Baldur’s Gate 3: All Of The Hag’s Potions And What They Do

Facing Auntie Ethel, the Green Witch of Baldur’s Gate 3, is no ordinary challenge. Beneath her seemingly benign exterior lies a cunning foe who wields powerful illusions and deadly traps to ensnare her victims. Players must navigate her treacherous lair, the Ancient Abode, where every corner hides danger and every decision could mean the difference between life and death. Will you outsmart this deceptive hag and save Mayrina from her clutches, or will you fall victim to her sinister charms? Prepare for a battle that tests your strategy and resolve as you uncover the secrets of Auntie Ethel’s dark magic.

Auntie Ethel is a seemingly innocent old lady. But don’t be fooled by her likable appearance and soothing voice, as they are mere appearances. The Green Witch, as this is her true name, does everything she can to gain what she cares about most, and is not afraid to sacrifice the lives of innocent beings in the process. The confrontation with this adversary takes place in the Ancient Abode – an underground cave that can be accessed through a hut called Teahouse, which you will find in the wetlands.

Potential threats

Potential threats in the encounter with Auntie Ethel, the Green Witch, in Baldur’s Gate 3 stem from her cunning use of illusions and powerful spells. Players must be wary of her ability to manipulate the battlefield, creating distractions and summoning minions that can overwhelm party members. Additionally, Ethel’s attacks can inflict debilitating status effects, making it crucial for players to maintain their positioning and manage resources effectively. Failure to anticipate her tactics may lead to devastating consequences, including party wipes, especially if players are unprepared for her deceptive nature and the environmental hazards she can exploit during combat.

Before you enter Auntie Ethel’s cabin, it’s worth knowing what dangers you might face before your fight the Green Witch.

It’s certainly worth paying attention to the well next to the witch’s hut. If your character drinks water from this well at the very beginning he or she will feel refreshed, and this effect will increase his or her maximum health by up to 10 points. Unfortunately, after your first conversation with Auntie Ethel, it turns out that the water was poisoned and your characters will suffer from stomach ailments.

In the vestibule of the Overgrown Tunnel you will find some strange wooden masks. Don’t wear them under any circumstances, because your hero will be possessed by the witch and will start attacking members of his or her own team. I’m sure you can do without that dark artifact.

As soon as you enter the Overgrown Tunnel, you will encounter opponents wearing the aforementioned masks. It is worth attacking them by surprise to gain an extra attack turn and finish off at least one opponent before the match starts for good. Pay special attention to characters who wield magic, as they can heal their allies and cast curses on your companions.

Preparations

To prepare for the confrontation with Auntie Ethel, players should focus on strategic planning and resource management. Leveling up is crucial; ideally, characters should be at least level 4 to tackle this formidable foe effectively. Before entering the Ancient Abode, it is advisable to eliminate any minions present in the previous area to prevent them from complicating the fight. Additionally, players should stock up on healing potions and spells that can debuff Ethel or reveal her illusions. Utilizing spells like Faerie Fire can help identify her true form among her clones, while area-effect spells can damage multiple targets simultaneously. Finally, positioning your party members strategically will enhance your chances of survival and success during this challenging encounter.

To get through the Overgrown Tunnel safely, the Feather Fall spell that your Wizard should have will be extremely useful. If this is not the case or you don’t have a Wizard on your team you can always use the appropriate scroll. Feather Fall makes the characters invulnerable to damage from falling, and it will be an extremely useful ability as they wander through the Overgrown Tunnel.

How do I get to the Overgrown Tunnel?

To reach the Overgrown Tunnel in Baldur’s Gate 3, players must first navigate to Auntie Ethel’s Teahouse, located in the Sunlit Wetlands. The entrance is hidden behind an illusory fireplace within the teahouse. To access the tunnel, approach the fireplace and perform a successful Perception check to reveal that it can be walked through. Once inside, you will encounter a Gnarled Door that blocks further passage; you can either intimidate it or use a Whispering Mask to gain entry. After overcoming this obstacle, you’ll find yourself in the Overgrown Tunnel, which is filled with traps and enemies, leading ultimately to Auntie Ethel’s lair.

Once you enter Aunt Ethel’s hut, you can conduct the conversation any way you wish. Upon starting the fight, the opponent will quickly use the invisibility potion and then walk through the fireplace to other sections of the location.

Note that the fireplace is full of burning coals, which will need to be put out first so your team can safely move on. To put out the fireplace, you need to click on the burning coals.

In the rest of this location, you will find a frightened Elf and automatically proceed to talk to him. During the dialogue, you learn that the door next to the Elf is a clever illusion designed to keep uninvited guests away from Auntie Ethel’s Ancient Abode. After finishing the dialogue, just walk through the door and the characters break through the illusion and find themselves on the other side.

How to safely pass through the Overgrown Tunnel?

To safely navigate the Overgrown Tunnel in Baldur’s Gate 3, players should take a strategic approach. First, equip a Whispering Mask to avoid immediate hostility from the masked victims within the tunnel. This mask reveals the true nature of the Gnarled Door, allowing passage without confrontation. As you proceed, be cautious of traps such as Ruptured Stones that emit noxious fumes and Peculiar Flowers that explode when approached. Utilize spells like Misty Step and Feather Fall to traverse the treacherous terrain effectively. Blocking gas vents with items or using ranged attacks to destroy traps can also help maintain your party’s health as you prepare for the final encounter with Auntie Ethel.

After entering the Overgrown Tunnel, your team will have to walk through a real maze of winding paths covered in green and poisonous fumes. When a character is standing on an infected area he or she will start receiving damage – so it’s worth avoiding. Below, we explain how to walk safely and without any harm through the Overgrown Tunnel straight into the Green Witch’s Ancient Abode.

From the first platform, follow the narrow path to the left – you will need to turn the camera accordingly to see it. Here it is worth splitting the team and moving each hero separately, as they can block each other and try to bypass their companions and thus enter the area covered by the poisonous cloud.

At this point, you should use the Feather Fall spell to prevent team members from fall damage when jumping off high ledges. Remember that the spell only lasts ten seconds so you have to perform the entire operation very efficiently. Enable the jump action and aim for the spot highlighted in the image above, then move slightly forward to make a landing spot for the other team members.

After landing, descend slightly lower and jump again so that the character lands on the left side of the poisonous cloud, around the spot shown in the image above. When you land, move a little forward to make room for the rest of the team.

Approach the edge of the rock, and jump once again – aim for the spot marked in the image above. After landing, move slightly forward or sideways so that the rest of the team can land unhindered.

Now all you have to do is make one last leap to find yourself in the Ancient Abode and go into battle against Auntie Ethel. Aim for the spot marked on the screen above, and after landing make some room for the rest of the team.

Bug – how to start a fight?

To effectively start a fight with Auntie Ethel in Baldur’s Gate 3, players should first engage in dialogue to assess their options. Avoid accepting her initial deal, as it can lead to detrimental consequences, such as losing an eye. Instead, prepare for combat by ensuring your party is well-equipped and at an appropriate level. Utilizing spells that can control or debuff her will provide a strategic advantage. Additionally, positioning your characters wisely can help mitigate her powerful attacks and maximize your own damage output during the encounter.

Many players have trouble triggering the cutscenes with Auntie Ethel, which should normally start the fight. This is due to the fact that the Green Witch was under the influence of the invisibility potion on her way to the abode, and apparently, this state is still ongoing and cannot be interrupted. If nothing happens to you after you enter Ancient Abode, you can try to provoke a fight in two ways.

First, check whether using the bowl (and as a result freeing Mayrina, who was being held captive by Aunt Ethel) marked in the above image will start the fight. If that doesn’t happen, you can still try to get into Myrina’s cage and see if it works.

If the above methods have not worked and you have failed to summon Aunt Ethel, choose a character with area spells and then point to the place marked in the image above (a wooden bridge connecting two rock slabs). The spell should reveal the position of the witch, who is still under the influence of the invisibility potion – this effect has to be lifted. Cast an area spell and wait until the opponent has successfully executed a defensive dice roll.

Once Auntie Ethel receives damage, her position is revealed, however, she will not perform any aggressive actions – she will not attack but she will still be able to move sideways and make defensive throws. Take a position higher than your opponent to make it easier for you to attack her with your usual weapon or Cantrips (use your spell slots) until the witch dies.

Confrontation with the Green Witch

Confronting Auntie Ethel, the Green Witch, in Baldur’s Gate 3 is a pivotal moment filled with tension and strategy. As players enter her lair, they must quickly adapt to her deceptive tactics, which include summoning illusions and manipulating the environment to her advantage. Ethel’s initial assault involves setting fire to the cage holding Mayrina, adding urgency to the encounter. To succeed, players should focus on dispelling her illusions while managing their party’s health and positioning. Utilizing spells that inflict debuffs can help identify the real Ethel amidst her duplicates, turning the tide of battle. The confrontation not only tests combat skills but also moral choices, as players must decide whether to spare Ethel or rescue Mayrina, impacting future encounters with this cunning foe.

As soon as Ethel comes out of hiding, she immediately summons several of her illusions – these you can destroy by attacking from a distance, using ranged weapons, spells or throwing items. When only the true witch remains on the map, you can fight her in a traditional way, while also taking care of the team’s health level.

During the fight, it’s worth using some kind of attack or spell that will put a debuff on the enemy, inflicting bonus damage every turn – this way, you will always figure out which version of the witch is real.

When Ethel loses enough health points, she’ll start begging for her life and offer up a great power if you let her leave Mayrina. Passing one of the checks could score you the power offered by the Witch (like getting ” 1″ to a chosen trait, strength, dexterity, etc.), and it’ll also allow you to spare the girl. However, you won’t get the reward you’d find in a defeated witch’s body – she’ll simply disappear, promising revenge.

You can also push her into the abyss and eliminate her immediately, but only if you don’t care about the reward. You’ll get the same amount of experience points, but you won’t get a rare item. When doing this, you have to choose the character that has the highest possible strength to increase the chance of success. The Wizards also have a useful Thunderwave spell that will also be effective.

Rewards

Defeating Auntie Ethel in Baldur’s Gate 3 not only liberates Mayrina but also offers significant rewards for players. Upon her defeat, players can expect to gain valuable loot, including unique items that enhance their abilities and gear. Additionally, successfully navigating this challenging encounter can lead to experience points that contribute to leveling up your character, making future battles easier. Furthermore, the choices made during this confrontation may unlock additional storylines or quests, enriching the overall gaming experience and providing deeper insights into the game’s lore.

Defeating Auntie Ethel’s Green Witch will, of course, be appropriately rewarded. In the belly of the defeated opponent, you will find a rare green object called Corellon’s Grace. It is a very good weapon for Wizards, as it provides a character who wields it and does not have armor with d4 bonus to defensive dice rolls.

What are the best strategies to defeat Auntie Ethel quickly

To defeat Auntie Ethel quickly in Baldur’s Gate 3, consider the following strategies:

Preparation and Positioning

• Sneak into Combat: Begin by sneaking around Mayrina to avoid being surprised. Position your party behind the Control Orb to gain an advantage when the fight starts.
• Eliminate Minions First: Clear out any masked enemies in the area before engaging Ethel. This prevents her from summoning additional threats during the boss fight.

Combat Strategies

• Use Silence: Casting Silence can prevent Auntie Ethel from using her spells, including invisibility and Hold Person, which are crucial to her strategy. This allows your party to attack without retaliation.
• Target Her Directly: Focus all damage-dealing characters on Auntie Ethel as soon as she becomes visible. Use ranged attacks or spells like Magic Missile to quickly eliminate her illusions.
• Crowd Control: Spells that incapacitate or debuff her, such as Hold Person or Bane, can significantly reduce her effectiveness in combat. If you have a Warlock or Wizard, use Counterspell to disrupt her casting.

Quick Finishing Moves

• Utilize Environmental Hazards: If you have access to spells like Thunderwave, you can push Auntie Ethel into pits or off ledges for an instant kill, although this will prevent you from looting her afterward.
• Fireball and Smoke Explosives: Start the fight with a Fireball on her location to reveal her position and deal damage. Follow up with smoke barrels for additional area damage.

By combining strategic positioning, effective use of silence and crowd control spells, and focusing fire on Auntie Ethel, you can bring her down swiftly and efficiently.

What are the best party compositions to defeat Auntie Ethel

To effectively defeat Auntie Ethel in Baldur’s Gate 3, assembling the right party composition is crucial. Here are the best strategies for party setups that can help you take her down quickly:

Recommended Party Composition

1. Frontline Fighters
   • Tank (e.g., Fighter or Paladin): A character like Lae’zel or a Paladin can absorb damage and draw Ethel’s attacks, allowing other party members to focus on dealing damage.
   • Melee Damage Dealer (e.g., Barbarian or Rogue): Characters like Astarion (Arcane Trickster) can deal high damage and utilize sneak attacks effectively.
2. Spellcasters
   • Control Mage (e.g., Wizard or Sorcerer): A character like Gale or a Wild Magic Sorcerer can cast spells such as Silence to prevent Ethel from using her powerful spells, or Thunderwave to push her off ledges for a quick kill.
   • Support Healer (e.g., Cleric): Shadowheart should focus on healing and providing buffs while also using debuff spells like Bane to weaken Auntie Ethel.
3. Ranged Support
   • Ranged Damage Dealer (e.g., Ranger or Warlock): Wyll, as a Pact Weapon Warlock, can provide consistent ranged damage while utilizing spells to control the battlefield.

Strategy Tips

• Focus on Debuffs: Use spells that impose conditions on Auntie Ethel, such as Hold Person or Bane, to limit her actions and effectiveness in combat.
• Prioritize Area Control: Spells like Fireball can reveal her position if she goes invisible and deal significant damage to her and her clones.
• Utilize Environmental Hazards: Carry items like Smokepowder Barrels to create explosive traps that can be ignited with fire spells, maximizing damage output.

Example Party Setup

Role	Character Example
Tank	Lae’zel (Fighter)
Melee Damage	Astarion (Rogue)
Control Mage	Gale (Wizard)
Support Healer	Shadowheart (Cleric)
Ranged Damage	Wyll (Warlock)

By combining these roles and strategies, your party will be well-equipped to handle Auntie Ethel’s tricky combat style and emerge victorious.