Auntie Ethel - How to fight her

[antique_nova]

Spoilers of course.

But in her cave, how do you beat her?

She's level 5 right now and all my guys are level 3.

None of the previous beta tester methods seem to work. (You can't seem to sneak up behind her, surprise her and then smack her with everyone from behind.)

I get that me being level 3 doesn't help, but wandering if there's a way to do it.

Or maybe I just need to come back later?

I'm on normal difficulty by the way.

Would appreciate any help.

Current party is:

MC - Rogue/Assassin

Shadowheart + Wyll + Lae'zel

EDIT: My chosen answer is based on the best method when you're weak and you want the best drop possible that gives you the chance to grab a +1 increase to one of your core stats.

[Swordz]

One magic missile kills up to 3 of her clones turn one, then just have your fighter drink a potion of poison resistance and charge her, she tends to focus the closest target (poison-resistant fighter) and won't really deal a lot of damage once she spends her rays of sickness.

[RACHMANOVSKI]

Here is how to beat Ethel in 1 turn:

1. Let her retreat.
2. Sneak (yes, you'll need a Rogue) into the Ancient Abode.
2b. Cast Falling feathers, jump. Easy.
3. Chug invisibility potion.
4. Sneak to cage control.
5. drop Mayrina.

Solution 1, if you want to play fair:

1. Trigger the Auntie ethel scene so she get out of her hiding.
2. Throw void bulb to the edge of abyss in the middle, there will be [death] icon on the throwing UI.
3. Profit. Well. Not so much because you're going to loose 2 useless item.

Solution 2:

1. When you finish dropping Mayrina, throw void bulb directly to the edge of the swirly bridge.

Ethel drop to her death. Quest finish in 5 minutes.

[antique_nova]

Originally posted by RACHMANOVSKI:

Here is how to beat Ethel in 1 turn:

1. Let her retreat.
2. Sneak (yes, you'll need a Rogue) into the Ancient Abode.
2b. Cast Falling feathers, jump. Easy.
3. Chug invisibility potion.
4. Sneak to cage control.
5. drop Mayrina.

Solution 1, if you want to play fair:

1. Trigger the Auntie ethel scene so she get out of her hiding.
2. Throw void bulb to the edge of abyss in the middle, there will be [death] icon on the throwing UI.
3. Profit. Well. Not so much because you're going to loose 2 useless item.

Solution 2:

1. When you finish dropping Mayrina, throw void bulb directly to the edge of the swirly bridge.

Ethel drop to her death. Quest finish in 5 minutes.

Wouldn't Mayrina drop to her death or something?

Anyway, I'm not sure how worth it it is, but I prefer the drop that permanently increases one of your core stats by 1.

So right now, I think the one I quoted suits me best. :P

[Dirty Mike]

their is even a more brain dead way of beating her...
Magic missile's to clear the illusions...
and then simply push her into abyss...
2 turn victory for me take a water staff to cool off the cage

[Anathema]

Originally posted by Kyutaru:

One of the EASIEST, most BRAINDEAD ways to fight her is to use her door.

The door that's inside her lair that you just have to easily party stealth to even with no stealth skill.

Once you're inside, position everyone behind the door in a line. Now get your rogue to trigger the fight then Dash, Dash, Dash all the way back to the door. Close the door. Wait for the witches to AI break and position near the door clueless.

Now comes the fun part. Open the door. Fire all your bows and crossbows at the witches. Close the door. They can't see you anymore and don't want to approach you because they're ranged combatants. You can easily win by opening and closing the door on your turn.

what door?

[Unn4m3d (♥AUT♥)]

She and her illusions clumped together. One AoE spell and the illusions went away. Then nuked her with Tier 2 Spells and every skill my Ranger and Warrior had.
Spider kept her webbed in place. 3 rounds and she was dead.
But: I was level 4, not 3.

[simplycelina]

I stealth positioned Shadowheart in front of the cage, Gale and my sorceror were in flank position and Astarion on the opposite side on high ground, before her talking scene. Triggered the scene with my MC Sorceror, snuck behind her and thunderwaved her into the chasm. Didn't really feel like I needed her loot/hair item. I also just left the people stuck in their masks and went on my merry way.

[RACHMANOVSKI]

Originally posted by antique_nova:

Originally posted by RACHMANOVSKI:

Here is how to beat Ethel in 1 turn:

1. Let her retreat.
2. Sneak (yes, you'll need a Rogue) into the Ancient Abode.
2b. Cast Falling feathers, jump. Easy.
3. Chug invisibility potion.
4. Sneak to cage control.
5. drop Mayrina.

Solution 1, if you want to play fair:

1. Trigger the Auntie ethel scene so she get out of her hiding.
2. Throw void bulb to the edge of abyss in the middle, there will be [death] icon on the throwing UI.
3. Profit. Well. Not so much because you're going to loose 2 useless item.

Solution 2:

1. When you finish dropping Mayrina, throw void bulb directly to the edge of the swirly bridge.

Ethel drop to her death. Quest finish in 5 minutes.

Wouldn't Mayrina drop to her death or something?

Anyway, I'm not sure how worth it it is, but I prefer the drop that permanently increases one of your core stats by 1.

So right now, I think the one I quoted suits me best. :P

She is far away from where the hag stand once you dropped her cage.

I don’t think +1 from here is valuable since there is other way to get more fhan +1 to your attack roll and ability checks: Loviatar.

If the quest where not bugged, it’s easier to kill the hag before she retreated.

[BlazeFenrir]

Originally posted by antique_nova:

Originally posted by EroticOnion23:

-Magic missiles to get rid of her clones round 1. Also only the real one will have any debuffs.

You don't need magic missiles.

A normal attack will do the trick.

Yeah but magic missile fires three shots on one turn

[dancing.in.the.web]

The most easy way.
Come there at lev5. You can do it earlier at lev 4 if you have good burst DDs (Like assasin or pal) and lev 5 is guaranteed as some classses unlock second atack per turn. You also will need detect invis spell active (or Volo's eye will do also).
Come to hut and start conversation (better to kill red caps before). While your main is in conversation switch to another group members and move them close to fireplace. And the character with invis detect should be close to antie.
When she turns to hug just burst dmg her using all your best. In most cases you will kill her before she escapes to her lair. If your dmg is still not enough you can seal the stairs beyond the fireplace with magic lock spell (Gale can learn it).

Killing hug in hut is much easier then in her lair.

[pkd]

don't underestimate the usefulness of the 'command' priest spell. you can effectivelly stun lock your enemies.

[The Yeen Queen]

Originally posted by EroticOnion23:

-Magic missiles to get rid of her clones round 1. Also only the real one will have any debuffs.

If I can't take her out in her Hut ( She doesn't clone there, by the way. ), I like to hit her with Fairy Fire or Hunter's Mark right off the bat before she clones so I can spot which one is the real her. Then it's a simple matter of hitting the debuffed Ethel and the rest go poof. Also helps when she pulls her Mayrina clones trick.

[The Yeen Queen]

Originally posted by BlazeFenrir:

Originally posted by antique_nova:

You don't need magic missiles.

A normal attack will do the trick.

Yeah but magic missile fires three shots on one turn

3 ( or more if you upcast ) shots that are GUARANTEED HITS.

[lordmilier]

Originally posted by dancing.in.the.web:

The most easy way.
Come there at lev5. You can do it earlier at lev 4 if you have good burst DDs (Like assasin or pal) and lev 5 is guaranteed as some classses unlock second atack per turn. You also will need detect invis spell active (or Volo's eye will do also).
Come to hut and start conversation (better to kill red caps before). While your main is in conversation switch to another group members and move them close to fireplace. And the character with invis detect should be close to antie.
When she turns to hug just burst dmg her using all your best. In most cases you will kill her before she escapes to her lair. If your dmg is still not enough you can seal the stairs beyond the fireplace with magic lock spell (Gale can learn it).

Killing hug in hut is much easier then in her lair.

Lvl 5 is massive if you have any melee extra attack is insane I almost killed her in 1 round(on honour mode even) and stopped to trigger her dialogue. Not sure why anyone would go for her so early there are a lot of bosses that are much easier than her.

[GrandMajora]

You can beat her in the hut by following these steps.

Step 1 - Pickpocket her potion of invisibility off her. Preferably while she's in human form.

Step 2 - Set up at least 3 explosive barrels (preferably smoke powder) in a location where you know she will stand around in for a while.

Step 3 - Get her to turn into hag form while standing near the barrels.

Step 4 - Blow the barrels up.

If this doesn't outright kill her, it will at least put her very close to death. Taking her potion will also prevent her from using it to sneak away behind the fireplace.