Somberwald Spider MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	5
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Spider
Abilities	Morbid,Reach
Released	2011-09-30
Set symbol
Set name	Innistrad
Set code	ISD
Power	2
Toughness	4
Number	202
Frame	2003
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Volkan Baǵa

Key Takeaways

Somberwald Spider provides card advantage and consistent board presence with its token-creating ability.
Instant speed activation offers strategic flexibility, altering the course of gameplay significantly.
Despite its benefits, the card’s specific drawbacks may impact its inclusion in certain MTG decks.

Text of card

Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.) Morbid — Somberwald Spider enters the battlefield with two +1/+1 counters on it if a creature died this turn.

Stensian vampires encourage spiders near their manors so they can rob the webs.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: The Somberwald Spider card permits an intriguing dynamic to MTG play, giving players the potential to gain card advantage. With its ability to add additional creature tokens upon meeting specific conditions, it provides a steady stream of assets that can bolster one’s hand and battlefield presence.

Resource Acceleration: This card is adept at quickly improving your resource pool by generating spider tokens. These tokens not only contribute to defending against your opponent’s threats but can also be utilized for various synergies within the game that accelerate your resource capabilities substantially.

Instant Speed: The Somberwald Spider’s ability can be activated at instant speed, thus offering the flexibility to respond to the ebb and flow of the game. This timely intervention can be a pivotal turning point, giving players the upper hand by matching the pace of the game and acting when least expected by the opposition.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: To play Somberwald Spider, discarding a card is often necessary to optimize its gameplay impact, potentially draining your hand. This can be tough when hand size is crucial to maintaining options.

Specific Mana Cost: Somberwald Spider demands a strict green mana commitment, which might not seamlessly fit into multicolored or flexible mana base decks. Ensuring the right mana availability can be challenging, especially in the early game.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With its mana cost on the higher side, deploying Somberwald Spider can be cumbersome compared to other creatures that offer similar board presence but at a lower cost, leaving you potentially behind in the mana efficiency race.

Reasons to Include Somberwald Spider in Your Collection

Versatility: Somberwald Spider offers a flexible option for decks that seek blockers with reach. Its ability to handle flying threats makes it a strong defensive addition, suitable for a variety of game situations.

Combo Potential: This arachnid can synergize with strategies that revolve around +1/+1 counters, as well as those that capitalize on spider tribal themes or death-triggered abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state where flying creatures dominate, Somberwald Spider gains increased significance, effectively catching opponents off guard and protecting your life total from evasive attacks.

How to Beat Somberwald Spider

Somberwald Spider, a card revered for its defensive capabilities in the game, particularly shines in green-centered decks known for bolstering the battlefield with formidable creatures. Its reach attribute lets it intercept flying threats, a strategic edge to consider when facing aerial assaults. However, this creature’s power lies dormant until it’s given a hearty boost.

Undoing the spider’s threat involves a few cunning maneuvers. Removal spells that don’t rely on dealing damage are particularly effective; think spells like Path to Exile or Murder, which can unceremoniously remove the creature regardless of its size. Board wipes also circumvent its entangling web, resetting the playfield. Moreover, exploiting its lack of protection features means it can fall prey to enchantments or abilities that lock it out of combat, effectively bypassing its defensive posture.

When strategizing against Somberwald Spider, consider sideboard cards that specialize in creature control or delve into spells that can bypass its reach. Enhancing your deck with diverse tactics ensures you can conquer not just the spiders of the Somberwald but any creeping danger that lurks within the MTG landscape.

Cards like Somberwald Spider

Somberwald Spider is a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, offering a compelling blend of reach and self-improvement under specific conditions. It finds its counterparts in cards like Sentinel Spider, which similarly boasts reach and vigilance, granting it the ability to block flying creatures and remain untapped. However, Sentinel Spider lacks the potential for power and toughness growth that Somberwald Spider possesses through its morbid ability.

Another comparable card is Netcaster Spider. It’s a cost-efficient creature also capable of tangling with flyers thanks to its reach. While not as potent in raw stats, it features a bonus against flying creatures, ensuring it remains relevant in battles against airborne threats. Yet, it does not have the same increasing size mechanic that can make Somberwald Spider a substantial obstacle in the late game. Silkweaver Elite offers another comparison with its reach and a conditional card draw, but it still doesn’t match Somberwald Spider’s fierce mid-to-late game potential to become a sizable board presence when a creature dies.

Assessing these cards side by side, Somberwald Spider holds a unique ground with its ability to scale in power, distinguishing it within the selection of arachnid-themed creatures in the game while illustrating its strategic value in a defensive lineup.

Cards similar to Somberwald Spider by color, type and mana cost

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Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Somberwald Spider MTG card by a specific set like Innistrad, 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 Somberwald Spider and other MTG cards: