Wondering if you can become a vampire in Baldur’s Gate 3? With the level of freedom Larian Studios has given us in this massive RPG, it’s only natural to think if you can become a bloodsucking fiend. After all, one of your first companions is Astarion, a charming half-elf vampire spawn. He has a tragic backstory, a thirst for blood, and a pretty compelling argument for biting your neck. His availability at your party practically begs the question: can your character Tav follow the same path?
Character creation in Baldur’s Gate 3 already has more options than even the most patient DM’s tabletop campaign, but the vampire isn’t one of the playable races. Between Illithid powers, magical shifts, and all sorts of supernatural deals you can make, turning into a vampire seems like it should be possible. In this guide, we’ll cover everything vampire-related in BG3, whether you can become one and all the ways you can experience vampiric powers even if full transformation isn’t in the cards.
Can You Be a Vampire in Baldur’s Gate 3?
You can’t be a vampire in the base BG3, but kind of through Astarion and a full vampire using mod. From Astarion’s vampire spawn to a vampire ascendant, you get through all the drama in his quest and the power of becoming undead. You get access to his bite ability to join him in defeating Cazador, and maybe even shape his path to freedom. But if you want your character to completely shift to a vampire, you’ll need to use a mod.
Astarion is a vampire spawn, turned by the ancient and twisted Cazador Szarr, who is more of a vampire lord than a regular bloodsucker. As a party member, Astarion starts off hiding his nature. But eventually, after a few nights and a long rest during Act 1, he reveals what he is and asks permission to bite you for blood. This isn’t simply a fun romance moment (although you can romance Astarion) but the first major step in his quest line, and where the “can I become a vampire?” question seems to become real.
Throughout your BG3 journey, Astarion gets new insights into his powers and past. In Act 3, you have to decide if he should ascend into a Vampire Ascendant or reject that path. During “The Pale Elf” quest, if you support him in performing a deadly ritual involving Cazador and other vampire spawn, you’ll see Astarion turn into way more powerful, unlocking vampiric bite upgrades and new powers.
But you as the character don’t become a vampire directly through Astarion’s storyline. You’ll get to live that experience through him by sucking his blood, especially if you choose him as your main companion, but the game doesn’t allow your character to transform into a full vampire in vanilla play.
How to Become a Vampire in Baldur’s Gate 3
In Act 3, you’ll help Astarion confront Cazador in his quest to help him become an incredibly powerful Vampire Ascendant, gaining new abilities and shedding the shackles of being just a spawn. Siding with him provides you access to his vampiric bite ability that deals 2d4 piercing damage. As Astarion progresses, his bite ability can get an upgrade based on your choices in his quest. During his storyline, Astarion drinks his master’s blood, and if he does so, it turns him into a more powerful being and gives him new powers.
If you’ve pursued a romance with him, Ascended Astarion offers to turn you into a vampire spawn as well. This is the closest your player character gets to becoming a vampire in Baldur’s Gate 3. However, this is a narrative conclusion, not a playable transformation with new mechanics during the main game. You won’t get the ability to chew people or sprout fangs mid-adventure. He does grant you this, but it’s an ending, not a new beginning for gameplay.
Further in your dungeon-crawling adventures, you will also find special potions that give temporary vampire effects. These don’t turn you into such creature but do let you experience some vampire-like powers for a short time, typically until your next long rest. One example is “A Mother’s Loathing” potion you get after defeating Auntie Ethel that gives similar abilities like bloodsucker for a short period. Although these effects don’t permanently turn your character, they offer a taste of what being a vampire will be like.
Is It Possible to Become a Full Vampire in BG3?
Not in the unmodded game. You can’t decide during character creation, and pick vampire as a race. The closest you get is the previously mentioned epilogue scenario where an Ascended Astarion, if you romance Astarion, can turn you into a vampire spawn. But again, this isn’t a playable state; it’s a story beat. You don’t get to frolic through Faerûn as a newly turned vampire.
Even Astarion, if he completes the ritual, doesn’t shift to a usual full vampire but an Ascendant, which is a unique and powerful form of vampire far beyond a mere vampire spawn but different from a traditional vampire lord like Cazador Szarr aimed to be. He doesn’t possess the power to turn others into full vampires, only spawn. It’s a major ascension in power, but he’s still tied to the unique lore of BG3. The urge for master’s blood is gone, but his hunger remains despite being more manageable with his new powers.
Larian Studios introduced the vampire character element primarily for Astarion, your party member, making his story one of the most memorable in this fantastic role-playing game. Players who want to explore vampirism will find his journey deeply satisfying, even if Tav can’t become a vampire in Baldur’s Gate 3.
