Spitter Spider

Spitter Spiders are slow-moving predators that can be found alone or in large groups. They hunt their prey using a paralyzing dart attack. The less energetic cousins of s, they prefer to hunt from a distance and avoid confrontation. As a hard-mode enemy, Spitters are found natively when playing as, and may be lineaged as or.

Appearance
With a black body and six long legs, Spitter Spiders can be identified by the red spines that extrude from their backs. The darts (commonly referred to as Dart Maggots) fired from their mouths are a pale cream-white, and each one has an elongated sac on its end, likely storing the paralyzing toxin. A short time after being fired into a creature, just before paralysis, their sacs appear to expand and then contract, changing colors.

Abilities & Behavior
Spitter Spiders are slower than Big Spiders, avoiding close combat and hunting from a distance. They attack by spitting Dart Maggots in short bursts of three or four, which have a delayed and temporary paralyzing effect on creatures including. Each successful hit of the darts increases the speed of the paralyzing effect on the target: getting hit by one dart allows for 5 seconds of normal movement before paralysis sets in, two darts have a 3-second delay, and three darts almost immediately knock out the target. Unconsciousness can last for several seconds, enough time for the Spitter Spider to carefully approach and grab prey.

Just like Big Spiders, they attempt to hinder Slugcat by grabbing onto them if they get close enough, so they are still dangerous in close range. If grabbed for long enough, the Slugcat will become incapacitated, even if not tranquilized. Crouching Slugcats are more likely to be grabbed.

Evasion
If hit by a projectile, fleeing or attacking is recommended. Stabbing with a before being knocked out is feasible, but more of a risk. Slugcat can easily recover, but might not have enough time if too close. Line-of-sight is important for these creatures; hiding for long enough makes them lose interest. It is best to stay on a level above or below them, but beware that darts can be shot in any direction, unlike Spears.

If Slugcat has been captured by a Spitter Spider, there is a chance of escape before being dragged into a den since the Spitter Spider is unable to land a death blow on them. Despite often being found in large groups, these spiders fight each other for Slugcat, which includes shooting darts at each other and may result in Slugcat being dropped.

Trivia

 * Spitter Spiders were added in the 1.5 update.
 * Spitter Spiders, alongside many other -specific enemies, can spawn in the Arena's Competitive mode before Hunter has been unlocked.
 * Unlike other varieties of spider, the Spitter Spider cannot be killed by s.
 * Spitter Spiders, like Big Spiders, can recover health over time, so injuring them won't make them stop hunting or retreat to their dens.
 * Spitter Spiders do not attempt to tranquilize s, even if threatened.
 * Crawling through tunnels with a Spitter Spider corpse causes the player to move quite rapidly, similar to the tunnel glitch.