Creature Reference Back to Creatures

Sand Spider

Large · Beast · CR 7 · Unaligned

Source. Tome of Beasts

15 (natural armor)

105 (14d10+28)

Ability Scores

Core attributes and their modifiers.

STR

DEX

CON

INT

-3

WIS

CHA

-3

Overview

Category Monsters

Size Large

Type Beast

Alignment Unaligned

XP 2900

Initiative Bonus +3

Movement

Walk 30 ft (9.1 m)

Swim 15 ft (4.6 m)

Climb 15 ft (4.6 m)

Burrow 20 ft (6.1 m)

Crawl 15 ft (4.6 m)

Senses

Darkvision 60 ft (18.3 m)

Tremorsense 60 ft (18.3 m)

Passive Perception 14

Skills

Perception +4 Stealth +6

Languages

Environments

Desert Grassland or Plains

Traits

Ambusher

The sand spider has advantage on attack rolls against surprised targets.

Sand Stealth

The sand spider gains an additional +3 to Stealth (+9 in total) in sand terrain.

Spider Climb

The sand spider can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Actions

Bite

+8 to hit, reach 5 ft (1.5 m). Hit: 2d10 poison damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 16 (2d10 + 5) piercing damage plus 13 (3d8) poison damage, or half as much poison damage with a successful DC 13 Constitution saving throw.

Impaling Leg

+8 to hit, reach 10 ft (3 m). Hit: 1d12 piercing damage.

Melee Weapon Attack: +8 to hit, reach 10 ft., one target. Hit: 11 (1d12 + 5) piercing damage. If the sand spider scores a critical hit with this attack, it rolls damage dice three times instead of twice. If both impaling leg attacks hit the same target, the second hit does an extra 11 (1d12 + 5) piercing damage.

Multiattack

The sand spider makes two attacks with its impaling legs and one bite attack.

Reactions

Trapdoor Ambush

When a creature walks over a sand spider's hidden burrow, the spider can use its reaction to attack that creature with two impaling leg attacks. The creature is considered a surprised target for both attacks. If one or both attacks hit and the target is a Medium or smaller creature, then the sand spider and the target engage in a Strength contest. If the creature wins, it can immediately move 5 feet away from the sand spider. If the contest results in a tie, the creature is grappled (escape DC 15). If the sand spider wins, the creature is grappled and dragged by the sand spider 30 feet into its lair. If the creature is still grappled at the start of the sand spider's next turn, it becomes restrained instead. The restrained creature can escape by using an action to make a successful DC 15 Strength (Athletics) check.

About Sand Spider

Sand Spider is a large beast with a Challenge Rating of 7. It has a unaligned alignment.

In combat, this creature maintains an Armor Class of 15 and possesses 105 hit points (derived from 14d10+28).

Sand Spider has communication capabilities including -. This allows it to interact verbally with various creatures and characters.

GM Tips: Using Sand Spider

1 tips available

When using Sand Spider in your D&D 5e campaign, consider these tactical approaches:

Burrowing Tactics: This creature can burrow at 20 ft. It can ambush from underground or escape combat by digging. Use 'Earthbind' or create difficult terrain to limit burrowing. Consider fighting in areas without soft ground.

Player Guide: Facing Sand Spider

1 strategies available

When your party encounters this creature, keep these strategies in mind:

Burrowing Defense: This creature can burrow at 20 ft! It can ambush from underground. Use 'Earthbind', create difficult terrain, or fight on hard surfaces. 'Stone Shape' can seal burrows.

Encounter Building Calculator

Standard Party Encounter (4-5 characters):

This creature is a medium encounter for a party of 4 characters of level 7.

Solo Encounter:

A single character of level 10 (up to level 20) can face this creature in a medium to hard encounter.

Experience Point Thresholds:

Medium: 5,600 XP
Hard: 8,400 XP
Deadly: 11,200 XP

Based on D&D 5e Dungeon Master's Guide encounter building guidelines. CR roughly equals party level for medium encounters.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the challenge rating of Sand Spider?: Sand Spider has a Challenge Rating of 7, making it appropriate for parties of level 7.0.
What type of creature is Sand Spider?: Sand Spider is a Large Beast, which affects how certain spells and abilities interact with it.
What languages does Sand Spider speak?: Sand Spider can communicate in -.