Potions. They’re incredibly important and useful in Baldur’s Gate 3, offering a wealth of different effects. In line with this thought, knowing how to make and get hold of potions is crucial; and, as part of this, it’s well worth considering whether one of the Baldur’s Gate 3’s unique characters, Auntie Ethel “the Hag” could help. So, without further ado, we’ve considered some of the key things you should know about Auntie Ethel in BG3 and her unique potions and effects. Hopefully, this will help you decide whether to give this rather eccentric character a chance.
Who is Auntie Ethel in Baldur’s Gate 3?

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First of all, clarifying who Auntie Ethel is and where she can be found in the game is vital. Auntie Ethel, often called the Hag, is a BG3 character with an incredibly distinctive look about her. More specifically, Ethel is known for being an incredibly skilled potion brewer; as such, she has become widely recognized not only for her striking appearance but also for her cunning and deceptive nature.
Your choices in the game can influence how you eventually deal with Ethel; however, after making your way through her lair, you’ll be rewarded with a selection of her own home-brewed potions. Beware, though; these are not all positive, and many may be considered curses in their own right. So, in much the same way as a DDoS attack could put you at serious risk without a DDoS-protected
private server, drinking Ethel’s potions without knowing what each does could open you up to a huge amount of danger.
In BG3, What Are Auntie Ethel’s Potions?
There are numerous potions to be found in Auntie Ethel’s lair in BG3, which you will stumble across at the furthest, deepest end of her lair. Be careful when handling these; they’re not all created equal. Ether’sand these include the following:
- A Mother’s Loathing
- Broken Promises
- Butterflies in the Stomach
- Faltering Will
- Heart of Stone
- Insanity’s Kiss
- Lost Time
- Lover’s Avarice
- Missing Pets
- Wilted Dreams
These potions definitely have unique names, and each does something slightly different. It’s worth noting here, though, that many of Ethel’s potions in BG3 are purely negative, which differentiates them from most of the potions in the game which typically have mixed pros and cons.
What Do Auntie Ethel’s Potions Do: The Effects
Thus far, we’ve briefly looked at which potions are available in Auntie Ethel’s lair - but what do each of these do, and which are safe to use? Well, the following chart should help with this.
Positive Only Potions | Mixed Positive / Negative Potions | Negative Only Potions |
---|
A Mother’s Loathing (temporarily provides the Bite ability until the next long rest, dealing 2d4 piercing damage) | Broken Promises (Gain +2 strength until the next long rest, when the effect changes to -1 strength) | Butterflies in the Stomach (causes frightening and haemorrhages that deal 1d6 piercing damage per turn) |
Heart of Stone (gives poison resistance until the next long rest) | | Faltering Will (disadvantages Wisdom saving throws) |
| | Insanity’s Kiss (causes Insanity for four turns) |
| | Lost Time (causes loss of Reaction and -2 Armour Class for 50 turns) |
| Lover’s Avarice (-1 Wisdom until the next long rest) | Missing Pets (disadvantage on Ability Checks and Attack Rolls) |
| | Wilted Dreams (causes 3d6 of psychic damage after a long rest) |
As can be seen, the vast majority of potions in Auntie Ethel’s lair are incredibly dangerous. However, there are a couple of useful potions that offer very powerful perks or skills.
Of course, based on the aforementioned table, it’s easy to see that the two most helpful of Ethel’s potions are the A Mother’s Loathing potion and the Heart of Stone potion. However, the Broken Promises potion can also be useful in situations where you desperately need a boost to your strength. Just keep in mind that you will subsequently have a negative penalty to your strength once the effect wears off, so this potion is best reserved exclusively for emergency situations.
Frequently Asked Questions
Unfortunately, Auntie Ethel’s potions cannot be thrown at enemies like other potions in the game. This largely limits the use of damaging potions, meaning you’ll need to be careful about whether or not you pick up any potions from Ethel’s.
Since negative potions are among the most common Auntie Ethel brews, it’s worth knowing how to remove them. Luckily, treating them as a regular curse allows you to use the Remove Curse spell to mitigate their effects. Critically, you can also wait until your next long rest, which will often cause many negative effects to wear off.
Final Thoughts
Auntie Ethel’s definitely a unique character in BG3. In accordance with this thought, it’s hugely important to consider whether her contributions could lend themselves to your game. But remember: Auntie Ethel’s BG3 potions can be both beneficial and harmful, so knowing the properties of each potion before you drink them is crucial.