Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. In the Dungeons & Dragons fantasy role-playing game, illithids (commonly known as mind flayers) are monstrous humanoid aberrations with psionic powers. In a typical Dungeons & Dragons campaign setting, they live in the moist caverns and cities of the enormous Underdark.

Are mind flayers from another plane?

The 3rd Edition D&D sourcebook Lords of Madness says the illithid species originated in the distant future and somehow traveled to the distant past to avoid extinction. A trilogy of 2nd Edition modules says they came from another plane known as Penumbra without the time travel.

Where do mind flayers come from 5e?

Mind flayers are usually created by introducing a parasitic illithid tadpole to a human or similar humanoid. In some cases, rare and unique creatures have been created by introducing a tadpole to an unusual creature.