Illithid Build?

[ManDudely]

Want to start a full-illithid playthrough, but there are a few things I want to consider;

When you become full illithid, your stats change to: STR 13, DEX 12, CON 14, INT 20, WIS 18, CHA 18. What about your Ability Score Improvements from levelling up? Are they disregarded, or applied on top of the mind flayer stats? Are they reapplied if you rebuild with Withers, or should you just take feats instead?

Also the spread of stats sort of discourages martial builds and encourages Bard/Cleric/Druid/Wis/Sorc. I know certain endgame gear could offset the low physical stats (the gauntlets and the amulet). Does an Illithid PC retain their armor/weapon proficiency? If so, a martial class might still be feasible. Moon Druid might also be okay, wildshaping to get very high mental and physical stats.

(if I can find an idea that works, I might do this on Durge and get the Slayer too; I know not everything translates to the Slayer form (like Moon Druid spellslot healing), but some things like Fighter Improved Multi Attack does)

[seeker1]

You didn't mark this a spoiler thread, so ... spoiler warning?

It's kinda strange to plan your build around a transformation that only occurs in the endgame (*) but I suppose you might want to respec right before going to the Morphic Pool..... (doesn't seem REALLY necessary, but) ...

(*) Unless you want to get the Illithid Imperatus (used to be Ring of the Ultralithid) mod which lets you transform and get Tier 3 abilities before the endgame. It's so "cheaty" now you can even avoid taking on a full illithid appearance transformation like you are supposed to. (Granted, the mod always threw in a free Disguise Self ability to hide it.)

Just one warning. Is it a warning? The author of that mod not only gives you the Tier 3 abilities of a full mindflayer, he's thrown in nutty crap like giving you the ability to call down a nautiloid airstrike or use greater power word kill. I guess I would say if you want to use only the Tier 3 abilities only, you can just ignore and not use the nutty ♥♥♥♥.

But of course I try & test everything, and holy f**k is it satisfying to call down a nautiloid airstrike on a whole bunch of enemies.

[ManDudely]

Originally posted by seeker1:

You didn't mark this a spoiler thread, so ... spoiler warning?

It's kinda strange to plan your build around a transformation that only occurs in the endgame (*) but I suppose you might want to respec right before going to the Morphic Pool..... (doesn't seem REALLY necessary, but) ...

Not looking to use substantial mods for this, at this point. I'm eyeing one to buff the first slayer, but I'll try without it first.

But yeah, I forgot how late in the game you transform. I loaded an old save to test it out and yeah, you only have a few fights left in the game. You can't even respec afterwards as you can't go to camp and Withers won't respec you in the hall. However if I can plan ahead the transformation can still be a benefit, as opposed to going full strength fighter and then ending up with 13 str for example.