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Illithid Mind Flayer

Adversaries Designed by Conor Hoffman

Adversary overview

A tall, slender figure in dark, alien robes stands unnaturally still as its face writhes with living tentacles. Its eyes glow faintly with cold intelligence, not emotion, not rage, but calculation. It

Illithids are extensions of the Blind Eternities given form.

They do not hate you. They do not fear you.

They study you.

They believe evolution requires surrender of individuality. They believe free will is an inefficiency.

They are not soldiers. They are shepherds.

And you are livestock.

Encounter recommendations:

Standard encounter (Tier 2 party):

• 1 Mind Flayer
• 1 Eldrazi Scion Swarm
• 2 Intellect Devourers

Hard encounter:

• 1 Mind Flayer
• 2 Scion Swarms
• 1 Devourer Swarm

Boss setup:

• 1 Mind Flayer Commander
• Multiple swarms
• Terrain advantages

Stat block

Tier
2
Type
Leader
Difficulty
14
HP
6
Stress
7
Attack mod
+2
Damage thresholds
Minor Damage — Mark 1 HP Minor
Mark 1 HP
9
Major Damage — Mark 2 HP Major
Mark 2 HP
18
Severe Damage — Mark 3 HP Severe
Mark 3 HP

Standard attack

Psychic Lance
Range: Far
Damage: 1d10+2
Attack Mod: +2
Damage Type: Physical

Features

Passives

  • Levitation

    The Illithid floats silently.

    It ignores terrain and cannot be knocked prone.

Actions

  • Mind Break

    Target one PC within Far range. They must roll Intellect.

    Failure:

    • They lose one experience until their next Long Rest
    • They mark 2 Stress
    • They cannot gain Hope until their next turn

    Success:

    They take 1 Stress.

    Narrative effect: The Illithid tears pieces of identity, memory, or emotional grounding from the victim.

  • Psionic Domination
    fear 2

    Spend 2 Fear.

    Target must roll Intellect

    Failure:

    They are Controlled until the end of the party's next turn. The GM may make Fear actions using them.

    Success:

    They take 1 Stress.

  • Extract Brain

    Target must be:

    • Vulnerable
    OR
    • Restrained
    OR
    • Dominated

    They must roll Intellect

    Failure:

    Take 3d10 Psychic damage.

    If this reduces them to 0 HP, they lose an experience and core memory permanently until restored through powerful magic or narrative recovery.

    Success:

    Mark 2 Stress and break free.

Reactions

  • Psychic Backlash
    fear 1

    When struck in melee, spend 1 Fear.

    The attacker takes 2 Stress as their mind floods with alien thoughts and impossible geometry.

Motives & tactics

—

Experiences

  • Ancient Alien Intelligence +4
  • Manipulator of Lesser Minds +3

Illithid Mind Flayer

Tier 2 leader

A tall, slender figure in dark, alien robes stands unnaturally still as its face writhes with living tentacles. Its eyes glow faintly with cold intelligence, not emotion, not rage, but calculation. It

Motives & Tactics: —

Difficulty: 14 | Thresholds: 9/18 | HP: 6 | Stress: 7

ATK: +2 | Psychic Lance: Far | 1d10+2 Physical

Experience: Ancient Alien Intelligence +4, Manipulator of Lesser Minds +3

HP:

STRESS:

Features

Mind Break - Action: Target one PC within Far range. They must roll Intellect. Failure: • They lose one experience until their next Long Rest • They mark 2 Stress • They cannot gain Hope until their next turn Success: They take 1 Stress. Narrative effect: The Illithid tears pieces of identity, memory, or emotional grounding from the victim.
Psionic Domination - Action: Spend 2 Fear. Target must roll Intellect Failure: They are Controlled until the end of the party's next turn. The GM may make Fear actions using them. Success: They take 1 Stress.
Psychic Backlash - Reaction: When struck in melee, spend 1 Fear. The attacker takes 2 Stress as their mind floods with alien thoughts and impossible geometry.
Levitation - Passive: The Illithid floats silently. It ignores terrain and cannot be knocked prone.
Extract Brain - Action: Target must be: • Vulnerable OR • Restrained OR • Dominated They must roll Intellect Failure: Take 3d10 Psychic damage. If this reduces them to 0 HP, they lose an experience and core memory permanently until restored through powerful magic or narrative recovery. Success: Mark 2 Stress and break free.

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