Mastering the Auntie Ethel Boss Fight in Baldur's Gate 3: Essential Guide for Victory
Baldur's Gate 3's Auntie Ethel Boss Fight: A Brutal Encounter Prepare for the terrifying challenge as you battle Auntie Ethel and her masked minions, navigate noxious fumes, and unlock the secrets of the gnarled door Conquer each stage to emerge victorious!
Auntie Ethel is considered one of the toughest boss fights in Baldur's Gate 3, often encountered early on in the game. Despite being faced in the opening act, she possesses spells and attacks that can prove to be fatal for a group of adventurers at level twelve. Furthermore, players will encounter numerous obstacles and minions before reaching her second phase.
To be victorious against Auntie Ethel, gamers need to come prepared and have proper guidance. While Baldur's Gate 3 offers various ways to "win" or complete the mission, even achieving victory can come at a significant cost. Therefore, players seeking to effectively defeat Auntie Ethel would benefit from some helpful tips.
Beating Auntie Ethel
Consequences and revelations lie within the game that may remain unknown to the player's character. Those dedicated to role-playing may prefer to refrain from reading further and discover these elements on their own.
While players are not obligated to engage in combat with Auntie Ethel, it is possible for them to establish a friendly connection with her. However, unless players adhere to the most malevolent alignments, they will likely feel compelled to put an end to the rampage of this ferocious beast. Throughout the course of the campaign, Auntie Ethel has claimed the lives of several individuals, and her list of victims continues to grow as players delve deeper into the secrets surrounding this malevolent hag.
Preparation
Do not drink from the well yet.
Reject Auntie Ethel's cure.
Have both the Fire Bolt and Thunderwave spells or scrolls prepared.
Have either one jar of water or the Create Water spell prepared.
Have a spell with a long debuff duration, such as Bane, prepared.
Have four to six dispensible and inexpensive items in the inventory.
Have one low-damage grenade in the inventory.
Kill the Redcaps/sheep outside.
In addition to these suggestions, it is advisable to rest and ensure you are in good health. Auntie Ethel holds valuable items, so reduce your carrying load by selling items to a vendor or leaving unnecessary items at your camp. Although a lower-level party can exploit the encounter, it is recommended to attempt this fight at level ten or above.
Once the fight begins, the Redcaps outside will join in. This guide will explain how players can rescue all possible victims, but keep in mind that these evil creatures cannot be redeemed. It is better to eliminate them before starting the boss fight in order to make the initial stage of the battle much easier.
Players who have already consumed water from the well should either reload a previously saved file from before encountering the well or opt for a long period of rest. It is crucial to take these measures, as the beneficial effects provided by the water will transform into detrimental debuffs once the encounter commences.
First Stage Of Combat
The battle commences soon after finding Mayrina. Players have the option to exploit this encounter by obstructing Auntie Ethel's approach with assorted objects found within the residence. Denying her close-quarters combat opportunities significantly restricts her repertoire of attack abilities. During this phase, she predominantly relies on melee strikes, reserving her most devastating blows for subsequent stages.
If you're aiming to strike first, consider attacking the Hag before engaging in conversation. While it may be satisfying to confront her and express your intention to stop her, landing a strong initial hit is crucial for a perilous confrontation like this.
Once Auntie Ethel's health is reduced by half, she will swiftly pass behind the fireplace, revealing it to be an illusion. Chase after her.
Getting Past The Gnarled Door
Players will find themselves in a room filled with the unfortunate victims of Auntie Ethel, trapped in a perpetual state of torment. The path ahead is obstructed by the imposing Gnarled Door, which upon closer inspection, reveals itself to be yet another one of Auntie Ethel's victims. However, it is merely an illusion.
If players dare to walk straight through the door, Auntie Ethel will cruelly unleash her wrath upon this particular victim, setting them ablaze and ultimately ending their life for failing to fulfill their duty. To spare the Gnarled Door from such a gruesome fate, players must quickly don a Whispering Mask, traverse through the door, and promptly remove the mask to ensure its preservation.
Dealing With The Masked Minions
In this room, there are opponents wearing masks, all of whom are also victims of Auntie Ethel. The players now have a choice - if these victims are kept alive, the second stage of the boss fight will be much harder as they will emerge and attack the party. On the other hand, killing them now will make the second stage easier. Unfortunately, this means that these unfortunate individuals will lose their lives. Parties aligned with good can quietly navigate through this room by taking the exit located behind a waterfall on the right. Wait for the one opponent with a mask to patrol facing away, then use the Stealth option. If this approach fails, deactivate Group mode, switch party members, and guide each one individually past the waterfall to safety on the other side.
Passing The Noxious Fumes
Disable the Noxious Fumes with the Fire Bolt cantrip. Capitalize on this opportunity to find a Ruptured Stone amidst the fiery surroundings. Toss an insignificant item onto it to seal the vent, effectively trapping both the fumes and the fire.
Within this region, there exist Peculiar Flowers that necessitate a Perception check to detect. These flowers detonate upon contact. To avoid accidentally stepping on them, it is advisable to disable the group mode and meticulously lead each character through one by one.
Final Stage Of Combat
Utilize the water jar or Cast the Create Water spell to extinguish the cage when Auntie Ethel ignites it.
Identify the illusion of Auntie Ethel carrying the debuff in order to locate the actual boss.
When Auntie Ethel clones herself to resemble Mayrina, employ a low-impact explosive device to strike both replicas and expose the hag.
At the start of the confrontation, Auntie Ethel will ignite Mayrina's enclosure and summon the disguised victims to attack on her behalf, assuming the player spared them. Extinguish this fire. To easily overcome this encounter, employ Thunderwave and throw Auntie Ethel off the adjacent cliff to her demise. The only drawback to this approach is that she possesses valuable items and currency. However, it guarantees the rescue of the victims.
In order to have a better chance of survival when facing Auntie Ethel, players should prioritize focusing on the true Auntie Ethel alongside the damage dealers. The healers should make it their priority to keep everyone alive. Auntie Ethel will cast Hold Person, rendering anyone caught by it essentially dead for the rest of the fight. If players fail to resist this spell, it is advisable to reload a previous save from earlier in the fight.
Once Auntie Ethel has been defeated, players should search her makeshift laboratory for the wand and complete Mayrina's quest. Additionally, it is recommended to speak with the Addled Frog for positive outcomes.
Baldur's Gate 3 is available now for PC. The PlayStation 5 version will be available on September 6th, 2023. A version for Xbox Series X/S is still in development.
