By Alan McCoy from Dungeons & Dragons: Fundamentals
How to build challenging encounters against a Giant Wolf Spider
Note: This has been prepared utilizing only the 5E Core Rules. This essay will cover only the Giant Wolf Spider (MM page 330). I have included to non-RAW commentary, but it is clearly marked as my own opinion.
All spiders are predators, this essay attempts to briefly investigate the way that a Giant Hunting Spider will hunt its prey. Unfortunately for characters in our fantasy world, we are on the menu.Neither this essay, nor the Monster Manual is intended to be an exhaustive study of spiders. Individual DMs are free to utilize ‘Giant’ versions of any naturally occurring species that they find interesting. While some communal spider species can be used, such as the Acromantula Aragog in the Harry Potter books, it is suggested that this be a very rare infestation. Such a group would rapidly consume even a prolific ecology.
Intelligent Spiders, or spiders with magical or magic-like abilities may have some similarities with the beasts portrayed here, but those creatures are beyond the scope of this essay.
It is my opinion that the designers of the game have done a horrible job in portraying this creature. As designed, it reminds me of the huge Spider in the Gilligan’s Island (Season 3 – The Pigeon). Specific issues: the beast itself is very weak, probably to maintain the status of a challenge rating 1/4 creature. Additionally, this creature is given the abilities Web Sense and Web Walker, even though Wolf Spiders do not build webs.
Step 1 — Lets review what we know about the Giant Wolf Spider
Appearance: While almost any naturally occurring hunting spider species can be utilized to provide specific description, it is important to gain an appreciation of size: A giant wolf spider occupies a 5 foot X 5 foot combat square, so roughly a 3 foot body size, the legs extending outwards, massing about 75 lbs.
Spiders are Strong, Extremely Dexterous and Tough. Despite their Giant Size, spiders are skilled in stealth. This is usually due to natural camouflage or prepared camouflage. They simply have coloration that matches their environment.Spider movement is unaffected by difficult surfaces, they can even move up or down walls and upside down on ceilings with no movement penalty. They can of course move freely on webs. They can move 40 feet or climb 40 feet each round.
Spider Senses include: Blindsight 10′(the ability to see by feel and sound), Darkvision 60′ and Web Sense (knows the exact location of any creature touching its web, if in contact with the web.) Passive Perception is 13, these spiders have an active perception skill of +3.
Spiders have a poisonous bite.
Step 2 — Determine Probable Strategy: What do spiders want and how do they get it?
Giant Wolf Spiders have two primary instinctual drives: Food and Self-Preservation. By instinct, giant wolf spiders can burrow and create blinds or trapdoors from which to surprise prey. Other types of Giant Wolf Spiders are simply hunters, but almost all use similar ambush and grab as their primary hunting method.
Step 3 — Determine Probable Tactics: RAW
If you pass to close to a Giant Wolf Spider’s hunting burrow, it may decide to leap out and attack. By instinct, it knows that it has a much greater chance of being able to feed unopposed if it attacks isolated targets, thus scouts or those travelling on the flanks are most likely to be attacked.
When the creature decides to attack it will leap from cover grab and immediately bite its victim. If successful, the poison will paralyze the victim almost immediately allowing the spider to drag the victim back into its burrow where it can feed at leisure. If the attack misses, the spider will immediately attempt to escape, using its speed and ability to climb.
Because the spider wants the ability to carry paralyzed prey back to its hunting lair, or to escape after a failed attack, it is unlikely to attack any target that does not pass close to its hunting lair. Ten feet or less is ideal, fifteen feet is possible but unlikely, while targets that are twenty feet or more distant will be ignored.
Game Mechanics: Utilizing its Stealth +7, the spider will attack from hiding (with advantage) and make a bite attack. A hit does piercing damage and injects a powerful paralyzing poison. A successful DC 11 Constitution Save avoids the paralyzation and allows only half damage from the poison.
A captured, paralyzed victim will be bitten repeatedly. Because the victim is paralyzed, all attacks are made with advantage, and all hits will be critical hits. Once the victim is reduced to zero hit points, the spider will begin to feed.
Step 3b) Determine Probable Tactics (My Way — FYI if you use my way the Giant Wolf Spider should be a CR 1)
As above with the following changes:
Giant Wolf Spiders are skilled at creating and camouflaging their blinds, passive perception checks are rolled with disadvantage to detect.
Giant Wolf Spiders can nest in trees or other elevated places, not just on the ground.
Giant Wolf Spiders place their lairs in places that would be difficult terrain to human prey, this is to slow the prey and allow it to attack more readily. This also serves to make an escape more difficult should the victim recover from the paralyzation.
Game Mechanics: Utilizing its Stealth +7, the spider will attack from hiding (with advantage) and make a bite attack, this attack is considered a Sneak attack and will do an additional 2d6 damage.
A hit does piercing damage and injects a powerful paralyzing poison. A successful DC 11 Constitution Save avoids the paralyzation and allows only half damage from the poison.
A captured, paralyzed victim will be bitten repeatedly. Because the victim is paralyzed, all attacks are made with advantage, and all hits will be critical hits. Once the victim is reduced to zero hit points, the spider will begin to feed.
My recommended changes to the Giant Wolf Spider:
Increase AC 15 (Chitin equivalent to Hide Armor + Dexterity)
Increase Health to 4d8+4 (Average 22)
Additional Ability: Sneak Attack from hiding +2d6 Damage.
Increase Movement Speed to 60 ft / climb 60 ft
Because the spider wants the ability to carry paralyzed prey back to its hunting lair, or to escape after a failed attack, it is unlikely to attack any target that does not pass close to its hunting lair. Fifteen feet or less is ideal, twenty-five feet is possible but unlikely, while targets that are thirty feet or more distant will be ignored.