Baldur’s Gate 3: Auntie Ethel Boss Fight Guide
Baldur's Gate 3: Auntie Ethel Boss Fight Guide
Beating Auntie Ethel in Baldur’s Gate 3
Auntie Ethel may be one of the deadliest bosses in Baldur’s Gate 3. She’s notorious for wiping out level twelve groups of adventurers, and her fight is filled with obstacles and minions. But fear not! With a little preparation and some clever tactics, you can defeat this vicious hag and come out on top. Just keep in mind, choosing the path of evil may have consequences. So, if you’re ready to take her down, let’s get started!
Preparation
Before facing Auntie Ethel, here are some tips to increase your chances of success:
- Don’t drink from the well yet: The well water will debuff you during the fight.
- Reject Auntie Ethel’s cure: It won’t end well for you.
- Prepare offensive spells: Fire Bolt and Thunderwave are essential.
- Have water handy: A jar of water or the Create Water spell can be useful.
- Debuff her: Spells like Bane with a long duration are your friends.
- Pack wisely: Bring four to six disposable items and a low-damage grenade.
- Eliminate the Redcaps outside: They’ll join the fight once it starts.
Additionally, make sure you’re fully rested and in good health. Auntie Ethel’s lair is filled with treasures, so manage your inventory by selling unnecessary items. And remember, attempting this fight at level ten or higher is recommended for a better chance at victory.
First Stage of Combat
The fight begins when you locate Mayrina. To gain an advantage, block Auntie Ethel’s path with clutter from the surroundings. If she can’t reach you, her attack abilities are severely limited. Feel free to take the first swing at her before the conversation starts – a perfect first blow might make all the difference.
When Auntie Ethel reaches half health, she’ll run past the illusionary fireplace. Act quickly and follow her.
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Getting Past the Gnarled Door
Entering the next room, you’ll find Auntie Ethel’s victims trapped in torture. Don’t be fooled by the Gnarled Door – it’s another illusion created by Auntie Ethel. Speak to the door to reveal it as a victim. To save it, briefly equip a Whispering Mask, pass through the door, and quickly remove the mask.
Dealing with the Masked Minions
In the next room, you’ll encounter masked opponents who are also Auntie Ethel’s victims. You have a choice here. If you kill them, the second stage of the boss fight becomes easier, but these unfortunate souls will die. Alternatively, you can sneak through the room by using the Stealth option or guiding each character individually to the exit through the waterfall on the right.
Passing the Noxious Fumes
To disable the Noxious Fumes, use the Fire Bolt cantrip. Be careful as the fiery area can still damage you. Look out for Peculiar Flowers that explode when touched. Toggle off group mode to guide each character through individually and avoid triggering the explosions.
Final Stage of Combat
In the final stage of the fight, remember these key tactics:
- Douse the flame: Use the jar of water or the Create Water spell to extinguish the fire when Auntie Ethel sets Mayrina’s cell ablaze.
- Find the real boss: Auntie Ethel will split into illusions. Look for the one with the debuff to identify the real hag.
- Expose the hag: When Auntie Ethel disguises herself as Mayrina, use a low-damage grenade to hit both of them and reveal the true hag.
If you want to take the easy way out, use Thunderwave to knock Auntie Ethel off the cliff next to her. However, keep in mind that you’ll miss out on valuable items and coins. If you choose to fight her conventionally, focus your damage dealers on the real Auntie Ethel while healing the party to survive her devastating Hold Person spell. If things go south, consider reloading a previous save.
Once Auntie Ethel is defeated, don’t forget to loot her makeshift laboratory for valuable items, including a wand. Finish Mayrina’s quest and seek out the Addled Frog for some positive results.
Baldur’s Gate 3 is available now for PC, with the PlayStation 5 version launching on September 6th, 2023. An Xbox Series X/S version is also in development.
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