Baldur's Gate 3: All Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen Locations

To unlock Illithid Powers in Baldur's Gate 3, you will need to find Mind Flayer Parasites that can be found in various locations. While it might be natural for players to resist the parasite inside their characters, some might want to collect as many Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens as possible and unlock new powers.

It is worth pointing out that you can only find Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens in infected corpses, much like your character. You can loot these specimens from these corpses or from jars that can be found in various locations. Luckily, you will know when you get close to a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen in BG3.

A mind flayer stands in front of a brain with several powers active in Baldur's Gate 3

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How To Find Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens In Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)

The Guardian from Baldur's Gate 3 as a tiefling on the left and elf on the right.

The trick to finding Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen is using your Guardian, the second character you design after creating your character. This Guardian will appear in your dreams after using Illithid Powers and offers to help.

Once the dream sequence has been triggered, your Guardian will help you search for more parasites. Whenever you are near a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen in Baldur's Gate 3, whether in corpses or a jar, your Guardian will telepathically inform you there is a parasite nearby. As soon as you are informed, carefully examine your surroundings for a jar or an NPC to fight.

Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen Locations In Baldur's Gate 3 (BG3)

A goblin on the left, with green skin and blueish black hair, face covered in warpaint as they grimace upward. On the right is a mind flayer, red eyes on a tentacled face looking directly at the camera.

If you want to get every Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen, you will have to get them from every infected companion in Baldur's Gate 3, such as Shadowheart and Wyll. You will have to kill these companions, removing them from the rest of the story. Killing your companions might not be a great idea, and instead, it would be wise to collect Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens from the following locations. There are plenty of other unknown parasite locations; however, the aforementioned method should let you spot them in most areas.

Location	Source	Details
Emerald Grove	Drow Corpse	This is a jarred Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen found on a table next to a dissected drow in the Enclave Library. Players should only grab it when Nettie isn't looking.
Forest west of Emerald Grove	Edowin	While traveling west of Emerald Grove, you can find Absolute cultists gathering around a dying True Soul named Edowin. You can get his parasite after he dies.
Druid Grove	Brynna's Friend	Brynna can be found over the corpse of a dead friend who carries a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen in his head.
Risen Road	Flind the Gnoll Warlord	This Gnoll Warlord can be found with a group of other Gnolls and can be used to take care of his friends before players kill him and harvest his parasite.
Shattered Sanctum	Priestess Gut	This priestess is one of three goblin leaders you are hired to take out to free Halsin. She is first found in the main hall of Shattered Sanctum.
Shattered Sanctum	Dror Ragzlin	Dror Ragzlin is the second goblin leader who can be found in the northernmost portion of Shattered Sanctum.

Location	Source	Details
Shattered Sanctum	Minthara	Minthara is the third goblin leader and a potential companion if players don't want her parasite and are willing to get violent. She can be found in the northeast room of Shattered Sanctum.
Grymforge	True Soul Nere	Arriving in Grymforge will give you a choice to either kill or side with True Soul Nere. Whether you kill Nere now or betray him later, he has a Mind Slayer Parasite Specimen to collect after death.
Grymforge	True Soul Nere	If players side with Nere and kill the slaces and slavemasters, he will give you the Gift of the Absolute, which counts as a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen.
Last Light Inn	Flaming Fist Marcus	When Marcus attacks Last Light Inn, players can kill him and take his parasite.
Moonrise Towers	Docks	There are two Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens on a boat docked northwest of the Rivington waypoint when players arrive at Moonrise Towers. This boat moves to the smuggler's dock in Act 3.
Moonrise Towers	Linsella	Linsella is found in the kitchen. The player can either kill Linsella personally or cut her connection to her gnoll servants so they turn on her.
Moonrise Towers	Zealot Malik	Players can get Zealot Malik's parasite if they kill him after letting Nightsong go.
Moonrise Towers	Adept Merim	Adept Merim appears with Zealot Malik. Her parasite can be collected in the same way as Zealot Malik's.

Location	Source	Details
Moonrise Towers	Disciple Z'rell	Disciple Z'rell is part of the collection of enemies who try to protect Ketherlic Thorm.
Moonrise Towers	Zealot Krizt	Zealot Krizt is in the Oubliette of the Moonrise Towers prison within the hole where people dump bodies.
Mind Flayer Colony	Brine Pool	If players a Perception Skill Check on a brine pool in the same room as Zariel's Asset.
Lower City	Manip Edenosa	While exploring Bloomridge Park, you may have to fight a group of Bhaal cultists. Afterward, a Flaming Fist named Manip Edenosa, controlled by a parasite, will speak to you and die. Players can get the Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen after the conversation ends.
Crèche Y'llek	Infirmary	There are three Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens in the infirmary of Crèche Y'llek while players hunt for the Githyanki egg for Lady Esther.
Lower City	The Blushing Mermaid	When players enter the cellar of the Blushing Mermaid during the quest "Save Vanra," they can find a jar with a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen next to some branches on a wooden platform.
Lower City	Steel Watch Foundry	Before entering the control room of the foundry, they should check the back of the chamber, where a jar with a Mind Flayer Parasite Specimen sits on a desk.

There are likely more Mind Flayer Parasite Specimens hidden within Baldur's Gate 3. However, with this list, you can collect two dozen parasites to increase youe Illithid Powers.