How to Beat Cazador in BG3: Completing & Solving Strategies

Select Language:

In Act 3 of Baldur’s Gate 3, players face the climax of personal stories, including Astarion’s, a vampire spawn enslaved for 200 years by Vampire Lord Cazador. You will have a chance to help Astarion confront his former master and stop a deadly blood ritual that requires 7,000 sacrifices.

Cazador’s quest for divine power threatens Baldur’s Gate, and defeating him is a major challenge. With the right approach, however, you can turn the battle in your favor. This guide explains how to face Cazador and offers strategies to ensure victory.

Approaching Cazador with Astarion

It’s tempting to bring Astarion along for the final fight. But if he’s with you when you face Cazador, he will lose control and attack the villain regardless of your dialogue choices. This causes Cazador to lock Astarion into the ritual, rendering him unable to move while he remains part of the process. The fight is limited to three turns, after which Astarion and all 7,000 vampire spawn disintegrate. Cazador then turns into a much stronger Vampire Ascendant.

If Astarion gets trapped in the ritual, you can use the Help action to free him during combat or kill some of the spawn—including Astarion—to prevent Cazador from ascending. During the boss fight, Cazador gets a +9 initiative bonus and cannot be surprised, although his minions can.

How to include Astarion without getting him captured

When entering Cazador’s location, don’t go straight to him. Instead, open your characters menu, ungroup Astarion, and leave him at the top of the stairs. Let the other party members talk to Cazador first. Initiate the fight, then switch to Astarion to have him run in and join the battle. This way, he will appear during combat rather than attacking instantly and being captured.

Approaching Cazador without Astarion

If Astarion is not with you, Cazador will recognize your connection. You can try a Deception check to promise him you’ll bring Astarion later, and he might let you leave. Otherwise, the conversation will escalate into combat. Without Astarion, you’ll face the full boss fight unequipped to handle his initial onslaught.

Cazador’s Stats

Cazador is a high-level Vampire (level 12), undead, with an AC of 21 and over 200 HP. His notable traits include:

Strength: 18
Dexterity: 18*
Constitution: 18
Intelligence: 17*
Wisdom: 15*
Charisma: 18

He has saving throw proficiencies in certain areas and resistances to non-magical and magical attacks, with immunity to non-magical weapons. His features include:

Alert: +5 initiative, cannot be surprised
Arcane Enchantment: +1 spell save DC and attack rolls
Vampiric Traits: Regeneration, legendary resistance, and spellcasting abilities like Call Lightning and Misty Escape
Sunlight Hypersensitivity: Takes 20 radiant damage at dawn and has disadvantage on attack and ability checks in sunlight

Given his toolkit, Cazador is a dangerous foe. Use enchanted weapons, spells like daylight, and strategies to counter his regeneration.

Supporting enemies (“Backup”)

He is assisted by creatures such as:

Predator Werewolves: Level 11, with high attack damage but low AC. They can multi-attack if prone or their health drops below 60%. They’re immune to non-magical attacks—so use magic weapons.
Fallen Gur Hunters: Level 6 Ghasts that swarm and Poison your group. They resist most damage types and can incapacitate with supportive spells like Eyebite.
Chatterteeth: Undead skeletons that cast supportive spells like Eyebite to incapacitate party members. Vulnerable to bludgeoning damage, they are easier to defeat with blunt weapons.
Bats and Other Creatures: These swarm targets and can be eliminated with area spells such as Sunbeam or Chain Lightning. They have high DEX and are vulnerable to bludgeoning.

Tactics for the fight

Equip your melee fighters with magical weapons to bypass resistance.
Use radiant damage spells to prevent Cazador’s healing.
Rescue Astarion early to keep him alive and fighting.
Exploit his sunlight weakness with spells like daylight or effects that create sunlight.
Cast area spells to eliminate groups of enemies quickly.
Use Turn Undead (if available) against Ghasts and other undead.
Knock enemies off the edge of the ritual grounds—this kills them instantly, although Cazador himself can’t be pushed off due to patch updates.
Displacement and knockback effects are highly effective, particularly against weaker or vulnerable enemies.

Final steps

To defeat Cazador, you may choose to kill him in his sarcophagus when he’s retreating or confront him during the ritual. Approaching him with Astarion allows a dramatic showdown, where you can either help Astarion ascend or stop him from becoming a monster by killing him instead.

If you finish him off without Astarion present, you can choose to kill him or leave him alive. Using spells like Detect Thoughts can give you insight into his past, influencing your choice.

Defeating Cazador requires strategic planning, understanding his weaknesses, and managing his supporters. Careful use of magic, positioning, and timing will be key to overcoming one of Baldur’s Gate 3’s toughest enemies.