“Massively OP” Baldur’s Gate 3 Ability: Sacrificing Looks for Power

According to players, there is a specific “OP”ability in Baldur’s Gate 3 that is worth giving up your appearance for, as it significantly simplifies battles.

At a certain point in Baldur’s Gate 3, you will face a difficult decision after witnessing The Emperor’s true appearance. You can either accept the Astral-Touched tadpole and embrace your Illithid abilities, or reject it entirely. The Emperor urges you to take the tadpole, claiming it will grant you great powers.

Although you will gain access to more advanced Illithid powers, there is a significant price to pay. By accepting the Astral-Touched tadpole, your Tav will be permanently transformed into a half Illithid, altering their appearance for the duration of your playthrough.

Therefore, it is evident that not all members of the community support this decision. Nonetheless, a few players on a Reddit thread argued that giving up one’s appearance in the game is justifiable for the powerful Illithid ability known as the Black Hole.

A screenshot featuring a tadpole in Baldur's Gate 3. — Larian Studios

Unlike a regular tadpole, consuming the Astral-Touched tadpole comes with a cost in Baldur’s Gate 3.

For those unfamiliar with it, the Black Hole ability allows you to summon a black hole that can attract nearby enemies and potentially hinder their movement. This makes it an extremely useful skill when used in conjunction with other spells, especially if you’re aiming for a complete elimination of enemies.

“According to a user, I am currently completing Act 3 with my second character and it has dawned on me how incredibly powerful the mindflayer’s Black Hole ability is. I am able to use it twice, and it has greatly aided me in defeating challenging battles such as High Hall and Emperor.”

Additionally, numerous other players in the comments echoed the same sentiment as the user, offering their own preferred combinations to pair with the Black Hole.

A user expressed their appreciation for the Zaith’isk chair’s perk that allows them to cast Illithid powers as a bonus action. They mentioned that their preferred combination is using Black Hole followed by Hunger of Hadar, citing it as one of the reasons for their enjoyment.

Another user stated that this ability significantly simplified the Viconia fight in the House of Hope, saying “And that fight is a serious pain in the a** otherwise with all of the darkness casts and such.”

One user also mentioned using this ability in their current Storm Sorcerer playthrough. They explained, “I have one character who utilizes it by gathering all enemies in one location, and then I unleash four call lightning strikes (or three if I am low on sorcerer points). It proves to be highly effective.”

Ultimately, for those brave enough to attempt an Honor Mode playthrough and unconcerned with a minor alteration to their appearance, consuming the tadpole in order to gain access to Black Hole may prove to be a valuable choice.

While using a mod is a possibility for those who wish to retain Tav’s original appearance while still gaining access to the Illithid abilities.