Pincer Spider MTG Card

Mana cost
Converted mana cost	3
Rarity	Common
Type	Creature — Spider
Abilities	Kicker,Reach
Released	2000-10-02
Set symbol
Set name	Invasion
Set code	INV
Power	2
Toughness	3
Number	201
Frame	1997
Layout	Normal
Border	Black
Illustred by	Dan Frazier

Key Takeaways

Pincer Spider enhances card advantage by retrieving cards from the graveyard to your hand.
Its flash ability allows for instant play, opening up surprise strategies during combat.
Despite its strengths, Pincer Spider requires discarding a card which can be a strategic drawback.

Text of card

Kicker o3 (You may pay an additional o3 as you play this spell.) Pincer Spider may block as though it had flying. If you paid the kicker cost, Pincer Spider comes into play with a +1/+1 counter on it.

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Pincer Spider can retrieve an additional card from the graveyard to the hand when it enters the battlefield or dies, enhancing long-term card advantage.

Resource Acceleration: While Pincer Spider doesn’t directly generate mana, it does promote resource acceleration by returning key cards that allow you to optimize your plays more effectively.

Instant Speed: As a creature with flash, Pincer Spider can be unexpectedly cast at instant speed, permitting strategic blocks or surprise attacks during your adversary’s turn.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Pincer Spider demands that you discard another card to unlock its full potential, creating a setback when you’re trying to maintain hand advantage against your opponent.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting cost of Pincer Spider requires green mana, which can restrict its inclusion to green-centric or two-color decks, potentially limiting its versatility in multi-color deck strategies.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With Pincer Spider’s mana value, it competes with other creatures and spells that may offer greater impact or more immediate board presence for the same or less investment, which might make it a less optimal choice in many scenarios.

Reasons to Include Pincer Spider in Your Collection

Versatility: Pincer Spider offers a flexible spot in green decks with its morph ability, allowing you to adapt your plays based on the game’s tempo, making it a versatile choice for various game scenarios.

Combo Potential: This card can synergize well with decks that exploit creature flipping or take advantage of insect tribal themes, providing combo opportunities that can enhance your overall strategy.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment full of flyers, Pincer Spider can be a cost-effective way to have a reach creature on the board, potentially shaping your defense and influencing the meta-game by countering predominant aerial threats.

How to beat

Pincer Spider presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its set of abilities tailored for combat. Its strength lies in its capacity to grow stronger through the scavenge mechanic, gaining +1/+1 counters even from the graveyard. To effectively counter this arachnid, focus on removal spells that exile it from the game, such as Path to Exile or Scavenger Grounds, preventing the scavenge ability from being used.

Another strategy is to limit the spider’s effectiveness in combat. Utilize creatures with reach or flying to bypass Pincer Spider’s blocking ability, or employ combat tricks and instant-speed removal to ensure your important creatures survive the encounter. Cards that grant indestructible or hexproof, like Heroic Intervention, can be invaluable. It’s also wise to avoid engaging in battles where Pincer Spider can capitalize on its scavenge bonus, instead controlling the game until you can deal with it on your terms.

In summary, while Pincer Spider can become a formidable threat if left unchecked, it can be managed with strategic planning and the right mix of removal and protective spells. Understanding its mechanics and adapting your gameplay accordingly will swing the match in your favor, neutralizing the spider’s advantage.

Cards like Pincer Spider

Pincer Spider brings a unique twist to the creature space in MTG. Resembling Green’s wide array of arachnids, this card shares some characteristics with Canopy Spider, both sporting the reach ability, allowing them to block flying creatures effectively. Pincer Spider stands out with its morph feature, which adds a layer of surprise and strategic depth not present in Canopy Spider.

Looking at other similar cards, Giant Spider is a classic that also features the reach trait, but with a higher power and toughness compared to Pincer Spider’s base stats. Nonetheless, lacking the morph ability, Giant Spider doesn’t provide the same level of versatility. On the other hand, Snapping Gnarlid presents a different angle with a landfall ability that increases power and toughness temporarily, offering a potential for a stronger attack albeit without the flying deterrence.

In the arena of utility creatures, Pincer Spider may not be the most formidable in stats, but its morphing capability offers an unexpected element, making it a tricky card that can sway the battlefield at a crucial moment. This duality is a unique advantage that distinguishes it among creature cards in MTG.

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

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Where to buy

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