Tsuchigumo 土蜘蛛

Large monstrosity (yokai, shapechanger), chaotic evil

Armor Class 15 (natural armor)

Hit Points 90 (12d10 + 24)

Speed 30 ft., climb 30 ft.

STR 16 (+3) · DEX 16 (+3) · CON 14 (+2) · INT 10 (+0) · WIS 14 (+2) · CHA 12 (+1)

Saving Throws Dex +6, Wis +5

Skills Stealth +6, Deception +4, Perception +5, Survival +5

Damage Resistances poison (if you want it extra resilient)

Condition Immunities charmed (optional, if emphasizing its uncanny mind)

Senses darkvision 60 ft., tremorsense 30 ft. (while on webs), passive Perception 15

Languages understands Yokai Speech, Common (or local dialect) and can speak in monstrous form, though it prefers illusions/telepathy if it has such abilities

Challenge 6

Traits

Shapechanger (Spider Disguise). As an action, the Tsuchigumo can assume a humanoid form (Medium or Small) or revert to its true giant spider form. It retains its game statistics, other than size and speed. Any gear it is wearing or carrying isn’t transformed. If it dies, it reverts to its spider form.

Spider Climb. The Tsuchigumo can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.

Web Walker. The Tsuchigumo ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.

Shadow Illusions (1/Short Rest). The Tsuchigumo can wrap illusions around itself or an area to conceal its presence. As an action, it casts major image (PHB, p. 258; spell save DC 14) without material components, often creating illusions of other creatures, swirling mists, or random phantoms. These illusions remain for up to 10 minutes unless dispelled, or the Tsuchigumo dismisses them.

Actions

Multiattack. In spider form, the Tsuchigumo makes two attacks: one Bite and one Spinneret Web. If it’s in humanoid form with weapons, it instead makes two weapon attacks or one weapon attack plus uses Web Lash.

Bite (Spider Form). Melee Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target.

Hit: 10 (2d6 + 3) piercing damage plus 7 (2d6) poison damage. The target must succeed on a DC 14 Constitution saving throw or become poisoned for 1 minute. The target can repeat the save at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.

Spinneret Web (Spider Form). Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one target.

Hit: The target is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained target can make a DC 14 Strength check, escaping on a success. The web has AC 10, HP 5, vulnerability to fire, and immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage.

Web Lash (Humanoid Form). Melee or Ranged Weapon Attack: +6 to hit, reach 5 ft. or range 20/60 ft., one target.

Hit: 7 (1d6 + 3) slashing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage, and the target must succeed on a DC 14 Strength saving throw or be pulled up to 10 feet closer to the Tsuchigumo.

Bonus Actions

Skittering Ambush. If the Tsuchigumo is hidden and moves no more than half its speed, it remains hidden after movement unless it attacks.

Reactions

Illusory Feint (Recharge 5-6). When targeted by an attack it can see, the Tsuchigumo can project a brief illusion around itself. The attacker must succeed on a DC 14 Wisdom saving throw or have disadvantage on that attack roll. The illusion flickers away immediately after.

Legendary Actions

To further challenge the party, grant Tsuchigumo 1 Legendary Action at the end of another creature’s turn:

Evasive Scuttle (Costs 1 Action). The Tsuchigumo moves up to 10 feet without provoking opportunity attacks. If it moves into dim light or darkness, it can attempt a Stealth check with advantage.

Tactics & Behavior

Prefers webs or thick undergrowth, waiting for prey. Often uses illusions or shapechanging to lure travelers.

If the fight turns against it, Tsuchigumo uses Spider Climb and illusions to escape.

It might dwell in a crumbling temple or cavern, leaving webs that can trap the unwary.

Tsuchigumo in humanoid guise might appear as a blind minstrel, a wandering hermit, or a demonic figure lobbing sticky threads from afar.

Lore

Massive ground-dwelling monster, spinning elaborate webs to ensnare victims.

door: a blind zato (a type of traveling bard) who joined him in conversation. At some point, the visitor casually tossed a small bag of incense across the table. The traveler caught it without thinking—and at once found his hands stuck to the pouch. Struggling in alarm, he realized the “blind musician” had opened his eyes and was lunging at him, trying to sink fangs into his neck and drink his blood. By chance, another person passing by entered the temple, startling the Tsuchigumo enough that it chose flight over combat, disappearing into the night rather than risking a direct confrontation.

Another story tells of a hunter who, high in the mountains, encountered a giant demon with blue skin. Realizing the danger, the hunter proposed a game of transformation, tricking the demon into shrinking itself smaller and smaller until it became tiny enough to fit inside a small box. The hunter slammed the lid shut. When morning came, he opened the box to reveal a tiny, lifeless spider— presumably a Tsuchigumo in its diminished form.

From Yokai Bestiary 5E, p. 90 · Fern Flower Press