Mineshaft Spider MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Spider |
| Abilities | Mill,Reach |
| Released | 2023-11-17 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan |
| Set code | LCI |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 202 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Sam Rowan |
Text of card
Reach When Mineshaft Spider enters the battlefield, you may mill two cards. (You may put the top two cards of your library into your graveyard.)
Anything that falls into the pit—relics, rubble, even corpses—ends up snared in its magic-infused web.
Cards like Mineshaft Spider
The Mineshaft Spider makes a fine entree into the portfolio of reach creatures within Magic: The Gathering. Stepping into the ring with cards like Giant Spider, it shares the essential ability to block flying creatures. Yet, the Mineshaft Spider distinguishes itself with its substantial body, making it a formidable blocker on the ground as well.
Arachnoid Spider emerges as a comparable card, also boasting the reach trait. Although it has a leg up with better stats, Mineshaft Spider gains the upper hand with a lower casting cost, providing early game defensive solidity. Then there’s Sentinel Spider, a creature that poses a similar threat to flying assailants. Though it carries a more impactful presence due to vigilance, it requires a steeper mana investment, making Mineshaft Spider a preferred option when mana efficiency is a high priority.
In sum, Mineshaft Spider positions itself smartly among its arachnid counterparts. By offering a balance of cost-effectiveness and defensive prowess, it stands out as a solid pick for players looking to fortify their battlefield against early aerial and ground offenses.
Cards similar to Mineshaft Spider by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Mineshaft Spider enhances your board presence by providing a blocker and potential attacker while keeping your hand stocked. Its ability to bring along a friend when it enters the battlefield offers a two-for-one creature deal, effectively swinging the number of creatures in your favor.
Resource Acceleration: With its capacity to untap two lands when you cast it, Mineshaft Spider can significantly accelerate your resources. This opens up opportunities to utilize those lands for additional spells, thus advancing your game state faster than your opponent may anticipate.
Instant Speed: The flexibility of Mineshaft Spider being an instant means you can adapt to the dynamics of the game seamlessly. Whether by ambushing an attacking creature or by efficiently using your mana during the end step of your opponent’s turn, its instant speed play maintains an element of surprise and versatility in your strategy.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Mineshaft Spider necessitates discarding a card to utilize its abilities, potentially depleting your hand and weakening your strategic position.
Specific Mana Cost: With its distinct green mana cost, this card requires dedication to green mana sources, limiting its integration into multi-colored decks that may not focus on green mana.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a significant amount of mana to cast, Mineshaft Spider might not be as resource-efficient as other creatures or spells within the same mana range that provide comparable or greater impact on the game.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Mineshaft Spider can easily adapt to various play styles as it fits snugly into multiple deck archetypes. With its reach ability, it serves as a reliable defense against flying threats while its power and toughness make it a formidable presence on the board in aggressive strategies.
Combo Potential: This spider’s potential shines when paired with cards that synergize with its creature type or with those that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield. It could trigger abilities that feed on casting creature spells or that utilize tokens for more complex plays.
Meta-Relevance: Considering the creature-heavy environments often present in current metas, Mineshaft Spider provides a cost-effective answer to flying adversaries or a strong enabler for creature-centric synergies, potentially giving you an edge during matches.
How to Beat
Mineshaft Spider may seem like a daunting creature with its reach ability, making it an efficient blocker against flying threats. This common card from many players’ decks poses a challenge with its web of tactical uses. When facing this eight-legged menace, one effective strategy is to utilize spells or effects that can bypass its reach, such as trample or direct damage to remove it from combat altogether.
Additionally, enchantments that neuter the spider’s abilities — think Pacifism or Claustrophobia — can turn it into a non-issue on the battlefield. As the Mineshaft Spider depends on its synergy with other creatures to optimize its potential, managing the overall creature count on the opposing side is also key. Focusing on creature removal and counter strategies minimizes the spider’s impact, making it less of a threat. Likewise, board wipes are your ace in the hole to clear not only the Mineshaft Spider but other menacing creatures your opponent controls.
Ultimately, although Mineshaft Spider can be a sticky obstacle, there’s an array of tactics players can weave into their game plan to squelch its influence and secure control of the game’s tempo.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Mineshaft Spider MTG card by a specific set like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, 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 Mineshaft Spider 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Mineshaft Spider has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Mineshaft Spider card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2023-11-10 | If you don't have at least two cards in your library, you can't choose to mill two cards. |