Baldurs Gate 3: The door to the witch's hideout puzzle solution Baldurs Gate 3 guide, walkthrough
Under the Teahouse in BG3 is the hideout of the green witch, Aunt Ethel. Our guide explains how to open the Gnarled Door and get to the rest of the hideout.
Last update: 31 May 2024
This page of the Baldurs Gate 3 game guide contains a solution to the puzzle with the gnarled door to the witch's hideout located beneath the Teahouse. Our walkthrough guide describes two main methods of dealing with the door blocking access to the next areas of the hideout.
Location of the witch's hideout
The witch's hideout is linked to the Teahouse quest, which involves meeting Auntie Ethel in her cabin. The Teahouse is located in the southwest part of the main map.
During this encounter, it turns out Ethel is a witch and you need to rescue Mayrina held by Auntie.
Gnarled Door is located in the first Chamber of the witch's lair. You can reach them by interacting with the fireplace in Ethel's cabin - the flames will be extinguished and a secret passage will be revealed.
How do you open the gnarled door?
The option of using a thief's tools won't work on large doors. You can't open them that way, even if you use the services of a trained rogue thief.
The first way is to interact with the door and start a "conversation" with them. During this sequence, you have to pass an Arcana skill test. If you pass it (example in picture), the protagonist will determine that the door is an illusion. If you fail the test, you can load the last save file and repeat the test, preferably as a character with a highly developed intelligence ability.
Turn the camera so you can see the path behind the door. Click on it and the whole team will walk through the door-illusion.
The second way is recommended only if you fail the Arcana test and, despite possible further attempts, you fail to successfully complete it. Take a look at the Whispering Masks lying on the table. All you have to do is to make one of your characters put on the mask, and the rest will be able to proceed.
You can wear the mask in the same way as any other headgear. There are two very important features associated with it:
- The mask allows you to pass through a gnarled door. Act in the same way as in the first option, so turn the camera and click on the path behind the door.
- Once the mask is put on, there is a risk that the team member will fall under the control of the witch. A roll of the dice is performed in each round. If you succeed in defending, you keep control of the hero, and if you fail the roll, the hero will turn on his companions. The best tactic is to save the game before each mask is put on, going through the illusion as quickly as possible, and removing the mask after being on the other side.