Baldur’s Gate 3 player somehow beats game without using core mechanic
Larian StudiosPlayers keep beating Baldur’s Gate 3 in various and unique ways, and this player managed to reach the epilogue without knowing about one of the most important mechanics in the game.
Baldur’s Gate 3 has changed the way we look at Tactical Combat RPGs with its unique approach to classic D&D immersive combat and its even more enthralling narrative design. But some players can beat the game even without using one of its key features.
This player, in particular, managed to finish the main story without even knowing he could empower their character with Iliithid Powers.
Reddit user ‘Roxicaro’ said: “I played the whole game without knowing of a major mechanic,” and the thread quickly gained a lot of heat, as players thought it was a “perfectly valid way to play it.”
The OP expressed: “I managed to avoid any spoilers until I finished the game last week. I avoided using the tadpole and refused anything related to it because I thought it would turn me into an Ilithid eventually.”
This is a fair point of view since most of the players originally believed that using Illithid Powers would end up accelerating the transformation, something that all characters want to avoid at all costs. The whole plot in Baldur’s Gate 3 is based on the premise of avoiding ceremorphosis.
And then added: “So even after gathering every tadpole I could find, I never used them, so I never knew there was a whole menu for picking Ilithid powers. My radial menu had an empty spot (where the Ilithid power menu would be) the whole game.”
One of the players commenting on the OP’s post said: “To be fair, that is a perfectly valid way to play it. You said you refused anything to do with it, so you did know it was an option – just not one that you took for that playthrough, and you didn’t know the actual impact of doing so. Which is how decisions should be in this kind of game!”
Another BG3 enthusiast expressed: “It’s amazing the game doesn’t force you to use them. A team carefully designed the feature and you don’t need it.” And then added: “I just found it by accident. I had a bunch of parasites just sitting in my inventory lol. Plugged them all in.”
So there you have it: there’s no need to use Illithid Powers whatsoever to beat the game. But if you are wondering about the consequences of accepting the tadpole’s powers, here’s a guide on Illithid Skills you can take a look at, and here’s what you need to know about the consequences of accepting the astral tadpole.