What Happens If You Poison Ambrus in The Blood of Dawnwalker?

What happens if you poison Ambrus in The Blood of Dawnwalker? The Ambrus duel is one of the game’s most consequential encounters, and the poison plot surrounding it creates a web of choices that most players only partially understand. This guide explains Iulian Codrin’s scheme, what each dialogue option at the toast actually does, how poisoning changes the boss fight, and the ripple effects that follow you into the endgame.

The Setup: Iulian Codrin’s Poison Plot

Before the Ambrus duel, you are approached by Iulian Codrin — a scheming courtier who wants Ambrus dead but cannot act openly. Iulian offers you a vial of poison and asks you to slip it into Ambrus’s drink during the pre-duel toast. The game presents this as a straightforward choice, but the reality is more complex.

What Iulian does not tell you:

• The poison is slow-acting, not instant
• Ambrus is a vampire lord with supernatural resistance
• Iulian has his own agenda, and you are a tool in it
• There are multiple ways the poisoning can go wrong

The Toast: What Each Choice Actually Does

The toast before the duel is where the poisoning decision plays out. The game offers several dialogue and action options, each with distinct consequences:

Option 1: Poison Ambrus’s Drink

If you follow Iulian’s plan and poison Ambrus’s drink:

• Ambrus is weakened: The poison reduces his health and damage output for the duel, making the fight noticeably easier
• Iulian is pleased: His standing with you improves, and he becomes a minor ally in court politics
• Ambrus notices: Depending on your subsequent dialogue choices, Ambrus may realize he has been poisoned. If he does, the fight becomes harder than it would have been without poison — he enters an enraged state with faster attacks
• Story consequence: Poisoning Ambrus marks you as someone who uses underhanded tactics. Certain NPCs react differently to you afterward

Option 2: Poison Both Drinks

A hidden option exists to poison both Ambrus’s drink and your own. This is a high-risk, high-reward path:

• Both fighters are weakened: The duel becomes a battle of attrition between two poisoned combatants
• Iulian is furious: He did not intend for you to share the risk, and his reaction is hostile
• Ambrus respects you: Surviving your own poison earns Ambrus’s grudging respect, which has positive consequences later
• The fight is harder: Even weakened, the poison affects you more than it affects Ambrus

Option 3: Refuse to Poison and Warn Ambrus

If you reject Iulian’s plot and warn Ambrus:

• The duel is fair: No poison, no modifications. Ambrus fights at full strength
• Iulian becomes an enemy: He will remember your refusal and may interfere with your plans later
• Ambrus trusts you: Warning him earns significant goodwill, which affects dialogue options and potential alliances
• The fight is harder: No weakness exploit means a straightforward, challenging duel

Option 4: Expose Iulian Publicly

The rarest option: use the toast to publicly accuse Iulian of plotting against Ambrus:

• Iulian is removed from court: He faces consequences for his scheming, and his political network collapses
• Ambrus is grateful: Public loyalty earns the most trust of any option
• The duel is fair: Same as warning Ambrus — no poison advantage
• Court standing improves: The court respects those who act with honor, even against their own interests

How Poisoning Changes the Boss Fight

The Ambrus duel has three versions depending on your choices:

Version	Trigger	Difficulty
Poisoned Ambrus	Ambrus drinks the poison, does not notice	Easiest; reduced health and damage
Enraged Ambrus	Ambrus drinks the poison, notices	Hardest; faster attacks, higher damage
Fair Duel	No poison or exposed plot	Standard; the intended experience

For full fight strategies, see the Ambrus boss guide.

Long-Term Consequences

The poison choice does not exist in isolation. It affects your standing with multiple factions and characters:

• Court reputation: Poisoning marks you as cunning but untrustworthy. Exposing Iulian marks you as honorable but dangerous
• Iulian’s fate: Depending on your choice, Iulian becomes an ally, an enemy, or is removed from the story entirely
• Ambrus’s relationship: How you handle the duel determines whether Ambrus becomes a reluctant ally, a neutral party, or a future enemy
• Endgame variations: The Ambrus relationship affects dialogue and minor events during the final assault

Which Choice Is Best?

There is no objectively correct answer, but community consensus favors warning Ambrus or exposing Iulian:

• The fair duel is the intended experience, and the poison advantage is not worth the reputation cost
• Iulian is not a reliable ally; his “help” comes with strings attached
• Ambrus’s trust is more valuable than an easier fight

That said, players who struggle with the duel may legitimately prefer the poison path. The game does not punish you harshly for it — it simply remembers.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you poison Ambrus without him noticing?

Yes, if you select the right dialogue options after the toast. The key is to act naturally and not draw attention to the drink. Specific dialogue choices that seem casual or deferential are the ones that avoid suspicion.

What happens to Iulian if you expose him?

Iulian is removed from court and does not appear again in the current playthrough. His removal has minor positive effects on court politics, as he was a destabilizing influence.

Does poisoning Ambrus affect the ending?

Not directly. The seven endings are determined by ally questlines and final quest dialogue. However, Ambrus’s relationship with you affects the epilogue and certain dialogue during the endgame.

Can you get the poison vial back if you change your mind?

No. Once you accept the vial from Iulian, you cannot return it. If you decide not to use it, simply do not select the poison option at the toast. The vial disappears from your inventory after the duel regardless.

Related Guides

• Ambrus Boss Guide — full fight strategy for all three versions
• All Choices & Consequences — how decisions ripple through the game
• Court Activities — court politics and faction standing
• What Happens If You Drain Ambrus? — the post-duel choice
• Endgame Checklist — what to prepare before the final assault