When you choose to give the hag, Auntie Ethel, your eye in Baldur's Gate 3, your character receives a permanent magical effect known as the Volatile Eye. This exchange comes with both a unique benefit and significant drawbacks, altering your character's capabilities in social situations and combat.
Effects of the Volatile Eye
Accepting Auntie Ethel's "gift" replaces one of your character's eyes with a distinctive, often unsettling magical version. This new eye brings specific mechanical changes to your character:
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Intimidation Bonus: You gain a permanent +1 bonus to all Intimidation checks. This can be highly beneficial for characters who rely on their presence and a forceful demeanor to influence NPCs, open new dialogue options, or resolve conflicts without violence.
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Perception Disadvantage: A notable downside is that you receive disadvantage on all Perception checks. This means that whenever your character attempts to spot hidden objects, traps, secret passages, or lurking enemies, they will roll two dice and take the lower result. This makes it considerably harder to notice environmental details, potentially leading to missed loot, unexpected ambushes, or triggering traps.
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Combat Disadvantage Against Hags: Crucially, you will also suffer disadvantage on all attack rolls against hags. This makes any future encounters with Auntie Ethel (should she survive) or other hag creatures significantly more challenging, as your attacks will be less accurate and prone to missing.
This decision is permanent for the character who undergoes the procedure and cannot be reversed through conventional in-game methods.
Summary of Effects
| Effect | Description | Impact |
|---|---|---|
| Intimidation Checks | Gain +1 bonus | Enhances your ability to succeed in dialogue options requiring a threatening or forceful approach. |
| Perception Checks | Disadvantage on all rolls | Makes it harder to find hidden items, detect traps, or spot enemies, potentially leading to missed opportunities or dangers. |
| Attacks Against Hags | Disadvantage on all attack rolls | Significantly reduces your combat effectiveness against hags, making future encounters more difficult. |
Considerations Before Giving Your Eye
The choice to accept the Volatile Eye largely depends on your character's build, your preferred playstyle, and how you envision their journey through Faerûn:
- Consider if:
- Your character frequently uses Intimidation in dialogue.
- You enjoy unique character quirks and the role-playing challenge of a cursed item.
- You are prepared to adapt to reduced Perception or have other party members who can compensate.
- Avoid if:
- Your character's build relies heavily on high Perception (e.g., for scouting, disarming traps, or finding secrets).
- You anticipate or fear future difficult encounters with hags.
- You prefer an unhindered, optimized gameplay experience without specific disadvantages.
Ultimately, giving your eye to Auntie Ethel is a impactful and memorable choice that permanently alters your character, providing a unique blend of advantage and curse that shapes their interactions and challenges in Baldur's Gate 3.
[[BG3 Choices]]
