Gandrel is an important character in Astarion’s questline, The Pale Elf, in Baldur’s Gate 3, as he’s on the hunt for Astarion, who is a vampire. One decision you must make is whether you should kill Gandrel or save him. And your choice will have consequences.
Should you kill Gandrel or save him in BG3?
Though the choice will differ for everyone depending on your character’s sense of morality, it is best to kill Gandrel. Astarion is a valuable party member with plenty to learn about, and losing him this early in BG3 is a waste.
You also can’t romance someone who’s dead. So, if Astarion is on your list of potential romance companions, it’s best to kill Gandrel.
Also, Gandrel’s crossbow is one of the better-ranged weapons you’ll find up to this point. If you warn the party about Gandrel or side with the vampire hunter, you won’t gain any reward other than gratitude.
You can also save Gandrel by leaving. Nothing terrible happens if you do, but you won’t get his epic crossbow.
What happens if you kill Gandrel in Baldur’s Gate 3?
The short answer is if you kill Gandrel, you earn Astarion’s favor, and he remains in your party. Then, you’ll have access to Astarion’s awesome feats and the privilege of listening to his stellar voice actor! But you can approach this interaction with Gandrel in several different ways.
You must pass a Persuasion or Intimidation check to find out who Gandrel is looking for. If you succeed, or keep re-trying until you eventually succeed, he names a vampire called Astarion. You must make one of three choices. If you inform Gandrel of Astarion’s whereabouts, it permanently removes Astarion from your party, with no opportunity to win the character back.
You get different information depending on whether you come to Gandrel with or without Astarion. Your experience will also be different if Astarion is your Origin character.
Below are your three options and the subsequent consequences or rewards for either telling Gandrel where to find Astarion, warning Astarion about Gandrel, or killing Gandrel.
| Choice | Consequences |
|---|---|
| Tell Gandrel where to find Astarion. | After you tell Gandrel where to find Astarion, this party member will disappear from your party. Other members of your camp will begin to distrust you. |
| Warn Astarion | You won’t kill Gandrel, but warn your party and Astarion of the vampire hunter. |
| Kill Gandrel | You will fight Gandrel on the spot and gain Gandrel’s Aspiration, a powerful crossbow weapon. This will also earn you favor with Astarion and the rest of your party for remaining loyal. |
How to kill Gandrel
If you choose to fight and kill Gandrel in BG3, you should know his stats, which include:
- Strength: 16
- Dexterity: 18
- Constitution: 16
- Intelligence: 12
- Wisdom: 16
- Charisma: 10
On top of knowing his stats, you should do your best to avoid or be alert of his Hunter’s Mark skill and Extra Attack. A Hunter’s mark skill reads, ‘Mark a creature as your quarry to deal an additional 1~6 whenever you hit it with a weapon attack. If the target dies before the spell ends, you can mark a new creature without expanding a spell slot.’
The Extra Attack reads, ‘Can make an additional free attack after making an unarmed or weapon attack. They don’t add together if you gain the Extra Attack feature from more than one class.’
He also has 73 Health, which makes this fight quite difficult in the beginning. But as long as you have health potions, use your Advantage, and your high-damage attacks, you should be fine. And if you’re worried, you can always save before the fight and try again until you kill him.
Reward for killing Gandrel: Gandrel’s Aspiration crossbow
Gandrel’s Aspiration crossbow is a Heavy, Two-handed, piercing crossbow you get from killing Gandrel. The crossbow’s description entails, ‘Feller of Monsters: You have Advantage against Monstrosity type enemies’ and Sacred Munitions: Infuse your crossbow bolts with holy energy.
Your ranged weapon attacks possibly inflict Turn Undead. The bow also has an Enchantment +1 and proficiency unlocks for Piercing Shot and Brace (Ranged).
Gandrel’s Aspiration crossbow is among the best-ranged weapons in the game, and it’s worth killing Gandrel for in BG3, especially if you want Astarion in your party or to romance him.
