Let’s Look at Lieutenants: Brood Queen

Group Settings:                Duo and higher

Do you have a severe case of arachnophobia? If you do, then you don’t want to face the Brood Queen. What could be worse for an arachnophobe than facing a gigantic spider? How about facing a pregnant giant spider?

The Brood Queen is most noted for breeding in combat. Every once in a while she will implant an egg into one of her foes. This egg is apparently ready to hatch, as five seconds later a baby spider will hatch out of the target and start munching on them.

Yes, it’s a bit disgusting.

Pine and Brood Queen battling down in Bree

F-I-GHT-I-N-G

First comes war

Second comes poisoning

Third comes a cute little spiderling

Well, maybe not so cute.

Naturally, the spiderling is a supernumerary in the group you are fighting. This doesn’t mean much when you are taking a control point but it is significant if you are fighting a wave or a counterattack as the next wave will begin when all the original members of the wave are dead. Therefore, if you are facing a brood of spiderlings, they should be killed before the original foes if you’re expecting another wave after the current one.

Is there anything you can do about this? The good news is that you will know when you are selected as a host as a green eye will appear above your head.

In addition, these eggs are considered a poison, so you can remove them with a milkthistle potion. Of course, if you’re a hunter, then you don’t even need to spent the potion.

Historical Note: The Brood Queen was the subject on one of the most infamous skirmish bugs because she would not appear in skirmish runs above level 60. This was not fixed until the release of Rohan, so these spiders were hard to find for three years.

Next time, we will take a look at some cloned giants.

May your shield protect you and your spear never break,

Pineleaf Needles