Did the Emperor Tadpole you?
Yes, Baldur's Gate 3 lore strongly implies the Emperor (originally Balduran) was the mind flayer who infected your character (Tav/Durge) with the tadpole at the start of the game, though the opening cinematic makes it ambiguous by showing a different mind flayer responsible for the initial infection before the Emperor breaks free to join you in the Astral Prism. This is a major point of discussion and player realization, often revealed later in the game when players notice the Emperor's distinctive garb and actions matching the initial mind flayer from the Nautiloid.What happens if you turn on the emperor?
What Happens if You Attack the Emperor. Long story short: it's a game over. You need the Emperor alive, as he's actually the only one who's preventing you from being completely corrupted by the Absolute. If you fight him, you'll go up against his Intellect Devourer brain creatures, as well as the Githyanki invaders.Is the emperor the one who infects you in BG3?
It's heavily implied, though with conflicting dialogue hints, that the Emperor did infect you in Baldur's Gate 3, orchestrating the Nautiloid attack to gain thralls (you!) for his own freedom, manipulating you as the "Dream Guardian" to use illithid powers for his benefit, even if he wasn't the exact mind flayer who placed the tadpole in the first instance. Larian Studios left some ambiguous clues, but the consensus points to him using the situation for his own ends, revealing himself as a master manipulator.Is the emperor working with Gortash?
The Emperor Is A Key Player In Gortash's DownfallHowever, it claims it was only allied with Gortash while under the influence of the Elder Brain, which is being controlled by the Chosen of the Dead Three.
What happens if I let the tadpole influence me?
Communing with the tadpole unlocks a new tier of illithid powers. This allows companions to also use it, although they will have to be convinced through various skill checks. Finally, eating the tadpole also unlocks the new powers for the character, but prevents other characters from communing with it.Baldur's Gate 3: The Emperor Reveals His True Colors (Reject Tentacle Romance)
Will I become a mindflayer if I free Orpheus?
You're in the end-stretch of the game at this point. But no, you don't definitely become a mindflayer if you free Orpheus. There is somewhat of a moral dilemma, though.What is the most evil thing you can do in Baldur's Gate 3?
What are some of the most evil things you can do?- handing over shadowheart to Viconia (can you do this even if she chose Shar?)
- saving scratch but handing him over to the evil dog lady.
- choosing Kagha's side.
- Ascendant Astarion.
- Sacrifice a companion to BOOAAL (who to sacrifice?)
Did the Emperor Tadpole tav?
Re: The Emperor tadpoled us! Emperor has different coloured eyes to the one that tadpoles us. So the Emperor definitely isn't the one who directly tadpoled us. He may have still been on board and might have orchestrated the tadpoling, but he didn't personally do it.Does the Emperor betray you in BG3?
Yes, the Emperor betrays you in Baldur's Gate 3 in a way, but it's more a matter of his ultimate self-preservation and alignment with his true nature as a mind flayer (illithid) rather than pure malice; he helps you until it conflicts with his survival, often forcing a difficult choice to free Orpheus, which he perceives as a betrayal, and if you don't free Orpheus, he eventually joins the Netherbrain if you side with it, or you can betray him by eating his brain after the final fight.Is there a downside to using Illithid wisdom?
She'll become disgusted if you repeatedly rely on Illithid Powers to help yourself or the group, which could lead to you being locked out of certain encounters in the long run.Is the emperor actually protecting you in BG3?
The Emperor's protection is effective, but it is not Absolute. And the Emperor himself is exhausted (battle with the guards of Orpheus and parallel general defense). And if you go in the opposite direction from all the other fanatics, the Emperor says that you will both die.Does using tadpoles affect ending BG3?
No, using tadpoles in Baldur's Gate 3 doesn't change the main ending or lock you out of good outcomes; you get powerful Illithid abilities with minimal downsides (mostly cosmetic changes like darker veins), and you can even remove them at the end, though the powerful Astral-Touched Tadpole makes you look haggard and can create tension, but still leads to the same victory if you destroy the Netherbrain. The game sets up dramatic warnings about turning into a Mind Flayer, but this is a false choice, as you can consume many tadpoles and still become the hero, with the option to destroy the brain, not yourself.Do I help the emperor or the githyanki?
In Baldur's Gate 3, siding with the Emperor means trusting your dream guardian, a manipulative but powerful Mind Flayer who offers special powers via Astral-Touched Tadpoles, leading toward potentially powerful but morally ambiguous choices (like becoming a Mind Flayer yourself) to defeat the Netherbrain; siding with the Githyanki (and freeing Prince Orpheus) rejects the Emperor, offers freedom for Orpheus, but risks immediate backlash and potentially a harder path, though it aligns with Lae'zel's loyalties and a more heroic (but difficult) struggle against Illithids, often requiring one of your party (or Orpheus) to become a Mind Flayer to win. The "better" choice depends on your character's morality and desired story, with the Emperor offering power and the Githyanki/Orpheus path offering defiance.Who should turn into an illithid?
It doesn't matter which one becomes illithid. If you chose the emperor over Orpheus you should be able to pass the stones to him and therefore everyone avoids the illithid transformation. But then again, if you are to a point where you have to choose one of your party it really doesn't affect the game mechanic.Does the emperor really love you BG3?
Yes, the Emperor develops genuine feelings for the player in Baldur's Gate 3, expressing care, arousal, and a desire for a deeper connection, though the relationship is complex, often manipulative, and its impact on the story feels underdeveloped to many players, leading to debate on whether he truly loves you or just the alliance. His actions, like protecting you and admitting shared feelings, suggest love, but he also uses half-truths, making his motivations ambiguous.Can I save Orpheus and the emperor?
In Baldur's Gate 3, you can save Orpheus by using the Orphic Hammer to break his prison, but you must choose between him and the Emperor; you generally can't keep both alive and free simultaneously, as the Emperor views Orpheus as a threat, requiring you to free Orpheus (often needing a Mind Flayer to use the Netherstones) or side with the Emperor, with options to persuade them for temporary truces or even get Orpheus to sacrifice himself, but ultimately it's a tough endgame choice.Is the emperor actually evil in BG3?
The Emperor in Baldur's Gate 3 isn't strictly "evil," but rather a complex, self-serving anti-hero focused on survival, often manipulating the player with a mix of helpfulness and ruthlessness, making him morally grey; he uses the tadpole power for self-preservation and freedom, even betraying past allies and threatening to join the Netherbrain if defied, but also genuinely helps save Baldur's Gate and the player, showing flashes of his former compassionate self as Balduran.How to get the best ending in BG3?
The "best" ending in Baldur's Gate 3 is subjective but generally means happy, heroic outcomes for companions and the world, achieved by resolving personal quests (e.g., saving Orpheus/freeing him to become Illithid for Karlach, helping Gale return Netherstones to Mystra, killing Cazador with Astarion) and commanding the Netherbrain to destroy itself, often requiring sacrifices like someone (maybe you/Orpheus) becoming a mind flayer for victory. Key choices involve siding with Orpheus over the Emperor, rescuing Karlach's engine, and encouraging companions to reject evil paths.Does sleeping with the emperor affect your relationship in BG3?
Romancing The Emperor Doesn't Impact A Character's Relationship.Does becoming half illithid affect romance?
No, becoming half-illithid in Baldur's Gate 3 generally does not ruin or end romances; companions react with some unique dialogue about your new look and powers, but they stick with you and the romance continues as normal unless you choose the full illithid transformation or make other story-ending choices. It's mostly flavor and an unlock for powerful illithid abilities, not a romance-killer for most companions.Is the emperor actually Balduran?
Yes, in Baldur's Gate 3, the mysterious entity known as The Emperor is revealed to be the legendary Balduran, the founder of Baldur's Gate, who was transformed into a mind flayer after encountering a dormant illithid colony beneath Moonrise Towers. He retains Balduran's memories, including his love for his dragon companion Ansur, though his transformation and desire for power led to conflict and the tragic death of Ansur.Can you romance the emperor?
Yes, you can romance the Emperor in Baldur's Gate 3, primarily in Act 3, by building approval through acts 2 & 3, finding their hideout, being receptive to their vulnerability (like their past lover), and generally staying on their good side, with options for intimacy arising during long rests, even without taking extra tadpoles.Will Shadowheart get mad if I sleep with someone else?
Shadowheart demonstrates this 'possessiveness' when you try to romance other companions and you are already with her, and will even end your romantic relationship, as she does not want to share you.Who is the most evil companion in BG3?
Minthara is the obvious 'evil' companion. But the other ones I found satisfying are Shadowheart, Astarion and Gale, because all 3 have 'darker' paths you can lead them down, to see a story different from the ones you already would have. Shadow heart, laezel, minthara, and gale are the only ones who won't leave so.Can you become a devil in BG3?
No, you can't become a devil as a player character in Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3) (unless you're Wyll or Karlach with specific choices!), but you can make deals with them (like Raphael), play as a Tiefling (devil-blooded), use Illithid powers, or get transformations like Werewolf, but full devil transformation is mostly for NPCs or requires mods, though Wyll can become one permanently as part of his story.
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