Baldur’s Gate 3: Can You Prevent the Zaith’isk Debuff? Explained

Debuffs aren’t fun. Permanent debuffs are even less fun, so you’re better off trying to prevent them if it’s possible to, or at least mitigate their effects. The section where either you or Lae’zel enter the Zaith’isk leads to a permanent stat reduction for whoever entered it, so is it worth it? Can you prevent or remove the Zaith’isk debuff in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Can You Prevent the Zaith’isk Debuff in Baldur’s Gate 3?

The Zaith’isk debuff is acquired from failing the Saving Throws while in the device, which are insanely high for Lae’zel and still very high for your own character. Unfortunately, too, whether you win the rolls won’t stop the permanent debuff. But since this isn’t a required part of BG3, the only way to guarantee you don’t get the debuff is through skipping this section.

Yes, there is a way to prevent the Zaith’isk debuff that reduces your (or Lae’zel’s) Wisdom and Intelligence stats. You can simply make the choice to not do this section. It isn’t required, and you’ll be able to continue Lae’zel’s companion quest later on. While you miss the chance to grab the Awakened buff for yourself, you won’t have to worry about ending up with permanent stat reductions.

How to Decrease the Chance of Being Debuffed by the Zaith’isk in Baldur’s Gate 3

Your other choice is to take the chance that you’ll be able to pass the Saving Throws to avoid the debuff. The biggest problem is that it’s permanent, so there’s no way for you to remove the Zaith’isk debuff, and if you’re set on using the Zaith’isk, there’s no guarantee of a way to prevent the debuff.

Using your player character makes the DCs lower than Lae’zel’s, which is why it’s nearly impossible to avoid her getting the debuff if she’s in the Zaith’isk. You can use Inspiration to reroll or get help from spells like Guidance to try and pass the Intelligence and Wisdom Saving Throws.

Those are your only options for preventing the Zaith’isk debuff in Baldur’s Gate 3, but if you try your luck with the Saving Throws, you can get the buff that turns your Illithid powers into Bonus Actions. Otherwise, you can head to our BG3 guide hub for topics like other ways to get improved Illithid powers or how to rescue Mayrina, which is a side quest with far fewer risks.