How to get and use Survival Instinct in Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3)

There are a lot of great Illithid Powers to choose from in Baldur’s Gate 3. However, one of them, Survival Instinct, can only be acquired through a quest — and it’s one you won’t want to miss.

What is Survival Instinct in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Survival Instinct is a condition that lasts for three turns. If the player with Survival Instinct applied would hit zero hit points, they instead restore three to 12 health. It can, unfortunately, only be cast on ally party members instead of any ally in a fight. Since this action is so powerful, it requires a Short Rest to get back.

Survival Instinct is an incredible Illithid Power that keeps your party in the fight. Since it only lasts for three turns, remember to use it only when you think one of your allies could become Unconscious during that time.

Baldur’s Gate 3 Survival Instinct: How to get it

Survival Instinct isn’t acquired via the Illithid Power brain chart. Instead, you get Survival Instinct as a reward for completing the Omeluum’s investigate the parasite quest in the Underdark in Act 1. The “Help Omeluum investigate the parasite” quest sees you going to the Arcane Tower and finding Tongue of Madness and Tinmask Spores.

Upon giving Omeluum the ingredients he asked for, he’ll give you a potion to drink. Regardless if you drink it or not (it’s not a big decision either way), you’ll finish Omeluum’s quest and permanently unlock Survival Instinct. Keep in mind that only the player who turned in the quest gets Survival Instinct.

Now you permanently have Survival Instinct at your disposal. I’m playing a College of Lore Bard that has a ton of spells and went all in on Illithid Powers, so I sometimes forget that I have Survival Instinct. It’s one that I need to remember to use more often because it’s one of the best tools in the game to save your party in a pinch.