Ettercap
Medium Monstrosity, neutral evil
450 XP
Special Abilities
Spider Climb
The ettercap can climb difficult surfaces, including upside down on ceilings, without needing to make an ability check.
Web Sense
While in contact with a web, the ettercap knows the exact location of any other creature in contact with the same web.
Web Walker
The ettercap ignores movement restrictions caused by webbing.
Actions
Multiattack
The ettercap makes two attacks: one with its bite and one with its claws.
Bite
Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one creature. Hit: 6 (1d8 + 2) piercing damage plus 4 (1d8) poison damage. The target must succeed on a DC 11 Constitution saving throw or be poisoned for 1 minute. The creature can repeat the saving throw at the end of each of its turns, ending the effect on itself on a success.
Claws
Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one target. Hit: 7 (2d4 + 2) slashing damage.
Web (Recharge 5-6)
Ranged Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, range 30/60 ft., one Large or smaller creature. Hit: The creature is restrained by webbing. As an action, the restrained creature can make a DC 11 Strength check, escaping from the webbing on a success. The effect ends if the webbing is destroyed. The webbing has AC 10, 5 hit points, vulnerability to fire damage and immunity to bludgeoning, poison, and psychic damage.
Variant: Web Garrote
Melee Weapon Attack: +4 to hit, reach 5 ft., one Medium or Small creature against which the ettercap has advantage on the attack roll. Hit: 4 (1d4 + 2) bludgeoning damage, and the target is grappled (escape DC 12). Until this grapple ends, the target can't breathe, and the ettercap has advantage on attack rolls against it.
Quick Reference
Running This Encounter
Ettercaps are cunning hunters that excel in ambush tactics. Position the creature in or near its web-filled lair, using difficult terrain and dim light to its advantage. The ettercap should attempt to web restrained prey before closing in with melee attacks. Consider using 2-3 ettercaps together or paired with giant spiders (its natural allies) for deadlier encounters.
Combat Tactics
The ettercap prioritizes using Web to immobilize threats, targeting the party's most dangerous member or backline casters first. It uses its web-filled terrain to move unpredictably and gain advantage on bite attacks. When facing multiple threats, it attempts to isolate and web targets before focusing attacks on immobilized foes.
Environment & Setting
Ettercaps thrive in dense forests, overgrown ruins, or underground caverns filled with webs, providing natural cover and difficult terrain. The lair should include vertical elements (trees, rocky outcrops) and multiple web-obscured passages for the creature to move through freely.