Spider's Bane (Spider's Bane +2 in-game) is an enchanted two-handed sword found only in Baldur's Gate, the Baldur's Gate: Tales of the Sword Coast expansion and Baldur's Gate: Enhanced Edition game versions.
The party will need to be at least in Chapter Four to get access to the blade.
Description[]
| “ | This sword was originally forged by the dwarves of the Orothiar tribe in Cloakwood. They created the blade to help foster goodwill between them and the Grand Dukes of Baldur's Gate. Wielded by the Grand Dukes for about a century, the sword was eventually lost, ironically in a fight against ettercaps and spiders. Who wields the blade is now unknown, but its recovery would aid greatly in fighting the current spider infestation that plagues the Cloakwood. | ” |
Gameplay[]
The blade inflicts 1d10+2 Slashing damage with every successful hit and strikes as a +2 Enchanted item - the sword provides a 2-point THAC0 bonus and the user's Strength attribute can further modify the to-hit and damage values. The enchantment improves the blade's Speed Factor by 2, compared to an ordinary great sword.
While equipped the weapon bestows a Free Action effect upon the wielder, and an icon will appear on the user's portrait titled "Free Action".
See the link to Free Action above to see what it does, and how it interacts with being Hasted and the Boots of Speed.
Regarding the sword and fighting Spider foes, the equipped blade renders the user immune to their webs, as well as a number of other movement hindering or changing effects - however, the sword won't prevent the user from Poison damage, a spider can still bite and inject poison.
Equipping the sword does not cure or remove any effects already on the character. This can be used to the player's advantage; for example, the wielder can temporarily switch to different weapon, have a party member cast Haste, and switch back, granting the benefits of both Haste and Free Action.
Acquisition[]
The party can obtain this blade (and some other loot) when visiting the Spider Nest area, dealing with Centeol, some spiders and ettercaps, and then searching a floor niche covered in webs.
Later on, after successfully pursuing the Spiders in the Cloakwood questline, speak with Tiber for a reward, and he'll freely "give" the blade to the party (even though you already have it).
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This section is about unofficial content that is only available via fan-made mods.
In Baldur's Gate II: Shadows of Amn this blade makes a pseudo appearance with the installation of the Unfinished Business for BG2 mod, and if pursuing the Pai'Na and Spider's Bane quest line. The actual Spider's bane sword is never actually given to the party or made available though, only a broken version of the blade. Curious? Play the mod and find out.