Should You Use Illithid Powers in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Advantages of Using Illithid Powers in Baldur’s Gate 3

Infecting your character by consuming more tadpoles seems like a horrendous idea but it does come with certain benefits that cannot be obtained by upgrading your build or by moving up the skill tree. Upon acquiring an Illithid tadpole from other infected NPCs, you can spend them to unlock an Illithid power of your choice.

Unlocking these powers will build another skill tree of sorts, specific to your Illithid abilities. Powers highlighted with a gray icon are passive skills while those with red icons are active skills.  Even though some of these abilities were restricted to classes during the early access, players can now use any ability regardless of their opted class.

Here are some of the most notable Illithid powers in the game:

• Favorable Beginnings: The first attack roll or ability check against any target gains a bonus equal to your proficiency

• Ability Drain: For every one of your attack rolls, your target’s corresponding ability is drained by one

• Supernatural Attraction: Teleport to another target that is also affected by the Mindflayer tadpole.

• Illithid Expertise: You have deepened your sense of self through which you have gained expertise in Persuasion, Deception, and Intimidation checks.

• Displacer Beast Shape: Transform into a beast that has 85HP and can displace itself and its enemies. You gain the attributes of the displacer beast while also maintaining Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores.

Disadvantages of using Illithid powers in Baldur’s Gate 3

Using these powers arguably gives you an unfair advantage in certain scenarios. However, there are also a few negative ramifications to this action. Some of your companions will despise you for using the tadpole powers and they will certainly let you know through a dialogue. It will limit your dialogue options and also reduce your interactions with them. 

Predictably, your character will also have physical changes as they develop black veins which indicate that they are turning into a partial Illithid. Of course, if you keep using these powers you will turn into a full-blown Mindflayer. You will receive a hidden trophy titled “Ceremorphosis” which is the process of turning into an Illithid.

Should You Use Illithid Powers?

Using Illithid powers will not lead to a drastic change in your storyline provided you only use them a few times. It certainly has its advantages that will come in handy as you’re progressing through some difficult scenarios in the game. However, if you are someone who takes roleplaying seriously, you can complete the entire game without using these powers. Keep in mind that you will not get any rewards for doing so.