Auntie Ethel’s Potion Effects in Baldurs Gate 3

The Baldurs Gate 3 Auntie Ethels Potions are a crucial component of the game, offering a variety of effects that will aid or obstruct your party. Of the countless characters in BG3, Auntie Ethel, or the Hag, stands out particularly for her distinctive and enigmatic potions. Knowing who Auntie Ethel is, how to find her, and what her potions do is the deciding factor in whether to interact with this offbeat character.

Who is Auntie Ethel in Baldur’s Gate 3?

Auntie Ethel, aka the Hag, is a familiar NPC in Baldur's Gate 3. She's beautiful and rather eccentric-looking, and she's renowned for being a truly masterful brewer of potions. For as cunning and unscrupulous as she might look, Ethel's hut has some of the most fascinating potions in the game. Your every move within her lair will condition how you treat her, but if you go all the way to the bottom of her zone, you'll be able to access her home-brewed potions. They're mostly lethal and may well be considered curses, so it's wise to know what each potion does before drinking.

Auntie Ethel's Potions in BG3

At her lair, Auntie Ethel sells a variety of potions with special and sometimes threatening names. These include 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, and Wilted Dreams. They all have one effect, but unlike all the other potions in the game, most of Ethel's potions are negative or have hidden negatives.

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)	Lover’s Avarice (-1 Wisdom 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)
-	-	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

Final Thoughts

Auntie Ethel is one of the most unique characters in Baldur’s Gate 3, and her potions reflect her mysterious and dangerous nature. Some of her potions offer powerful advantages, while others carry serious penalties. Understanding each potion’s properties before drinking is crucial for keeping your party safe and making the most of her brews. For those looking to experiment with all that BG3 has to offer, Auntie Ethel’s lair is a must-visit location.