Spider Form

Version 0.30: This article may not be up to date for the latest stable release of Crawl.

Spider Form

Spider Form is a level 3 Poison/Transmutation spell that transforms the user into a spider-like creature.

Transmuters start with this spell available.

Transformation

This transformation grants the following:

Pros:

• A venom-branded unarmed attack with base damage 5 and a to hit bonus
• A +5 bonus to dexterity
• Tiny size (improves EV)
• Immunity to webs

Cons:

• Melds all equipment except jewellery
• Cannot throw weapons
• Natural AC is 2
• -10% to spell success
• Vulnerability to poison.
  • Can be negated with a source of poison resistance; but even with multiple sources of rPois, you won't resist it.
  • Players immune to poison retain their immunity.

The duration of the transformation is 8 + 2d<power> turns, capped at 60.

Mummies and ghouls cannot memorize this spell. Vampires can memorize this spell, but cannot cast it if they are bloodless.

Strategy

Spider Form gives access to venom-branded attacks. A dagger of venom is a strong weapon up into Lair, and spider fangs are even better. Once enemies are extremely poisoned (3 poison drops in Tiles), you can start backing off, letting the toxins do their work. It also gives a bonus to EV.

Transmuters can afford 1-2 levels of Poison Magic in order to get the spell running. Even at 30% + failure, this spell is reasonable to use - all you need is 1 successful cast in order to transform.

However, Spider Form has several downsides:

• The evasion bonus is helpful, but be aware that when monsters do manage to land a hit, you'll have very low AC to reduce it.
• While Octopodes and Felids don't have much AC to begin with, both species still lose something with spider form. Octopodes lose their constriction. Felids lose their fast movement speed.
• rPois- is a liability against adders and the like, unless you happen to have poison immunity.
• You can't throw things like darts in Spider Form.

By the time you enter Lair - a branch with many poisonous enemies, and many enemies with rPois - Spider Form starts to get weak. Even if you ignored all the poison, the lack of any AC or SH becomes very noticeable. Transmuters will want to upgrade to Ice Form, or stick to base unarmed combat.

Spider Form

History

• Prior to 0.28, Spider Form had a power cap of 200.
• Prior to 0.22, Spider Form prevented usage of wands.
• Prior to 0.20, followers of the Shining One incurred penance if they poisoned sentient, non-evil monsters.
• Prior to 0.19, Spider Form gave a large stealth bonus.
• Prior to 0.15, Spider Form provided above-average speed and the ability to cling to walls.