Homebrew Arachnid (Spiderfolk) Species Details

Arachnids were originally humans who transformed themselves into arachnids through ancient rituals. Most Arachnids were corrupted into monsters by those rites, but some instead became a new people who mix characteristics of humans and spiders.

Blessed with resistance to magical and poisonous effects by the rituals that created them, each of these arachnids manifests their spiderlike heritage in a variety of ways: an extra pair of spider legs with sensory functions, the lower body of a spider (8 legs), eight eyes, or some other arachnid characteristic.

Creating Your Character

At 1st level, you choose whether your character is a member of the human race or of a fantastical race. If you select a fantastical race, follow these additional rules during character creation.

Ability Score Increases

When determining your character’s ability scores, increase one score by 2 and increase a different score by 1, or increase three different scores by 1. Follow this rule regardless of the method you use to determine the scores, such as rolling or point buy. The “Quick Build” section for your character’s class offers suggestions on which scores to increase. You can follow those suggestions or ignore them, but you can’t raise any of your scores above 20.

Languages

Your character can speak, read, and write Common and one other language that you and your DM agree is appropriate for the character.

Creature Type

The creature type can be either Humanoid, Beast or Monstrosity.

These types don’t have rules themselves, but some rules in the game affect creatures of certain types in different ways. For example, the cure wounds spell doesn’t work on a Construct or an Undead.

Life Span

Due to the mix of humans and spiders, an arachnid usually has a typical life span of 60 years, assuming the character doesn't meet a violent end on an adventure.

Height and Weight

Arachnidae have a height of 5'6 + 2d6 inches and the weight is 115 lb. + 2d6 lb.

Arachnid (Spiderfolk) Traits

As a spiderfolk, you have the following racial traits.

Creature Type

You are a Humanoid.

Size

You are Medium.

Speed

Your walking speed is 35 feet. Because of your spider heritage, you have a climbing speed equal to your walking speed and you don't need hands.

Darkvision

You can see in dim light within 120 feet of you as if it were bright light, and in darkness as if it were dim light. You discern colors in that darkness only as shades of gray.

Poison Resilience

You have advantage on saving throws you make to avoid or end the poisoned condition on yourself. You also have resistance to poison damage.

Arachnida Spellcasting

You can cast animal friendship an unlimited number of times with this trait, but you can target only spiders with it. Starting at 3rd level, you can also cast Web with this trait. Once you cast it, you can’t do so again until you finish a long rest or as a ritual.

Intelligence, Wisdom, or Charisma is your spellcasting ability for these spells when you cast them with this trait (choose when you select this race).