Stingerfling Spider MTG Card
2011-07-15 - Number 197
2012-09-07 - Number 61
2015-11-13 - Number 203
2018-12-07 - Number 186
2020-11-20 - Number 258
| Card sets | Released in 5 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 5 |
| Rarity | Uncommon |
| Type | Creature — Spider |
| Abilities | Reach |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Text of card
Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.) When Stingerfling Spider enters the battlefield, you may destroy target creature with flying.
The juiciest prey is that which grows lazy, thinking itself beyond the reach of danger.
Cards like Stingerfling Spider
Stingerfling Spider offers a unique role among green creature cards in Magic: The Gathering. It is particularly reminiscent of creatures like Kraul Harpooner and Silklash Spider. What makes Stingerfling Spider stand out is its ability to act as both a sizable creature and a means of disrupting your opponent’s aerial threats upon entering the battlefield. Unlike Kraul Harpooner, which can only remove a flying creature during the turn it’s played, Stingerfling Spider presents a defensive measure that is not limited to just your turn.
Similarly, Silklash Spider can provide recurring flying defense, but it requires mana investment each time you want to clear the skies. In contrast, Stingerfling Spider’s ability is a one-and-done event, perfect for removing a critical flying threat and strengthening your board position without further investment. Meanwhile, Arborback Stomper shares the spider’s creature type and also provides an impactful entry into the game, but instead of targeting creatures, it focuses on life gain.
Considering these characteristics, Stingerfling Spider carves its niche as a potentially game-altering card. Its built-in removal upon entry can be essential in shifting the balance of power in games where flying creatures dominate the battlefield.
Cards similar to Stingerfling Spider by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Stingerfling Spider’s enter the battlefield effect lets you target a creature with flying and destroy it. This capability not only deals with aerial threats but can also shift the board balance in your favor. Whenever you remove an opponent’s creature while developing your own board presence, you’re effectively gaining card advantage.
Resource Acceleration: While not directly influencing mana resources, Stingerfling Spider provides a five-mana value creature that can impact the board immediately—which can be seen as a form of resource acceleration. By dealing with threats efficiently, it allows you to use your other resources more freely in subsequent turns.
Instant Speed: Although Stingerfling Spider itself is not an instant, it is a flexible card that can be cast using flash if you have a way to give it that ability. It’s also worth noting when played at the right moment, such as during your main phases, it can act as a surprise element, mimicking the benefits of instant speed by disrupting your opponent’s strategy when they least expect it.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: For Stingerfling Spider, there isn’t a discard requirement, but it’s important to know in your gameplay that managing your hand effectively is crucial. Not having to discard to play this arachnid can be a small relief in tight situations.
Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost of Stingerfling Spider involves both generic and green mana, which means it fits best into green-focused or green-inclusive decks. For players running multicolored decks without sufficient green mana sources, casting this creature could pose a challenge.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value of five, which includes one green, Stingerfling Spider’s casting cost is on the higher end. There are alternative creatures and spells with lower mana costs that could serve a similar role or provide quicker board presence, making the spider a consideration for its niche ability rather than cost efficiency.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Stingerfling Spider provides a flexible solution for those needing reliable answers to flying threats. Its ability to destroy a creature with flying upon entering the battlefield allows it to adapt to various game scenarios and strategies while fitting seamlessly into green-based creature decks.
Combo Potential: This arachnid’s enter-the-battlefield effect can be leveraged in decks designed around creature recursion or blink strategies. Repeatedly bouncing or resurrecting Stingerfling Spider can create a lockdown effect against opponents reliant on creatures with flying to win.
Meta-Relevance: In a landscape where flying creatures such as Angels, Dragons, and Spirits dominate, Stingerfling Spider stands out as a notable inclusion. Its role as an aerial defense can disrupt many popular and powerful strategies, making it a smart choice for players looking to fortify their defenses against the current meta-game’s common threats.
How to beat
Stingerfling Spider presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its airborne interception capabilities, making it a notable card among the creature options in Magic: The Gathering. With the ability to destroy a flying creature upon entering the combat zone, Stingerfling Spider can turn the tides abruptly, especially in mid-game scenarios when fliers typically dominate. The spider’s reach attribute fortifies your defenses against aerial assaults.
To outmaneuver this eight-legged threat, prioritize removal spells that can target Stingerfling Spider directly, such as Doom Blade or Path to Exile. Consider sweepers like Wrath of God to reset the battlefield completely. Additionally, leveraging instant-speed interactions allows you to react swiftly to the spider’s summoning, minimizing its impact. Alternatively, cards with hexproof grant your flying creatures immunity from the spider’s destructive entrance ability, securing your aerial dominance and forcing your opponent to contend with your untouchable squadron.
Successfully navigating around Stingerfling Spider involves a strategic mix of direct removal, battlefield control, and protective enchantments or abilities. By considering these options, you can ensure that the spider’s presence on the board is short-lived and your strategy remains uninterrupted.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Stingerfling Spider MTG card by a specific set like Magic 2012 and Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari, 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 Stingerfling Spider and other MTG cards:
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Printings
The Stingerfling Spider Magic the Gathering card was released in 5 different sets between 2011-07-15 and 2020-11-20. Illustrated by Dave Allsop.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2011-07-15 | Magic 2012 | M12 | 197 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dave Allsop | |
| 2 | 2012-09-07 | Duel Decks: Izzet vs. Golgari | DDJ | 61 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Dave Allsop | |
| 3 | 2015-11-13 | Commander 2015 | C15 | 203 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dave Allsop | |
| 4 | 2018-12-07 | Ultimate Masters | UMA | 186 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dave Allsop | |
| 5 | 2020-11-20 | Commander Legends | CMR | 258 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Dave Allsop |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Stingerfling Spider has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Restricted |
| Modern | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Stingerfling Spider card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2011-09-22 | You choose the target creature with flying when the ability goes on the stack. When it resolves, you choose whether or not to destroy the creature. |