Gloomwidow MTG Card

Offers indirect card advantage by protecting valuable creatures with its reach ability. Efficient casting cost complements green-centered strategies without burdening resources. Cannot block non-flying creatures, suggesting selective deck inclusion based on meta.

Shadowmoor (SHM)
2008-05-02 - Number 117

Avacyn Restored (AVR)
2012-05-04 - Number 180

Gloomwidow - Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)

Shadows over Innistrad (SOI)
2016-04-08 - Number 206

Card sets	Released in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Uncommon
Type	Creature — Spider
Abilities	Reach
Power	3
Toughness	3

Text of card

Reach Gloomwidow can't block creatures without flying.

When gloomwidows mature, they abandon venom in favor of massive webs that span the eaves of cliffs.

Cards like Gloomwidow

Gloomwidow occupies a unique niche within Magic: The Gathering as a green creature with an affinity for the skies. This arachnid stands out with its specific block restriction, limiting its defensive utility to creatures with flying. This is reminiscent of creatures like Clip Wings which, despite not being a creature card, targets creatures with the gift of flight. Gloomwidow, however, brings this ability intrinsically without requiring an additional spell.

Taking a broader view, Deadly Recluse presents a similar case. As a creature capable of both attacking and blocking fliers, it comes with deathtouch, giving it an edge by ensuring any creature it touches is destroyed, regardless of size. Gloomwidow, while lacking deathtouch, compensates with higher attack power, making it a bolder offensive choice.

Then there’s Silklash Spider, a more mana-intensive alternative with the ability to directly deal with flying creatures via its activated ability. While Gloomwidow focuses more on aggressive play, Silklash Spider plays a more reactive and defensive role in controlling the board against aerial threats.

Ultimately, Gloomwidow’s place in Magic: The Gathering is solidified by its aggressive stats and aerial preference, making it an interesting card for strategies prioritizing attacking through the air in green-centric decks.

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Card Pros

Card Advantage: While Gloomwidow itself doesn’t directly allow you to draw cards, its reach ability helps preserve other valuable creatures on the battlefield by fending off flying threats. This can be seen as an indirect way to maintain card advantage as it helps keep your creatures in play for longer periods.

Resource Acceleration: Gloomwidow may not provide resource acceleration in the traditional sense of producing mana or reducing costs. However, its relatively low casting cost coupled with a substantial power level makes it an efficient play, allowing you to allocate resources elsewhere.

Instant Speed: Although Gloomwidow can’t be cast at instant speed, its ability to block creatures with flying can disrupt an opponent’s strategy at critical combat moments, similar to the tactical use of an instant. Being able to unexpectedly intercede can serve the same purpose of altering the state of play in your favor during your opponent’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Gloomwidow presents no such requirement, allowing players to keep their hands intact when casting.

Specific Mana Cost: Gloomwidow’s mana cost includes two generic and one green mana, which may restrict its usage to green-centric or multicolored decks, potentially not fitting into strategies that do not support these colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For three mana, you summon a creature with reach and decent attack power. However, the cost may appear steep when compared with other creatures that offer more impactful abilities or can interact better with various deck themes at this cost level.

Reasons to Include Gloomwidow in Your Collection

Versatility: Gloomwidow offers a unique dynamic to green-based decks that focus on aggressive tactics. Its ability to block only creatures with flying gives it a defensive edge, particularly in formats where fliers are prevalent.

Combo Potential: With its formidable 3/3 stats for a three-mana investment, Gloomwidow can serve as an excellent creature in graveyard-based strategies or with abilities that benefit from high-power creatures.

Meta-Relevance: Given its specific blocking restriction and substantial power, Gloomwidow can shine in a meta where aerial threats are common, whilst also presenting a significant threat on its own.

How to beat

Gloomwidow is a card that weaves its web in MTG by offering formidable blocking potential against creatures without flying. To navigate this obstacle, it’s crucial to adopt strategies that either bypass or neutralize this arachnid. Utilizing flying creatures could be one method, as Gloomwidow cannot block those. Another tactic could involve spells that remove creatures from the battlefield, circumventing Gloomwidow’s blocking capability altogether.

When deck building or in mid-play, consider reach or flying creatures as proactive plans to soar over Gloomwidow’s defenses. Alternatively, deploying removal spells that specifically target creatures or that can work around Gloomwidow’s limitations guarantee that this spider doesn’t entangle your path to victory. A diverse deck with a mix of strategies always provides an edge when confronting specialized cards like Gloomwidow.

In summary, while Gloomwidow may initially seem daunting to face on the battlefield, its weakness is evident when you choose the right countermeasures. Incorporating a balanced mix of creature abilities and removal spells in your deck ensures that you’re prepared to dismantle the spider’s sticky snare and move towards victory.

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Gloomwidow MTG card by a specific set like Shadowmoor and Avacyn Restored, 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 Gloomwidow and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Gloomwidow Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2008-05-02 and 2016-04-08. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#	Released	Name	Code	Number	Frame	Layout	Border	Artist
1	2008-05-02	Shadowmoor	SHM	117	2003	Normal	Black	Mark Tedin
2	2012-05-04	Avacyn Restored	AVR	180	2003	Normal	Black	Svetlin Velinov
3	2016-04-08	Shadows over Innistrad	SOI	206	2015	Normal	Black	Svetlin Velinov

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Gloomwidow has restrictions

Format	Legality
Commander	Legal
Legacy	Legal
Paupercommander	Restricted
Modern	Legal
Oathbreaker	Legal
Vintage	Legal
Duel	Legal
Predh	Legal
Pioneer	Legal
Penny	Legal