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In 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:Baldur's Gate 3, whether it's helping gnome slaves rise against their captors or biting a goblin's toe off—choices matter. Yet, few decisions loom as large as those relating to the mindflayer parasite in your head.
As Act 3 begins, you learn that your Dream Guardian is none other than the Emperor, a renegade mindflayer who's been your shield against the Absolute's clutches. If you don't run off screaming in terror, the Emperor will extend to you a unique offer—an Astral-Touched Tadpole that can supercharge your Illithid powers. The question stands: do you trust a mindflayer, or err on the side of caution?
Updated September 8, 2023: We've added some more details to this guide about what turning Half-Illithid entails and the powers and drawbacks you'll suffer.
Spoiler Warning
There will be major spoilers for the end of Act 2 and the beginning of Act 3 in this guide.
Obtaining The Astral-Touched Tadpole
You won't be able to obtain the Astral-Touched Tadpole until you wrap up Act 2 and start your journey towards the city of Baldur's Gate.
Once you decide to end Act 2 by going to Baldur's Gate, you won't be able to come back. Make sure to wrap up any loose story threads, such as 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:lifting the shadow-curse!
On your first night in the city, you'll suddenly be assaulted by githyanki warriors during your long rest at camp.
At the same time, you'll be plagued by headaches from the Absolute's psionic transmission, and begin to turn into a mindflayer—receiving penalties to mental skill checks and taking psychic damage each turn. Whatever was shielding you from her influence before, it seems, is under attack💖.
During this fight, you'll have exactly three turns to get through the Astral Portal that has appeared in your camp.
Only one party member n꧃eeds to reach it in order f🍷or you to succeed.
However, if none of your party members makes it to the portal before the time limit runs out, you will instantly become a mindflayer, resulting in a game-over.
As such, it is recommended that you ignore the githyanki warriors attacking you and instead focus on getting to the portal with any means necessary.
That being said, more tough fights await you in the portal, and you won't be able to long rest, so make sure not to use all your spell slots and ꧂resources on getting to the po🌱rtal!
Fight your way across the floating asteroids to reach a mindflayer being attacked by githyanki warriors. The mindflayer will introduce themselves as the Emperor—a mindflayer that has gone rogue and rebelled against the Absolute—as well as the Dream Guardian who has been shielding you from the Absolute.
Regardless of your feelings towards mindflayers, the Emperor is telling you the truth here—their death will mean the game is over. Help them defeat the four enemy githyanki, and listen to their explanation of their identity, as well as about the 168澳洲幸运5开奖网:githyanki trapped with you: Prince 𒉰Orpheus.
After this, the Emperor will offer you an Astral-Touched Tadpole, encouraging you to use it to enhance your Illithid powers 🔴by becoming Half-Illithid. Note, however, that you will receive veiny marks across your face as a consequence.
During the future romance cutscene with the Emperor, they will comment on whether you have accepted the Astral Tadpole—however, you can still romance them without accepting the tadpole.
Option 1: Open Your Mind To The Tadpole
Choosing to open your mind to the tadpole will unlock the third and final tier in your Illithid Powers skill tree. These Illithid Powers are othe🙈rwise inaccessible.
It will also automatically unlock every single power in the first tier of your Illithid Powers skill tree, as well as the "Fly" Class Action node in the bottom right of the Illithid Powers skill tree.
Unlocking the Astral-Touched Tadpole powers will refund every tadpole you've invested in the first tier of your skill tree, as it automatically unl♓ocks them all.
A complete list of each third-tier Illithid Power can be found in a later part of this guide.
However, as a downside, your face will also become marred by black veins, as shown in the picture above. Make sure that this cosmetic change is something you don't mind having permanently before using the tadpole!
Option 2: Eat The Tadpole
Eating the tadpole will grant you exactly the same effect for yourself as the option abov𝄹e (opening your mind to the tad🧸pole).
However, doing this ensures that the tadpole can no longer be used for your companions in the future.
There is no advantage to doing this over opening your mind to it—since you can still choose whether to persuade your companions to use the tadpole in the former option—so we don't recommend this.
Option 3: Stomp On The Tadpole
Stomping on the tadpole greatly angers the Emperor.
Despite this, they will quickly gather themselves and tell you to focus on the task at hand, though they will remain clearly displeased for the duration of your interaction with them.
Option 4: Refuse The Tadpole
If you refuse the tadpole without stomping on it, the Emperor will urge you to take your time and reconsider, letting you keep the tadpole.
You'll be able to access it in your inventory and freely make your choice later on.
Giving Companions The Astral Tadpole
If you chose to open your mind to the tadpole or to keep the tadpole without stomping on it, you will be able to share the p⛄owers of the Astral-Touched Tadpole with a𝔍ny companion who is already infected by a tadpole.
However, they will initially be resistant to the idea, and you'll need to change their minds if you want them to do so.
When talking to them, choose the "I want to discuss the Astral-Touched Tadpole" (or similar) dialogue option. You'll then be able to make a skill check in order to convince them—the checks needed are listed be🥂low.
Halsin, Jaheira, and Minsc do not have regular tadpoles and, therefore, cannot use the Astral-Touched Tad🌌pole. H🎐irelings can also not become Half-Illithid.
|
Companion |
Check |
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Astarion |
DC 15 Wisdom |
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Karlach |
DC 14 Persuasion (Disadvantage) + DC 14 Intimidation OR Persuasion |
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Shadowheart |
DC 15 Persuasion (Advantage) |
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Lae'zel |
DC 15 Wisdom OR DC 20 Persuasion + DC 15 Persuasion |
|
Wyll |
DC 15 Wisdom (Advantage) OR DC 18 Persuasion |
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Gale |
DC 18 Persuasion (Advantage) |
|
Minthara |
No check |
If the game does not automatically prompt your convin⭕ced companꦗion to use the tadpole, you can put it into their inventory and use it from there.
Astral Tadpole Powers
These are the Illithid Powers that you'll unlock by eating or opening your mind to the Astral-Touched Tadpole.
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Name |
Description |
Details |
Prerequisites |
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Absorb Intellect |
Gobble up a foe's intellect, lowering their Intelligence by 1 per turn and healing your wounds (1d8) for 5 turns. |
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Freecast |
You have discovered a marvelous adaption within yourself. Spell slots, charges, and similar 𓆉resource costs for your next action or spell are removed. Refreshes after a Short or Long rest. |
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Mind Sanctuary |
Sculpt a magical nexus that allows those within to take actions and bonus aℱctions interchangeably. |
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Mind Blast |
Spew forth a conical wave of psychic energy (4d8+5) andꦦ possibly Stun targets 𓆏within. |
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Black Hole |
Create a point 🅰of intense gravity that pulls in all nearby enemies and possibly Slows them. |
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Psionic Dominance |
When an enemy within 60ft targets you with a spell of a Level that is lower than or equal to your Proficiency Bonus💃꧃, you can use your reaction to nullify the spell. |
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Illithid Expertise |
You have deepened your sense of self, gaining Exﷺpertise in Persu♑asion, Deception, and Intimidation Checks. |
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Fracture Psyche |
Invade a target's mind and disrupt its defenses. The target's Armour Class is reduced by 1. If the target dies while its psyche is fractured, you can cast Shatter Psyche on another target. |
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Displacer Beast Shape |
Transform into a displacer beast that can Displace itself and enemies and has 85 hit points. You take on the attributes of a displacer beast, but maintain your Intelligence, Wisdom, and Charisma scores. When your displacer beas💞t form drops to 0 hit points, you revert to your original form. |
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Fly |
Fly to the target position. This is automatically unlocked when you open your mind to or eat the Astral-Touched Tadpole. This is reason enough to take the tadpole's powers and then convince your party members to - permanent flight is an incredibly powerful ability. |
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