Editing Illithid (section)

=== ''Dungeons & Dragons'' 5th edition (2014–present) ===
The mind flayer appears in the ''[[Monster Manual]]'' for this edition (2014).<ref>[[Mike Mearls|Mearls, Mike]], [[Stephen Schubert]], and [[James Wyatt (game designer)|James Wyatt]]. ''[[Monster Manual]]'' ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2014)</ref> Additional information about the mind flayers is found in ''[[Volo's Guide to Monsters]]'' (2016). The information includes details about their origins, their reproduction, their dispositions and behaviors, and their elder brain. The book also details this edition's Alhoon, Ulitharid, Mindwitness and Neothelid.<ref>[[Volo's Guide to Monsters]] ([[Wizards of the Coast]], 2016)</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Hall |first=Charlie |date=2016-10-19 |title=Dungeons & Dragons is changing how it makes books |url=https://www.polygon.com/features/2016/10/19/13321200/dungeons-and-dragons-volos-guide-to-monsters-monster-manual-beholder-mind-flayer |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=Polygon |language=en-US}}</ref> The limited edition alternate cover of ''Volo's Guide to Monsters'' features an Illithid illustration by Hydro74.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 7, 2016 |title=New 'Dungeons & Dragons' Sourcebooks for Fall |url=https://icv2.com/articles/news/view/34655/new-dungeons-dragons-sourcebooks-fall |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=[[ICv2]] |language=en}}</ref> On the [[fictional canon]] of mind flayers, 5th Edition designer [[Chris Perkins (game designer)|Chris Perkins]], in a 2019 interview, stated:<blockquote>If something has been consistently true about a monster throughout the game's history, it's a good bet that it holds true in Fifth Edition. Everything that we know is true about mind flayers in Fifth Edition can be found in the 5E ''Monster Manual'' and the "Mind Flayers: Scourge of Worlds" section of ''Volo's Guide to Monsters''. The latter resource, in particular, picks up elements of mind flayer lore from earlier sourcebooks, including ''The Illithiad'' [from 2E] and ''Lords of Madness'' [from 3.5E].<ref>{{Cite web |date=2019-07-30 |title=D&D's Christopher Perkins delves into dark, horrible secrets of the mind flayer |url=https://venturebeat.com/pc-gaming/dds-christopher-perkins-delves-into-dark-horrible-secrets-of-the-mind-flayer/ |access-date=2023-08-31 |website=VentureBeat |language=en-US}}</ref></blockquote>''[[ComicBook.com]]'' reported that the "[[Big Bad|big bads]]" of the module ''Phandelver and Below: The Shattered Obelisk'' (2023) are mind flayers,<ref name="ComicBook.com on Phandelver big bad">{{Cite web |last=Hoffer |first=Christian |date=August 31, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons Returns to Mind Flayers as Big Bads of Newest Campaign |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-phandelin-shattered-obelisk-mind-flayers/ |access-date=August 31, 2023 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en}}</ref> with the adventure including new variants of mind flayers.<ref>{{Cite web |date=August 27, 2023 |title=Dungeons & Dragons' Next Adventure Is Perfect Follow-Up for Baldur's Gate 3 Players |url=https://comicbook.com/gaming/news/dungeons-dragons-baldurs-gate-3-mind-flayer-phandelver/ |access-date=August 29, 2023 |website=[[ComicBook.com]] |language=en}}</ref> Christian Hoffer of ''ComicBook.com'' commented that mind flayers "have appeared in many 5E adventures over the last decade", however, this module is the first in the edition to have them as the "central villain of the campaign instead of merely one of many side threats. What's more, these mind flayers have a goal somewhat similar to one of the central threats faced by players in ''[[Baldur's Gate 3]] -'' ceremorphosis, the process of becoming a mind flayer".<ref name="ComicBook.com on Phandelver big bad" />