Short answer: The Infected Broodmother is the toughest spider encounter in this ranking, followed by the Hedge Broodmother and Black Widow. For roaming enemies, the Black Widow is the hardest named matchup; Wolf Spiders are a serious earlier test, while Orb Weavers and Spiderlings sit lower on the progression ladder. This is an editorial ranking, not an official Obsidian list, and it assumes a standard campaign rather than New Game+.
How this ranking works
The order estimates how difficult each encounter is for a solo player in a standard campaign, using the game’s progression, suggested gear, attack pressure, status effects, summons, and arena demands. It is not a measured or official ranking. Equipment, blocking skill, multiplayer, difficulty settings, and New Game+ scaling can all change the result.
Roaming enemies and bosses are ranked in separate groups: a planned boss fight with chosen equipment is not directly equivalent to an unexpected patrol encounter. The examples below reflect a plausible progression, not a definitive exhaustive roster of every spider form in every current build. Check the live game’s creature cards for current enemy listings and balance details.
Roaming spider enemies, from easiest to hardest
1. Spiderling
Spiderlings are the low-tier baseline. The Grounded Wiki.gg creature guide classifies them as Tier 1 angry creatures and notes that they are commonly found with Orb Weavers or emerge from web sacs: Spiderling creature guide. Their lower tier makes them a more manageable introduction than the larger spiders, though a group or a surprise encounter can still be dangerous.
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2. Orb Weaver
Orb Weavers are Tier 2 and appear across much of the Backyard. Their tier and availability make them an early-to-mid progression test: under-equipped players may find them difficult, while better gear and familiarity with their attacks improve the matchup. The creature guide recommends a Tier 1 or Tier 2 weapon and at least Tier 1 armor: Orb Weaver creature guide.
3. Wolf Spider
Wolf Spiders are another Tier 2 enemy, but their poison and the cost of missed blocks push them above Orb Weavers in this progression-based ranking. The creature guide recommends Tier 2 armor and a Tier 2 weapon, and emphasizes blocking and learning the attack patterns: Wolf Spider creature guide. Poison resistance varies by species and tier, so do not assume a single resistance value applies to every spider. Obsidian’s version 1.0.4 notes documented a range of 25% to 90% and described Black Widow as fully poison-immune at that time; that dated note is not confirmation of current values: Obsidian patch 1.0.4 notes.
Rank #2
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4. Black Widow
The Black Widow is the hardest roaming spider in this ranking because its distinctive mechanics add pressure beyond a straightforward duel. Obsidian’s version 1.3 notes describe a web projectile that spawns a Black Widowling, and a mechanic in which consuming a living widowling heals the Widow and temporarily increases its attack speed. Those notes also list Sour as a weakness and Spicy, Mint, and Salty as resistances: Obsidian patch 1.3 notes. These are dated balance details; use the current in-game creature card as the final authority if a detail differs in the live build.
The pressure from adds and the Widow’s ability to benefit from a living widowling make controlling the encounter important. It is not simply a question of bringing a strong weapon: the summoned enemy changes the fight’s tempo.
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5. Hedge Broodmother
The Hedge Broodmother is a boss, not a routine patrol. The creature guide describes attacks based on Orb Weaver and Wolf Spider patterns, along with spiderling and Orb Weaver Jr summons: Hedge Broodmother creature guide. Those summons and the need to manage several threats at once distinguish the fight from a stronger version of a single roaming spider.
6. Infected Broodmother
The Infected Broodmother is the hardest named endpoint in this ranking. Obsidian announced it as a permanent boss added in the May 2023 update, deep in the Haze: Obsidian’s Into the Wood update announcement. The community-maintained Grounded Wiki.gg describes it as an exceptionally strong variant and calls it the hardest boss encounter: Infected Broodmother creature guide. That is a strong characterization, not a universal measurement; player preparation, settings, and mode affect the experience.
Rank #4
Where does the Infected Wolf Spider rank?
The Infected Wolf Spider is a named roaming variant, but the available encounter details do not support a confident exact placement against the Black Widow or either Broodmother. Obsidian’s version 1.2 notes establish the variant’s existence, not a complete difficulty comparison: Obsidian patch 1.2 notes. Treat any placement between the Wolf Spider and Black Widow as provisional unless you have confirmed the current creature card and encounter conditions in-game.
Why difficulty can change by mode
Difficulty is not fixed across all Grounded play. Obsidian’s version 1.4.7 notes discuss separate Infected Brood Mother scaling and changes to creature damage scaling in REMIX.D: Obsidian patch 1.4.7 notes. That is why this ranking specifies a standard campaign and avoids treating a New Game+ or REMIX.D fight as directly comparable to the same encounter in a different mode.
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