Summary of "Baldur's Gate 3 - Part 16 - Going Hag Wild"

Baldur’s Gate 3 - Part 16 - Going Hag Wild

Storyline Overview

The party explores the lair of a hag named Auntie Ethel. The protagonist is cursed with a magical eyeball given by the hag, allowing her to spy through the player’s eyes, which complicates stealth and combat.

The lair resembles a twisted museum displaying victims who either made deals with the hag or tried to rob her, often suffering grim consequences due to poorly worded wishes. Throughout the exploration, the party encounters various trapped souls and victims—some cursed or petrified—and attempts to help or heal them, though not all efforts succeed.

Among the unusual encounters is a talking door, a former victim transformed by the hag. As the party prepares for a confrontation with Auntie Ethel, they face illusions and duplicates designed to confuse and attack them.

After a tough battle involving managing illusions, traps, poison gas, and multiple enemies, the party defeats the hag. Auntie Ethel offers a deal to spare her life in exchange for power, but the player refuses and finishes her off.

The party rescues a character named Merina and reflects on her tragic story involving a lost baby and husband. The episode concludes with the party exploring the hag’s workshop, finding loot, and setting up future quests.

Gameplay Highlights & Strategies

Magical Eyeball Mechanic: The hag can see through the player’s eyes, preventing stealth and forcing direct confrontation.
Museum of Victims: Examining displays reveals the dangers of hags’ twisted deals and curses.
Healing Attempts: Potions and spells like Lesser Restoration are used to help victims, though some curses (e.g., petrification) cannot be cured.
Talking Door Puzzle: The door is a victim transformed by the hag, who tried to let paladins in to kill her but failed.
Combat Strategy Against Hag’s Minions:
- Use enhanced leap/jump spells to gain high ground and surprise isolated enemies.
- Utilize stealth and sneak attacks from elevated positions.
- Employ war priest extra attacks, trip attacks, and guiding bolts to maximize damage output.
- Use magic missile to break enemy concentration spells and reliably hit targets.
- Apply crowd control spells like Tasha’s Hideous Laughter and Sleep to disable foes.
- Use feather fall and jump spells to safely navigate poisonous gas traps and vents.
Trap Navigation: Perception checks (primarily by Shadow Heart) help detect and avoid poisonous fumes and floral traps.
Fire and Poison Interaction: Attempts to burn off poison gas fail as fumes regenerate quickly; water spells are used to extinguish fires on cages.
Illusion Management: Identify the real hag among illusions by environmental clues, such as wetness caused by water spells.
Final Battle Tips:
- Focus on breaking concentration spells like Hold Person with Magic Missile.
- Use ranged spells with saving throws rather than attack rolls to bypass disadvantage.
- Keep the party healed and protected with buffs like Shield of Faith and Bless.
- Use the raven familiar for distraction and blinding attacks.
- Maintain pressure with repeated attacks despite misses; persistence wears down the hag.
Post-Battle Rewards:
- Gain +1 to Charisma, boosting spellcasting and checks.
- Receive “Auntie Ethel’s hair” as a trophy.
- Loot includes a Warhammer with a weakening strike ability and studded leather armor.
Future Plans:
- Explore the hag’s workshop for more loot.
- Assist Merina with her tragic story and possibly help with her husband’s grave.
- Prepare for further challenges involving purple magic and unresolved plot threads.

Key Tips

Use jump and feather fall spells to bypass environmental hazards.
Prioritize identifying and attacking the real hag among illusions.
Use Magic Missile to reliably break enemy concentration spells.
Utilize high ground and sneak attacks to gain combat advantage.
Manage party positioning carefully to avoid traps and poison.
Keep healing and protective buffs active to sustain through prolonged fights.
Don’t trust the hag’s offers; be ready to refuse deals and finish the fight.

Featured Gamer / Source

Many A True Nerd (Jonas)

This episode focuses on a challenging and atmospheric encounter with a hag, combining exploration, puzzle elements, and tactical combat, culminating in a significant boss fight and important narrative developments.