Astarion Companion Build Guide

Welcome to my Astarion Build Guide for Baldur’s Gate 3! This Companion Build Guide will show you the best skills and gear, that will help you create a deadly Astarion Assassin Build in BG3. You can follow the options below to play with Astarion as your main character or recruit him as a valuable Companion for your party.

Table of Contents

• Who is Astarion
  • How to Recruit Astarion
  • Origin Info
• Best Class
• Rogue Class
  • Assassin Subclass
• Additional Info
• How to Play Astarion
• Build Leveling Options
• Best Weapon
• Best Armor

Who is Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Astarion is one of the available Origin Characters that you can choose in Baldur’s Gate 3. A Vampire with mysterious past and complex personality that can assist you while adventuring in Baldur’s Gate 3! As an origin character, you can pick Astarion at the start of the game as your main character and complete the game with him. Alternatively you can recruit him as a Companion and let him join your party.

How to Recruit Astarion in BG3?

You will meet Astarion for the first time shortly after the crash of the Nautiloid. He is standing on a road near the crashed Nautiloid, asking for help. His cry for help is nothing but a ruse to lure you near him and attack you though. Despite his initial hostile behavior, you can talk to him and recruit him easily.

Astarion Origin Info

Origin Characters have their own unique background, Class, abilities, skills and of course Race. Some of these options are impossible to change but you can alter the rest. As an Origin Character Astarion comes with the following:

• Race: High Elf
• Class: Rogue
• Bakcground: Charlatan
• Skills: Stealth, Sleight of Hand, Acrobatics, Perception, Deception, Performance, Persuasion.

It is impossible to change the Race and Background of Astarion in BG3 but we can alter his Class, abilities and skills with different options that will help more in the game! However Astarion is a great Character for Stealth Gameplay and sneak attacks, so the best way to move forward is by keeping the same Class.

What is the Best Class for Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3?

The Best Class for Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3 is Assassin Rogue! Astarion is an amazing character for stealth gameplay and sneaky attacks in Baldur’s Gate 3, which makes him an excellent Assassin Rogue. He is already starting the game as a Rogue, so you do not have to change much from his initial stats. All you have to do is wait to reach level three(3) and pick the Assassin Subclass for him. The Thief subclass is another great option for Astarion, but in this guide we are going to focus on an Assassin playthrough! Alternatively Astarion can fulfill the role of a Gloom Stalker Ranger very well too.

If you wish to pick another class for Astarion, you will have to ask the help of Withers. You can find Withers by clearing the Dank Crypt early in the game, near your starting location basically. After that Withers will join your camp and offer various services, including the ability to change Classes!

Rogue Class in Baldur’s Gate 3

The Rogue is the Class of Stealth in Baldur’s Gate 3, that makes great Assassins and Thieves! Rogues gain access to sneak attacks and other utility skills, that allow them to blend with the environment, stay hidden and strike from the Shadows. Their Expertise feature also gives them the chance to double their proficiency bonus in two skills of their choice. Their Sneak Attacks become deadlier as you level up, which makes the Rogue a fearsome combat Class. Positioning them properly in the field is very important to get the most of their arsenal however.

Assassin Rogue Subclass in BG3

The Assassin Subclass is the deadliest option a Rogue offers! Assassin restores all your Actions and Bonus Actions at the start of combat, giving you a superior advantage against your enemies. Assassin is focusing on surprising and taking down enemies that have not taken a turn yet. When played properly, an Assassin can kill enemies fast and make your party’s work easier. The Assassin Subclass unlocks the following:

• Level 3:
  • Assassin Alacrity(restore actions and bonus actions at the start of combat)
  • Assassinate: Ambush(Any successful roll against a Surprised creature is a Critical Hit)
  • Assassinate: Initiative(Advantage on attack rolls against creatures that have not taken a turn yet)
• Level 9: Infiltration Expertise(Gain the Disguise Self ritual Spell)

Astarion Build Additional Info

Below you can see the best options for Astarion as an Assassin Rogue. Which abilities to choose and the best skills you should take.

Astarion Assassin Rogue Abilities

Dexterity is the most important ability for an Astarion Assassin Build in Baldur’s Gate 3! Constitution is important for your survival as well. Astarion begins the game as a Rogue, so his abilities score is already good for the Build. You can keep the same or slightly alter them to boost constitution more. If you play with Astarion as your main character you might also want to add a few points to Charisma, for better dialogue outcomes. For a strong and deadly Astarion Rogue Assassin Build you should allocate your abilities like this:

• Strength – 8
• Dexterity – 17
• Constitution – 14
• Intelligence – 13
• Wisdom – 13
• Charisma – 10

Astarion Skills

Astarion’s initial skills are also excellent for the role of a Stealth Assassin! This is why it is best to leave them the same. Astarion has the following skills:

• Stealth
• Sleight of Hand
• Acrobatics
• Perception
• Deception
• Performance
• Persuasion

Keep your expertise points on Stealth and Sleight of Hand for the best results. You could also put one of them on Persuasion for easier dialogues!

How to Play Astarion Assassin Rogue Build in BG3

As a Rogue Assassin, Astarion is simple to play but can be deadly! At the start of combat, hide yourself and approach enemies undetected. Deal massive damage with Sneak Attacks from stealth to enemies that have not taken a turn yet and kill them fast. With the right Feat you can also melee attack first, then move away from enemies without provoking an Opportunity attack from them! Positioning Astarion properly is crucial to maximize his potential as an Assassin. Sneak behind opponents, attack them and move away to hide again.

Astarion Assassin Rogue Build Leveling Process in Baldur’s Gate 3

Below you can find the best options for Astarion in every level. Follow these recommendations to create a powerful Astarion Build that can sneak behind enemies and finish them fast!

Level 1 Best Options

As a High Elf, Astarion can pick a Cantrip at the start of the game. You will not be using it a lot during your playthrough but is nice to have. Pick Fire Bolt to have an extra source of ranged damage. At Level 1 you will also gain access to Astarion’s main attack as a Rogue in Baldur’s Gate 3, Sneak Attack for melee or ranged! Sneak Attack deals extra damage to enemies you have advantage against.

Level 2 Best Options

At level 2 Astarion unlocks a few helpful actions:

• Cunning Action: Hide. Hide from enemies and approach undetected or escape.
• Cunning Action: Dash. Cover more distance this turn.
• Cunning Action: Disengage. Retreat without provoking Opportunity Attacks.

Level 3 Best Options

When you reach level 3 you can finally pick your subclass! For this Astarion Build, choose the Assassin Subclass! Assassin unlocks the following features:

• Assassin’s Alacrity, Immediately restore Actions and Bonus Actions at the start of Combat
• Assassinate: Initiative, gain advantage against enemies that have not taken a turn yet
• Assassinate: Ambush, Successful Attack Rolls against Surprised enemies are Critical Hits

Level 4 Best Astarion Build Options

When you reach level 4 you can pick your first Feat! Feats are powerful passive effects that can enhance your play style or help you alter your build! You can pick 4 Feats for your Astarion Build at levels 4, 8, 10 and 12! For the first Feat, pick Ability Improvement and add 2 points to Dexterity. Like this your Dexterity score will rise up to 19 and your Astarion Assassin Build will be more effective. The Best Feats for Astarion in Baldur’s Gate 3 are Ability Improvement, Savage Attacker, Dual Wielder and Mobile!

Level 5 Best Options

When you hit level 5 you unlock the Uncanny Dodge feature that allows you to take half damage when an attack hits you.

Level 6 Best Options

At Level 6 you gain Expertise in two skills you are proficient in! You can pick between Acrobatics, Perception, Deception, Performance and Persuasion! Persuasion, Acrobatics and Perception are the best options, so pick the two you prefer the most.

Level 7 Best Options

At level 7 you unlock the Evasion Class Feature that lets you dodge out of the way of certain spells. When a spell or effect would deal half damage on a successful Saving Throw, it deals no damage if you succeed and only half damage if you fail.

Level 8 Best Astarion Rogue Build Options

At Level 8 you can pick another Feat for your Astarion Build. Choose Dual Wielder, that allows you to use Two-Weapon Fighting even if your weapons are not Light and grants +1 bonus to armor class while wielding a melee weapon in each hand. You cannot dual wield Heavy Weapons.

Level 9 Best Options

At level 9 you unlock the Infiltration Expertise Subclass action that lets you adopt a new identity by changing your appearance until the next Long Rest.

Level 10 Best Options

At level 10 you can pick your third Feat! Pick Savage Attacker for even deadlier attacks. With this Feat when you make melee weapon attacks you roll your damage dice twice and use the highest result.

Level 11 Best Options

At Level 11 you unlock the Reliable Talent feature. When you make an Ability Check with a Skill you are proficient with, the lowest result you can roll on the die is 10.

Level 12 Best Astarion Assassin Rogue Build Options BG3

For your final Feat unlock Mobile. Mobile allows you to move 3m more per turn, cannot provoke Opportunity Attacks if you move after making a melee attack and when you Dash, Difficult Terrain does not slow you down.

What is the Best Weapon for Astarion Build in Baldur’s Gate 3?

The Best Weapons for the Astarion Assassin Rogue Build in Baldur’s Gate 3 is the Crimson Mischief and Bloodthirst. Crimson Mischief is a Legendary Shortsword that offers the following effects:

• Prey upon the Weak: This Weapon deals an additional 1-4 Piercing damage against targets with 50% of their hit points of fewer.
• Weapon Enchantment +2
• Light
• Finesse
• (Main Hand Only) Redvein Savagery: When you make an attack with advantage, the target takes an additional 7 piercing damage.
• (Off-Hand Only) Crimson Weapon: When you make an attack with your off-hand weapon, you can add your Ability Modifier to the damage of the attack.

Bloodthirst is a Legendary Weapon and one of the Best Daggers in BG3 that offers the following effects:

• Improved Critical: The number you need to roll a Critical Hit while attacking is reduced by 1. This effect can stack.
• Weapon Enchantment +2
• Light
• Finesse
• Thrown
• Armor Class +1
• Bound Weapon
• (Main Hand Only) Exploit Weakness: Creatures hit with this weapon receive Vulnerability to Piercing damage.
• (Off-Hand Only) True Strike Riposte: When a creature misses you with a melee attack, you may retaliate and gain True Strike

You can acquire both weapons by killing and looting Orin in Bhaal Temple during the third Act of the game.

Early in the game you can dual wield the Hunter’s Dagger and Sussur Dagger. The Hunter’s Dagger offers the Rupturing effect which makes enemies hit ruptured if they fail a Constitution Saving Throw and you can buy it from Roah Moonglow inside the Goblin Camp in Act 1. To obtain the Sussur Dagger you will have to complete the “Finish the Masterwork Weapon Quest” that you get in the Blighted Village(Act 1). The Sussur Dagger silences enemies on hit which makes it a great weapon to fight mages. For your ranged weapon use the Hellfire Hand Crossbow. A Very Rare Crossbow that inflicts Burning to enemies if you hit them while hiding or invisible. You can loot it from Yurgir inside the Gauntlet of Shar in Act 2.

Early in the game you can use Harold. Harold is a rare Heavy Crossbow that you can get from Zarys by returning her the chest in Find the Missing Shipment quest. You can find Zarys in the Zhentarim Hideout which is also one of the ways you can enter into the Underdark in Act 1. Harold offers:

• Haroldish Doom: When you deal damage to a target with a ranged weapon, it must succeed a Charisma Saving Throw or be Baned for 2 turns.
• Weapon Enchantment +1

The table below shows you the best Gear for the Astarion Assassin Rogue Build, as well as good alternative options to use early in BG3!

Piece	Best	Early Game
Head	Assassin of Bhaal Cowl or Shadow of Menzoberranzan	Covert Cowl
Cape	Shade-Slayer Cloak	Cloak of Protection
Chest	Bhaalist Armor	Spidersilk or Penumbral Armor
Gloves	Bhaalist Gloves	Gloves of Power
Boots	Helldusk Boots	Disintegrating Night Walkers
Necklace	Amulet of Misty Step	Amulet of Misty Step
Ring	Killer’s Sweetheart	Smuggler’s Ring
Ring	Ring of Regeneration	Ring of Twilight
Melee Weapon	Crimson Mischief	Hunter’s Dagger
Melee Weapon	Bloodthirst	Sussur Dagger
Ranged Weapon	Hellfire Hand Crossbow	Harold

What is the Best Armor for Astarion Build in Baldur’s Gate 3?

The Assassin of Bhaal Cowl or the Shadow of Menzoberranzan are the best Head Armor pieces you can wear for the build. Assassin of Bhaal Cowl offers better initiative rolls and is focusing on offense while the Shadow of Menzoberranzan allows you to use the Shrouded in Shadow action and hide yourself. You can buy the Assassin of Bhaal Cowl from Echo of Abazigal in the murder tribunal but only after you become an unholy assassin(Act 3). You can get the Shadow of Menzobberanzan as a reward by assisting the Myconid Colony in Act 1.

The Shade-Slayer Cloak is the best Cape Armor for the build that you can buy from Sticky Dondo in Act 3! This Cloak reduces the number you need to roll a Critical Hit while attacking by 1. The Bhaalist Armor and Bhaalist Gloves are the best Armor pieces for Chest and gloves that you can also buy from Echo of Abazigal in the murder tribunal. The Bhaalist Armor is a Very Rare Light Armor that makes nearby enemies vulnerable to piercing damage while the Bhaalist Gloves is a Very Rare Armor piece that offers the Garrote Action.

The Helldusk Boots is a nice boots option that you can get by looting a gilded chest in Gortash’s room on the top floor of Wyrm’s Rock Fortress. With them you get:

• Steadfast: You cannot be forcibly moved by a foe’s spells or actions, and you ignore the effects of Difficult Terrain.
• Infernal Evasion: When you fail a Saving Throw, you may use your reaction to succeed instead.
• Hellcrawler Class Action

Amulet of Misty Step is a nice necklace that you can get early in the game from a Gilded Chest in the Goblin Camp in Act 1 and provides access to Misty Step! Killer’s Sweatheart and Ring of Regeneration are finally the best ring options for the Rogue Assassin Build in Baldur’s Gate 3! You can get the Killer’s Sweatheart ring by defeating yourself in the Self-Same Trial inside the Gauntlet of Shar(Act 2). The ring grants you the Executioner effect: When you kill a creature, your next Attack Roll will be a Critical Hit. Once spent, this effect refreshes after a Long Rest. You can buy the Ring of Regeneration from Rolan at the Sorcerous Sundries in Act 3 and get Combat Regeneration: At the beginning of your turn, the ring activates and heals you for 1-4 hit points.

There are a few great alternative items that you can get early and will help you advance your game until you can get one of the Best Armor pieces above.

• Covert Cowl reduces the number you need to roll a Critical Hit while attacking by 1 while obscured and you can get it from a meenlock creature in the Last Light Inn Cellar(Act 2).
• Cloak of Protection offers a +1 to Armor Class and Saving Throw and is a nice Cape Armor that you can get from Quartermaster Talli(loot or buy) in the Last Light Inn in Act 2.
• Spidersilk Armor is a rare Light Armor that you can loot from Minthara in the Goblin Camp. It grants a +1 bonus to Stealth Checks.
• Penumbral Armor grants a +3 bonus to Stealth checks while obscured and you can get it inside the Abandoned House near the Last Light Inn, in a locked chest(Act 2).
• Gloves of Power inflicts penalties to enemies hit and grants Sleight of Hand +1. You can loot it from Za’Krug in front of the Grove in Act 1.
• Disintegrating Night Walkers give you Misty Step and can’t be Enwebbed, Entangled, Ensnared and can’t slip on grease or ice. You can loot them from Nere in Grymforge(Act 1).
• Smuggler’s Ring grants bonuses to Stealth and Sleight of Hand and you can get it from a skeleton near the broken bridge section at the Risen Road(Act 1).
• Ring of Twilight grants a +1 bonus to armor class while obscured and you can get it from a Traveller’s Chest in the Ruined Battlefield(Act 2).

The above options will help you create a powerful Astarion Assassin Rogue Build in Baldur’s Gate 3, that you can use as your main character or as a party Companion! For more Baldur’s Gate 3 content you can take a look at my Baldur’s Gate 3 Builds and Baldur’s Gate 3 Guides!