Should you let Lae’zel enter the Zaith’isk in Baldur’s Gate 3?

After reaching the Githyanki Creche in Baldur’s Gate 3, it seems like your parasite problem is about to be solved. The Githyanki have a healing device called a Zaith’isk that Lae’zel is eager to enter, but you should think twice about this decision.

As you probably know by this point in your playthrough, Lae’zel is headstrong and won’t listen to you without a convincing argument. Unless you nail some crucial skill checks and have the dice in your favor (or save scum), Lae’zel is going in the Zaith’isk whether you want her to or not. This can have serious long-lasting consequences, so you’ll need to think fast to save her.

What Happens if Lae’zel Enters the Zaith’isk in Baldur’s Gate 3

As you might have expected with the Githyanki, their form of “curing” the Illithid parasite is brutally effective. If the process finishes, Lae’zel will have a debuff that reduces every single one of her ability scores by two.

Any party member can enter the Zaith’isk, but the penalty remains the same regardless of who gets treated. If you enter the Zaith’isk yourself instead of Lae’zel, the subsequent skill checks to save yourself will be slightly easier, but risking an ability score reduction isn’t recommended.

Related: Baldur’s Gate 3: Best Cleric multiclass build

How to Save Lae’zel From the Zaith’isk

To free Lae’zel from the Zaith’isk, you need to succeed in a series of skill checks. There are three skill check opportunities while she’s under the effects of the machine and each of them has a super high DC, so you’re going to need the help of spells like Guidance or Friends to have a chance of succeeding.

If you manage to pass the skill checks, you’ll be able to pull Lae’zel out of the machine and rescue her. The Githyanki doctor watching over her will ask what happened, and you’ll need to pass another skill check to avoid hostility. This one is much easier, thankfully.

When it comes to the Zaith’isk, the safest option is to avoid it entirely. The clinic in the Githyanki Creche is optional, and you can complete your main quest in the area without ever setting foot in that room. Since it’s so hard to pass the associated skill checks, you’re probably going to have to reload an older save if things go wrong.

How to Remove the Zaith’isk Debuff

While it may seem like the Zaith’isk debuff is permanent, Larian Studios has shared an official way to get rid of it. All you need to do is consume an Illithid tadpole parasite. It might take multiple since some players are reporting different results, but the tadpoles are the key to bringing the affected party member back to their full strength.

Some players have reported that the debuff doesn’t go away even after consuming a tadpole, however, so you might need to reload a save or wait for another patch from Larian.

How to Get the Awakened Buff

The Zaith’isk can also give you one of the best buffs in the entire game. If you enter the Zaith’isk yourself and pass all three of the skill checks, you’ll get a buff called Awakened that lets you use Illithid powers as a Bonus Action permanently.

Lae’zel can also get the Awakened buff, but you need to choose the following dialogue options.

• “Endure, Lae’zel…”
• “Keep focused, Lae’zel…”
• “Draw on the Zaith’isk’s power, take it as your own.”

Drawing on the Zaeth’isk’s power will require a DC 30 difficulty check, but succeeding will grant her the Awakened buff. It’s much easier for her to get it than anyone else since she only needs to pass one tough skill check instead of three.

This is just one of many seemingly minor choices in Baldur’s Gate 3 that have major consequences. Lae’zel is one of the best companions in Baldur’s Gate 3, so make sure you’re prepared for the Zaith’isk when you arrive at the Creche.