In Baldur’s Gate 3, few characters inspire the same mix of intrigue, horror, and fascination as Auntie Ethel. Introduced early in the game during the first act, she appears to be a harmless old woman selling potions and offering kindly advice. However, as many players quickly discover, there is far more to her than meets the eye. The question that often arises for those diving deep into lore and gameplay mechanics is:Is Auntie Ethel a monstrosity?The answer to that question is not just relevant from a roleplaying standpoint but also affects combat tactics, spell interactions, and moral choices in the world of Faerûn.
Who Is Auntie Ethel?
Auntie Ethel first appears in the Druid Grove area, where she presents herself as a simple healer and trader. She speaks in a sweet, grandmotherly tone and seems to have the best intentions for those around her. However, her outward appearance hides a much darker reality. She is not just an eccentric potion maker; she is a powerful creature with sinister motives and a grotesque true form that shocks many players upon discovery.
Her real identity is revealed during the quest Save Mayrina, where players uncover that Auntie Ethel has kidnapped a young woman and intends to use her in a disturbing magical ritual. This confrontation leads to one of the most memorable boss fights in the early game, where Auntie Ethel sheds her disguise and reveals her monstrous nature.
The True Nature of Auntie Ethel
Hag by Definition
In the lore of Dungeons & Dragons, which Baldur’s Gate 3 is built upon, Auntie Ethel is classified as a green hag. Hags are fiendish fey creatures known for their deceptive appearance and taste for corruption and cruelty. While hags can take on a humanoid form, their true forms are far more terrifying, often resembling twisted, grotesque parodies of the human shape.
Green hags specifically are known for manipulating mortals, preying on their fears and desires. They live in swamps or forests, often alone or as part of a coven, and thrive on emotional torment. Auntie Ethel’s behavior and appearance line up perfectly with these characteristics, and her manipulation of Mayrina is a textbook example of hag behavior.
Monstrosity or Fey?
While her terrifying transformation and inhuman abilities make her seem like a monstrosity, her official classification in Dungeons & Dragons is fey. This is important for both lore and gameplay. Fey creatures originate from the Feywild and have specific traits and resistances that differ from monstrosities. For example, certain spells and abilities that target monstrosities would not affect Auntie Ethel because she is not one by creature type.
However, it’s easy to see why players might mistake her for a monstrosity. Her appearance during the boss fight includes grotesque facial features, unnatural body movements, and illusions that distort reality. All of these characteristics evoke the kind of dread typically associated with monstrosities in fantasy RPGs.
Combat Implications
Why Creature Type Matters
In Baldur’s Gate 3, just like in tabletop D&D, knowing the creature type of your enemy can change your entire strategy. For example, if Auntie Ethel were a monstrosity, certain weapons, spells, or features that deal extra damage to that creature type would be applicable. Rangers, in particular, can choose a favored enemy type such as monstrosity or fey, which gives them bonuses during encounters.
Since Auntie Ethel is a fey, spells likeProtection from Evil and Goodthat affect fey creatures will work against her. On the other hand, abilities that are designed to counter monstrosities would have no effect. Understanding this distinction can be the difference between a tough fight and a successful strategy.
Illusions and Trickery
During the battle with Auntie Ethel, players encounter multiple copies of her, confusing illusions, and traps. These are classic hag abilities from the D&D rulebook. She uses these tactics to disorient players and split their attention, often leading to a chaotic and deadly battle. Despite her monstrous appearance, these illusion-based tactics are more aligned with fey magic than the brute force commonly seen in traditional monstrosities.
Storytelling and Moral Dilemmas
Auntie Ethel’s character serves as more than just a boss encounter she is a narrative device that challenges players morally. She offers to remove the player’s mind flayer parasite, a tempting offer that has a huge impact on the storyline. In exchange, she asks for something valuable or unethical, depending on your choices. These moral quandaries are typical of hag interactions in fantasy storytelling.
The Mayrina Questline
One of the most disturbing parts of Auntie Ethel’s questline involves her attempt to preserve Mayrina’s dead husband in a twisted magical experiment. She traps Mayrina in a cage and forces players to decide whether to confront her directly or try to negotiate. The decisions made during this quest impact not only the outcome of Mayrina’s fate but also how the game’s world reacts to the player.
Deception as a Tool
Hags, including Auntie Ethel, thrive on lies, bargains, and manipulation. This form of psychological horror is more frightening than brute strength, and it is one of the reasons she stands out as a villain. She may look like a monstrosity in her true form, but her weapons are words, charm, and deception tools of a fey, not a monster born of chaos or nature.
Community Reactions and Misconceptions
Many players across the Baldur’s Gate 3 community initially believe Auntie Ethel is a monstrosity due to her horrific transformation and behavior. This has sparked numerous forum discussions and fan theories about her origin and classification. However, diving into the game’s bestiary and using spells that reveal creature types confirms her status as a fey creature.
This misunderstanding is not surprising given how monstrous she acts and appears. She defies the expectations of what a fey should be, showing that not all creatures from the Feywild are whimsical or benign. The line between fey and monstrosity is often thin, especially when creatures like Auntie Ethel are involved.
So, is Auntie Ethel a monstrosity? Technically, no she is agreen hag, which classifies her as a fey creature. However, her actions, appearance, and narrative role blur the lines between traditional fey and true monstrosities. While she may not be labeled as a monstrosity in the game’s mechanics, she certainly embodies the terror and dread one might associate with that category. Players should treat her as both a powerful adversary and a complex character, using careful tactics and moral awareness when facing her in Baldur’s Gate 3. Whether you see her as a twisted fey or a walking nightmare, Auntie Ethel is one of the most memorable encounters in the game for a reason.