An elder brain being transported. Forming the physical and spiritual center of a mind flayer community, the elder brain served as a living library of the community's history, technology, and knowledge.

When an elder brain infiltrates a mind, it alters the creature's perception and deceives its senses, causing it to see, hear, touch, taste, or feel reality according to the elder brain's intent.

Intellect devourers were psionic aberrations that took the form of walking brains.

The elder brain or elder-brain is an intelligence which serves as the leader of mind flayer communities. It consists of a mass of brain matter, conglomerated from the brains of deceased mind flayers.

The elder brain gains insight into the target's reasoning, its emotional state, and thoughts that loom large in its mind (including things the target worries about, loves, or hates).

Jan 14, 2025 · Elder brains are infamous (and formidable) monsters in D&D 5e—huge brains capable of dealing psychic damage, infiltrating creatures’ minds, and commanding mind flayer minions. Read on for a complete overview of elder brains, including a list of their abilities and tips on using (or defeating) them in combat!

Whenever the neh-thalggu consumes a brain, it gains the magical ability to speak and understand languages known by the brain’s previous owner. Unusual Nature.

Unofficial Description: Disembodied Ithillid brain, leader of colony. When fighting inside its lair, an elder brain can use lair actions. On initiative count 20 (losing initiative ties), the aberration takes a lair action to cause one of the following effects; the aberration can’t use the same effect two rounds in a row:

An elder brain uses its quickened spell-like abilities in the same round that it makes melee attacks with its tendrils, if possible. It begins a combat against multiple foes with a mind blast.

Armor Class 10 Hit Points 210 (20d10 + 100) Speed 5 ft., swim 10 ft.