Skyfisher Spider MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Spider |
| Abilities | Reach |
| Released | 2022-11-18 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | The Brothers' War |
| Set code | BRO |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 221 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Henry Peters |
Text of card
Reach When Skyfisher Spider enters the battlefield, you may sacrifice another creature. When you do, destroy target nonland permanent. When Skyfisher Spider dies, you may gain 1 life for each creature card in your graveyard. If you do, exile Skyfisher Spider from your graveyard.
Cards like Skyfisher Spider
In the realm of creature-based control, the Skyfisher Spider provides MTG players with a unique utility, akin to other arachnids in the game. Baloth Spider serves as a close relative with a similar reach ability, enabling it to fend off flying threats. What makes Skyfisher Spider stand out is its activated tap ability, which adds a layer of defense against aerial assaults.
Looking at Spinneret Sliver, another creature with a comparative matchup, it bestows all Slivers with the reach capability. While it lacks an activated ability, it compensates by bringing tribal synergy to the table. On a different note, Stingerfling Spider also arrives as a force against flyers, with an enter-the-battlefield effect that destroys a creature with flying, providing a one-time removal advantage.
When assessing these options, Skyfisher Spider reveals its worth by offering perpetual control over the board’s aerial space. While others have their situational benefits, Skyfisher Spider’s repeatable action ensures a robust defensive position in games where fliers dominate. The utility of the card solidifies its position as a creature of choice for control-oriented MTG decks.
Cards similar to Skyfisher Spider by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Skyfisher Spider. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Golgari Insidious Roots | Standard | Golgari Insidious Roots | Standard League 2024-03-08 |
 | Golgari Tokens | Standard | Golgari Insidious Roots | ReCQ - Standard - SCG CON Philadelphia - Saturday - 12:00 pm (Bronze) |
 | Sultai Mill | Standard | Sultai Insidious Roots | BOP! Standard Open |
 | Sultai Reanimator | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 09 2024 | |
 | Sultai Combo | Standard | 4c Insidious Roots | 16 Day2 |
| Sultai Insidious Roots | Standard | Sultai Insidious Roots | Standard Challenge 32 2024-02-24 |
| Sultai Some Brand of Cereal | Gladiator | Sword and Sandals Showdown: EMEA Week 09 2024 | |
| Golgari Mill | Standard | Sultai Insidious Roots | BLACK - FRI - 11AM - Chicago 75K Standard Open |
 | Sultai Midrange | Standard | Sultai Graveyard | Japan Standard Cup: Murders at Karlov Manor |
| Golgari Yawgmoth | Modern | Yawgmoth | DEN24 Sat 9:00 - U.S. Regional Championship - presented by Laughing Dragon |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Skyfisher Spider’s ability to draw a card upon entering the battlefield provides an immediate benefit, enhancing your hand and giving you more options for future plays.
Resource Acceleration: As a creature that can untap two lands when it enters the battlefield, Skyfisher Spider can indirectly contribute to resource acceleration, potentially allowing you to cast additional spells or activate abilities the same turn.
Instant Speed: Though not an instant itself, Skyfisher Spider’s flash ability functions similarly. It permits you to play the spider during your opponent’s turn, preserving the element of surprise and maximizing the strategic value of your mana.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Casting Skyfisher Spider necessitates discarding a card from your hand, which can be a strategic drawback when you’re already grappling with a depleted hand size or trying to maintain card advantage against your opponent.
Specific Mana Cost: The specific mana cost that Skyfisher Spider demands may not seamlessly align with all deck strategies, particularly those that are not tuned to optimize the required green mana. This can limit the spider’s inclusion to decks that can reliably produce the right mana colors.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: When evaluating the cost-to-benefit ratio, the mana investment for Skyfisher Spider is on the higher side compared to other creatures with similar abilities or impact. Deckbuilders might hesitate to include it when there are options available that provide utility or power without as steep of a mana commitment.
Reasons to Include Skyfisher Spider in Your Collection
Versatility: Skyfisher Spider is a crafty addition to any MTG collector’s creative deck builds. Its reach ability can halt pesky fliers, and its mana cost allows it to be played in both fast-paced and long-drawn-out games.
Combo Potential: This arachnid weaves its web well within various synergies. As a creature, it can be flickered or bounced back to your hand for repeated use, while also working with mechanics that care about creature types or the number of creatures on the battlefield.
Meta-Relevance: Dominating the skies can be crucial. With flying creatures being a frequent threat, having Skyfisher Spider in your collection ensures you have a response ready. It’s a defensive staple when anticipating aerial assaults and can be a meta game-changer against decks focusing on airborne superiority.
How to beat
The Skyfisher Spider is a creature that can be a tricky obstacle in Magic: The Gathering, particularly due to its reach and vigilance capabilities. These attributes make it a defensive stalwart, capable of blocking both ground and aerial assaults while staying ready to block again. The key to overcoming the Skyfisher Spider involves strategies that bypass its blocking advantages.
One strategy is to utilize spells that can remove it before it has the chance to block, such as direct removal spells. Cards such as Murder or Path to Exile can cleanly deal with the spider. Alternatively, evasion tactics can also prove effective. Incorporating creatures with abilities like flying or trample ensures that your attacks can go over or through the Skyfisher Spider’s defenses. Lastly, you could also opt for a more controlling approach, using enchantments like Pacifism or claustrophobia to neutralize the spider without directly engaging it.
Adapting your gameplay to include these strategies can significantly reduce the impact of a Skyfisher Spider on the board, maintaining the flow of your game plan and moving you towards victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Skyfisher Spider MTG card by a specific set like The Brothers' War, 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 Skyfisher 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 Skyfisher Spider has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Skyfisher Spider card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2022-10-14 | Notably, this means that players won't get to know what nonland permanent you plan to target before you choose whether to sacrifice a creature. |
| 2022-10-14 | Skyfisher Spider's first triggered ability doesn't have any targets. If you choose to sacrifice another creature, a second triggered ability (called a "reflexive" triggered ability) goes on the stack and you choose a target nonland permanent at that time. Players may respond to that second ability as normal. |