Should I Kill Auntie Ethel?

When It Makes Sense

• Good fit: You are playing a heroic or protective party. In Baldur’s Gate 3, Auntie Ethel is a green hag who deceives and preys on vulnerable people, including Mayrina. If your character values justice, kindness, or protecting innocents, killing her is usually the most thematically consistent outcome. Removing her permanently prevents future harm in the region, satisfies righteous companions, and cleanly resolves one of the Act One questlines without leaving a dangerous predator alive.
• Good fit: You want combat rewards and full quest closure. Defeating Auntie Ethel grants experience, loot from her lair, and access to areas or items tied to her captives. If you are focused on character progression, collecting unique gear, or completing every objective in the Sunlit Wetlands and Putrid Bog, confronting and killing her is generally more rewarding than bargaining or walking away. It also avoids the uncertainty of leaving a hostile fey creature at large.

When You Should Avoid It

• Warning sign: You want the stat boost or story content from a bargain. Auntie Ethel can offer a rare reward, sometimes called hag’s hair, that may permanently increase one of your character’s ability scores. Killing her removes that option entirely. If you are playing a pragmatic, evil, or self-interested character and value those unique mechanical benefits more than a heroic resolution, you should pause before attacking.
• Warning sign: Your party is underprepared or low on resources. The fight against Auntie Ethel can be difficult because of illusions, duplicates, environmental hazards, and the risk to Mayrina if she is still trapped. If you lack area-of-effect spells, have not rested, or have not managed the hostage situation, a direct assault can lead to companion disapproval, unintended NPC deaths, or a party wipe. Prepare carefully or save beforehand.

Pros and Cons

Pros

• Permanent threat removal and heroic alignment. Killing her stops her schemes, protects future victims, and aligns with good-aligned roleplay and companion approval.
• Loot, experience, and full lair access. Defeating her opens up her inventory and lair, giving you items and experience that can help through the rest of Act One.

Cons

• You lose access to hag bargains and the stat-boosting reward. A deal with Auntie Ethel can provide a permanent ability increase that is otherwise difficult to obtain, so killing her sacrifices that advantage.
• The encounter can be mechanically punishing. Illusions, traps, and the captive situation make the fight risky if you are unprepared or if you want to keep Mayrina safe.

Decision Checklist

• Have I already rescued or secured Mayrina so the fight does not endanger her?
• Does my party have tools to reveal or counter illusions and area hazards?
• Do I value the hag’s potential stat-boosting bargain more than the rewards from killing her?
• How will my current companions react to either killing her or making a deal?
• Have I saved recently so I can try the other outcome if I change my mind?

Alternatives to Consider

If you are unsure about killing her, you can accept or negotiate a bargain for a permanent ability boost, though this usually has roleplay consequences. You can also rescue Mayrina first and then decide whether to attack, spare, or intimidate Auntie Ethel. Some playthroughs benefit from using stealth, persuasion, or deception to avoid a direct fight while still protecting the captive. Because Baldur’s Gate 3 supports save-scumming, many players try both outcomes to see which rewards and story beats they prefer before committing.

Final Recommendation

Kill Auntie Ethel if you are playing a good-aligned party, want to protect Mayrina, and prefer reliable loot and quest closure over a morally gray bargain. Consider sparing or bargaining with her if you want the unique ability boost, are roleplaying a pragmatic or villainous character, or simply want to see different story content. There is no single correct choice, and the best decision depends on your build, party composition, and roleplay goals. If any thoughts in this guide relate to real-life harm rather than an in-game choice, contact emergency services or a qualified mental health professional immediately.