Baldur’s Gate 3: Are There Consequences For Using Illithid Powers?

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grants players access to the immensely powerful Illithid Powers, butdoesn't make immediately clear whether they have any long-term consequences. These abilities are revealed and improved upon throughout the game. Some Illithid Powers are equivalent to other in-game spells or abilities, like Charm or Horrific Visage, but can be cast without magical ability or expending a spell slot. Others, like Inkblot or Aberrant Shape, are completely unique, reflecting their sinister and otherworldly origin.

[Warning: This article contains minor spoilers for one possible ending of Baldur's Gate 3.]

In case the story doesn't make it totally clear, Illithid Powers come from a parasitic tadpole implanted in the player character's mind. They become infected during the introductory sequence, and it doesn't take long for the protagonist's primary goal to become curing themselves and their party members, a task which takes up nearly the entire runtime of. The conflict, however, comes from the growing influence of the tadpoles and the mysterious Guardian's promises of great power. Some wariness is warranted here; the tadpoles may be useful, but they also come from a potentially malevolent source.

Unfortunately, yet predictably, using Illithid Powers comes at a cost in . The most immediately apparent consequence is that certain party members disapprove when the player character uses these mysterious abilities; in particular, Lae'zel is not a fan. She's a githyanki, which means she comes from a culture that values physical strength and resents mind flayers. 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 , so it's worth modulating the use of Illithid Powers to maintain her approval.

However, despite its connotations, «consequence» isn't always a negative term. There are other party members — namely Gale and Astarion — who actually approve of the player character's liberal use