Drider
Large Monstrosity · · CR 6
- Monstrosity
- Large
- Tier 2
Drider, CR 6, fills the large monstrosity role with chaotic evil disposition. Encounter regions: underground. Sourced from Monster Manual (5e 2014) and Monster Manual (5.5e 2024).
Stat Block
- Challenge Rating
- 6
- Type
- Monstrosity
- Size
- Large
- Alignment
- —
- Speed
- —
- Habitats
- Underground
- Sources
- Monster Manual (5e 2014), Monster Manual (5.5e 2024)
Ecology
Driders are not a natural species but rather punished drow, transformed by Lolth as discipline for failing her tests. They retain drow biology: fertile, intelligent, and reliant on the same diet, but their lower bodies are enlarged spider forms. They cannot truly reproduce; new Driders only appear through Lolth's curse. Most live on the fringes of drow society, half-banished, bitter, and useful only as guards or expendable hunters.
Behaviour
Driders nurse complicated grief: they remember being drow, but their kin shun them. Some embrace their new form, hunting drow caravans for revenge. Others attempt to redeem themselves, performing impossible tasks in hopes Lolth will restore them. They speak Elvish, Undercommon, and the silent finger-tongue of the drow. They are easily convinced to betray former kin, but rarely fully trustworthy in any alliance.
Origin
When a drow priestess fails the Test of Lolth, the goddess transforms her into a Drider as punishment and warning. The transformation is irreversible by any spell short of divine intervention. Some Driders blame Lolth and seek other gods (a few even worship Eilistraee, the redeemer goddess). Others convince themselves they are higher beings, blessed rather than cursed, and serve Lolth with renewed fervor.
Related Monsters
Frequently Asked Questions about Drider
- What is the challenge rating of Drider?
- Drider has a challenge rating of 6. It suits mid-tier groups.
- What type of creature is Drider?
- The bestiary type for Drider is monstrosity, large size.
- Where does Drider live?
- The published habitats for Drider: Underground.