TL;DR
- Create your Dreamlover during character creation by selecting their appearance and race
- Trigger dream sequences by using Illithid Wisdom dialogue options throughout your campaign
- Gain powerful Illithid Powers as bonus actions by embracing the tadpole’s influence
- Your choices in dream encounters significantly impact your character’s development and story progression
- Resisting or surrendering to the Dreamlover leads to different narrative outcomes and power sets
Discover the unique Dreamlover romance system in Baldur’s Gate 3, where you design your ideal companion during character creation. This mysterious figure represents more than just romantic interest—it embodies the Mindflayer tadpole influencing your character’s mind and decisions.
The Dreamlover serves dual purposes: as a customizable NPC companion and as the physical manifestation of the psychic parasite in your brain. This mechanic creates a deeply personal narrative thread that evolves based on your choices throughout the campaign.
After completing your main character’s race, class, background, and ability selections, you’ll encounter the pivotal “Who Do You Dream of at Night?” prompt. This initiates the Dreamlover customization phase where you craft the appearance of your ideal partner.
The creation interface provides extensive cosmetic options including race selection, facial features, body type, and gender presentation. However, unlike your protagonist, you cannot assign classes, backgrounds, or skill proficiencies to your Dreamlover—their role is purely narrative and psychological.
Customize your Dreamlover’s appearance during the character creation sequence.
Pro Tip: Choose a Dreamlover appearance that contrasts with your main character to create visual storytelling tension and highlight the psychological duality of this relationship.
The Dreamlover encounters are directly tied to your usage of Illithid Wisdom throughout the campaign. Each time you select this dialogue option, you strengthen the tadpole’s hold on your consciousness, unlocking new dream sequences.
Using Illithid Wisdom represents consciously allowing the Mindflayer parasite to influence your decisions and perceptions. This mechanic creates a risk-reward system where embracing the darkness grants power but potentially alters your character’s moral compass.
Strategic Insight: Space out your Illithid Wisdom usage to control the pacing of Dreamlover encounters and better manage the narrative progression.
The First Dream
Your initial Dreamlover encounter triggers after utilizing Illithid Wisdom at least twice during key conversations. Your companions will exhibit physical discomfort before this sequence, signaling the impending dream encounter.
During this first visitation, you face a critical choice: reject the Dreamlover’s advances or embrace the temptation. Accepting her offer unlocks Illithid Powers—psychic abilities functioning as bonus actions that can dramatically alter combat dynamics.
The Second Dream
After four Illithid Wisdom selections, the second dream presents a vision of domination and power. The Dreamlover shows you a conquered realm, tempting you with absolute control if you fully surrender to the tadpole’s influence.
Visual comparison: Initial dream encounter versus advanced temptation sequence
The Third Dream
The final early access dream sequence activates after five Illithid Wisdom uses, presenting critical dialogue choices that determine your character’s path:
- “Reveal the method. I’m willing to undertake any action to end this torment.”
- “I’m not resisting you! This parasitic creature is the true adversary!”
- “Naturally I perceive it. You are the source! This has originated from you since the beginning!”
These initial responses lead to three decisive actions:
- [Charisma 15]: Defy both the Dreamlover and the emerging impulses.
- Yield completely to the emerging compulsions – final opportunity.
- “I desire to tear you apart. I cannot control this urge.”
Critical decision point: resistance versus surrender to dark impulses
Common Mistake: Many players fail to prepare for the Charisma check requirement, missing the optimal resistance option. Always ensure your character has adequate Charisma or bring a companion with enhancement abilities.
Your Dreamlover choices create lasting narrative consequences that extend beyond the dream sequences. Embracing the Illithid Powers grants combat advantages but may alienate certain companion characters who disapprove of tadpole usage.
The first and third dialogue options typically result in the Dreamlover departing while hinting at future reunions. The middle choice often triggers aggressive physical interactions with warnings about permanent repercussions.
Optimization Tip: Consider creating multiple save files before major dream encounters to experiment with different outcomes without compromising your main campaign progression.
Time Investment: Plan for approximately 15-20 hours of gameplay to naturally reach all three dream sequences through organic Illithid Wisdom usage.
As Baldur’s Gate 3 approaches its full release, anticipate expanded Dreamlover content and additional narrative branches based on community feedback and developer enhancements.
Action Checklist
- Design your Dreamlover during character creation by selecting race, appearance, and gender
- Use Illithid Wisdom dialogue options at least twice to trigger the first dream
- Accept Dreamlover’s first offer to unlock Illithid Powers as bonus actions
- Continue using Illithid Wisdom to unlock subsequent dream sequences
- Make final dream decisions that align with your character’s moral alignment
No reproduction without permission：SeeYouSoon Game Club » Baldur’s Gate 3 – How To Romance The Dreamlover Master the Dreamlover romance mechanics and unlock powerful Illithid abilities in Baldur's Gate 3