What happens if I let the Hag live in Baldur's Gate 3?
In Baldur's Gate 3, the encounter with the Hag, Ethel, is a pivotal moment in Act 1 that can significantly impact your story and the fate of certain characters. Ethel is a powerful and manipulative figure who resides in the Sunlit Wetlands, and her questline involves rescuing a young girl named Mayrina, who has been lured into a dangerous deal with the Hag. The decision to let Ethel live or kill her has lasting consequences, and choosing to spare her life can lead to unique outcomes and opportunities later in the game.
To let the Hag live, you must navigate the encounter carefully. The fight with Ethel takes place in her lair, a twisted and dangerous area filled with traps, illusions, and environmental hazards. Ethel herself is a formidable opponent, using powerful spells, illusions, and her ability to create duplicates of herself to confuse and overwhelm you. The key to sparing her life lies in reducing her health to a critical point, at which she will offer a deal to let her go in exchange for something valuable.
Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving this outcome. First, you need to locate Ethel's lair. This involves traveling to the Sunlit Wetlands and navigating through the swamp, where you will encounter redcaps and other hostile creatures. Once you reach the lair, you will need to solve a puzzle involving a locked door and a series of levers. Inside, you will find Mayrina trapped in a cage, and Ethel will reveal her true nature, initiating combat.
During the fight, focus on reducing Ethel's health without killing her outright. She has around 100 hit points, and when her health drops below 20, she will attempt to bargain with you. At this point, she will offer to spare Mayrina and give you a powerful reward in exchange for her life. You can accept her offer, and she will teleport away, leaving behind a Hag's Eye, which can be used to craft a powerful item.
There are several important tips and considerations to keep in mind. First, be prepared for a challenging fight. Ethel's illusions and environmental hazards can make the battle difficult, so having a well-balanced party with strong damage dealers and support characters is crucial. Second, be mindful of Mayrina's safety. If you accidentally kill her during the fight, the quest will fail, and you will lose the opportunity to save her. Third, consider the long-term consequences of your decision. Letting Ethel live means she will continue to cause trouble in the world, and you may encounter her again later in the game.
Common mistakes to avoid include focusing too much on dealing damage and accidentally killing Ethel before she can offer her deal. It is also important to avoid triggering traps or environmental hazards that can harm your party or Mayrina. Additionally, failing to protect Mayrina during the fight can lead to her death, which will prevent you from completing the quest.
Advanced techniques and optimizations can help you succeed in this encounter. For example, using spells like Hold Person or Silence can prevent Ethel from casting powerful spells or creating illusions. Positioning your party strategically to avoid traps and environmental hazards is also important. Additionally, using items like healing potions and scrolls can give you an edge in the fight.
In terms of D&D rules and mechanics, Ethel is a powerful spellcaster with abilities like Mirror Image, which creates duplicates of herself, and Hold Person, which can paralyze your characters. Understanding these mechanics and how to counter them is key to surviving the encounter. For example, using spells like Dispel Magic can remove her illusions, and having characters with high Wisdom saves can resist her Hold Person spell.
Specific examples and scenarios can help illustrate the importance of your choices. For instance, if you let Ethel live, she may appear later in the game to offer you another deal or cause trouble for other characters. On the other hand, killing her will prevent her from causing further harm, but you will miss out on the rewards she offers. Ultimately, the decision to let Ethel live or kill her is a moral dilemma that reflects the complex and morally ambiguous nature of Baldur's Gate 3's storytelling.
To let the Hag live, you must navigate the encounter carefully. The fight with Ethel takes place in her lair, a twisted and dangerous area filled with traps, illusions, and environmental hazards. Ethel herself is a formidable opponent, using powerful spells, illusions, and her ability to create duplicates of herself to confuse and overwhelm you. The key to sparing her life lies in reducing her health to a critical point, at which she will offer a deal to let her go in exchange for something valuable.
Here is a step-by-step guide to achieving this outcome. First, you need to locate Ethel's lair. This involves traveling to the Sunlit Wetlands and navigating through the swamp, where you will encounter redcaps and other hostile creatures. Once you reach the lair, you will need to solve a puzzle involving a locked door and a series of levers. Inside, you will find Mayrina trapped in a cage, and Ethel will reveal her true nature, initiating combat.
During the fight, focus on reducing Ethel's health without killing her outright. She has around 100 hit points, and when her health drops below 20, she will attempt to bargain with you. At this point, she will offer to spare Mayrina and give you a powerful reward in exchange for her life. You can accept her offer, and she will teleport away, leaving behind a Hag's Eye, which can be used to craft a powerful item.
There are several important tips and considerations to keep in mind. First, be prepared for a challenging fight. Ethel's illusions and environmental hazards can make the battle difficult, so having a well-balanced party with strong damage dealers and support characters is crucial. Second, be mindful of Mayrina's safety. If you accidentally kill her during the fight, the quest will fail, and you will lose the opportunity to save her. Third, consider the long-term consequences of your decision. Letting Ethel live means she will continue to cause trouble in the world, and you may encounter her again later in the game.
Common mistakes to avoid include focusing too much on dealing damage and accidentally killing Ethel before she can offer her deal. It is also important to avoid triggering traps or environmental hazards that can harm your party or Mayrina. Additionally, failing to protect Mayrina during the fight can lead to her death, which will prevent you from completing the quest.
Advanced techniques and optimizations can help you succeed in this encounter. For example, using spells like Hold Person or Silence can prevent Ethel from casting powerful spells or creating illusions. Positioning your party strategically to avoid traps and environmental hazards is also important. Additionally, using items like healing potions and scrolls can give you an edge in the fight.
In terms of D&D rules and mechanics, Ethel is a powerful spellcaster with abilities like Mirror Image, which creates duplicates of herself, and Hold Person, which can paralyze your characters. Understanding these mechanics and how to counter them is key to surviving the encounter. For example, using spells like Dispel Magic can remove her illusions, and having characters with high Wisdom saves can resist her Hold Person spell.
Specific examples and scenarios can help illustrate the importance of your choices. For instance, if you let Ethel live, she may appear later in the game to offer you another deal or cause trouble for other characters. On the other hand, killing her will prevent her from causing further harm, but you will miss out on the rewards she offers. Ultimately, the decision to let Ethel live or kill her is a moral dilemma that reflects the complex and morally ambiguous nature of Baldur's Gate 3's storytelling.