Venomous Arachas

The venomous arachas is the most poisonous kind of arachas, a huge insectoid somewhere between a crab, a spider and a beetle. Its venom is so strong that a few drops can kill a person. Witchers resist it better thanks to their mutations, but it’s still dangerous. It coats its pincers and fangs with venom, sprays it during a fight and gives off toxic fumes when you fight it up close. It can also seize prey with its long feelers and hold it in place.

In The Witcher 3 these creatures are tough, high-level opponents, and you need one if you want the arachas mutagen for the Arachas decoction.

The best-known one is Harrisi, the target of Contract: Missing Brother in Velen. Following its trail through flooded caves, you find its eggs, which you should destroy with Igni or Aard before the final fight.

Combat strategy

The bestiary’s advice is simple: protect yourself from the poison first, then wear the arachas down from a safe distance before closing in with the sword. Its sprays and fumes punish you for standing in front of it, so keep moving and stay out of reach of the feelers, which can grab and pin you.

Once the poison is under control, the fight is about patience. Hit it from the side, dodge away from its lunges, and don’t stay in its cloud of fumes.

Drink Golden Oriole before the fight to protect yourself from its venom.
Apply Insectoid Oil to your silver sword for the finishing work.
Soften it up with crossbow bolts and bombs from range before you engage.
Don’t stand still in front of it. Its feelers can grab you.
In Contract: Missing Brother, destroy the eggs with Igni or Aard to keep the final fight easier.