Phase Spider Matriarch

Honour mode differences
Honour mode differences
Stats
Armour Class	17
Initiative	+5
Ability scores
STR
STR	STR
Proficiency bonus	+2
Saving throws	Str +3; Dex +5; Con +2; Int -2; Wis +2; Cha -2;
Conditions
See Invisibility;	Can see Invisible creatures within 9m (30ft).
Features
Legendary Action: Gossamer Tomb;	Spend a legendary action to trap an attacked in a Gossamer Tomb.

Phase Spider Matriarch
Phase Spider Matriarch
Level 4
Information
Full name	Eliette
Title	Predator of the Ethereal Plane
Race	Phase spider
Stats
Size	Large
Type	Monstrosity
Armour Class	16
Hit points	125 (Balanced); 162 (Tactician);
Movement speed	9 m (30 ft)
Weight	250 kg (500 lb)
Initiative	+4
Ability scores
STR
STR	STR
Proficiency bonus	+2
Saving throws	Str +3; Dex +4; Con +2; Int -2; Wis +1; Cha -2;
Resistances
Resistant	Poison
Features
Opportunity Attack;	Automatically attack an enemy moving out of your reach.
Web Walker;	Not slowed or Enwebbed by web surfaces.
Darkvision;	Can see in the dark up to 12m.

The Phase Spider Matriarch is a type of Monstrosity creature in Baldur's Gate 3. It is a boss encounter in the Whispering Depths and possesses several powerful abilities.

History

The phase spider matriarch was once an arachnomancer named Eliette^{[text 1]} and worshipper of Lolth. They wished to transform so as to "refashion myself in the Queen's image".^{[text 2]}

Attacks and abilities

Honour mode

In honour mode only, the matriarch and her Phase Spiders will all have See Invisibility.

[[* A passive feature that allows; once per round if her offspring is attacked, this creature will try to encase the attacker in a Gossamer Tomb.

Legendary Actions restore at the start of each round.

]]

Tactics

When combat begins, the Matriarch will attempt to hatch her nearby Phase Spiderling eggs. These eggs can be destroyed before the battle begins if the party can stay hidden (and allowing for an easy Pest Control achievement). Failing that, area damage spells work well on their low Hit Points. It is preferable to destroy all the eggs in Tactician/Honour mode due to her legendary action, but in lower difficulties it can be beneficial to leave a single egg behind in a batch as the Matriarch will essentially waste an action to summon a single Phase Spiderling.
The Phase Spider Matriarch will use its phase abilities to teleport around the arena.
At 50% or less Hit Points, the Matriarch will cast Spider Queen's Wrath on itself, entering into an enraged state.
Knocking the Phase Spider Matriarch into one the side holes labelled 'Chasm' will grant the party 250xp. However, knocking her into the centre hole (not labelled 'Chasm') will not grant experience, but its corpse can be found in the Underdark (X:140 Y:151) to loot and possibly animate. This does not work in Tactician/Honour mode.
When the Matriarch is on a web bridge, destroying the bridge using fire damage will inflict a significant amount of fall damage on her (~45, varying with height). The stone platforms they connect to have no loot on them and are mostly accessible even without the bridges, thus it is recommended to use this tactic whenever the opportunity presents itself.
Cast Protection from Poison or use Elixir of Poison Resistance on all party members before entering combat.
The matriarch never initiated combat. Combat log showed 90 exp reward for knocking her down the chasm.
Lump the Enlightened and his ogres can prove valuable allies in the battle. They can be recruited just up above in the Blighted Village through a Charisma check or paying them 500g. This can result in a win-win situation where Lump is killed in the battle or is significantly weakened allowing the opportunity to easily obtain the Warped Headband of Intellect.
She has +1 bonuses to Strength and Dexterity on Tactician difficulty, with resultant bonuses to Initiative, Armour Class, Attack rolls, and Saving throws, making an already fairly fierce early game enemy even deadlier.
It's a good idea to spread party members out. Her venomous discharge ability has a large AoE radius.

Exploits

The middle spiderweb bridge has a stone outcrop that, when the matriarch stands on and the bridge destroyed, would effectively neutralize her: she will be stuck in her falling down animation but never move and, therefore, never enter combat. The combat log gives experience as if she has fallen into the Underdark, but the player can still kill her normally with ranged attacks afterward — yielding the kill experience reward and loot. This was found on a tactician playthrough and should work for honour mode.

A good portion of the matriarch collision size(?) indicator is outside of the ledge.
- Kill any minions. Having other starting combat for the queen will snap her back to normal.
  - Kill the eggs then the phase spider, use Minor illusion to draw them away and into kill-box. Use a rogue and equip her with Haste helm for hit-and-run. This should be easy, given all of them have -2 intellect saving throw.
    - Best setup location is the ledge gated by web: draw a spider into the low-ground directly below, activate combat mode first before attacking. Any location with similar advantage is also acceptable.
- Lure the queen with Minor illusion to the outcrop. Attack the bridge then kill her with ranged, as going into melee will trigger normal combat.

Loot

Poisoner's Robe

Related literature

References

↑ Bloody Journal – Eliette
↑ Web-Covered Journal – Eliette

External links

Eliette on the Forgotten Realms Wiki

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[1] Bloody Journal – Eliette

[2] Web-Covered Journal – Eliette

[text 1]

[text 2]