# Mind Flayer, Illithid >>[!rimg]+ > ![[Placeholder2.png]] *This strange humanoid-shaped being stands about as tall as a human. Its flesh is rubbery and greenish-mauve, glistening with slime. The creature’s head looks rather like a four-tentacled octopus, made all the more horrible by a pair of bloated white eyes.* <div class="grid-container"><div class="MON">Mind Flayer</div> <div class="CR">CR 8 (4,800 XP)</div> <div class="SOU">Monster Manual pg. 186</div> <div class="SYS">Dungeons & Dragons 3.5</div></div> LE Medium Aberration **Init** +6 **Senses** darkvision 60 ft.; **Perception** +14 #### defense **AC** 15, 12 touch, 13 flat-footed (+2 Dex, +3 natural) **hp** 44 (8d8+8) **Fort** +5, **Refl** +4, **Will** +9 **Feint** 21, **Demoralize** 21 **SR** 19 #### offense **Speed** 30 ft. **Melee** 4 tentacles +8 (1d4+1 plus grab) **Space** 5 ft., **Reach** 5 ft. **Special Attacks** extract, mind blast (60-ft. cone, DC 17, 3d4 rounds) **Psi-Like Abilities** (ML 8th; Concentration +11) > At will — _astral projection_, _charm monster_, _detect thoughts_, _levitate_, _plane shift_, _suggestion_ #### statistics **Str** 12, **Dex** 14, **Con** 12, **Int** 19, **Wis** 17, **Cha** 17 **BAB** +6, **CMB** +7, **CMD** 19, **TA** +7, **RTA** +8 **Feats** [[Combat Manifestation]], [[Great Fortitude]], [[Improved Initiative]], [[Weapon Finesse]] **Skills** Bluff +11, Diplomacy +11, Disguise +11, Intimidate +14, Perception +14, Sense Motive +11, Spellcraft +15, Stealth +13 **Languages** Aboleth, Aklo, Common, Undercommon; telepathy 100 ft. #### special abilities ### Extract (Ex) An illithid that begins its turn with an opponent pinned with its tentacles can attempt a grapple check to extracts the opponent's brain. If successful, the ulitharid extracts and consumes the creature's brain, which kills it instantly (unless it has multiple brains). Creatures without brains are not affected by this ability. #### tactics Mind flayers like to fight from a distance, using their psionic abilities, particularly mind blast. If pressed into melee combat, a mind flayer lashes its enemies with the tentacles ringing its mouth. #### ecology **Terrain** Underground **Organization** Solitary, pair, inquisition (3–5), or cult (3–5 plus 6–10 grimlocks) **Treasure** Double **Advancement** By character class Mind flayers, also called illithids, are so insidious, diabolical, and powerful that all denizens of the dark fear them. They bend others to their will and shatter enemies’ minds. A mind flayer’s mouth, a revolting thing shaped like a lamprey’s maw, constantly drips an oily slime when it is not siphoning out the brains of living prey. In addition to being highly intelligent, wholly evil, and terribly sadistic, mind flayers are utterly self-serving. If an encounter turns against the creature, it flees at once, caring nothing for the fate of its companions or servitors. A mind flayer is about the same height and weight as a human.