One of the most exciting aspects of Baldur's Gate 3 is the ability to play as a Githyanki. It's not a race typically featured in Dungeons and Dragons products, so I jumped at the chance to play a Gith and get the companion Lae'zel, a Githyanki Fighter, to join my party. However, I noticed only the Githyanki were included, which left me wondering if I could play as a Githzerai in Baldur's Gate 3.
Does Baldur's Gate 3 Have Githzerai?
There are no Githzerai in Baldur's Gate 3; you cannot encounter or play as a Githzerai—only as a Githyanki. The Githyanki play a major role in Baldur's Gate 3, so it is odd the other faction of the Gith race has been excluded. Let's take a look at why there are no Githzerai and what they are.
Why are There no Githzerai in BG3?
There is no clear answer to why the Githzerai were excluded in Baldur's Gate 3. They appear identical to Githyanki, belonging to the same species. It is possible the Githzerai's less warlike nature makes them less prone to come into conflict with Mind Flayers, so developer Larian excluded them. It's possible DLC will add Githzerai and a new storyline, but there is no guarantee of this.
What are Githzerai?
Githzerai are a faction of the Gith race. Once enslaved by Mind Flayers, they led a successful rebellion to earn their freedom, and now lead a monastic life in pursuit of knowledge and introspection. After overthrowing the Mind Flayers, a civil war between two factions of Gith broke out, and they now primarily reside in Limbo and the Underdark.
Related: How to get the Githyanki Egg in BG3
Githzerai appear as tall and thin humanoids with yellowish skin and various dark markings on the body and face. Male Githzerai typically shave their heads and keep their facial hair neat and tidy, while female Githzerai wear their hair in buns and braids. The long period during which they were enslaved by Mind Flayers left Githyanki with psionic abilities.
What is the Difference Between Githzerai and Githyanki?
The Githzerai and Githyanki are two factions of the Gith race that formed after defeating the Mind Flayers and escaping their slave status. The Gith immediately begin fighting amongst themselves, leading to the formation of their two factions. Both Githyanki and Githzerai are distrustful of other races, and have different beliefs.
The major difference in Githyanki and Githzerai is in their political and cultural beliefs. The Githyanki possess a warlike culture whose primary focus is hunting down and eradicating the Mind Flayers, which draws them in direct conflict with the Illithids which they often pursue across the various planes of existence. The Githyanki follow Vlaakith, who led them in rebellion against the Mind Flayers.
On the other hand, Githzerai are more scholarly and contemplative of the world. When the Mind Flayers were overthrown, the Githzerai sought knowledge, while the Githyanki continued to their aggression against their suppressors. They turned their conquest to the mind, and when they did fight, they used monastic techniques and styles.
For more information on Baldur's Gate 3, check out Baldur’s Gate 3 Lae’zel Build Guide – Best Stats and Subclass and Baldur’s Gate 3: Who are the Companions? on Pro Game Guides.
Justin has been diving into fantasy worlds since he can remember. He is a certified nerd who has a deep love of reading, writing, and hiking. He has been writing since his college days, but specifically in gaming for two years. His favorite games are The Legend of Zelda, Pokémon, Hollow Knight, Celeste, and Banjo Kazooie.