Spider (/ˈspaɪ.dɚ/)
A tiny arachnid having eight legs and a body divided into two parts. The creature has sharp fangs, black eyes and a spinneret to create webs.
A spider was a type of arthropod. Spiders were found all over Dierde.
A large number of hand-sized venomous spiders would sometimes group themselves into a swarm.
The Menagerie fought some in the Spider Forest of the Feywild.
Basic Information
Anatomy
Species
Electric spider
Gargantuan Spider
an enormous spider, also called whisper spider.Gee'aantu
A large, tarantula-like spider from the Underdark.Guardian spider
Giant Spider
Any spider of a giant size. Also known as "monstrous spiders", they were found in a variety of appearances and sizes and came in hunter or web-spinner varieties. Goblins used giant spiders as mounts. A huge black spider that could be summoned by the Drow matron mothers of Ched Nasad.Goblin spider
A variety of Giant Spider that was endemic to the landmass of Kara-Tur.Large Spider
A large spider, smaller than huge, but bigger, then a normal spider.Hairy spider
A variety of small, web-less, hairy subterranean spider.Huge spider
A variety of spiders that were bigger than large spiders, but smaller than giant spiders. They could not produce webs and thus hunted by either prowling around or waiting in a hiding spot.Phase spider
Aggressive predators that could move between the Ethereal Plane and the Prime Material Plane.Steeder
A variety of Giant Spider that was endemic to the Underdark and often domesticated by duergar.Sword spider
A variety of subterranean spider with razor-sharp tips on its legs.Watchspider
A specially-bred variety of huge spider trained to obey commands and used as guardians.Wraith spider
Undead Giant Spider.Related Creatures
Aranea:
The aranea was a type of intelligent, shape-shifting spider thought to have been created by a Calishite Wizard to infiltrate Drow armies. ChwidenchaDrider:
The drider was a Drow aberration whose lower half was that of a spider. They inhabited the Underdark and required blood for sustenance. Driders were created from Drow who failed a loyalty test to Lolth.Ettercap:
The Ettercap was an aberration between a humanoid and a spider. They had gray or purple bodies with white underbellies and sharp, chitinous claws. They often kept spiders as pets.Jade spider:
Jade spiders were Jade Constructs fashioned in the shape of a spider. They were used by the Drow to protect Menzoberranzan and other Drow locations.Snow spider:
A snow spider was warm-blooded mammal with eight legs and an arachnid form.Ice Spider
Spiderkind
True Spiders
| Natural spiders |
|---|
| Blade |
| Bloodweb |
| Bristle |
| Budback |
| Daughter of Lolth |
| Dire |
| Doomspinner |
| Gargantuan |
| Gee'aantu |
| Giant (Giant Flying |
| Giant Water) |
| Huge (Deathjump |
| Wolf Spider |
| Watchspider) |
| Ice |
| Roave |
| Spitting |
| Subterranean (Flying |
| Hairy |
| Sword) |
| Tarantula |
| Velsharess Orbb |
| Magical spiders |
|---|
| Bloodsilk |
| Electric |
| Glass |
| Gaze |
| Goblin |
| Pet of Kalistes |
| Spellgaunt |
| Steeder |
| Planar spiders |
|---|
| Demonweb terror |
| Fire |
| Myrlochar |
| Phase |
| Shadow |
| Tomb |
| Vortex |
True Arachnids Considered Spiderkind
| Pedipalp (Uropygus) |
| Solifugid |
Related Creatures
| Spider-like Beasts |
|---|
| Arraccat |
| Brain spider |
| Cildabrin |
| Kalin |
| Snow spider |
| Space spider |
| Wall-walker |
| Webbird |
| Zygraat |
| Constructs |
|---|
| Arachnar |
| Bone spider |
| Jade spider |
| Retriever |
| Spiderwalker |
| Stone spider |
| Outsiders |
|---|
| Bebilith |
| Darkweaver |
| Greelox |
| Inferno spider |
| Red widow |
| Yochlol |
| Creations of Lolth |
|---|
| Abyssal widow |
| Chwidencha |
| Drider (Vampire) |
| Shunned |
| Humanoids |
|---|
| Aranea |
| Chitine |
| Choldrith |
| Ettercap |
| Werespider |
| Miscellaneous |
|---|
| Kitthix |
| Neogi |
| Rhylfang |
| Susurrus |
| Undead spiders |
|---|
| Wraith spider |
Additional Information
Uses, Products & Exploitation
Usages
Some drow would ceremonially eat a spider at the beginning of each meal as a way of giving thanks to Lolth. Hishnashapers often kept spiders and parts of spiders for use in their magic. Such as their venom acting as a material component for the spell pestilence.Harvesting
Instructions
Instructions: Because this creature is an Beast, the player should roll a Nature Check using the DCs in the table below. On a success, the player is able to harvest the item. On a failure, the item cannot be harvested (either because the character is not skilled enough, or because the item is ruined). The DM should note that many of the items have an expiration, and can not be sold or used after the expiration has passed.
| DC | Item | Description | Value | Weight | Expiration | Crafting |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 10 | Spider Carcass | If the spider carcass isn't completely destroyed, the creature's body can be can sold to alchemists and healers. The little beast's legs, eyes, and organs may have uses in potions, salves and ointments. | 1 cp | .02 lb. | 2 days | - |
| varies | Spider Venom | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies | Varies |
This kind of creature does not normally carry treasure. This kind of creature does not normally have or collect treasure. However, the creature may have a lair full of bodies, or reside somewhere that treasure already exists.
This creature produces 1 piece of Harvested Meat, weighing ~4 lbs. DC: 5, Expire: 1 day, Value: ~2 sp The meat of insectiods and arachnids can be nourishing, but are often gamey and tasteless. Some communities frown on eating insect meat (and will only pay half price), while others rely on it. Dungeon Master's discretion.
Geographic Origin and Distribution
Notable Locations
Spiders inhabited the forest known as the Neth Stand. Adhe Wood in the Vast was infested with ettercaps and mutant spiders of many sizes and breeds. Spiders were common in the Underdark, particularly in drow settlements, where they were revered by worshipers of Lolth.Civilization and Culture
Interspecies Relations and Assumptions
Relationships
Drow often made objects and buildings in the shape of spiders. In cultures that venerated Lolth, it was forbidden to kill a spider; those who did so were punished with death. Spiders were often kept by the drow, their purpose depending on a given spider's size. The smallest ones were kept as pets by children. Those that were big enough to kill mice, meaning hand-sized, were kept as familiars by wizards. Those that were as big as a horse were used to ride upon. Those that were the size of dogs were used like guard dogs in temples to Lolth. The last category were sometimes imbued with a demon to make older ones regain their vitality, combining it with a nasty personality. Spriggans in the Feywild were sometimes known to use spiders to create web barriers in their forests.Sources
Source(s):
- Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford, Christopher Perkins (2014-09-30). Monster Manual 5th edition. Edited by Scott Fitzgerald Gray. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 337. ISBN 978-0786965614.
- Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 239–240. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 239–240. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- Doug Stewart (June 1993). Monstrous Manual. (TSR, Inc), p. 326 f.. ISBN 1-5607-6619-0.
- Philip Athans (2008). A Reader's Guide to R. A. Salvatore's the Legend of Drizzt. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 153. ISBN 0-7869-4915-5.
- Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 288–289. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- Thomas M. Reid (December 2003). Insurrection. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 307–308. ISBN 0-7869-3033-0.
- Rick Swan (July 1990). Monstrous Compendium Kara-Tur Appendix. (TSR, Inc.), p. 23. ISBN 0-88038-851-X.
- James Wyatt, Rob Heinsoo (February 2001). Monster Compendium: Monsters of Faerûn. Edited by Duane Maxwell. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 79–80. ISBN 0-7869-1832-2.
- Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 207–208. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- Mike Mearls, Jeremy Crawford (May 29, 2018). Mordenkainen's Tome of Foes. Edited by Kim Mohan, Michele Carter. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 238. ISBN 978-0786966240.
- Monstrous Compendium included in Ed Greenwood, Steven E. Schend (July 1994). City of Splendors. (TSR, Inc.). ISBN 0-5607-6868-1.
- Eric L. Boyd (June 2005). City of Splendors: Waterdeep. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 141. ISBN 0-7869-3693-2.
- James Wyatt (September 2002). City of the Spider Queen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 124. ISBN 0-7869-1212-X.
- Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 15–16. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- Skip Williams, Jonathan Tweet, Monte Cook (July 2003). Monster Manual v.3.5. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 69–70. ISBN 0-7869-2893-X.
- David "Zeb" Cook, et al. (1989). Monstrous Compendium Volume Two. (TSR, Inc). ISBN 0-8803-8753-X.
- James Wyatt (September 2002). City of the Spider Queen. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 121. ISBN 0-7869-1212-X.
- Belinda G. Ashley (1997). “The Dragon's Bestiary: Arctic Monsters”. In Dave Gross ed. Dragon Annual #2 (TSR, Inc.), p. 33.
- Ed Greenwood, Eric L. Boyd (March 2006). Power of Faerûn. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 146. ISBN 0-7869-3910-9.
- Ed Greenwood (November 1998). The City of Ravens Bluff. (TSR, Inc), p. 148. ISBN 0-7869-1195-6.
- James Wyatt (September 2002). City of the Spider Queen. (Wizards of the Coast). ISBN 0-7869-1212-X.
- R.A. Salvatore (August 2012). Charon's Claw. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 296, 299. ISBN 0-7869-6223-2.
- Richard Lee Byers (August 2003). Dissolution. (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 10–11. ISBN 0-7869-2944-8.
- Elaine Cunningham (July 2003). Daughter of the Drow (Mass Market Paperback). (Wizards of the Coast), pp. 4–5. ISBN 978-0786929290.
- Drow Pets and Animal Companions. Wizard of the Coast. (2003-26-08). Archived from the original on 2003-07-03. Retrieved on 2019-02-16.
- Mike Mearls, Greg Bilsland and Robert J. Schwalb (June 15, 2010). Monster Manual 3 4th edition. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 182. ISBN 0786954902.
- Brian R. James, Eric Menge (August 2012). Menzoberranzan: City of Intrigue. (Wizards of the Coast), p. 20. ISBN 978-0786960361.
- Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 64. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
- Douglas Niles (August 1991). “A Journey to the True World”. Maztica Campaign Set (TSR, Inc.), p. 88. ISBN 1-5607-6084-2.
Genetic Ancestor(s)
Genetic Descendants
Scientific Name
Animalia, Materia, Bestia, Naturis, Spiderkind, Arachnid (Spider)
Origin/Ancestry
Beast (Animal, Spiderkind | Spider)
Lifespan
2-5 years
Conservation Status
No conservation in most places as they are hunted down as pests, unless they are either revered or protected for some specific regional reason.
Average Height
0.5-1 inch
Average Weight
0.01-0.03 ounces
Average Length
1-2 inches
Geographic Distribution
Related Ethnicities
5E Statistics
Spider
| Size | Tiny |
| Type | Beast |
| Alignment | Unaligned |
| Challenge Rating | 0 |
General Information
| Movement | Climbing |
| Vision | Darkvision |
| Favored Climate | Warm |
| Favored Terrain | Forests |
See Also: Spider on Forgotten Realms Wiki