| Illithid | |
|---|---|
| Dungeons & Dragons race | |
 Illustration of Sarkt the Illithid sorcerer from the3.5E supplementLords of Madness (2005). | |
| First appearance |
|
| Last appearance | Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk (2023)[3] |
| In-universe information | |
| Other name(s) | Mind flayer |
| Type | Aberration |
| Alignment | Almost alwaysLawful Evil |
In theDungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game,illithids (commonly known asmind flayers) are monstrous humanoidaberrations withpsionic powers. In a typicalDungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormousUnderdark.
Illithids believe themselves to be thedominant species of themultiverse and use other intelligent creatures asthralls,slaves, andchattel. Illithids are well known for making thralls out of other intelligent creatures, as well as feasting on their brains.
Mind flayers were created byGary Gygax, who said that one of his inspirations for them was the cover painting of theTitus Crow bookThe Burrowers Beneath byBrian Lumley.[4][5]Tim Kirk's cover art on the book, then in its first printing, depicted only the tentacles of the titular burrowers, the Chthonians.[6]
Mind flayers first appeared in the official newsletter ofTSR,The Strategic Review #1, Spring 1975, in the section named "Creature Features".[7][8] Here, the mind flayer is described as "a super-intelligent, man-shaped creature with four tentacles by its mouth which it uses to strike its prey."[9] When it hits prey with a tentacle, the tentacle penetrates to the brain and draws it forth, allowing the monster to devour it. A mind flayer's major weapon is given as the Mind Blast, a 5-foot radius wave of "Psi force" which affects each opponent differently based on how intelligent it is; possible effects include permanent insanity, rage, confusion, coma, and death.[10] The first illustration depicting mind flayers was by artist Tracy Lesch, who envisioned them "like aMing the Merciless with the mental powers of aProfessor X", which appeared in theBlackmoor (1975) supplement.[11]: 45–46 Game statistics for mind flayers were also included in theEldritch Wizardry supplement.[12][13]
The mind flayer appears in the first editionMonster Manual (1977).[14]Roger E. Moore authored "The Ecology of the Mind Flayer," which featured inDragon #78 (October 1983).[15]
The mind flayer appears first in theMonstrous Compendium Volume One (1989),[16] and is reprinted in theMonstrous Manual (1993).[17]
The Complete Psionics Handbook (1991) presented ways on using mind flayers with psionic powers.[18]
Thealhoon, also known as theillithilich ormind flayerlich, was introduced in theMenzoberranzan boxed set, in the booklet "Book One: The City" (1992).
The bookThe Illithiad (April 1998[19][20]), and the Monstrous Arcana module series that accompanies it, greatly develops the mind flayer further.The Illithiad introduced the illithidelder brain and the illithid-roper crossbreed, theurophion. The moduleDawn of the Overmind featured an origin story for the illithids.[21]
The mind flayer appears in theMonster Manual for this edition (2000).[22]Savage Species (2003) added the mind flayer "racial class", allowing Mind Flayers to be played from level 1 onward until they reached parity with normal Mind Flayers, and added the "Illithid Savant" prestige class.[23]
The mind flayer appears in the revisedMonster Manual for this edition (2003), in both playable and non-playable forms. One of the differences between the playable Mind Flayer in theMonster Manual and the Mind Flayer racial class inSavage Species is that the racial class has only itself as a favored class, while the normal Mind Flayer has wizard as a favored class. The mind flayer received its own chapter in the bookLords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations (2005).[24]
TheExpanded Psionics Handbook (2004) re-introduced the psionic mind flayer, detailing the differences between psionic and normal mind flayers, although creating a Psionic Mind Flayer still requires the information from theMonster Manual.[25]
The mind flayer appears in theMonster Manual for this edition (2008).[26]
The mind flayer appears in theMonster Manual for this edition (2014).[27] Additional information about the mind flayers is found inVolo's Guide to Monsters (2016). The information includes details about their origins, their reproduction, their dispositions and behaviors, and their elder brain. The book also details this edition's Alhoon, Ulitharid, Mindwitness and Neothelid.[28][29] The limited edition alternate cover ofVolo's Guide to Monsters features an Illithid illustration by Hydro74.[30] On thefictional canon of mind flayers, 5th Edition designerChris Perkins, in a 2019 interview, stated:
If something has been consistently true about a monster throughout the game's history, it's a good bet that it holds true in Fifth Edition. Everything that we know is true about mind flayers in Fifth Edition can be found in the 5EMonster Manual and the "Mind Flayers: Scourge of Worlds" section ofVolo's Guide to Monsters. The latter resource, in particular, picks up elements of mind flayer lore from earlier sourcebooks, includingThe Illithiad [from 2E] andLords of Madness [from 3.5E].[31]
ComicBook.com reported that the "big bads" of the modulePhandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk (2023) are mind flayers,[3] with the adventure including new variants of mind flayers.[32] Christian Hoffer ofComicBook.com commented that mind flayers "have appeared in many 5E adventures over the last decade", however, this module is the first in the edition to have them as the "central villain of the campaign instead of merely one of many side threats. What's more, these mind flayers have a goal somewhat similar to one of the central threats faced by players inBaldur's Gate 3 - ceremorphosis, the process of becoming a mind flayer".[3]
Illithids have a humanoid body with anoctopus-like head, which has been observed as a similarity toH. P. Lovecraft'sCthulhu.[33]
One of their most feared powers is the dreadedMind Blast, where the illithid emits a cone-shapedpsionic shock wave with its mind in order to incapacitate any creature for a short amount of time.[9]
Illithids arehermaphroditic creatures[34] who each spawn a mass oflarvae two or three times in their life.[35] The larvae resemble miniature illithid heads or four-tentacled tadpoles. Larvae are left to develop in the pool of the Elder Brain. The ones that survive after 10 years are inserted into thebrain of asapient creature.[5] Hosts are determined in a very specific manner. Hosts generally arehumanoid creatures that are between 5 feet 4 inches and 6 feet 2 inches. The most desirable of races for hosts arehumans,drow,elves,githzerai,githyanki,grimlocks,gnolls,goblinoids, andorcs. Upon being implanted (through any cranial orifice), the larva then grows and consumes the host's brain, absorbing the host's physical form entirely and becoming sapient itself, a physically mature (but mentally young) illithid. This process is calledceremorphosis.[35]
Alhoons (also called illithiliches) are illithids that choose to focus on developing arcane abilities in addition to theirpsionic ones,[36] and have grown powerful enough in magic to becomeundeadliches. Alhoons are generally pariahs in illithid society because they go against most illithids' eventual goal: to merge with the Elder Brain, both physically and psionically. Alhoons, on the other hand, are more concerned with their own personal survival. When discovered near illithid communities, alhoons are mercilessly hunted down.[24]
The alhoon first appeared in second editionAD&D for theForgotten Realms setting in theMenzoberranzan boxed set, in the booklet "Book One: The City" (1992),[37] and reprinted inMonstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three (1996).[38] The creature was further detailed in the supplementThe Illithiad (1998).[39] The alhoon also appeared in third edition inMonsters of Faerûn (2001)[40] andLords of Madness (2005).[24]
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The origins of these uniqueundead mind flayers are unclear. All that is known of these creatures is that they cannot create spawn, need both fresh blood and fresh brains to survive, are more feral than typical illithids, and are barely intelligent. One possible origin is given in theRavenloft adventureThoughts of Darkness, where "vampiric mind flayers are either the result of a Mind Flayer tadpole infecting a vampiric host or a host that becomes avampire before the tadpole fully converts them".[41][42] These creatures are hated and feared by typical illithids.[24] Christian Hoffer,for ComicBook.com, wrote, "Not only do the vampiric mind flayers possess the psionic powers of a mind flayer, they also have the undead strength and bloodlust of a vampire, making them twice as deadly".[43] Hoffer also highlighted that they "were created when Lyssa von Zarovich (a descendant ofStrahd) attempted to create a creature powerful enough to overthrow her great uncle".[43] Jacob Creswell, forCBR, highlighted that "Vampiric Mind Flayers are a classicDungeon & Dragons monster that combines two terrifying concepts. [...] Originally known as vampiric illithids, vampiric mind flayers were a force to be reckoned with inAdvanced Dungeons & Dragons. Their superior strength stat meant that they'd be able to overpower most adventurers".[41] Creswell included them on list of the seven best monsters introduced in the 5th Edition campaign guideVan Richten's Guide to Ravenloft.[41]
Brainstealer Dragon: A mix of illithid anddragon, these powerful wyrms occasionally rule over illithid communities that lack an elder brain.[44][45]
Illithocyte: Illithid tadpoles that survived the fall of a mind flayer empire, they evolved into a new life form and now crawl about in groups seeking psychic radiation on which to feed.[44]
Kezreth: A living troop transport and battle platform created from the severed head of a shamed illithid. They serve in this capacity in the hope of redeeming themselves and being allowed to return to the elder brain.[46]
Mind Worm: Created by illithids to serve as assassins and bounty-hunters, these powerful psionic creatures resemble smallerpurple worms. They can attack from far distances with their probe worms.[44]
Nerve Swimmers: Derived from immature illithid tadpoles, these entities are living instruments of torture and interrogation.[44]
Ustilagor: Mind flayers farm these larvalintellect devourers for food and sentries.[44]
Vampire Squid: Servitor creatures created by illithids to extend their reach below the surface of Underdark waters. They have a maw of sharp teeth which can be turned inside out and function as defensive spikes.[47]
The 3.5 EditionD&D supplementLords of Madness provides that the Illithid were a star-faring people who existed at the end of time. Facing annihilation, the Illithid traveled to the past, arriving roughly 2000 years before the present in any givenD&D campaign.[24]
Gith was betrayed by one of her own generals, Zerthimon, who believed she had grown tyrannical and over-aggressive. Civil war erupted, and the race factionalised into the githyanki and thegithzerai (and in the Spelljammer campaign setting the Pirates of Gith).[48]
The background material of theChainmail game[49] places the gith forerunners in a subterranean empire calledZarum inWestern Oerik, where they dominated many other races from their capital city ofAnithor.
Traditionally, illithids revere a perverse deity named Ilsensine.[45] In 2nd edition, they have a second deity named Maanzecorian, who is later killed byTenebrous (Orcus) in thePlanescape adventure moduleDead Gods. Although Ilsensine is the illithid patron deity, few mind flayers actively worship it, thinking themselves the most powerful creatures in the universe.[24]
Currently, the illithids are in a period of intense study and experimentation, gathering knowledge of all sorts that will enable them to eventually reconquer the universe and hold it for good. They frequently meddle in the politics of other races through subtle psychic manipulation of key figures, not to cause chaos but so as to better understand the dynamics of civilization. They regularly probe the minds of surface dwellers so as to gather intelligence and learn about new advances in magic and technology. They also do a good deal of research themselves, mainly focused on developing new psychic powers.[24]
Illithids regularly conduct raids on all sentient settlements to acquire new thralls.[24]
The yaggol are a variant presented in theDragonlancecampaign setting.[50][51]
Illithids are the rulers of a domain in theRavenloft campaign setting called Bluetspur, where their God-Brain is thedarklord. In the 5th Edition campaign guideVan Richten's Guide to Ravenloft, it is revealed that an elder brain became diseased by discovering a "malignant truth" and it began to prey "upon its peers [...]. Horrified by an affliction that infected only them, the other elder brains united and psionically expelled the diseased brain from existence. Or so they thought. From a place without time or reality, the Dark Powers plucked the dying elder brain and planted it upon a tormented world".[52]Polygon highlighted that Bluetspur is "a world of cosmic horror populated by malevolent mind flayers that will make your heroes question their own memories".[53]
According toKen Rolston, thebeholder and the mind flayer "win starring roles as intergalactic menaces" in Spelljammer, describing the mind flayers as "evil, brain-sucking horrors who have polished up their social skills sufficiently to present a dubiously neutral facade to trading partners as they secretly scheme toward the day when all intelligent races will be their vassals and brain-food".[54]D&D chroniclers Michael Witweret al. commented on their appearance in the setting, already featured on the cover ofAD&D Adventures in Space: "the illithid, the race of the mind flayers, finally return home to space".[11]: 224–225
In a proposed campaign setting, Pharagos is a lightly populatedEarth-like world with three continents and numerous chains of islands. The one remarkable feature of this world is the presence of an immense petrified corpse of a god previously worshiped by the Forerunner civilization before it was crushed by the illithid empire. A vast stony column of forgotten beliefs, it is buried deep in the ground. The current inhabitants of Pharagos have no knowledge of the planet's past; the illithid empire's rule over Pharagos and the origin of the gith races on this world are lost to history. They are unaware that the source of mystical power for their numerous cults comes from the presence of the dead god under their land.[55]
The mind flayer was ranked fourth among the ten best mid-level monsters by the authors ofDungeons & Dragons For Dummies. They referred to this unique creation of theD&D game as the "quintessential evil genius" and the "perfect evil overlord".[56] Games journalistDavid M. Ewalt found them "one of D&D's most popular monsters".[8] Academic Philip J. Clements considered mind flayers one of the "game's signature monsters",[57] whileBackstab reviewer Philippe Tessier called it a "classic ofD&D"[58] and Witweret al. "iconicD&D monsters".[11]: 5, 226–227
The Stranger writer Cienna Madrid described the Mind Flayer as one of D&D's "ghastly fiends".[59] Reviewer Julien Blondel forBackstab described them as vile brain-eating creatures full ofpsionic energy. He found them delightful creatures for a sadistic Dungeon Master to use, and a useful bridge between classic game worlds and theplanes, as illithids abound in both.[60]
Rob Bricken ofio9 named the mind flayer as the 9th most memorable D&D monster.[61]SyFy Wire in 2018 called it one of "The 9 Scariest, Most Unforgettable Monsters From Dungeons & Dragons", saying that "Mind flayers are another classic monster like the beholder."[62]Screen Rant compiled a list of the game's "10 Most Powerful (And 10 Weakest) Monsters, Ranked" in 2018, calling the elder brain one of the strongest, saying that while the 5th "edition of Dungeons & Dragons has toned down the elder brain a lot", it "still represents a grave threat to most adventuring parties, thanks to its range of powerful enchantment spells and psionic attacks, but it isn't quite the epic level threat that it once was." Reviewer Scott Baird also found that the illithids in general "are considered to be one of the most disliked creatures in all of Dungeons & Dragons."[63]
Mind flayers appear in other role-playing games, includingAngband,Bloodborne,Demon's Souls,Final Fantasy,NetHack,Lost Kingdoms,Kingdom of Loathing andLost Souls, and the one-playergamebook RPG seriesFighting Fantasy includes a creature similar to the illithid, the Brain Slayer.
The illithid is considered "Product Identity" byWizards of the Coast and as such is not released under itsOpen Game License.[72][73]
In season 2, episode 8, titled "The Mind Flayer," Dustin draws an analogy between a fan-favoriteD&D monster of the same name and whatever shadowy creature is possessing Will Byers.
{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: location missing publisher (link)Will is still a vessel of pure evil, and the boys return to their trustedDungeons & Dragons board for advice. Sure enough, there's a creature in the game that's kind of similar. ...the tendriled creature now has a pretty cool name, the "Mind Flayer,"