Ankhegs are insect-like creatures living underground which between 10-20 feet tall, coming above ground to find prey. The only warning the player gets is that areas where these creatures are, there can be heard strange sounds, but it is not possible to determine how many are there. In areas where they live, caution is advised and fight only one or two of these creatures at a time. They can use melee attacks and ranged attacks, but their ranged attacks, which consists of a projectile of green acid is the most dangerous, able to kill the target instantly or doing 10-25 points of damage. When they are killed, they always drop a ankheg shell, weighing 100 lbs, and some random loot of high quality.
Baldur's Gate
They can appear in small groups of 2-5 or alone. Ankhegs can kill an entire low level party, or kill at least one member. Parties of level 3-4 can kill ankhegs, but only or two in a battle. Parties of level 5-6 can handle groups of 3-5 ankhegs at the same time.
Areas of appearance
Baldur's Gate II
They appear in the Windspear Hills area, but they can only be found alone. They no longer are such a threat to the party as they were in Baldur's Gate.
A nest of six corrupted ankhegs can be found to the East of the great tree by some glowing crystals at the bottom of Resurrection Gorge appear during Dorn Il-Khan's quest. (Enhanced Edition Only)
Tactics
Tactic One
You need at least two warriors with a lot of hitpoints and good weapons & armor. They will fight the ankhegs in melee combat. The other group members use ranged attacks and it might be handy to have a lvl 5 mage who is able to cast Chromatic Orb, which can stun the target for three rounds. You also need someone who can take the shells. Minsc has a carrying capacity of 320 lbs or you can create a protagonist who can also carry a lot of weight. You can also obtain the Gauntlets of Ogre Power, they raise the Strength of the user to 18/00 and carriyng capacity of 400 lbs.
Tactic Two
Use Magic Missile again again again and again, its recomended Edwin to do this and to combine this Tactic with Tactic One.
Tactic Three:
Command-Cleric Spell [level one] works very well if Charname and Party can deal sufficient damage quickly. Blindness, a wizard spell [level one] works well and is longer lasting. Sleep-, a wizard spell [level one] works OK-@50% success rate. Note: best to delay half a turn before casting as the Ankheg wil be unaffected if it is underground when spell resolves.
Tactic Four: Staff tactics
Wand of Heavens(Cleric and Druid only) Wand of Frost (Mages and possibly Bards) Also Note: Wand of Sleep is useable by all classes.
Tactic Five:
Animate Dead or Monster Summoning can also help negate the deadly breath attacks. Trying the Protection from Acid scroll could also be useful.