Image source: Larian Studios via We Game Daily
We don’t need to tell you how big a sensation Baldur’s Gate 3 has been, raising the bar for RPGs. Larian Studios’ mammoth offering smashed it out of the park on PC and even managed to translate well to consoles. There’s so much to see and do in BG3 that you’re bound to encounter a few mysteries. One of the more notable is the Gnarled Door. This seemingly impassable hurdle stands between you and the pursuit of Auntie Ethel through the Overgrown Tunnel. So, how do you get through the Gnarled Door in Baldur’s Gate 3? Read on: we’ve got you covered.
Getting Past Baldur’s Gate 3 Gnarled Door, Explained
The Gnarled Door is located in the Overgrown Tunnel, a location under Auntie Ethel’s Riverside Teahouse. The Riverside Teahouse lies southwest of the Blighted Village, a remote location that players will encounter during the first act of the game. The Gnarled Door is found in the western part of the tunnel and is the main barrier between you and the Hag, Auntie Ethel.
This sentient door poses a significant challenge, and you’ll need to figure out how to surpass it to proceed with their quest. We have found a couple of solid approaches. First things first, though, it’s worth selecting characters with a high Wisdom score or proficiency in Wisdom Saving Throws for this task. Characters like Druids or those like Gale and Shadowheart, who possess the Cleric’s Protection Against Evil and Good skill, are excellent choices.
Using Arcana to Get Through the Gnarled Door
One way to get past the Gnarled Door in Baldur’s Gate 3 involves the use of Arcana, a skill that represents a character’s knowledge of spells, magic items, eldritch symbols, and magical traditions.
Initiate a Dialogue
Upon approaching the Gnarled Door, players can initiate a conversation with it. During this dialogue, your character will roll an Arcana saving throw.
The Arcana Check
If the dice roll in your favor during the Arcana check, your character will realize that the Gnarled Door is merely an illusion. This revelation allows your party to walk right through it, effectively bypassing this obstacle.
Save Scumming
It’s worth noting that if the Arcana check doesn’t go your way, you can utilize a technique known as “save scumming.” This involves saving your game before interacting with the door, allowing you to reload and repeat the Arcana check until you succeed.
Using the Whispering Mask to Get Through the Gnarled Door
If the Arcana method doesn’t work for you, there’s an alternative approach. Adjacent to the Gnarled Door, you will find a table holding several Whispering Masks. These masks provide another means of bypassing the obstinate door.
Equipping the Whispering Mask
By equipping a Whispering Mask on one of your party members, you can pass through the Gnarled Door. However, this method carries a risk. The character wearing the Whispering Mask will need to make a Wisdom saving throw each turn after they walk through the door.
You can further tilt the odds in your favor by casting the Protection Against Evil and Good spell on the party member wearing the Whispering Mask. This spell grants the character an advantage on their saving throws for 10 minutes, providing ample time to bypass the thralls.
Beware of Auntie Ethel’s Control
Failure of the Wisdom saving throw will result in Auntie Ethel seizing control of the character, causing them to attack your party. To mitigate this risk, equip the Whispering Mask on the character with the highest Wisdom stat.
Rapid Movement
Once you have passed through the Gnarled Door, you will encounter formidable opponents: the Masks of Regret, Vengeance, Terror, and Servitude. If you wish to avoid combat, swiftly traverse through the Overgrown Tunnel without removing the Whispering Mask.
So, there you have it: How to get through the Gnarled Door in Baldur’s Gate 3. It can be tricky and requires a bit of luck, but with the right strategies you can successfully bypass this obstacle. Whether you choose to use Arcana or the Whispering Mask, remember to save your game frequently and make prudent use of your character’s skills and abilities. And if you’re
