How to save or destroy the brain in Baldur’s Gate 3

Want to know how to save or destroy the brain in Baldur’s Gate 3? The game has received critical acclaim and praise from fans since its launch. Some players were caught off guard by the shocking start to the game where a Mind Flayer inserts a tadpole with teeth into your eye. At the start of the game, the Dungeons & Dragons adventure presents you with a rather interesting choice. If you thought an Owlbear cub is interesting, wait till you see a swelling brain in the middle of a cerebral extraction.

If you’re already making your way through the D&D world of Faerun, consider our Baldur’s Gate 3 Necromancy of Thay guide. But if you haven’t, keep track of Baldur’s Gate 3 classes and subclasses like the Wizard and Sorcery to understand their potency in combat and dialogue.

How to save or destroy the brain in Baldur’s Gate 3?

You’ll spot the brain pulsing on a man with his scalp removed aboard the Nautiloid ship in Baldur’s Gate 3. We recommend saving the brain as the best choice.  In the second room of the Ilithid Nautiloid ship, you’ll hear a voice. On the south side of this room, use the Neural Apparatus to take an elevator to the second floor. The brain then speaks to you telepathically. It asks you to free it from its prison, which happens to be the poor man’s skull. The game gives you three choices:

• Help the brain by freeing it (Medicine, Strength, or Dexterity check)
• Walk away
• Destroy the brain (no check)

Helping the exposed brain with one of the ability checks in the game will give you a temporary companion. This brain will call itself Us and you as Friend. It’s a surprisingly sturdy ally who can take a hit or two. While you can use Perception or Arcana checks to get unique dialogue, this doesn’t change the three choices you will have. An Investigation check will give you more information and a dialogue option.

Walking away doesn’t impact the story aboard the Nautiloid. And since you leave the ship early on, there’s not much of a chance of the brain coming back. But considering that you’re losing out on a potential ally, there’s no harm in freeing it.

While you can destroy the brain for good, you can also mutilate it so that it doesn’t pose a threat when you free it. This just places your party at a disadvantage since freeing it still turns the brain into an ally. There’s no point in weakening it with a Dexterity roll. 

That covers everything you need to know on how to save or destroy the brain in Baldur’s Gate 3. You’ll also spot a woman in a Mind Flayer pod in the same location. Check out our Baldur’s Gate 3 abilities guide to understand how your character interacts with the world. If you’re already itching for a challenge, consider solving the Baldur’s Gate 3 Dank Crypt puzzle on PC and PlayStation 5.