View source for Illithid

{{Short description|Fictional monster from Dungeons & Dragons}}
{{redirect|Mindflayer|the noise rock band|Mindflayer (band)}}
{{Infobox fictional race
| name               = Illithid
| image              = File:Illithid Sorcerer.png
| caption            = Illustration of Sarkt the Illithid sorcerer from the  [[Editions of Dungeons & Dragons#Dungeons & Dragons v3.5|3.5E]] supplement ''[[Lords of Madness]]'' (2005).
| first              = 
| type               = Aberration
| alignment          = Almost always [[Lawful Evil]]
| franchise          = [[Dungeons & Dragons]]
| other_names        = Mind flayer
| first_major        = [[Eldritch Wizardry]] (1976)<ref name="CBR on publication history">{{Cite web |last=Williams |first=Isaac |date=July 15, 2023 |title=D&D Creature Feature Fridays: Mind Flayer Edition |url=https://www.cbr.com/dnd-mind-flayer-history-tactics-campaign/ |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=CBR |language=en}}</ref><ref name="Polygon on Illithid origins">{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=October 30, 2017 |title=Stranger Things' newest villain is as old as Dungeons & Dragons itself |url=https://www.polygon.com/2017/10/30/16570530/stranger-things-2-dungeons-and-dragons-mind-flayer-netflix |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref>
| first_minor        = ''The Strategic Review'' #1 (Spring 1975)
| last_major         = Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk (2023)<ref name="ComicBook.com on Phandelver big bad" />
}}

In the ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' fantasy role-playing game, '''illithids''' (commonly known as '''mind flayers''') are monstrous humanoid ''aberrations'' with [[Psionics (Dungeons & Dragons)|psionic]] powers. In a typical ''[[Dungeons & Dragons]]'' campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous [[Underdark]].

Illithids believe themselves to be the [[dominant species]] of the [[Parallel universe (fiction)|multiverse]] and use other intelligent creatures as [[thrall]]s, [[slaves]], and [[Personal property|chattel]]. Illithids are well known for making thralls out of other intelligent creatures, as well as feasting on their brains.

== Publication history ==
Mind flayers were created by [[Gary Gygax]], who said that one of his inspirations for them was the cover painting of the [[Titus Crow]] book ''The Burrowers Beneath'' by [[Brian Lumley]].<ref>{{cite web
| url = http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showpost.php?s=2747b9e3683e019185853480151270ce&p=1991676&postcount=126
| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080512130715/http://enworld.cyberstreet.com/showpost.php?s=2747b9e3683e019185853480151270ce&p=1991676&postcount=126
| archive-date = 2008-05-12
| title = Gary Gygax Q&A: part VII
| access-date = 2007-02-27
| date = 2005-02-01
| last = Gygax (posting as "Col_Pladoh")
| first = Gary
| author-link = Gary Gygax
}} "The mind flayer I made up out of whole cloth using my imagination, but inspired by the cover of Brian Lumley's novel in paperback edition, The Burrowers Beneath"</ref><ref name="CBR-who">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/dungeons-dragons-who-are-illithids/|title=The Mind Flayers: Who Are Dungeons & Dragons' Illithids?|date=March 11, 2020|website=CBR}}</ref> [[Tim Kirk]]'s cover art on the book, then in its first printing, depicted only the tentacles of the titular burrowers, the Chthonians.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Publication: The Burrowers Beneath|url=http://www.isfdb.org/cgi-bin/pl.cgi?246681|access-date=2021-05-27|website=www.isfdb.org}}</ref>

=== ''Dungeons & Dragons'' (1974–1976) ===
Mind flayers first appeared in the official newsletter of [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], ''The Strategic Review'' #1, Spring 1975, in the section named "Creature Features".<ref>{{cite book|last=Applecline|first=Shannon|date=2014|title=Designers & Dragons: The '70s|publisher=[[Evil Hat Productions]]|page=21}}</ref><ref name=Ewalt>{{cite book |first=David M. |last=Ewalt |author-link=David M. Ewalt |year=2013 |title=Of Dice and Men: The Story of Dungeons & Dragons and the People Who Play It |publisher=Scribner |pages=94, 264 |isbn=978-1-4516-4052-6}}</ref> 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."<ref name="gamerant">{{Cite web|url=https://gamerant.com/dungeons-and-dragons-5e-monster-mindflayer/|title=Dungeons and Dragons 5e Monster Spotlight: The Mind Flayer|date=January 13, 2020|website=Game Rant}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{Cite news
| date=Spring 1975
| title=Creature Features
| periodical=The Strategic Review
| volume=1
| issue=1
| page=2
}}</ref> The first illustration depicting mind flayers was by artist Tracy Lesch, who envisioned them "like a [[Ming the Merciless]] with the mental powers of a [[Professor X]]", which appeared in the ''[[Blackmoor (supplement)|Blackmoor]]'' (1975) supplement.<ref name=AA>{{cite book |title=Dungeons & Dragons Art & Arcana: a visual history |last1=Witwer |first1=Michael |last2=Newman |first2=Kyle |last3=Peterson |first3=Jonathan |last4=Witwer |first4=Sam |last5=Manganiello |first5=Joe |date=October 2018 |isbn=9780399580949 |publisher=[[Ten Speed Press]] |oclc=1033548473}}</ref>{{rp|45-46}} Game statistics for mind flayers were also included in the ''[[Eldritch Wizardry]]'' supplement.<ref>{{Cite book | last1 =Gygax  | first1 =Gary  | author-link =Gary Gygax  | last2 =Blume  | first2 =Brian  | title =Eldritch Wizardry  | publisher =TSR  | year =1976  | location =Lake Geneva, WI  | edition =1 }}</ref><ref>{{cite web|author=Mortdred |title=Review of Eldritch Wizardry |publisher=[[RPGnet]] |access-date=2007-11-19 |url=http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_4232.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20010915161110/http://www.rpg.net/news+reviews/reviews/rev_4232.html |url-status=dead |archive-date=2001-09-15 |date=2001-02-05 }}</ref>

=== ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 1st edition (1977–1988) ===
The mind flayer appears in the first edition ''[[Monster Manual]]'' (1977).<ref>[[Gary Gygax|Gygax, Gary]], in which it is described as an evil subterranean creature that considers humanity as cattle to feed upon, and draws forth brains with its tentacles. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1977)</ref> [[Roger E. Moore]] authored "The Ecology of the Mind Flayer," which featured in ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #78 (October 1983).<ref>[[Roger E. Moore|Moore, Roger]]. "Ecology of the Mind Flayer." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #78 (TSR, 1983).</ref>

=== ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons'' 2nd edition (1989–1999) ===
The mind flayer appears first in the ''Monstrous Compendium Volume One'' (1989),<ref>[[David "Zeb" Cook|Cook, David]], et al. ''Monstrous Compendium Volume One'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1989)</ref> and is reprinted in the ''Monstrous Manual'' (1993).<ref>Stewart, Doug, ed. ''Monstrous Manual'' (TSR, 1994)</ref>

''[[The Complete Psionics Handbook]]'' (1991) presented ways on using mind flayers with psionic powers.<ref>[[Steve Winter (game designer)|Winter, Steve]]. ''[[The Complete Psionics Handbook]]'' (TSR, 1991)</ref>

The ''alhoon'', also known as the ''illithilich'' or ''mind flayer [[Lich (Dungeons & Dragons)|lich]]'', was introduced in the ''Menzoberranzan'' boxed set, in the booklet "Book One: The City" (1992).

The book ''[[The Illithiad]]'' (April 1998<ref name="Sudlow">{{cite magazine|title=The Illithiad|last=Sudlow|first=Paul|issue=39|magazine=[[InQuest Gamer|InQuest]]|publisher=[[Wizard Entertainment]]|pages=66–69|date=July 1998}}</ref><ref>Cordell, Bruce R. ''The Illithiad'' (TSR, 1998)</ref>), and the Monstrous Arcana module series that accompanies it, greatly develops the mind flayer further. ''The Illithiad'' introduced the illithid ''elder brain'' and the illithid-[[Roper (Dungeons & Dragons)|roper]] crossbreed, the ''urophion''. The module ''Dawn of the Overmind'' featured an origin story for the illithids.<ref>[[Bruce Cordell|Cordell, Bruce R.]] ''[[Dawn of the Overmind]]'' (TSR, 1998)</ref>

=== ''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3.0 edition (2000–2002) ===
The mind flayer appears in the ''Monster Manual'' for this edition (2000).<ref>[[Monte Cook|Cook, Monte]], [[Jonathan Tweet]], and [[Skip Williams]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2000)</ref> ''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.<ref>Eckelberry, David, Rich Redman, and Jennifer Clarke Wilkes. ''[[Savage Species]]'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2003)</ref>

=== ''Dungeons & Dragons'' 3.5 edition (2003–2007) ===
The mind flayer appears in the revised ''[[Monster Manual]]'' for this edition (2003), in both playable and non-playable forms. One of the differences between the playable Mind Flayer in the ''Monster Manual'' and the Mind Flayer racial class in ''Savage 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 book ''[[Lords of Madness|Lords of Madness: The Book of Aberrations]]'' (2005).<ref name="LoM">[[Richard Baker (game designer)|Baker, Rich]], [[James Jacobs (game designer)|James Jacobs]], and [[Steve Winter (game designer)|Steve Winter]]. ''[[Lords of Madness]]'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2005)</ref>

The ''[[Expanded 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 the ''Monster Manual''.<ref>[[Bruce Cordell|Cordell, Bruce R.]] ''[[Expanded Psionics Handbook]]'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2004)</ref>

=== ''Dungeons & Dragons'' 4th edition (2008–2014) ===
The mind flayer appears in the ''Monster Manual'' for this edition (2008).<ref>Mearls, Mike, Stephen Schubert, and James Wyatt. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2008)</ref>

=== ''Dungeons & Dragons'' 5th edition (2014–present) ===
The mind flayer appears in the ''[[Monster Manual]]'' for this edition (2014).<ref>[[Mike Mearls|Mearls, Mike]], [[Stephen Schubert]], and [[James Wyatt (game designer)|James Wyatt]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2014)</ref> Additional information about the mind flayers is found in ''[[Volo'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.<ref>[[Volo's Guide to Monsters]] ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2016)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=2016-10-19 |title=Dungeons & Dragons is changing how it makes books |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2016/10/19/13321200/dungeons-and-dragons-volos-guide-to-monsters-monster-manual-beholder-mind-flayer |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref> The limited edition alternate cover of ''Volo's Guide to Monsters'' features an Illithid illustration by Hydro74.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2016 |title=New 'Dungeons & Dragons' Sourcebooks for Fall |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/34655/new-dungeons-dragons-sourcebooks-fall |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=[[ICv2]] |language=en}}</ref> On the [[fictional canon]] of mind flayers, 5th Edition designer [[Chris Perkins (game designer)|Chris Perkins]], in a 2019 interview, stated:<blockquote>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 5E ''Monster Manual'' and the "Mind Flayers: Scourge of Worlds" section of ''Volo's Guide to Monsters''. The latter resource, in particular, picks up elements of mind flayer lore from earlier sourcebooks, including ''The Illithiad'' [from 2E] and ''Lords of Madness'' [from 3.5E].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-30 |title=D&D's Christopher Perkins delves into dark, horrible secrets of the mind flayer |url=https://venturebeat.com/pc-gaming/dds-christopher-perkins-delves-into-dark-horrible-secrets-of-the-mind-flayer/ |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}</ref></blockquote>''[[ComicBook.com]]'' reported that the "[[Big Bad|big bads]]" of the module ''Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk'' (2023) are mind flayers,<ref name="ComicBook.com on Phandelver big bad">{{Cite web |last=Hoffer |first=Christian |date=August 31, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Returns to Mind Flayers as Big Bads of Newest Campaign |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-phandelin-shattered-obelisk-mind-flayers/ |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en}}</ref> with the adventure including new variants of mind flayers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons' Next Adventure Is Perfect Follow-Up for Baldur's Gate 3 Players |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-baldurs-gate-3-mind-flayer-phandelver/ |access-date=August 29, 2023 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en}}</ref> Christian Hoffer of ''ComicBook.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 in ''[[Baldur's Gate 3]] -'' ceremorphosis, the process of becoming a mind flayer".<ref name="ComicBook.com on Phandelver big bad" />

== Fictional physical characteristics ==
Illithids have a humanoid body with an [[octopus]]-like head, which has been observed as a similarity to [[H. P. Lovecraft]]'s [[Cthulhu]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.avclub.com/your-guide-to-volo-s-guide-to-monsters-1798254926 |title=Your guide to ''Volo's Guide To Monsters'' |last1=Wanserski |first1=Nick |last2=Chavez |first2=Danette |website=[[The A.V. Club]] |date=2016-11-29 |access-date=2024-02-14 |archive-date=2019-11-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191121121840/https://games.avclub.com/your-guide-to-volo-s-guide-to-monsters-1798254926 |url-status=live }}</ref> 

One of their most feared powers is the dreaded ''Mind Blast'', where the illithid emits a cone-shaped [[Psionics (role-playing games)|psionic]] shock wave with its mind in order to incapacitate any creature for a short amount of time.<ref name="gamerant"/> 

=== Biology ===
Illithids are [[hermaphroditic]] creatures<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Clements |first=Philip J. |date=December 2019 |title=Dungeons & Discourse: Intersectional Identities in Dungeons & Dragons |type=PhD |url=http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1573729920432102 |access-date=September 22, 2020 |pages=135–136}}</ref> who each spawn a mass of [[larva]]e two or three times in their life.<ref name="CBR-anatomy">{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbr.com/dnd-anatomy-mind-flayer-trivia/|title=D&D Anatomy: 5 Facts You Should Know About Mind Flayers|date=May 6, 2021|website=CBR}}</ref> 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 the [[brain]] of a [[sapience|sapient]] creature.<ref name="CBR-who"/> Hosts are determined in a very specific manner. Hosts generally are [[humanoid]] creatures that are between 5 feet 4&nbsp;inches and 6 feet 2&nbsp;inches. The most desirable of races for hosts are [[Human (Dungeons & Dragons)|humans]], [[Drow (Dungeons & Dragons)|drow]], [[Elf (Dungeons & Dragons)|elves]], [[githzerai]], [[githyanki]], [[Grimlock (Dungeons & Dragons)|grimlocks]], [[Gnoll (Dungeons & Dragons)|gnolls]], [[goblinoids]], and [[orc]]s. 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 called ''ceremorphosis''.<ref name="CBR-anatomy"/>

== Variants ==
=== Alhoon ===
Alhoons (also called illithiliches) are illithids that choose to focus on developing arcane abilities in addition to their [[Psionics (Dungeons & Dragons)|psionic]] ones,<ref name=Casey/> and have grown powerful enough in magic to become [[Undead (Dungeons & Dragons)|undead]] [[Lich (Dungeons & Dragons)|liches]].  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.<ref name="LoM"/>

The alhoon first appeared in second edition ''AD&D'' for the [[Forgotten Realms]] setting in the ''Menzoberranzan'' boxed set, in the booklet "Book One: The City" (1992),<ref>[[Ed Greenwood|Greenwood, Ed]], [[Douglas Niles]], and [[R. A. Salvatore]]. ''Menzoberranzan'' (TSR, 1992)</ref> and reprinted in ''[[Monstrous Compendium|Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three]]'' (1996).<ref>[[Jon Pickens|Pickens, Jon]], ed. ''[[Monstrous Compendium|Monstrous Compendium Annual Volume Three]]'' ([[TSR, Inc.|TSR]], 1996)</ref> The creature was further detailed in the supplement ''[[The Illithiad]]'' (1998).<ref>[[Bruce Cordell|Cordell, Bruce R.]] ''[[The Illithiad]]'' (TSR, 1998)</ref> The alhoon also appeared in third edition in ''[[Monsters of Faerûn]]'' (2001)<ref>[[James Wyatt (game designer)|Wyatt, James]] and [[Rob Heinsoo]]. ''[[Monstrous Compendium]]: [[Monsters of Faerûn]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2001)</ref> and ''[[Lords of Madness]]'' (2005).<ref name="LoM"/>

=== Ulitharid ===
{{Empty section|date=June 2024}}

=== Vampiric illithids ===
The origins of these unique [[Undead (Dungeons & Dragons)|undead]] 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 the [[Ravenloft]] adventure ''Thoughts of Darkness'', where "vampiric mind flayers are either the result of a Mind Flayer tadpole infecting a vampiric host or a host that becomes a [[Vampire (Dungeons & Dragons)|vampire]] before the tadpole fully converts them".<ref name=":0">{{Cite web|date=2021-05-23|title=D&D: The 7 Best Monsters Introduced in Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft|url=https://www.cbr.com/dnd-best-monsters-van-richten-guide-ravenloft/|access-date=2021-05-23|website=CBR|language=en-US}}</ref><ref>''Thoughts of Darkness''</ref> These creatures are hated and feared by typical illithids.<ref name="LoM"/> 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".<ref name=":1">{{Cite web|date=February 24, 2021|title=Dungeons & Dragons Is Bringing Back Vampiric Mind Flayers|url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-vampiric-mind-flayers-ravenloft/|access-date=2021-05-23|website=ComicBook.com|language=en}}</ref> Hoffer also highlighted that they "were created when Lyssa von Zarovich (a descendant of [[Strahd von Zarovich|Strahd]]) attempted to create a creature powerful enough to overthrow her great uncle".<ref name=":1" /> Jacob Creswell, for [[Comic Book Resources|''CBR'']], highlighted that "Vampiric Mind Flayers are a classic ''Dungeon & Dragons'' monster that combines two terrifying concepts. [...] Originally known as vampiric illithids, vampiric mind flayers were a force to be reckoned with in ''Advanced Dungeons & Dragons''. Their superior strength stat meant that they'd be able to overpower most adventurers".<ref name=":0" /> Creswell included them on list of the seven best monsters introduced in the 5th Edition campaign guide ''[[Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft]]''.<ref name=":0" />

=== Related creatures ===
'''Brainstealer Dragon''':  A mix of illithid and [[Dragon (Dungeons & Dragons)|dragon]], these powerful wyrms occasionally rule over illithid communities that lack an elder brain.<ref name="DR337">Baase, Kevin, Eric Jansing, and Oliver Frank. "Monsters of the Mind." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #337 ([[Paizo Publishing]], 2005)</ref><ref name="thegamer">{{Cite web|url=https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-mind-flayers-facts/|title=D&D: 10 Things You Didn't Know About Mind Flayers|date=December 2, 2020|website=TheGamer}}</ref>


'''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.<ref name="DR337"/>

'''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.<ref>''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #255</ref>

'''Mind Worm''':  Created by illithids to serve as assassins and bounty-hunters, these powerful psionic creatures resemble smaller [[purple worm]]s.  They can attack from far distances with their probe worms.<ref name="DR337"/>

'''Nerve Swimmers''':  Derived from immature illithid tadpoles, these entities are living instruments of torture and interrogation.<ref name="DR337"/>


'''Ustilagor''':  Mind flayers farm these larval [[intellect devourer]]s for food and sentries.<ref name="DR337"/>

'''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.<ref>[[Wolfgang Baur|Baur, Wolfgang]]. "The Dragon's Bestiary:  Monsters of the Underdark." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #227 (TSR, 1996)</ref>

== Fictional history ==
The 3.5 Edition ''D&D'' supplement ''[[Lords 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 given ''D&D'' campaign.<ref name="LoM"/>

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 the [[githzerai]] (and in the Spelljammer campaign setting the Pirates of Gith).<ref name="MC7">{{Cite book
 | last = Breault
 | first = Mike
 | author-link = Michael Breault
 | author2 = TSR Staff 
 | title = Advanced Dungeons and Dragons: Monstrous Compendium/Mc7 (Spelljammer Appendix)
 | publisher = TSR, inc.
 | year = 1990
 | location = Lake Geneva, WI S.l.
 | isbn = 978-0-88038-871-9}}</ref>

The background material of the ''Chainmail'' game<ref>Tweet, Jonathan, Rob Heinsoo, and [[Chris Pramas]]. ''Chainmail Miniatures Game: Blood and Darkness – Set 2 Guidebook.'' Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002</ref> places the gith forerunners in a subterranean empire called '''Zarum''' in [[Western Oerik]], where they dominated many other races from their capital city of '''Anithor'''. 

=== Religion ===
Traditionally, illithids revere a perverse deity named Ilsensine.<ref name="thegamer"/> In 2nd edition, they have a second deity named Maanzecorian, who is later killed by [[Orcus (Dungeons & Dragons)#History|Tenebrous (Orcus)]] in the [[Planescape]] adventure module ''[[Dead Gods]]''. Although Ilsensine is the illithid patron deity, few mind flayers actively worship it, thinking themselves the most powerful creatures in the universe.<ref name="LoM" />

=== Activities ===
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.<ref name="LoM"/>

Illithids regularly conduct raids on all sentient settlements to acquire new thralls.<ref name="LoM"/>

== In various campaign settings ==
=== In ''Dragonlance'' ===
The yaggol are a variant presented in the ''[[Dragonlance]]'' [[campaign setting]].<ref>[[David Cook (game designer)|Cook, David]]. ''[[Time of the Dragon]]'' (TSR, 1989)</ref><ref>Heard, Bruce A, et al. ''Monstrous Compendium 4: Dragonlance Appendix'' (TSR, 1989)</ref>

=== In ''Ravenloft'' ===
Illithids are the rulers of a domain in the ''[[Ravenloft]]'' campaign setting called Bluetspur, where their God-Brain is the [[Darklord (Ravenloft)|darklord]]. In the 5th Edition campaign guide ''[[Van 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".<ref>{{Cite book|title=Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft|date=2021|isbn=978-0-7869-6725-4|location=Renton, WA|pages=73|oclc=1238191930|last1=Dragons |first1=Dungeons }}</ref> [[Polygon (website)|''Polygon'']] highlighted that Bluetspur is "a world of cosmic horror populated by malevolent mind flayers that will make your heroes question their own memories".<ref>{{Cite web|last=Hall|first=Charlie|date=2021-05-12|title=Van Richten's Guide to Ravenloft is the biggest, best D&D book of this generation|url=https://www.polygon.com/22430494/dungeons-dragons-van-richtens-guide-to-ravenloft-review|access-date=2021-05-23|website=Polygon|language=en}}</ref>

=== In ''Spelljammer'' ===
According to [[Ken Rolston]], the [[Beholder (Dungeons & Dragons)|beholder]] 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".<ref name="Dragon #154">{{cite journal| last = Rolston| first = Ken| author-link = Ken Rolston| title = Role-playing Reviews| journal = [[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]| issue = #154| pages = 59–63| publisher = [[TSR, Inc.|TSR]]| location = [[Lake Geneva, Wisconsin]]|date=February 1990}}</ref> ''D&D'' chroniclers Michael Witwer ''et al.'' commented on their appearance in the setting, already featured on the cover of ''[[AD&D Adventures in Space]]'': "the illithid, the race of the mind flayers, finally return home to space".<ref name=AA/>{{rp|224-225}}

=== ''Pharagos: The Battleground'' ===
In a proposed campaign setting, Pharagos is a lightly populated [[Earth]]-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.<ref>[[James Wyatt (game designer)|Wyatt, James]] (July 2003). ''"Incursion: A World Under Siege."'' ''[[Dragon (magazine)|DRAGON Magazine]]'', p. 70.</ref>

== Critical reception ==
The mind flayer was ranked fourth among the ten best mid-level monsters by the authors of ''Dungeons & Dragons For Dummies''. They referred to this unique creation of the ''D&D'' game as the "quintessential evil genius" and the "perfect evil overlord".<ref name="Dummies">{{cite book|last1=Slavicsek|first1=Bill|author-link=Bill Slavicsek|first2=Rich|last2=Baker|author-link2=Richard Baker (game designer)|first3=Jeff|last3=Grubb|author-link3=Jeff Grubb |title=Dungeons & Dragons For Dummies|publisher=For Dummies|year=2006|page=373|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=xNU7E01MCEgC&q=%22mind+flayer%22&pg=PA361|access-date=2009-02-12|isbn=978-0-7645-8459-6}}</ref> Games journalist [[David M. Ewalt]] found them "one of D&D's most popular monsters".<ref name="Ewalt" /> Academic Philip J. Clements considered mind flayers one of the "game's signature monsters",<ref>{{cite thesis |last=Clements |first=Philip J. |date=December 2019 |title=Dungeons & Discourse: Intersectional Identities in Dungeons & Dragons |type=PhD |url=http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=bgsu1573729920432102 |access-date=September 22, 2020 |pages=133}}</ref> while ''{{ill|Backstab (magazine)|lt=Backstab|fr|Backstab}}'' reviewer Philippe Tessier called it a "classic of ''D&D''"<ref>{{cite magazine|last=Tessier|first=Philippe|date=November 2000|title=Baldur's Gate II|department=Review|language=fr|magazine=Backstab|number=24|pages=90–91}}</ref> and Witwer ''et al.'' "iconic ''D&D'' monsters".<ref name=AA/>{{rp|5, 226-227}}

''[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]'' writer Cienna Madrid described the Mind Flayer as one of D&D's "ghastly fiends".<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.thestranger.com/seattle/the-dice-storm/Content?oid=25245|title=The Dice Storm|last=Cienna|first=Madrid|date=November 24, 2005|work=[[The Stranger (newspaper)|The Stranger]]|access-date=2009-08-15}}</ref> Reviewer Julien Blondel for ''Backstab'' described them as vile brain-eating creatures full of [[Psionics (Dungeons & Dragons)|psionic energy]]. He found them delightful creatures for a sadistic Dungeon Master to use, and a useful bridge between classic game worlds and the [[Outer Plane|planes]], as illithids abound in both.<ref>{{cite journal|last=Blondel|first=Julien|date=May–June 1998|title=The Illithiad|language=fr|journal=Backstab|volume=9|page=55}}</ref>

Rob Bricken of ''[[io9]]'' named the mind flayer as the 9th most memorable D&D monster.<ref>{{cite journal|url= http://io9.gizmodo.com/the-10-most-memorable-dungeons-dragons-monsters-1326074030/|title=The 10 Most Memorable Dungeons & Dragons Monsters|journal=Io9|last=Bricken|first=Rob|date=September 16, 2013|access-date=January 20, 2016}}</ref> ''[[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."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-9-scariest-most-unforgettable-monsters-from-dungeons-dragons|title=The 9 scariest, most unforgettable monsters from Dungeons & Dragons|first=Lisa|last=Granshaw|date=October 24, 2018|website=SYFY WIRE|access-date=October 8, 2019|archive-date=April 29, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200429125029/https://www.syfy.com/syfywire/the-9-scariest-most-unforgettable-monsters-from-dungeons-dragons|url-status=dead}}</ref> ''[[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."<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://screenrant.com/dungeons-and-dragons-powerful-weak-monsters-ranked/|title=Dungeons & Dragons: 10 Most Powerful (And 10 Weakest) Monsters, Ranked|date=May 20, 2018|website=Screen Rant}}</ref>

== In other media ==
Mind flayers appear in other role-playing games, including ''[[Angband (video game)|Angband]]'', ''[[Bloodborne]]'', ''[[Demon's Souls]]'', ''[[Final Fantasy]]'', ''[[NetHack]]'', ''[[Lost Kingdoms]]'', ''[[Kingdom of Loathing]]'' and ''[[Lost Souls (online game)|Lost Souls]]'', and the one-player [[gamebook]] RPG series ''[[Fighting Fantasy]]'' includes a creature similar to the illithid, the Brain Slayer.

* Ulchalothe in ''[[Baldur's Gate: Dark Alliance II]]'' is the guardian of the Brazier of Eternal Flame.  There are illithid settlements of varying size in the games ''[[Neverwinter Nights: Hordes of the Underdark]]'', ''[[Baldur's Gate II]]'' and ''[[Icewind Dale II]]''. The villain in the ''[[Neverwinter Nights (2002 video game)|Neverwinter Nights]]'' premium module 'Kingmaker' is also an Illithid. 
* Illithid characters and plot elements play a central role throughout the story of ''[[Baldur's Gate 3]]''.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2020-10-22|title=Baldur's Gate 3's Mind-Eating Parasite Informs All of Act 1, for Better and for Worse|url=https://www.escapistmagazine.com/v2/baldurs-gate-3s-mind-eating-parasite-informs-all-of-act-1-for-better-and-for-worse/|access-date=2020-10-22|website=Escapist Magazine|language=en-US}}</ref>
* In episode 30 of the webcomic ''[[Order of the Stick]]'' (written by [[Rich Burlew]]), the party bard [[Elan (Order of the Stick)|Elan]] encounters an illithid in its lair. The illithid opts not to consume Elan's brain due to the bard's stupidity, and so they start playing [[Scrabble]] instead.<ref name="oots0030">{{cite journal |author=Burlew, Rich | author-link = Rich Burlew |title=Behind the Secret Door |url=http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0030.html |journal=The Order of the Stick |year=2004 |issue=#30 |publisher=GiantITP.com |access-date=2017-12-14}}</ref> Episode 31 makes a reference to the illithid's preferred diet.<ref name="oots0031">{{cite journal |author=Burlew, Rich | author-link = Rich Burlew |title=All-You-Can-Eat Brain Buffet |url=http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0031.html |journal=The Order of the Stick |year=2004 |issue=#31 |publisher=GiantITP.com |access-date=2017-12-14}}</ref> Episode 32 makes a fourth-wall reference to the fact that the illithid isn't open-source material.<ref name="oots0032">{{cite journal |author=Burlew, Rich | author-link = Rich Burlew |title=Biting the Hand that Feeds Me |url=http://www.giantitp.com/comics/oots0032.html |journal=The Order of the Stick |year=2004 |issue=#32 |publisher=GiantITP.com |access-date=2017-12-14}}</ref>
* In the ''[[Final Fantasy]]'' series, players encounter an enemy called the Mindflayer, a cave-dwelling magic user that has the head of a squid, wears a flowing robe, and wields a staff. When the [[Final Fantasy (video game)|first game]] for the [[Nintendo Entertainment System|NES]] was brought to North America it was referred to as a Sorcerer.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ffe.hendersongdi.com/m/mindflayer.html|title=Final Fantasy Encyclopaedia: Mindflayer|website=ffe.hendersongdi.com|access-date=2017-12-14|archive-date=2010-10-22|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101022020948/http://ffe.hendersongdi.com/m/mindflayer.html|url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2005|title=Final Fantasy 1 Version Differences FAQ v3.01|url=https://www.ffcompendium.com/h/faqs/ff1versions.txt|access-date=2021-05-27|website=ffcompendium.com}}</ref> Although the Mindflayer's name and appearance have been kept the same, the "[[Beholder (Dungeons & Dragons)|Beholder]]" was changed to Evil Eye.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://ffe.hendersongdi.com/e/evileye.html|title=Final Fantasy Encyclopaedia: Evil Eye|website=ffe.hendersongdi.com|access-date=2017-12-14|archive-date=2016-09-11|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160911110018/http://ffe.hendersongdi.com/e/evileye.html|url-status=dead}}</ref>
* The [[Netflix]] series ''[[Stranger Things]]'', following the eighth episode of the second season, used the name "Mind Flayer" to refer to one of the main antagonists of the series due to their similar natures.<ref name="Casey">{{cite web |url=https://nerdist.com/stranger-things-season-3-dungeons-dragons-mind-flayer-eleven-theory/ |title=What Dungeons & Dragons Reveals About Stranger Things Season 3 |last=Casey |first=Dan |date=November 2, 2017 |website=Nerdist.com |publisher=Nerdist |access-date=November 8, 2017 |quote=In season 2, episode 8, titled “The Mind Flayer,” Dustin draws an analogy between a fan-favorite ''D&D'' monster of the same name and whatever shadowy creature is possessing Will Byers.}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.forbes.com/sites/danidiplacido/2017/11/05/stranger-things-season-2-episode-8-review-the-mind-flayer/#3d448f8d9bec |title='Stranger Things' Season 2, Episode 8 Review: 'The Mind Flayer' |last=Di Placido  |first=Dani |date=November 5, 2017 |work=Forbes |access-date=November 8, 2017 |quote=Will is still a vessel of pure evil, and the boys return to their trusted ''Dungeons & 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,"}}</ref>

=== Licensing ===
The illithid is considered "Product Identity" by [[Wizards of the Coast]] and as such is not released under its [[Open Game License]].<ref>{{cite web |title=Frequently Asked Questions |url=http://www.d20srd.org/faq.htm |access-date=2007-02-23 |publisher=D20srd.org}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Baird |first=Scott |date=2020-05-24 |title=These Monsters Are Legally Owned By Dungeons & Dragons (So You Can't Steal Them) |url=https://www.thegamer.com/dungeons-dragons-monsters-copyright/ |access-date=2023-09-01 |website=TheGamer |language=en}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist|30em}}

== Further reading ==
*Cagle, Eric, et al. ''Fiend Folio'' (Wizards of the Coast, 2003).
*[[Chris Pramas|Pramas, Chris]]. "Exiles from the Vault." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #298. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
*Pramas, Chris. "Underground Scenarios." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #294. Renton, WA: Wizards of the Coast, 2002.
*Schwartz, Christopher M. "The New Illithid Arsenal." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #255 (TSR, 1999).
*Williams, Penny. "Armed To the Tentacle." ''[[Dragon (magazine)|Dragon]]'' #308 ([[Paizo Publishing]], 2003).
*Wyatt, James. "Knights of the Lich-Queen." ''[[Dungeon (magazine)|Dungeon]]'' #100. Bellevue, WA: Paizo Publishing, 2003.
*[[Cordell, Bruce R]]. ''[[Expanded Psionics Handbook]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2004).

== External links ==
*[https://web.archive.org/web/20060827004803/http://www.planewalker.com/encyclopedia/encyclopedia.php?intEntryID=168 ''Illithids''] at ''Planescape'' website
<!--*[http://www.dlnexus.com/lexicon/15109.aspx ''Yaggol''] at [[Dragonlance Nexus]]-->
*[https://www.cbr.com/dungeons-dragons-mind-flayer-encounter/ How to Design the PERFECT Mind Flayer Encounter] at [[CBR.com]]

{{D&D topics|beasts}}

[[Category:Dungeons & Dragons monsters]]
[[Category:Fictional elements introduced in 1975]]
[[Category:Fictional psychics]]
[[Category:Fictional species and races]]
[[Category:Tentacles/tentacle monsters in fiction]]