Should you remove, mutilate or destroy the brain in Baldur’s Gate 3?

In the opening act of Baldur's Gate 3, you'll encounter "Us the Intellect Devourer", a living brain residing in Myrnath's head. You can interact with it in many ways in the game. We've prepared this guide on what consequences you'll face should you remove, mutilate, or destroy the brain in Baldur's Gate 3.

You'll encounter the living brain after you wake up on the Nautiloid with a Mindflayer tadpole crawling in your head. You'll come across Myrnath whose skull has been separated from his body, and you have the opportunity to inspect it.

Should you remove, mutilate, or destroy the brain in Baldur's Gate 3?

The living brain you'll encounter will start talking to you and ask you to "release it." But what happens after? It's terrifying to see a living brain literally talk to you, and you may be feeling unsure how freeing it will affect you and your companions.

You have three options on what to do with the brain. This includes removing, mutilating, or destroying it completely. Each option has its consequences. If you're curious about what each choice has in store for you, you've come to the right place.

What happens if you remove the brain?

Simply, if you're successful in removing the brain, Us becomes a temporary companion to help you throughout the prologue of the Mind Flayer Nautiloid ship. This makes the following section of the game much easier for you to manage with Us helping out greatly with their powerful claw attack.

Credit: Larian Studios

Once you choose to remove the brain, you're first going to have to pass a skill check. This includes the options of a Strength (smash the skull), and Dexterity (remove the brain) check. However, there is another option available which is the Investigation check. The only way to get this option is if your character has a high Intelligence stat.

The Investigation check will give you some helpful information on the patient and can lead to a medical check. A medical check gives players the option of carefully removing the brain. This is most applicable to Intelligence-based classes such as Druids, Clerics, or Wizards.

However, if your class leans more toward Dexterity, such as a Rogue or Strength, like the Barbarian, you can use the other skill checks mentioned above.

• Read more - check out the best Baldur's Gate 3 builds to maximise your party's abilities.

What happens if you mutilate the brain?

Upon deciding to mutilate the brain, there won't be significant changes to the consequences you'll have to face. If you can free the brain, you can attempt a Dexterity DC 15 check to make it less dangerous.

However, if you fail the check, Us will attack, and you'll be forced to duel against it.

Credit: Larian Studios

There isn't exactly any advantage or disadvantage you get from this option except for weakening its abilities. This could be useful for you, though, if you really don't want to engage with Us in the game and want to proceed to the Nautiloid ship on your own.

What happens if you destroy the brain?

Then you have the option of simply destroying the brain. This is quite applicable if you want to play out that you're heavily against Mind Flayers. Destroying the brain will kill Us on the spot.

Credit: Larian Studios

There isn't an advantage to this, but it lets you roleplay your strong disdain for the Mind Flayers. However, having killed Us, you obviously won't get the advantage of their help through the next portion of the game.

With that, you now know what happens should you remove, mutilate, or destroy the brain in Baldur's Gate 3.

For more guides like this, you can check out our other pieces, such as how to check companion approval in Baldur's Gate 3 and how to solve the Thorm Mausoleum puzzle in Baldur's Gate 3.