Beetle Queen in Risk of Rain 2: attacks and how to beat it

// at a glance

At a glance.

In-game title	Swarm Mother
Type	Teleporter boss
Health	2100 (+630 per level)
Base damage	25 (+5 per level)
Armour	20
Where it spawns	Stage 1: Distant Roost, Disturbed Impact, Shattered Abodes, Siphoned Forest, Titanic Plains, Verdant Falls · Stage 2: Abandoned Aqueduct, Aphelian Sanctuary, Pretender's Precipice, Reformed Altar, Wetland Aspect · Stage 3: Golden Dieback, Iron Alluvium, Sulfur Pools, Treeborn Colony · Stage 4: Prime Meridian.

// attacks

Beetle Queen attacks and how to dodge them.

Acid Shot

After a 2 s wind-up she fires 6 acid balls in a fan. Each one bursts and leaves a puddle that burns for 15 s.

How to dodge it: Keep your distance: from far away the fan spreads and the balls miss. Stay out of the green puddles.

Beetlejuice Spawn

She releases beetles that fly at you. They deal no damage, but each one takes 5% off your speed, attack speed and damage.

How to dodge it: Kill them: they have little health (80) and count as kills for your on-kill items.

Summon Beetles

She summons 2 Beetle Guards. If she is an elite, so are they.

// loot

What it drops.

When it is the teleporter boss, each green item it drops has a 15% chance to be its boss item instead: Queen's Gland.

Queen's Gland

Every 30 s a beetle guard appears to fight for you. Each extra gland, another guard.

Stacking: Each copy adds the same, no cap.

Watch out: Engineer turrets do not inherit it.

// tips

Tips to beat it.

The danger is up close: that is where several balls can hit you at once.
If you cannot keep up with the guards, go for her and clean them up afterwards.

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// faq

FAQ.

What does Beetle Queen drop in Risk of Rain 2?

When it is the teleporter boss, each green item it drops has a 15% chance to be its boss item instead: Queen's Gland.

Where does Beetle Queen spawn?

Stage 1: Distant Roost, Disturbed Impact, Shattered Abodes, Siphoned Forest, Titanic Plains, Verdant Falls · Stage 2: Abandoned Aqueduct, Aphelian Sanctuary, Pretender's Precipice, Reformed Altar, Wetland Aspect · Stage 3: Golden Dieback, Iron Alluvium, Sulfur Pools, Treeborn Colony · Stage 4: Prime Meridian.

How much health does Beetle Queen have?

2100 base health, plus 630 per enemy level. Armour: 20.

// more bosses

Other bosses.

All bosses

Sources: the Risk of Rain 2 wiki (each boss page and Module:Enemies/Data, read on 31 October 2026) and the game's own text. The explanations are our own. Icons: Risk of Rain 2 (Hopoo Games / Gearbox).