In Baldur’s Gate 3, your character can choose to evolve into an Illithid or Mind Flayer as the story progresses.
Illithids are a race of powerful psionic beings with unique biology and a thirst for brains.
This article will give everything you need about the Illithid Transformation in BG3, with its benefits and limitations.
Table of Contents Show
What Is Illithid In Baldur’s Gate 3?
In Baldur’s Gate 3, Illithids, or Mind Flayers, are a fascinating and formidable race of creatures.
They have a distinct appearance with their tentacled faces and humanoid bodies, which can be pretty unsettling to encounter.
These beings possess incredible psychic abilities, allowing them to manipulate the minds of others and control them to their will.
Additionally, Illithids also crave brains, which they consume to gain knowledge and enhance their powers.
This insatiable hunger drives them to seek out victims and perform horrifying acts of mind control.
Their presence in Baldur’s Gate 3 adds an element of mystery and danger to the game’s storyline.
Moreover, interacting with Illithids can lead to intense battles and challenging encounters.
Their psychic abilities make them formidable adversaries, as they can quickly incapacitate or dominate their opponents.
What Is Illithid Evolution In BG3?
Illithid evolution in BG3 is how a humanoid becomes an Illithid or Mind Flayer.
The Illithid tadpole, a parasite injected into a humanoid host’s brain, usually starts this process.
Then, the tadpole slowly consumes the host’s brain and is replaced by Illithid tissue.
The host undergoes a physical and mental transformation over several weeks or months, ultimately evolving into a fully-fledged Illithid.
Moreover, this evolution is often driven by the consumption of brains, which grants them knowledge and enhances their psychic abilities.
As the game progresses, you may encounter different stages of Illithid Evolution, each presenting new challenges and dangers.
Therefore, get ready to face the ever-evolving and formidable Illithids as you delve deeper into the world of Baldur’s Gate 3.
However, these encounters also present opportunities for intriguing quests and the chance to uncover the secrets surrounding the Illithids’ existence in the game world.
During this time, the host will experience several physical and mental changes, including:
- Increased strength and intelligence
- The development of psionic abilities
- A loss of humanity
- An addiction to eating brains
Benefits Of Illithid Evolution
Here are some of the benefits of Illithid evolution in Baldur’s Gate 3:
- Increased Strength And Intelligence: Illithids are physically and mentally stronger than humans, and they will significantly boost their strength and intelligence scores.
- Psionic Powers: Illithids are naturally gifted in psionics, and you will gain access to several powerful psionic abilities, such as telepathy, telekinesis, and mind control.
- Resistance To Mind Control: Illithids naturally resist mind control, and you will also gain this resistance.
- A Longer Lifespan: Illithids can live hundreds of years, much longer than the average human.
- Access To Illithid Technology: Illithids have access to advanced technology that is not available to humans, such as mind flayer ships and Illithid weapons.
Limitations Of Illithid Evolution
Here are some of the limitations of Illithid Evolution in BG3:
- Loss Of Humanity: Illithids have no empathy for other creatures and are inherently cruel. This is a significant limitation for those who value their humanity.
- Addiction To Eating Brains: Illithids are addicted to eating brains and must consume brains regularly to survive. So, those who do not want to eat brains have limitations.
- Potential For Corruption: Illithids are naturally attracted to power and domination, and these desires can easily corrupt them. This can lead to Illithids becoming evil and destructive creatures.
- The Risk Of Death: The process of Illithid evolution is dangerous, and there is a risk of death. It is a limitation for those unwilling to risk their lives.
The Bottom Line
The Illithid evolution is a significant decision that players should not take lightly as the process can take several weeks or months to complete.
There are benefits and drawbacks to consider, and the choice is up to the individual.
Additionally, those who undergo Illithid evolution will gain powerful psionic abilities, increased strength and intelligence, and resistance to mind control.
However, they will also lose their humanity, become addicted to eating brains, and be at risk of corruption.
