Baldur's Gate 3 has some intriguing characters, but very few can match the charisma of Astarion. As soon as you meet the enigmatic companion, you'll probably wonder whether you can become a vampire in Baldur’s Gate 3. Well, we have the answers, but it does involve digging into spoilers, so be warned.
Vampirism plays a key role in the gameplay and story of Baldur's Gate 3. One important thing to know about Astarion is that they are not a fully-fledged vampire, so they don't quite share the same autonomy that pure vampires do. But to get Astarion as a companion in your party, you need to pass one of three Charisma checks to bring them along on your adventure.
Before we dig deeper into spoiler territory and talk more about vampirism in Baldur's Gate 3, check out our class tier list if you haven't yet figured out which class you want to play. We've also got a comprehensive Steam Deck settings guide for the game to help you get the best experience possible.
What's the difference between Vampire Spawn and vampires in Baldur's Gate 3?
Astarion is a Vampire Spawn, which means that he has gained eternal life and needs to rely on blood to sustain himself. But he cannot become a true vampire unless he feeds on the vampire that made him. This is something that has not yet happened in Act 1, but he might be able to turn into a fully-fledged vampire in the future once the full game is released.
Vampire Spawn do not have the same abilities as true vampires. Astarion's master, the evil and sadistic Cazador, was a very cruel being who abused him. Astarion was forced to feed on animals and has suffered a great deal, but he is no longer under his old master's influence.
click to enlargeHow to become a vampire in Baldur's Gate 3
Do note that the game is still in early access and it will not be out until August 3. But the entirety of Baldur's Gate 3 Act 1 is available to play, and there are some important story interactions with Astarion that can affect your journey moving forward. These events might just allow you to become a vampire yourself.
It is currently not possible to become a vampire in Baldur's Gate 3, but there is an interesting event that happens in the story to this effect. You need to progress through Act 1, and then you will eventually catch Astarion trying to feed on you in the camp. You can either put a stop to his actions or allow him to feed.
You can choose to consent and let him feed on you, but you need to pass one of three Charisma checks or you will end up dying to him. The bite will not infect you according to the lore, but the scene ends with a monologue from the main character. The implications of your decision are not made clear and remain ambiguous. But if we can find a way to turn Astarion into a fully-fledged vampire, we might therefore turn into a vampire ourselves.
We hope we were able to shed some light on whether you can become a vampire in Baldur's Gate 3. For more content, check out our multiplayer guide if you want to play local or online co-op. Single players should also check out our solo guide in case you were wondering if Baldur's Gate can be played without a team.
For more articles like this, take a look at our Guides and Baldur's Gate 3 page.