Should you use Illithid powers in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Besides the magic and weaponry you can acquire in Baldur's Gate 3, you can also gain some cool powers for you and your team. One of these unique abilities is Illithid Powers. While they sound great, their origins are straight out of a sci-fi horror story. To understand more about these powers, we've prepared this guide on whether you should use Illithid powers or not in Baldur's Gate 3.

Illithid Powers aren't available right off the bat when you start the game. You'll have to encounter them through a certain number of encounters with the Mind Flayer Parasite specimens.

For more guides, be sure to check out our Baldur's Gate 3 race tier list and class tier list. We've also got a look at the best weapons, and some tips on how to level up fast.

Should you use Illithid powers in Baldur's Gate 3?

For a bit of background, the Illithid powers in Baldur's Gate 3 are abilities for characters whose brains become infested by parasites (also known as tadpoles). The skill tree for these somewhat gruesome powers only becomes available once a character has acquired the third parasite in-game.

Once the skill tree is available, players can open it by using the 'B' key. Using Illithid Powers doesn't exactly have negative consequences within the game, but it can change how companions may interact with you.

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Upon using Illithid Powers, black veins will appear on your character's face and body once you consume enough tadpoles to become part-Illithid. Then, companions may dislike the choices you make whenever you use Illithid Powers which affects your relationships with them.

Simply, Illithid Powers won't exactly heavily affect your storyline progressions in-game and mainly simply influence your relationships with your companions. They're worth using during second or third playthroughs of the game since you'll have an advantage with its abilities such as with the powers of Psionic Overload, Force Tunnel, and Shield of Thralls.

• Read more: How to get and use Blood of Lathander in Baldur's Gate 3

But if you prioritise the roleplaying aspect of Baldur's Gate 3, it's best to steer clear from aligning yourself with the Mind Flayer through the use of these powers. Game-wise it is unethical to use Illithid powers since you gain an unfair advantage when playing the game. You don't have to use them if you choose not to. Moreover, lore-wise, constantly using Illithid powers will lead you down the evil path in the game. However, do remember that your Guardian or Dream Visitor still protects you from turning into a Mind Flayer.

Overall, you can still use your Illithid powers without major consequences, but still at the cost of companion relationships. It's still valid to use Illithid powers for particular circumstances and against the right characters. Be sure to use your powers wisely so that you can still maintain your relationships with your companions and of course, still enjoy playing the game.

But there you have it, that's all you need to know on whether you should use Illithid powers or not in Baldur's Gate 3. For more walkthroughs like this, you can browse through our other guides such as how to finish the masterwork weapon in Baldur's Gate 3 and how to move the bookcase in the Blighted Village Cellar in Baldur's Gate 3.