So, you’ve stumbled into the Sunlit Wetlands—or the Putrid Bog, depending on whether your character passed that pesky Investigation check—and you’ve met the charming, tea-offering Auntie Ethel. She seems sweet. She calls you "petal." She’s got a solution for that ticking time bomb in your brain. But now she’s asking for a price that sounds like something out of a Grimm’s nightmare. You’re staring at the dialogue options, hovering over the mouse, wondering: should I let Auntie Ethel take my eye?
It’s a massive decision. Honestly, it’s one of the first "trap" deals in Baldur’s Gate 3 that can permanently alter your playthrough.
Don't do it. Well, unless you really like being at a disadvantage for the sake of roleplay. Most players regret it within ten minutes of leaving the tea house. This isn't just a cosmetic change where you get a cool milky eye; it has mechanical consequences that ripple through your entire 100-hour journey. Larian Studios, the developers behind this masterpiece, love a good "monkey's paw" scenario, and Ethel is the queen of them.
The Deal: What Ethel Actually Does
If you agree to the trade, Ethel promises to remove the Mind Flayer parasite. She transforms into her true Hag form—a wrinkled, terrifying fey creature—and literally digs into your socket. It’s a gruesome cutscene. You lose the eye.
She fails.
Obviously, she fails. The parasite in your head is protected by Netherese magic, something a swamp hag can’t touch. Instead of a cure, you get Ethel’s Charm, a consumable item that grants all Ability Checks advantage until your next long rest. It’s a one-time use. It’s basically garbage compared to what you lose.
The Permanent Debuff: Paid the Price
The real kicker is the "Paid the Price" condition. This is a permanent status effect. It gives you a +1 bonus to Intimidation checks, which sounds okay, right? Wrong. In exchange, you suffer a permanent disadvantage on Perception checks and you can no longer land Critical Hits.
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Think about that for a second.
Perception is arguably the most important skill in the game for exploring. Without it, you’ll walk right into traps, miss hidden buttons, and fail to spot ambushes. And losing the ability to crit? That’s a massive DPS loss for any class, especially Rogues or Paladins who live for those double-damage moments.
Why the Game Punishes This Choice
Larian designed the Hag as a lesson in E-E-A-T (Expertise, Experience, Authoritativeness, and Trustworthiness) within the game world. Ethel is an expert in deals, but she is inherently untrustworthy. According to the Forgotten Realms lore that Baldur’s Gate 3 is based on, Hags thrive on misery. They don't want to help you; they want to own a piece of you.
If you're playing a "blind" run and want to see how the story diverges, sure, go for it. But from a gameplay optimization standpoint, it’s one of the worst trades in the game. You're effectively hobbling your character for a story beat that leads to a dead end.
Can You Fix the Eye Later?
Nope.
Once the eye is gone, it’s gone. You can’t cast Lesser Restoration. You can’t use a scroll of Revivify on yourself. Even the powerful Regenerate spell isn't readily available in a way that reverses this specific story flag. You are stuck with that milky eye and the mechanical penalties until the credits roll.
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Interestingly, if you’ve already let Volo "operate" on you earlier in the game with his lobotomy-adjacent ice pick method, you can’t even take Ethel’s deal. You only have one "special" eye slot for a magical prosthetic. Volo’s Ersatz Eye is actually good—it lets you see invisible creatures. Ethel’s deal is just a curse disguised as a bargain.
Combat Considerations: Is It Ever Worth It?
Let's look at the math. In Dungeons & Dragons 5e (the system BG3 uses), a critical hit happens on a natural 20. That's a 5% chance on every single attack roll. By taking Ethel's deal, you reduce that 5% to 0%. Over the course of thousands of attacks in a full campaign, you are losing out on an astronomical amount of damage.
Then there’s the Perception issue.
Disadvantage on Perception means you roll two twenty-sided dice and take the lower result. It makes it nearly impossible to find high-DC hidden items. You’ll be walking through the Underdark and the Shadow-Cursed Lands effectively half-blind. If you are playing on Tactician or Honour Mode, this is essentially a self-imposed death sentence. You need every edge you can get, and voluntarily taking a permanent disadvantage is tactical suicide.
The Narrative Impact
Does the story get better if you let her take it? Kinda. You get some unique dialogue. NPCs might comment on your appearance. If you're roleplaying a desperate character who would do anything to get that tadpole out, it adds a layer of tragedy to your arc.
But Ethel is a recurring character. If you spare her or deal with her later in Act 3, having "Paid the Price" doesn't actually give you much leverage. She just mocks you for being stupid enough to trust her. She’s a Hag. It’s what they do.
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If you're looking for the "best" outcome in the Teahouse, it’s usually better to fight her, get her down to low HP (below 20%), and then wait for her turn. She will offer a different deal: Auntie Ethel’s Hair. This is the deal you actually want. She’ll give you a lock of hair that provides a permanent +1 to any Ability Score of your choice, and you get to keep your eye. You can even use a high Persuasion or Intimidation check during this dialogue to save Mayrina and get the hair. That’s the pro gamer move.
Specific Class Warnings
Some classes suffer more than others if you decide you should let Auntie Ethel take your eye.
- Rogues (Assassins/Thieves): This is a disaster. Rogues rely on Sneak Attack, and while Sneak Attack isn't a crit, it doubles its dice on a crit. Taking away crits kills your burst potential.
- Paladins: Your Smites can crit. A Smite crit is often the difference between killing a boss in one turn or getting wiped. Don't do this to your Paladin.
- Wizards/Sorcerers: You might think, "Eh, I use spells, I don't care about crits." Many spells use attack rolls (like Scorching Ray). Those can crit. Plus, your low HP means you need to spot traps before they blow you up.
Common Misconceptions About the Eye
I've seen people on Reddit and Larian's forums claiming that if you keep the eye until Act 3, you can trade it to a certain merchant for something better. That is 100% false. There is no "redemption" for the eye.
Others think that the +1 to Intimidation makes it worth it for a "face" character (the person who does all the talking). It doesn't. You can get +1 to Intimidation from a dozen different items, backgrounds, or even just by being a Half-Orc. You cannot easily get back the ability to land critical hits.
Actionable Steps for the Teahouse Encounter
If you are currently standing in front of Ethel and she’s sharpening her tools, here is exactly what you should do to get the most out of the encounter without ruining your character:
- Refuse the eye deal. Just say no. The "cure" is a lie, and the cost is too high.
- Explore the lair. Go through the fireplace (it's an illusion) and head down into the Overgrown Tunnel.
- Bring Protection from Evil and Good. This spell is a lifesaver against Hags and her mind-controlled minions.
- The Boss Fight: Get Ethel’s health low. Do not kill her instantly with a massive spell.
- The Real Bargain: When she’s under 20 HP and it’s her turn, she will initiate dialogue. Accept the Hag's Hair. This is a permanent +1 to a stat (like Strength or Charisma) and has zero negative side effects.
- Save Mayrina: Use the "Captain" or "Intimidation" dialogue options during the hair deal to ensure you get the stat boost and rescue the girl.
Ultimately, Baldur's Gate 3 is a game about living with your choices. If you already took the deal and you're reading this in a panic: don't delete your save unless you're on Honour Mode. It’s a struggle, but it’s your story now. Just maybe let Astarion or Shadowheart lead the way so they can be the ones to spot the tripwires before you faceplant into them.
If you haven't clicked the button yet, let this be your warning. Auntie Ethel is a monster, her tea is probably made of swamp water, and her medical skills are non-existent. Keep your eye. You’re going to need it to see the dragons coming.