Phase Spider Matriarch

Predator of the Ethereal Plane
Phase Spider Matriarch
Stats
Level 4
STR 16 (+3) DEX 19 (+4) CON 14 (+2) INT 6 (-2) WIS 12 (+1) CHA 6 (-2)
Race	Phase Spider
Type	Monstrosity
HP	125; 162TTactician
AC	15
Movement Speed	9m / 30ft
Size	Large
Weight	250kg / 500lbs
Proficiency Bonus	+2
Initiative	+3
Passive features
Opportunity Attack  Web Walker  Darkvision
Resistances
Character information
Location	Whispering Depths
Allies	Phase Spider, Phase Spiderling
In-game

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.

Attacks and abilities

 Venomous Bite ()

1d6 (1~6) Piercing damage

+

1d6 (1~6) Poison damage

Bite a target and possibly  Poison it.

CON Save

 Melee: 1.5 m / 5  ft

[[* Spit out a venomous substance that deals 4d6+4Poison damage and possibly  Poison those it hits.

 Poisoned 2 turns

Constitution saving throw

Attack roll

 Range: 12 m / 36 ft ]]

 Ethereal Jaunt ()

Surrounded by silver mist, you teleport to an unoccupied space you can see.

 Range: 22 m /  ft

 Matriarch's Call ()

The spider matriarch calls on her brood, causing her nearby eggs to hatch.

 Range: 3 m /  ft

 Spider Queen's Wrath

Increase Strength by 2, while  Armour Class is reduced by 1.

On Tactician Difficulty: Gain one additional attack per turn. Increase Strength by 2 and grant Resistance to physical damage.

 Range: Self

Honour mode

[[* 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. ]]

 Gossamer Tomb ()

8d10 (8~80) Poison damage

Entomb a creature that attacks your offspring with an  Infested glob of web.

DEX Save

 Range: 30 m /  ft

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. Failing that, area damage spells work well on their low Hit Points.
• 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 center 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 Honour mode.
• Using Alchemist's Fire (or other fire spells) when the Matriarch is on a web bridge, will destroy the web bridge and causes 45 fall damage and can help defeat her.
• Use Elixir of Poison Resistance on all your party members before entering combat
• 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.

History

The phase spider matriarch was once an arachnomancer named Eliette and worshipper of Lolth. They wished to transform so as to "refashion myself in the Queen's image".

Loot

• Poisoner's Robe

Related items

• Tattered Journal
• Bloody Journal
• Web-Covered Journal
• Spiderstep Boots - a gift to the arachnomancer from Lolth

External links

• Phase spider matriarch on the Forgotten Realms Wiki