Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens are central to unlocking the player’s Illithid Powers in Baldur’s Gate 3. Many players will seek to resist the power of the parasite trapped within their minds and wish to remove it before they transform into a brutal Mind Flayer. Others, however, will want to collect as many Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens as possible.
A Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen can only be collected from the corpses of those infected with the same tadpole-like parasite as the player in Baldur’s Gate 3. Players can either loot these tadpoles from corpses or find jars scattered around the world. Luckily, players will know when they get close to a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen.
How To Find Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens In Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)
Due to the size of Baldur’s Gate 3, there isn’t a definitive list of every potential Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen in the world. However, the game has a simple trick that lets players know when they are close to one. It involves the Guardian, the second character player’s design during character creation. The Guardian appears in the player’s dreams after they use their Illithid Powers and offers to help.
After dreaming of the Guardian, they will start helping the player in their search for more parasites. When players get close to a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen in Baldur’s Gate 3, whether in a jar or still in a living being’s head, the Guardian will speak telepathically to the player and inform them that a parasite is nearby. When players hear the Guardian, they should carefully examine their surroundings for a jar or an NPC to fight.
Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen Locations In Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)
Technically, players can get Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens from many of their companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, including Shadowheart and Wyll. Killing them would erase a potential companion from the campaign, but if players want to collect every parasite, they can. The better way to collect Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens is to check out the following locations.
|
Location |
Source |
Details |
|---|---|---|
|
Emerald Grove |
Drow Corpse |
This is a jarred Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen found on a table next to a dissected drow in the Enclave Library. Players should only grab it when Nettie isn’t looking. |
|
Forest west of Emerald Grove |
Edowin |
While traveling west of Emerald Grove, players can find Absolute cultists gathering around a dying True Soul named Edowin. Players can get his parasite after he dies. |
|
Druid Grove |
Brynna’s Friend |
Brynna can be found over the corpse of a dead friend who carries a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen in his head. |
|
Risen Road |
Flind the Gnoll Warlord |
This Gnoll Warlord can be found with a group of other Gnolls and can be used to take care of his friends before players kill him and harvest his parasite. |
|
Shattered Sanctum |
Priestess Gut |
This priestess is one of three goblin leaders players are hired to take out to free Halsin. She is first found in the main hall of Shattered Sanctum. |
|
Shattered Sanctum |
Dror Ragzlin |
Dror Ragzlin is the second goblin leader who can be found in the northernmost portion of Shattered Sanctum. |
|
Shattered Sanctum |
Minthara is the third goblin leader and a potential companion if players don’t want her parasite and are willing to get violent. She can be found in the northeast room of Shattered Sanctum. |
|
|
Grymforge |
True Soul Nere |
Arriving in Grymforge will give players a choice to either kill or side with True Soul Nere. Whether they kill Nere now or betray him later, he has a Mind Slayer Parasite Specimen to collect after death. |
|
Grymforge |
True Soul Nere |
If players side with Nere and kill the slaces and slavemasters, he will give players the Gift of the Absolute, which counts as a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen. |
|
Last Light Inn |
Flaming Fist Marcus |
When Marcus attacks Last Light Inn, players can kill him and take his parasite. |
|
Moonrise Towers |
Docks |
There are two Mind Flayer Paradite Specimens on a boat docked northwest of the Rivington waypoint when players arrive at Moonrise Towers. This boat moves to the smuggler’s dock in Act 3. |
|
Moonrise Towers |
Linsella |
Linsella is found in the kitchen. The player can either kill Linsella personally or cut her connection to her gnoll servants so they turn on her. |
|
Moonrise Towers |
Zealot Malik |
Players can get Zealot Malik’s parasite if they kill him after letting Nightsong go. |
|
Moonrise Towers |
Adept Merim |
Adept Merim appears with Zealot Malik. Her parasite can be collected in the same way as Zealot Malik’s. |
|
Moonrise Towers |
Disciple Z’rell |
Disciple Z’rell is part of the collection of enemies who try to protect Ketherlic Thorm. |
|
Moonrise Towers |
Zealot Krizt |
Zealot Krizt is in the Oubliette of the Moonrise Towers prison within the hole where people dump bodies. |
|
Mind Flayer Colony |
Brine Pool |
If players pass a Perception Skill Check on a brine pool in the same room as Zariel’s Asset. |
|
Lower City |
Manip Edenosa |
While players explore Bloomridge Park may have to fight a group of Bhaal cultists. Afterward, a Flaming Fist named Manip Edenosa, controlled by a parasite, will speak to the player and die. Players can get the Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen after the conversation ends. |
|
Crèche Y’llek |
Infirmary |
There are three Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens in the infirmary of Crèche Y’llek while players hunt for the Githyanki egg for Lady Esther. |
|
Lower City |
The Blushing Mermaid |
When players enter the cellar of the Blushing Mermaid during the quest “Save Vanra,” they can find a jar with a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen next to some branches on a wooden platform. |
|
Lower City |
Steel Watch Foundry |
Before players enter the control room of the foundry, they should check the back of the chamber, where a jar with a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen sits on a desk. |
There are likely more Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens hidden within Baldur’s Gate 3. However, with this list, players can collect two dozen parasites to increase their Illithid Powers.
-
Baldur’s Gate 3
- Franchise:
- Baldur’s Gate
- Platform:
- macOS, Microsoft Windows
- Released:
- 2023-08-31
- Developer:
- Larian Studios
- Publisher:
- Larian Studios
- Genre:
- RPG
- Multiplayer:
- Larian Studios
- ESRB:
- M
- Summary:
- Baldur’s Gate 3 is a long-anticipated sequel to Baldur’s Gate 2, released in 2000 from BioWare and now being handled by Larian Studios. Set 120 years after the events of Shadows of Amn, Baldur’s Gate 3 puts players in the role of a customizable protagonist who has been captured and infected with a parasite that will turn them into a mind flayer. Before the process is complete, the ship they are on crashes, leaving them on a quest to cure themselves as they meet up with other survivors. Gameplay is turn-based and can be played co-operatively online or tackled alone in a single-player campaign with NPC allies.
- How Long To Beat:
- 22h 21m
- Prequel:
- Baldur’s Gate 2
