There’s a neat trick to make one of the toughest fights in Baldur’s Gate 3 a lot easier, and the way it works is just silly

The real beauty of Baldur’s Gate 3 is how you can tackle pretty much any main or side quest in many different ways. Sometimes, even the tiniest decision (something you wouldn’t think twice about) can totally change how a quest plays out. One of my personal favorite kicks off early in Act 1 and sticks with you all the way to near the end of the game. And the star of that story is none other than our lovely Auntie Ethel, or Geen Hag as they call her.

Oh Auntie, that wasn’t your brightest move

Auntie Ethel’s whole storyline in BG3 is pretty long, and there’s no way I could cover all of it in just a few paragraphs. So for now, let’s focus on the first big fight in her Teahouse during Act 1. Most of us end up there trying to help Mayrina, the poor girl who put her trust in Ethel and got herself into some serious trouble. It’s a tough battle, especially early in the game, so it’s no surprise that a lot of players struggle with the Green Hag.

But here’s the thing. There’s actually a way to make the whole encounter way easier, and the method is so ridiculous, you’d never expect it.

Source: Baldur's Gate 3; Developer: Larian Studios

You can run into Auntie Ethel before the whole Teahouse situation. She shows up near the Druid Grove, in The Hollow, with her own little shop set up alongside the other tents. One interesting thing about her shop is that she sells a Potion of Invisibility. If you buy it (or steal it), she won’t have it to use during the fight later on. And that makes things way easier. Turns out, she doesn’t have an invisibility spell, just that one potion. Take it away, and she loses one of her biggest tricks.

If I had known this earlier, I wouldn’t have struggled so much with that battle. I remember once managing to shove her into the fire – that was a quick win! But it was back during Early Access. When I tried the same thing after the full release, it just didn’t work anymore, no matter how many times I tried.

That’s the magic of Baldur’s Gate 3. There are so many different ways to approach a fight or quest that it feels like the possibilities are endless. Some players realize in later playthroughs that not bringing Shadowheart along makes Act 2 feel totally fresh. Others come across an insanely strong weapon for Wizards early in the game that’s really easy to miss, or discover that combining a specific mace with a curse results in one of the most lethal combos in the game.

I’m definitely due for another BG3 run, especially with all the changes. I haven’t even tried the new subclasses yet, and now you need to watch the weather too or risk getting caught off guard and die by accident. Plus, I just found out there’s a secret companion, a spellcasting sheep. This game just keeps delivering.

Baldur's Gate 3

August 3, 2023

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• Larian Studios
• RPG games
• Baldur's Gate (franchise)