Arachnus Web MTG Card
2011-07-15 - Number 163
2017-03-17 - Number 118
2019-11-07 - Number 1122
2022-07-08 - Number 136
2020-09-26 - Number MM3-118
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Enchantment — Aura |
| Abilities | Enchant |
Text of card
Enchant creature Enchanted creature can't attack or block, and its activated abilities can't be activated. At the beginning of the end step, if enchanted creature's power is 4 or greater, destroy Arachnus Web.
Cards like Arachnus Web
Arachnus Web is a niche card that adds a strand of control within Magic: The Gathering’s vast array of enchantments. Its closest comparison might be to that of Claustrophobia. Both cards effectively neutralize a creature without destroying it. Arachnus Web has the flexibility to trap creatures with power 3 or less, making it particularly effective against early-game threats or utility creatures. However, unlike Claustrophobia, Arachnus Web allows the ensnared creature a potential escape through power increases.
Another relative within this web of control spells is Ice Cage. Similar to Arachnus Web, Ice Cage locks down a creature until a certain condition is met. While Ice Cage detains any creature regardless of its power, it’s more fragile, breaking upon the enchanted creature becoming the target of a spell or ability. By comparison, Arachnus Web’s condition is solely dependent upon the creature’s own power threshold.
Considering these comparisons, Arachnus Web might not be as universally encompassing as some of its counterparts, but its synergistic potential in spider-themed decks and its ability to shut down key creatures early on can offer strategic advantages that certain players may find invaluable in their MTG endeavors.
Cards similar to Arachnus Web by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: With its ability to lock down a creature until your next turn, Arachnus Web can be a temporary solution to a looming threat on the battlefield, which indirectly helps you to preserve the cards in your hand for more pressing situations.
Resource Acceleration: Arachnus Web doesn’t directly contribute to resource acceleration in the traditional sense of providing mana or reducing costs. However, it allows you to effectively delay opponents’ creatures without necessarily spending multiple cards to remove them, which can result in a more efficient use of your resources over time.
Instant Speed: This enchantment can be played at instant speed, giving you the flexibility to respond to an opponent’s actions during their turn. The ability to surprise an adversary by rendering one of their key attackers or blockers inert can shift the pace of the game in your favor.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Arachnus Web doesn’t carry a discard stipulation, but it does have other limitations that can affect overall deck synergy and performance.
Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes green mana, Arachnus Web can be restrictive for multicolor decks needing flexibility in mana expenditure, especially when needing to respond to threats efficiently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While not exorbitant, Arachnus Web’s mana cost is at a point where players expect significant impact. There are alternative removal options with lower mana costs or more versatile effects, making them potentially more attractive in fast-paced games.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Arachnus Web is a flexible card that functions well in control and tempo-oriented decks. Its ability to lock down larger creatures can be critical for stabilizing the board and forwarding your game plan.
Combo Potential: This enchantment pairs exceptionally well with cards that benefit from locking out opponent’s resources or with spiders that leverage web-themed mechanics, enhancing both offensive and defensive strategies.
Meta-Relevance: As creature-based decks continue to dominate the field, having Arachnus Web in your arsenal ensures you have a cost-effective response to many of the format’s threats.
How to beat
Packed with the sticky ability to disable formidable creatures, Arachnus Web finds its place in a web of intricate removal spells in MTG. At a glance, this aura can be quite troubling for those who come unprepared to face its entangling grasp. To sever the bindings of Arachnus Web, your strategy should include cards that can remove enchantments, such as Disenchant, or creatures that boast an activated ability to shake off enchantments, like Caustic Caterpillar.
Beyond direct removal, employing creatures with robust stats — those with power four or greater — can naturally break free at the end of your turn, rendering Arachnus Web ineffective. This makes the deployment of high-power creatures an effective counter-strategy. Additionally, excelling in dodging the web requires a deck that can either sidestep such hindrances or quickly replace trapped creatures to maintain an upper hand on the battlefield.
Arachnus Web’s potential to momentarily halt your advances is undeniable. Yet with the right mix of enchantment removal or creature-centric strategies, this card becomes less of an obstacle and more of a minor nuisance in the grand canvas of MTG matches, keeping your assault uninterrupted.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Arachnus Web MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012 and Modern Masters 2017, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Arachnus Web and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Arachnus Web Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2011-07-15 and 2022-07-08. Illustrated by Karl Kopinski.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 163 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 2 | 2017-03-17 | Modern Masters 2017 | MM3 | 118 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 3 | 2019-11-07 | Mystery Booster | MB1 | 1122 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | |
| 4 | The List | PLST | MM3-118 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski | ||
| 5 | 2022-07-08 | Double Masters 2022 | 2X2 | 136 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Karl Kopinski |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Arachnus Web has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Arachnus Web card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2016-06-08 | Activated abilities contain a colon. They’re generally written “ -ost: -ffect].” Some keywords are activated abilities and will have colons in their reminder text. |
| 2017-03-14 | Arachnus Web’s triggered ability checks at the beginning of each end step, not just yours. |
| 2017-03-14 | If Arachnus Web enters the battlefield attached to an attacking or blocking creature (due to Arachnus Spinner’s ability, for example), that creature will continue to attack or block. |
| 2017-03-14 | If Arachnus Web’s last ability triggers, but the enchanted creature’s power is reduced to 3 or less before the ability resolves, the ability will have no effect. Arachnus Web won’t be destroyed. |
| 2017-03-14 | If the enchanted creature’s power isn’t 4 or greater when the end step begins, the last ability won’t trigger at all. |
| 2017-03-14 | Triggered abilities (starting with “when,” “whenever,” or “at”) are unaffected. |