In the world of Baldur’s Gate 3 (BG3), players encounter a wide range of enemies, from humanoids and beasts to fiends and monstrosities. Among the more disturbing and challenging foes are hags twisted, magical beings that manipulate, deceive, and torment their victims. One question often asked by players diving into the lore and mechanics of the game is whether a hag is classified as a monstrosity. This isn’t just a matter of semantics; it can influence how spells, abilities, and certain narrative elements affect these creatures. Understanding the creature types in BG3 can give players both mechanical advantages and a deeper grasp of the game’s storytelling.
What Is a Hag in BG3?
A Look Into Their Role and Lore
Hags in Baldur’s Gate 3 are magical creatures rooted in the Dungeons & Dragons (D&D) universe. They are typically portrayed as ancient, devious beings with formidable magical abilities and sinister motives. Unlike many monsters that rely on brute strength or simple aggression, hags are manipulative, often preying on human weaknesses such as greed, fear, and desperation.
One of the most iconic hags in BG3 is Auntie Ethel, a swamp-dwelling creature who masquerades as a kindly old woman but harbors a much darker identity. Players who encounter her soon realize she is far from harmless, engaging in psychological warfare and dark deals that can lead to horrifying consequences.
Common Traits of Hags
- Use of illusion and manipulation
- Magical spellcasting and curses
- Shapechanging and deceptive appearances
- Dark, often gruesome lairs filled with traps and minions
Hags are not simply monsters in the general sense they are intelligent, cunning, and often part of larger narratives that unfold as players progress through the game.
Creature Types in BG3
Understanding How Creatures Are Categorized
In Baldur’s Gate 3, every creature belongs to a specific type. These types help define their origins, capabilities, and how certain game mechanics interact with them. The major creature types include:
- Humanoid: Common races like elves, humans, and goblins.
- Undead: Creatures like zombies and skeletons.
- Fiend: Demons and devils, often from the lower planes.
- Beast: Natural animals, such as wolves and bears.
- Monstrosity: Abnormal creatures not fitting other categories.
- Fey: Magical creatures from the Feywild, often mischievous or mystical.
- Aberration: Alien and unnatural beings, typically with bizarre anatomies.
Knowing a creature’s type can affect how you engage with it. For instance, spells like Protection from Evil and Good provide bonuses against specific creature types. Some class features or racial abilities might also target or interact with creature types differently.
So, Is a Hag a Monstrosity?
Classification According to D&D 5e and BG3
In both Dungeons & Dragons 5th Edition and Baldur’s Gate 3 which uses 5e rules as its foundation hags arenotclassified as monstrosities. Instead, hags are officially categorized asfeycreatures. This classification is significant because it aligns them with beings from the Feywild, a realm of magic, illusion, and emotion.
This means that when casting spells like Protection from Evil and Good, a hag would be affected if the spell is set to protect against fey, not monstrosities. Similarly, any magic item or spell that targets monstrosities would not work on a hag unless otherwise stated.
Why the Fey Classification Matters
Fey creatures are known for their magical and manipulative nature, which fits the lore of hags perfectly. Rather than being brute-force enemies like many monstrosities, hags operate through curses, illusions, and psychological manipulation classic traits of fey.
While they may appear monstrous in appearance, their origins and magical abilities place them firmly in the fey category. This separation is important for gameplay strategy and also gives players a clue about how to approach and interpret hag encounters in BG3.
Common Misconceptions
Why Some Players Assume Hags Are Monstrosities
Many players mistake hags for monstrosities because of their grotesque appearance, eerie behavior, and the fact that they seem ‘unnatural.’ The term ‘monstrosity’ in D&D refers to creatures that are unnatural or don’t fit easily into other types. However, the fey origin of hags is well-documented in source material and faithfully followed in BG3.
Visually and thematically, hags might resemble creatures like chimeras or abominations, which are monstrosities, but their abilities and backstory set them apart. Their manipulation of fey magic, ability to make deals, and presence in fey-themed storylines anchor them to their correct type.
Strategic Considerations in Gameplay
How Creature Type Affects Combat and Magic
Knowing that a hag is a fey creature and not a monstrosity helps players make better decisions during combat and story choices. For example:
- Spells like Protection from Evil and Good should be cast with fey selected as the protected type.
- Paladins and Clerics might want to prepare spells that influence fey, rather than abilities that target monstrosities.
- Dialogue or item choices influenced by knowledge of fey lore might help players resist manipulation or discover hidden truths.
Approaching a hag encounter as if she were a mindless monster may lead to trouble. Many encounters with hags involve choices, deals, and traps rather than straightforward combat. Understanding their classification as fey supports this approach and provides insight into how to unravel their layered schemes.
Examples of Fey Influence in BG3
Hags and the World of the Fey
In BG3, Auntie Ethel’s presence in the swamp, her strange powers, and her interactions with other characters reflect her fey nature. She is not just a boss to defeat; she represents a deeper narrative thread connected to the mysterious and often sinister elements of the Feywild.
Players who have a character with knowledge of Arcana or Insight can often recognize the magical nature of hags and may be able to discern the truth behind their illusions. Understanding that you’re dealing with a fey creature might open up additional dialogue options or change the way you approach critical decisions during the encounter.
To answer the question directly: no, a hag is not a monstrosity in Baldur’s Gate 3. Hags are classified as fey creatures, which aligns with their magical abilities, lore, and gameplay function. While they may appear monstrous, their true nature lies in their manipulation, illusions, and dark magic all traits rooted in their fey heritage.
This distinction has meaningful implications in both combat and storytelling. Spells, abilities, and character knowledge that interact with fey will be more effective than those targeting monstrosities. Knowing the creature type of your opponent allows for smarter decisions, deeper immersion, and better use of your party’s resources. So when you face a hag in BG3, remember: you’re not just fighting a monster you’re confronting a cunning force from the shadowy corners of the Feywild.