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

Chapel Entrance

Choose the 'Attack' dialogue option when speaking to Taman and Gimblebock +1

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
Convince Topaz the bird that the key in its nest is dull +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 say 'BAA' at the redcaps when you speak to them ( +1)
Say 'BAA' at the redcaps a second time +1
Let him kill Gandrel +10
Tell Auntie Ethel about the tadpole
Speak to Lorin and roar at him
When Auntie Ethel's true form surrenders, accept the deal to let her go, with or without Mayrina +5
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 the Necromancy of Thay
Request to be compensated by Barcus Wroot after saving him from the windmill +1
Interrupt the bugbear and ogre 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

Zhentarim Hideout

Kill Rugan when Zarys asks you to do so. +1
After purchasing Oskar Fevras, tell him "my slaves do not speak until they are spoken to" and then say "I don't make jokes with my slaves". +1

Goblin Camp

Deceive the goblins, say 'you can't be serious', then fling poo at them
Boo 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 to let you show him how it's done. +1 Then torture the prisoner. +1
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
Pick a fight with Priestess Gut in the throne room or in her chambers +1
Agree to endure Abdirak's teachings on Loviatar's love +5
Turn down Halsin's request to help him save 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 and tell him you'll just kill him and take his power +5
Tell Spaw "Sure, I can handle those Duergar nearby" +1
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

Letting him bite you

Let him bite you without threatening him +10
Let him bite you but threaten to stake him if he goes too far +1

When the rest of the camp finds out Astarion is a vampire, tell them you trust him or tell them that if they don't like it, they can leave +5
Agree with Astarion that him feeding on your enemies sounds good +5
When he asks whose blood you'd hypothetically drink, choose any option +1
While speaking about Cazador, tell him that you'll watch his back or that you'll keep each other safe +5

Act Two

Act 2 Spoilers! This section reveals details about the story of Baldur's Gate 3.

Last Light Inn

Tell Jaheira that you are here on holiday +1
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
Do not drink the truth serum-spiked wine Jaheira offers you
Tell Isobel you should "go with the winged freak" after Flaming Fist Marcus arrives
Talk to the Strange Ox in the stables and agree to keep its secret +1
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 they are amazing after watching them berate a goblin who "fed the shadows"
Convince the drider through deception to give you the lantern +1
Convince the drider through deception to walk into the shadows +1
If you're traveling with the convoy when it's ambushed, protect the convoy and maintain your cover as a True Soul
Persuade Madeline to stab herself
Tell Madeline to prove she's sorry

House in Deep Shadows

Beat Oliver at hide-and-seek without being spotted

Reithwin Tollhouse

Beat Gerringothe Thorm through either persuasion or deception +1

The Waning Moon

Drink with Thisobald Thorm and tell him stories

House of Healing

Deceive the Sisters into killing each other
Deceive Malus Thorm into killing himself +1

Moonrise Towers

Sever the connection between Linsella and Barnabus
Tell Araj Oblodra that Astarion is his own person +5
Tell Astarion to not do anything he doesn't want to when Araj Oblodra asks you to pressure him into agreeing with her offer +5
Kill Fezzerk without combat (through dialogue options)
Ask Disciple Z'rell to show something real about what the Absolute has given 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 +1
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

Talking to Yurgir about his pact instead of attacking him immediately will cause Astarion to disapprove

-2, but you can pass an insight check and three Persuasion checks to get him to:

Kill his Merregon followers +2
Kill his his displacer beast +2
Kill himself +2

(Warlocks will not have to pass the insight check and will jump straight to the persuasion checks)

Failing the initial insight check will give you the option of passing a Persuasion check to tell Yurgir you'll help him search the temple for a way out of his contract with Raphael — passing this will cause Astarion to disapprove -2, but you can talk to him afterward and tell him it's all part of the plan +1

Camp/Conversation

Tell him it makes sense to enlist Raphael's help with investigating his scars
Tell Arabella her parents are dead +1

Act Three

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

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 questions correctly:

First Question: "When he's elbow deep in gore." +1
Second Question: "Revenge" or (if romancing) "Me" +1
Third Question: "Breaking a nail" or "Most things fear him, actually." +1

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
Tell the Strange Ox you will keep it's secret

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
Tell Blase Elin you're needed by Valeria and get past the drawbridge
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

House of Hope

Refuse to give your body or mind to Haarlep

Disapproval

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