Baldur’s Gate 3: Should You Consume or Purge the Slack-Skinned Head Mind?

The Waking Mind isn’t in an enviable position when you find it in Act 2. Putting it in the Mind-Archive Interface presents you with a choice to make, and one option leaves you with far better benefits than the other. So, should you Consume or Purge the Slack-Skinned Head Mind in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Should You Consume or Purge the Slack-Skinned Head Mind in Baldur’s Gate 3

The Slack-Skinned Head is the mouthpiece of the Mind-Archive Interface. However, only the Waking Mind prompts the choice to consume or purge it.

Find the Waking Mind

Before making a choice, you need to retrieve the Waking Mind. Solve the Neural Connection Puzzle by connecting the nodes on one side to their matches on the other side. However, make sure you don’t cross the lines. After completing this, open the door it unlocks and grab the Mind along with other loot.

Use the Mind-Archive Interface

Next, go to the back right corner of the Necrotic Laboratory to find a little area with a head, a table, and more brains in jars. Interacting with this Mind-Archive Interface lets you place minds in the open slot. Then, you’re able to speak with them through the Slack-Skinned Head. Insert the Waking Mind into the interface.

This mind tells you that it was betrayed, and it’ll give you its knowledge in exchange for purging it. If you press the topic, you learn that this person was the one who betrayed their people and ended up trapped like this. However, accepting the story or finding the truth won’t make a difference in your options.

What Happens if You Purge the Waking Mind?

If you purge the mind, you receive Advantage on Intelligence Saving Throws. This is a permanent effect, so it’s particularly tempting to purge the mind for it alone. As an added bonus, your approval rating with companions doesn’t change with this option.

What Happens if You Consume the Waking Mind?

If you consume the Waking Mind, you might end up disappointed. You receive no benefits for this option. At most, you earn approval from characters like Astarion while earning disapproval from companions who tend to dislike what would be considered an evil choice.

So, should you Consume or Purge the Slack-Skinned Head Mind in Baldur’s Gate 3? Even in an evil playthrough, you probably want to choose the morally good option here and purge it. If only so you get the permanent buff from it. From here, check our BG3 guides hub for more topics like how to defeat Ketheric Thorm or if you should let Yenna stay at your camp.