Mind flayers are some of Dungeons & Dragons‘ most terrifying enemies, but cunning DMs can find ways to make mind flayer encounters even more perilous. The mere sight of a mind flayer will leave many players quaking in their boots. Standing slightly taller than the average human, mind flayers are distinguished by their lashing tentacles, and prefer to dress in dark, flowing cloaks. They’re coated with a slimy, garlic-smelling mucus, and, when cut, bleed silver.
What really makes mind flayers so intimidating isn’t how they look, but what they can do. It would be a shame not to bring back the classic monster in D&D 5.5 as Mind flayers are interdimensional travelers, seeking power over all through domination. Even worse, mind flayers can use spells like Detect Thoughts at will in order to read other creatures’ minds, though their targets will know if the mind flayer chooses to delve beneath the surface. They’re likely to do just that too, as they’re obsessed with knowledge and pride themselves on their superior brains. On top of that, they’ll also eat the brains of their victims. And that’s not even the worst thing a mind flayer can do.
D&D’s Mind Flayers Can Turn Player Characters Against Each Other
The mind flayer’s most destructive ability is the Dominate Monster enchantment, which allows them to take control of a creature that fails a Wisdom saving throw. Dominate Monster effectively allows mind flayers to turn player characters to their side, causing them to attack and kill their own D&D party. Issuing simple commands doesn’t require the use of an action, so mind flayers can order their subjects and still follow up with powerful physical or magical attacks. With the expenditure of an action, they can even increase their level of control. This allows them to provide more detailed instructions or even prevent those in their thrall from doing certain things (like healing, for example).
A Little Creativity Can Go A Long Way To Make D&D’s Mind Flayers Even Scarier
DMs who want to craft truly terrifying mind flayers might choose to give them access to some additional mind-altering abilities like Sanctuary, Crown of Madness, or Confusion, one of D&D’s most overpowered spells. While they’re not part of the mind flayer’s ability set by default, these spells can expand their options for assaulting player characters’ minds, making them even more frightening. Mind flayers can also be paired up with other monsters (perhaps fellow underground dwellers like creepy-crawly giant spiders or a lumbering umber hulk) to create what could prove to be deadly distractions.
With plenty of changes likely coming to D&D‘s 6th edition and 5.5 update, there may be even more horrifying iterations of mind flayers coming in the future. Mind flayers are particularly likely to be fleshed out, especially since Stranger Things’ D&D-inspired mind flayer antagonist helped explode the RPG’s popularity. It’s safe to predict D&D’s 6th edition will have bigger, scarier, and more powerful mind flayers, with a variety of new ways to scare player characters stiff. Until then, Dungeons & Dragons DMs can get creative in order to make mind flayers even more formidable foes.
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