Baldur’s Gate 3: Illithid Powers Guide (2024)

FAQs

Is there any downside to using illithid powers in BG3? ›

To summarise:

Using illithid powers - Has no bearing on the story, and makes you more powerful over time, but companions will disapprove. In terms of headcanon, using them is best for those aiming to side with the Absolute at the end of the game.

As you learn how to unlock the Illithid powers, you might notice there's not a lot to choose from at first. Among those first options, Favorable Beginnings has to be the best one. This power is one of the few that isn't limited to combat encounters only, and in reality it shines the most in social situations.

As useful as they are, the decision over whether to give companions Illithid Powers is entirely up to the player. They may choose to avoid imposing this burden on characters who are explicitly averse to it, like Lae'zel, or grant it to those who want it most, like Gale and Astarion.

At the end of Act 2, you'll get the chance to access the outer ring of illithid powers (including all of the basic ones without spending any parasites). This choice happens during the main story and involves the Astral-Touched Tadpole—I'm keeping this vague to avoid big spoilers.

You can't turn into a Mind Flayer by accident, and there's no Illithid power threshold that pushes you over the edge if you unlock too many. You can fill almost your entire brain with tadpoles, and, aside from you gaining new powers, nothing happens.

On the whole, there aren't many downsides to becoming half-Illithid, at least in the short term. For a slightly uglier appearance, you'll gain access to some powerful abilities and the option to become a full Mind Flayer later in the story if you wish.

Avoiding Attacks Can Boost Survivability

However, Charm is a similar feature that affects enemies in combat, where tadpole-affected players will be able to focus on their newfound psionic abilities to force enemies to stop their hostilities. As a Passive Feature, Charm allows players to enchant an attacker.

If you're trying to be a true hero in Baldur's Gate 3, completing whatever morally good deeds that you can, then you'll want to decline the chance to transform. If, on the other hand, you're hoping to side with the Absolute, then by all means evolve into a half-illithid, and later, an illithid.

No, if you want the Awakened Illithid Powers and be able to cast Illithid abilities as bonus action on your main character, then this character must sit on Zaith'isk Chair and pass all three skill checks.

After letting Astarion take a bite from you, you'll be afflicted with the Bloodless condition. This condition gives you a -1 penalty to Attack Rolls, Saving Throws, and Ability Checks, which is nearly every interaction you'll run into in this game. It's a heavy penalty you take for allowing Astarion some of your blood.

Can you convince Astarion to evolve? ›

Astarion is extremely reluctant to take the tadpole, as he recalls the pain of his vampiric transformation. However, he can be convinced. If Astarion's personal quest has not been resolved, he can be coerced if the player is half-illithid: [WISDOM] Enter his mind, tempt him with the wonders of your new-found form.

If Gale does not agree to return with Mystra, he will return back to the land as an Illithid permanently. Illithid Gale has the option to try to rise to Godhood but will be struck down, just like if Gale remains human.

Yes, There Are Consequences For Using Illithid Powers In BG3

She'll become disgusted if the player character repeatedly relies on Illithid Powers, which may lock out certain options. Lae'zel is one of the best companions in Baldur's Gate 3, so it's worth modulating the use of Illithid Powers to maintain her approval.

In fact, the appearance change associated with evolving into a Partial-Illithid may be enough to convince some fans to forego the process altogether. Players that prioritize roleplaying over gaining powerful abilities may also find evolving undesirable.

While it is possible to become an illithid, you should know ahead of time that THIS CAN RUIN YOUR BUILD! Once you transform into a full blown mindflayer, your ability scores will be altered to suit your new form. Before my transformation, my rogue assassin had 20 Dexterity.

You can only use Illithid Wisdom a few times each day before you must Long Rest to replenish. You will not turn into a Mindflayer if you continuously use Illithid Wisdom. But you will start having scenes when you Long Rest, where you feel queasy and weird.

My question is this: I've learned from some other players (including bloggers) that throughout the game and at the final too, not using/upgrading an illithid's abilities does not reward or compensate for the player. Including with thematic game achievement in the player's profile.

Side effects of Parasite Powers in Baldur's Gate 3

However, that's not really the case - you can consume as many as you like, but you'll be faced with the opportunity to evolve your tadpole to the next stage of ceremorphosis at a crucial juncture near the start of Act 3.

Although Baldur's Gate 3 presents using the Astral-Touched Tadpole as an important choice, the largest consequences of using it are mostly cosmetic. As a result, choosing not to use the tadpole ends up locking characters out of very powerful abilities.