Baldur's Gate 3: Unlocking Auntie Ethel's Hair and Optimal Decision-Making

Baldur's Gate 3 offers a wide range of quests for players to complete throughout the game. One of the most memorable quests is the Auntie Ethel / Save Mayrina quest, which is a significant event in Act 1. When facing the Hag in this quest, the outcomes can vary depending on your decisions. However, there is a hidden opportunity to acquire one of the most powerful buff items in the game, known as the Hag's Hair.

The Hag's Hair in Baldur's Gate 3 is a consumable item that can be obtained from Auntie Ethel, based on the choices you make during the encounter. This item is quite potent, as it can grant a permanent +1 boost to either your STR, DEX, CON, INT, WIS, or CHA, depending on the version you choose. This can have a significant impact, especially when combined with the Ability Improvement Feat, allowing you to reach a maximum of 20 in your most crucial stat even before finishing Act 1 of the game.

How to Reach the Auntie Ethel Fight

Auntie Ethel - How to Reach the Auntie Ethel Fight

To get Auntie Ethel's Hair in Baldur's Gate 3, you must start by starting the Save Mayrina quest. Next, you'll need to navigate through the path out of Blighted Village, where you might encounter some Redcaps. Finally, continue your journey towards the Gnarled Teahouse. If you're unsure of the exact location of this building, you can refer to the map screenshot below.

gnarled teahouse map - Once you've arrived at this location, you will find Auntie Ethel inside, either in her humanoid disguise or her true Hag form, depending on how her previous confrontation with Mayrina's brothers went

When you get to this spot, you'll see Auntie Ethel there, either looking like a regular person or in her real Hag form, depending on what happened with Mayrina's brothers earlier. Your next step is to face Auntie Ethel and start a fight by either attacking her or telling her to let Mayrina go.

auntie ethel door - After taking a few hits, Auntie Ethel may turn invisible, and regardless will then progress to fleeing through the fireplace, which is a mirage, operating as a secret door to her lair

After Auntie Ethel takes a few hits, she may become invisible and then escape through the fireplace, which is actually a secret door to her lair. You can simply follow her down to her lair, where she will warn you to back off. To proceed further, you will need to navigate through a structure called the Gnarled Door, going deeper into the dungeon.

To get through the Gnarled Door, the easiest way is to have a character with a high INT skill talk to the door and pass an Arcana Check. This will reveal that like the fireplace, the door is just an illusion. Another option is to quickly put on a Whispering Mask from the nearby table, walk through the door, and then take off the mask before Auntie Ethel can control your character.

After going through this door, you will come across a group of people wearing Whispering Masks who have been controlled by Auntie Ethel. You can choose to sneak past them to avoid a fight, or confront them and defeat them in battle.

Next, you will reach the final part of the dungeon where you will face Auntie Ethel and have a chance to collect her hair. In this area, the ground will be covered in toxic fumes and there will be explosive traps. You can use a Fire Spell or Cantrip to temporarily ignite these fumes.

To get Auntie Ethel's hair during the Save Mayrina fight, you may encounter traps that could cause explosions. It is important to ensure that your party members are at a safe distance to avoid any harm. Once you ignite the fumes from these traps, look for the vent where the fumes are coming from. You can block the fumes by throwing objects like weapons, plates, or unwanted armor onto the vent. Repeat this process for each section of the dungeon until you reach the bottom and face Auntie Ethel in combat.

Save Mayrina - How to Get Auntie Ethel's Hair During the Save Mayrina Fight

When starting the battle with Auntie Ethel to get her hair, remember to prioritize keeping Mayrina safe. Auntie Ethel will set Mayrina's cage on fire at the beginning of the fight, so be ready to douse the flames with a vase of water or a Spell like Create Water.

The next time Mayrina will be in danger is when Auntie Ethel clones her, making you choose which one to attack. If you hover over the real Mayrina, you'll see a water icon under her name, still wet from the fire. This will help you identify the real Mayrina and spare her.

During the fight with Auntie Ethel, you need to weaken the Hag's HP to about 10 without killing her. Make sure you have party members close to her. Focus on healing or skipping turns to keep her alive, as killing Auntie Ethel will prevent you from getting the Hag's Hair item. On Auntie Ethel's next turn, she will try to make a deal to escape with Mayrina in exchange for giving you her power - her hair.

ethel - At this point, you will have three options - refuse, agree, and get the Hag's Hair, or succeed in an Intimidation Check to convince her to give up both Mayrina and the Hag's hair

You have three choices now. You can refuse, agree and get the Hag's Hair, or try to persuade Auntie Ethel to give up both Mayrina and the Hag's hair by passing an Intimidation Check. To get this special item, you will have to either switch Mayrina or take a risk with the check, so think about which character you want to place near Auntie Ethel during the fight.

Best Choices to Make When Selecting Auntie Ethel's Hair, Explained

hags hair - Best Choices to Make When Selecting Auntie Ethel's Hair, Explained

When selecting an option for Auntie Ethel's hair, there will be six different selections to choose from:

Strength

Dexterity

Constitution

Intelligence

Wisdom

When it comes to Hag's hair, you will only have one character in your party who can use it. It's best to give this item to the character you will be playing the most, usually your custom Tav. By prioritizing the stat that is most important for your character, you can benefit the most in the long run. You can then use an Ability Improvement Feat to max out that stat at 20 points in Act 1, which will greatly improve your character's efficiency and power in the long term.

When considering your choices, you can refer to the list below to make things easier. This list aligns all Classes to their most important stat, which is determined by their weapons, damage dealing methods, or Spellcasting modifier. It's worth noting that while Constitution is crucial for many builds, it is not usually the main stat that the build focuses on. Improving CON boosts your max HP, whereas prioritizing your primary stat enhances your damage output and the results of ability checks associated with that stat.

Barbarian, Fighter, Paladin - Strength

Dexterity - Rogue, Ranger, Monk

Constitution - N/A

Intelligence - Wizard

Wisdom - Cleric, Druid

If you are playing as a Sorcerer, Warlock, or Bard, you have the option to enhance your abilities by consuming Auntie Ethel's hair and pairing it with an Ability Improvement feat. This can help you maximize your primary stat, which is beneficial not only in Act 1 but throughout the entire game. If your starting stats do not align for this strategy, you can always adjust them using Withers. In order to achieve a fully maxed-out primary stat, make sure to follow these guidelines:

Your primary stat has an initial number of 17 (use +2)

You take Ability Increase Feat at level 3 and opt for +2 on your primary stat, making it 19

If you decide to respec your character, the +1 buff from Auntie Ethel's hair will stay, unlike Ability Improvement bonuses, which reset during respec. It's a good idea to choose the hair for a stat your character will use based on their Base Class, rather than Subclass or build approach, unless you have a solid plan for the game's longevity. Lastly, consuming Auntie Ethel's hair will raise this stat to 20.

Editor's P/S:

The article provides a comprehensive guide to acquiring the Hag's Hair in Baldur's Gate 3, a powerful buff item that can significantly enhance a character's stats. The detailed instructions, accompanied by helpful screenshots, make it easy for players to navigate the intricate quest and make informed decisions. The inclusion of a list aligning classes with their most important stats is particularly useful in determining which character will benefit the most from the Hag's Hair.

Overall, the article is well-written and informative, providing valuable insights into one of the most memorable quests in the game. It empowers players to make strategic choices that can have a lasting impact on their characters' development, adding depth and replayability to the Baldur's Gate 3 experience.