Baldur's Gate 3's Best Mechanic Officially Arrives In Dungeons & Dragons

Dungeons and Dragons is officially getting one of the best mechanics from Baldur’s Gate 3, and you can already check it out for free, no strings attached. There’s a lot going on with the popular TTRPG lately. While we get ready for the release of the Arcana Unleashed expansion in September, we’ve already set our sights on future releases that have been confirmed for the 2027 roadmap for Dungeons and Dragons. In late 2026, we’re getting the World of Warcraft expansion for D&D, and next year, there’s even more in store.

We’ll be seeing things like the return of the Dark Sun world as the first-ever M-rated setting in the TTRPG, as well as Greyhawk and even Star Wars. While a lot of it is already planned, Wizards of the Coast is working on future releases, and a new addition to Unearthed Arcana playtests on D&D Beyond has just gone live. This playtest, called Underdark Options, is mostly centered around the magical power of Unlight and the creatures who live in the Underdark.

Tav becomes a mind flayer illithid in Baldur's Gate 3

There are three new subclasses for D&D being tested, but what is most appealing here is a “transformative path of feats” called Path of Ceremorphosis. Effectively speaking, this new path of feats lets you become infected with an Illithid tadpole and, ultimately, become a Mind Flayer character. At level 4, when you get your first Ability Score Improvement, you can pick up the Tadpole Host feat, which will give you a 1-point increase to Intelligence, free access to Mind Sliver, and control over Psionic Energy Dice, which can be used, initially, to deal extra Psychic damage.

As you reach other ASI-appropriate levels (or when the DM gives you permission), you’re given the option to grab other types of Path of Ceremorphosis feats, all of which are designed to feel like the Illithid powers in Baldur’s Gate 3 that you get by upgrading your tadpole. The Illithid Thrallmaker feat, for instance, gives you Telepathy and Charm Person, while Tadpole’s Safeguard gives you Telepathy and Shield. The Ulitharid’s Might feat, on the other hand, gives you Telepathy and the ability to execute Unarmed Strikes with tentacles that sprout from your mouth.

View of Shadowheart's brain used no illithid parasites in Baldur's Gate 3

At level 12, when you have at least two Path of Ceremorphosis feats, you can take the Full Ceremorphosis feat, which fully transforms you into a Mind Flayer. You become an Aberration and can choose a specialization, either increasing your melee prowess or unlocking Mind Flayer spells. These work like the Villainous Options feats for D&D when it comes to progression, but becoming a Mind Flayer doesn’t necessarily require you to have an evil alignment, as would be required for a Death Knight or Lich.

For now, the Path of Ceremorphosis is being tested, and there’s no guarantee it will ever truly be released – a lot of what’s tested in Unearthed Arcana has the potential of being scrapped. Even so, these options are out there for free, so if you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to control a Baldur’s Gate 3-like Mind Flayer in Dungeons and Dragons, this is your best opportunity so far.