tieflings
• The Dark Urge: When interacting with the squirrel Timber, warn Astarion about getting in front of your instincts. ( +1)

Sunlit Wetlands

• When entering the Sunlit Wetlands, pass the check to break the illusion, then BAA at the redcaps when you speak to them.
• Let him kill Gandrel ( +10)
• Tell Auntie Ethel about the tadpole
• Speak to Lorin and roar at him
• When Auntie Ethel's true form surrender, pass Intimidation or Deception Check to save Mayrina and obtain the power.
• After killing Auntie Ethel's true form, use the wand to resurrect Mayrina's dead husband Connor, give her the wand, then tell Astarion that it was funny

Blighted Village

• Enter the Village by either attacking the goblin an the East gate, or by persuading or performing as a Bard at the South gate. ( +1)
• Deliver the final blow to the goblin Fezzerk
• Give him Necromancy of Thay.
• Request to be compensated by Barcus Wroot after saving him. ( +1)
• Interrupt the bugbear and ogre lovers in the barn. ( +1)

The Risen Road

• Side with Karlach during Wyll's confrontation with her
• Tell the merchant Cyrel that you'll take the supplies.
• Pass the check to order Flind, the Gnoll warlord to attack the survivors in the cave instead of you. ( +1)
• Pass the check to order Flind to feast on other Gnoll. ( +1)
• Pass the check to order Flind to kill herself. ( +1)
• Obey and eliminate Rugan when asked by Zarys
• Speak to the artist and call him a slave

Goblin Camp

• Deceive the goblins, say 'you can't be serious', then fling poo at them.
• Say 'Boo' to Volo as he performs. ( +1)
• Tell Tracker Grikka (or another goblin NPC) that you will "get answers for them" when discussing their prisoners. ( +1)
• Tell Torturer Spike in the goblin camp that you will torture the prisoner.
• Tell Priestess Gut in the goblin camp that you're here to kill her.
• Remove the ring from Crusher's foot after you kneel in front of him.
• Make Crusher kiss your foot. ( +1)
• Make Crusher kiss your foot after defeating him in a fight.. ( +1)
• Continue to attack Crusher after he is defeated, if he attacks you. This will make the whole camp hostile. ( +1)
• Agree to Abdirak's endure teachings on Loviatar's love.
• Turn down the druid Halsin's request to help the grove in favor of saving yourself first.

Crèche Y'llek

• Vandalise the portrait of Vlaakith ( +1)
• When convincing Varsh Ko'kuu to give you the Githyanki egg, tell him you will use it for an omelet or sell it ( +1)
• Ask the Inquisitor how he knows so much about you. ( +1)
• Ask the Inquisitor what you'll get in return for producing the weapon. ( +1)
• Tell the Inquisitor you accept gold as a reward

Underdark

• Tell BOOOAL he is a fake god, tell him you are going to kill him and take his power
• Tell Spaw "Sure, I can handle those Duergar nearby"
• Tell Glut you will kill Spaw for him
• Tell Glut "I'll have no part of this" or "If you're so eager for blood..." option when asked to eliminate Spaw
• Ask Baelen for compensation before giving him a Misty Step scroll for escaping the Bibberbang field.
• Succeed the Athletics check and push Corsair Greymoon off of the skiff on your first voyage to Grymforge

Grymforge

• Decide to attack Morghal and Orgath after finding out they use slaves.
• Ask Ward Magmar how to get a slave of your own
• When talking to Ward Magmar about traveling to Moonrise Towers, choose "Moonrise Tower holds the answers we need"
• After finding Philomeen, talk to Lunkbug and mention she wants Laridda to move on
• Instigate a fight against Elder Brithvar by either taunting him to take your gold or suggesting involving Sergeant Thrinn in the conspiracy against Nere.
• After rescuing Nere, tell him to finish the slaves, or choose to say nothing

Camp/Conversation

• Ask Astarion how he wants to die, then choose an option.
• In camp on the first night, tell Shadowheart to remain cautious.
• Feed the Owlbear Cub when it arrives at the Camp
• Pet the Owlbear Cub in your camp.
• After he asks you to describe his beauty, choose "Is that all you want? Shallow praise?" ( +1)
• Threaten to kill Mizora during her first appearance. ( +1)

• As the Dark Urge: Confess to murdering the bard ( +1)

Raphael's deal

Meeting Raphael

• "You're mad if you think I'll make a deal with a devil." ( +1)
• "Then fix it. Or die by my hand!" ( +5)

• Tell him that you are not the devil's plaything in regards to Raphael's offer ( +1)

Vampirism

• Tell him you trust him after he reveals to you that he is a vampire. ( +5)
• Let him bite you without threats. ( +10)
• Let him bite you but threaten to stake him if he goes too far. ( +1)
• Tell the party that Astarion will remain in the party because you trust him when it is revealed to them he is a vampire, or tell the party that if they don't like [having a vampire in the party], that they can leave. ( +5)
• While asking about biting you, agree about him biting your enemies to feed him sounding good. ( +5)
• When he asks whose blood you'd hypothetically drink, choose any option. ( +1)
• While speaking about Cazador, tell him that you watch his back or keep each other safe. ( +5)

Act Two

Last Light Inn

• Tell Jaheira that you are here on holiday
• Help Mol win the game against Raphael using the Sleight of Hand, Bard, or Wizard options
• Tell His Majesty that you wanted to admire him up close, and then quietly admire him
• Decline Jaheira's wine
• Tell Isobel you should "go with the winged freak" after Flaming Fist Marcus arrives
• As The Dark Urge, after Marcus attempts to kidnap her, tell Isobel that your blood is telling you to kill her. Resist the urges, and then say, "I'm not going to follow my order. You will live."

Shadowed Battlefield

• Tell the drider that they are amazing, after watching them berate a goblin who "fed the shadows."
• Convince the drider through deception to give you the lantern
• Convince the drider through deception to walk into the shadows
• If travelling with the convoy when it is ambushed, choose to protect the convoy and maintain your cover as a True Soul.
• Tell Arabella her parents are dead

House in Deep Shadows

• Beat Oliver at hide-and-seek without being spotted

Reithwin Tollhouse

• Persuade Gerringothe Thorm that there's no one to oversee her.
• Deceive Gerringothe Thorm to make her believe she is released and all gold is hers

House of Healing

• Deceive the Sisters into killing each other
• Deceive Malus Thorm into killing himself

The Waning Moon

• Drink with Thisobald Thorm and tell him stories

Moonrise Towers

• Sever the connection between Linsella and Barnabus
• Tell Araj Oblodra that Astarion is his own person
• At Araj Oblodra's offer, tell Astarion not to do anything he doesn't want to ( +5)
• Kill Fezzerk without combat (with dialogue choice) after ordered by Ketheric Thorm
• Ask Disciple Z'rell to show something real about what the Absolute has give her
• Tell Ketheric Thorm that seeing your enemies cowed never gets old.

Gauntlet of Shar

• Persuade Balthazar to give you the bell to summon Flesh
• Tell him his scars must have hurt after the initial conversation with Raphael ( +1)
• Kill Yurgir and talk to Raphael about it, then promise Astarion you'll help him kill Cazador
• Tell him it's all part of the plan when he berates you for persuading Yurgir to let you look for something to help him out of his contract with Raphael ( +1)
• Persuade Yurgir to murder his Merregon followers, his displacer beast, and himself ( +8)

Camp/Conversation

• When he mentions enlisting Raphael's help to understand what his scars mean, reply with, "Sure, makes sense."

Act Three

Rivington

• Volunteer Lae'zel, Halsin (or maybe any other companion) to Dribbles' show
• Give Yenna coins or food
• Resist the madness when accepting the monk's curse after delivering his amulet
• Answer Zethino's third question with "Most things fear him, actually."
• Agree with Astarion that Ulma's children already dead when talking with Ulma in Gur Camp.
• As a Baldurian, tell Saer Grotpoll that his accent sounds more Rivington than Baldur's Gate ( +1)
• Get more money out of Danzo Arkwright when returning the Zhentarim letters ( +1)
• Say "Woof" a second time to Mar'hyah ( +1)

Wyrm's Crossing

• Accept the Deal with the Gnomes quest from Manip Falcäo
• Tell Adventurer Drin in Fraygo's Flophouse that "'Adventurer' means nothing here anymore."
• Pass the Investigation check to find the body in Fraygo's Flophouse during Solve the Open Hand Temple Murders questline.
• In Wyrm's Rock Fortress, convince the Flaming Fist quartermaster to trade with you.
• In Wyrm's Rock Fortress, tell Fist Reynash to get a grip.
• In Wyrm's Rock Fortress, agree to watch Gortash coronation.
• In Wyrm's Rock Fortress, escort Counsellor Florrick out of the prison.

Disapproval

The following story and dialogue choices will cause Astarion to lose approval.

Act One

Druid Grove

• Agree to help the Tieflings for Wyll
• Tell Arabella's mother that the druids are overreacting
• Persuade Kagha to free Arabella
• Swear to take the Wyvern Poison
• Persuade Kagha to fight against the Shadow Druids

Sunlit Wetlands

• Reveal his identity to the Gur
• Don't let him kill Gandrel ( -3)
• Disagree with Auntie Ethel and tell her you believe Mayrina is in trouble

Owlbear Nest

• When Shadowheart asks you not to take the items from the Selunite shrine, say "if you insist"

Goblin Camp

• Tell Eight your sorry for the loss of his parents. ( -1)

Zhentarim Hideout

• Purchase the artist at the Zhentarim Hideout

Crèche Y'llek

• When convincing Varsh Ko'kuu to give you the Githyanki egg, tell him you will raise it as your own or find a more forgiving creche ( -1)

Grymforge

• Say your disgust to Ward Magmar for using slaves.
• Pay respect to the heap of dead Deep Gnome corpses after killing Brathwen and Viss.
• Use Persuasion to convince Skickpit you're willing to kill his slavers.
• Agree to help Lunkbug by seeking Philomeen.
• Stand up for the deep gnome slaves when they're threatened by Nere once he's freed.
• Convince Elder Brithvar to free the deep gnomes after the fight with Nere.

Camp/Conversations

• Give Gale Necromancy of Thay or destroy it.
• When meeting Raphael "I'll do anything to get rid of the tadpole." ( -5)
• After meeting Raphael, be dismissive of Astarion's worries of the devil's cunning. ( -1)
• Say "He's only a cambion, we can handle him" after you first meet with [Raphael]] (Note: this dialogue option only appears if you are a Warlock)
• Letting Volo follow through with his attempt to remove the parasite
• Reject him during the Party.

Vampirism

• Tell him to leave after getting caught trying to drink blood OR while letting him drink your blood fail to stake him. ( -10 Causes him to leave)
• Forbid him to drink blood from other people. ( -5)
• While speaking about Cazador, tell him that he's on his own. ( -5)

Act Two

• Free Dolly from the Moonlantern carried by Kar'niss

Ruined Battlefield

• Tell Harper Lassandra that you can aid in traversing the darkness (Wizard only)
• Say to Harper Lassandra, "I find the best introductions are made while sitting around a fire, perhaps with drinks?" (Bard only)

Last Light Inn

• Drink the wine when talking to Jaheira inside
• Warn Isobel that Marcus plans to kidnap her

Moonrise Towers

• Convince Astarion to drink the blood of Araj Oblodra.
• Offer Fezzerk a fair fight.
• Tell the guards to release Fezzerk.
• Give up all your gold to Gerringothe Thorm.

Gauntlet of Shar

• Talk to Yurgir the Orthon instead of attacking immediately ( -2)
• Persuading Yurgir to let you search the place for him ( -2)
• Agree to peace with the rats after interacting with the broken effigy.

Mind Flayer Colony

• Use the Neural Apparatus to release everyone in the Tadpoling Centre.

Camp/Conversations

• Saying, "Are you mad?!..." when he mentions enlisting Raphael's help to understand what his scars mean.

Act Three

Rivington

• Refuse to be arrested by the Steel Watcher at the gate between Rivington and Wyrm's Crossing.
• Tell Wulbren, "Gortash is the enemy - not the Gondions. I'll find another way." when speaking to him in Angleiron's Cellar