The Emperor, who looks pretty different from your average Mindflayer, has the same objective as you – to stop the Absolute from controlling everything, for good. There’s a critical moment in Baldur’s Gate 3 when he’ll give you a chance for a major power-up. This comes with a special tadpole offer.
After a chat with him, you’re left with a choice. Will you let the Emperor help you level up in Baldur’s Gate 3 or decline his offer? The decision is yours! So, let’s see in this guide.
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Let the Emperor Evolve You or Not in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)?
At the finish line of the game, you’ll bump into the Emperor on the Astral Plane. When you reach him, you’re going to see a whole array of dialogue choices. He’s pretty chatty and will throw some questions your way. One of the cool things you may be asked about is leveling up yourself with an interesting device called a tadpole.
If you decide to embrace the Emperor’s tadpole and the Evolution it brings, you’re in for a huge transformation that’ll stick with you for the rest of your game. This Astral-Touched tadpole opens a door to a broader range of Illithid powers. These cool powers range from Counterspell and Beast Shape to Fracture Psyche, Mind Sanctuary, Charisma and so much more.
Embrace the Astral-Touched tadpole and you’ll watch your character sprout noticeable black veins over their entire face and body. Transforming in Baldur’s Gate 3 isn’t free from repercussions – they affect your physical looks only. Be aware though, your squadmates may not all approve of your evolution in BG3.
However, if you’d rather not evolve, you’ll still get the Astral-Touched Tadpole. Think of it as a little souvenir that you can keep in your inventory and use later when you’re ready.
If you haven’t tried the Illithid powers from the start, don’t forget to give this option a go. Also, make sure to continuously check our other guides for the latest updates on BG3.
