Phase Spider Matriarch

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. 
==Overview==
=== History ===
The phase spider matriarch was once an arachnomancer named Eliette and worshipper of Lolth. She wished to transform so as to "refashion myself in the Queen's image".
==Combat==
=== Attacks and abilities ===
===Honour mode===
In honour mode only, the matriarch and her Phase Spiders will all have See Invisibility.
===Allies===
* - 2x 
* - 18x, maximum possible, 6 in each group of eggs
===Encounter details===
* When combat begins, the Matriarch will attempt to hatch her nearby Phase Spiderling eggs. There are three groups of 6 spider eggs scattered throughout the chamber, two on top of the large stone platforms and one at the base of a platform.
* The Phase Spider Matriarch will use its phase abilities to teleport around the arena.
* At 50% or less Hit Points, the Matriarch will cast on itself, entering into an enraged state.
* Knocking the Phase Spider Matriarch into one of the side holes labelled 'Chasm' will kill her and 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 with . On Tactician and Honour mode, the Matriach cannot be knocked into any of these drops since it will just teleport back to its former location.
* The Phase Spider Matriach 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.
=== Tactics ===
* The Matriarch's eggs can be destroyed before the battle begins if the party can stay hidden (which also allows 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. Destroying the eggs with an will destroy nearby webs even though it does not deal damage to any webs. If any webs are destroyed, a Phase spider will cast to find somebody who recently touched the web.
* In Honour mode, can be used to kill a Phase Spiderling and the Matriarch will then use Gossamer Tomb on the Spiritual Weapon, but due to the weapon being immune to this action, this will essentially waste the Matriarch's legendary action.
* When the Matriarch is on a web bridge, destroying the bridge using 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.
* Almost all of the Spider Matriarch's damage is so the party can benefit from casting or drinking before entering combat.
* 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 .
* 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. 
** Kill any minions. Having other starting combat for the queen will snap her back to normal. 
*** Kill the eggs then the phase spider, use to draw them away and into kill-box. Use a rogue and equip them with the 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 to the outcrop. Attack the bridge then kill her with ranged, as going into melee will trigger normal combat.
=== Loot ===
* 
== Related literature==
* 
* 
* 
* 
* 
== References ==
==External links==
* 
Category:Lolthite
Category:Followers of Lolth
Category:Lolthite
Category:Followers of Lolth
Category:Creatures
Category:Bosses