Tangle Spider MTG Card


Tangle Spider’s flash ability provides surprise defense and control during opponent’s turns. Its high cost and specific mana needs can limit deck-building flexibility. Meta-relevant with its reach ability, countering popular flying creatures.
Card setsReleased in 3 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Spider
Abilities Reach, Flash
Power 3
Toughness 4

Text of card

You may play Tangle Spider any time you could play an instant. Tangle Spider may block as though it had flying.

They're considered good luck by the elves they don't eat.


Cards like Tangle Spider

Tangle Spider presents an interesting option within Magic: The Gathering’s array of creature cards with flash. This arachnid is quite similar to other flash creatures such as Arborback Stomper, providing an immediate presence on the battlefield. While Tangle Spider offers the distinct advantage of being able to surprise opponents by entering play during their turn, Arborback Stomper grants you a substantial life gain as soon as it hits the board.

If we dig further into the category, we find Skysnare Spider. Although it lacks the flash ability of Tangle Spider, it compensates with vigilance and reach, making it a formidable defender against flyers. Compared to Tangle Spider, Skysnare Spider is stronger and can influence the board during your own and your opponent’s turns without the element of surprise.

Winding down, when we juxtapose the features and tactical advantages of similar creature cards, Tangle Spider is a unique blend of surprise defense and evasion counter. It goes beyond what other creature cards can offer and effectively changes the dynamics of combat during the game.

Arborback Stomper - MTG Card versions
Skysnare Spider - MTG Card versions
Arborback Stomper - MTG Card versions
Skysnare Spider - MTG Card versions

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

Gaea's Liege - MTG Card versions
Wiitigo - MTG Card versions
Autumn Willow - MTG Card versions
Ancient Silverback - MTG Card versions
Sulam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Verdeloth the Ancient - MTG Card versions
Nemata, Grove Guardian - MTG Card versions
Gang of Elk - MTG Card versions
Kavu Howler - MTG Card versions
Crashing Centaur - MTG Card versions
Giant Warthog - MTG Card versions
Rhox - MTG Card versions
Kodama of the East Tree - MTG Card versions
Terra Stomper - MTG Card versions
Feral Throwback - MTG Card versions
Brontotherium - MTG Card versions
Elvish Aberration - MTG Card versions
Force of Nature - MTG Card versions
Craw Wurm - MTG Card versions
Fangren Pathcutter - MTG Card versions
Gaea's Liege - MTG Card versions
Wiitigo - MTG Card versions
Autumn Willow - MTG Card versions
Ancient Silverback - MTG Card versions
Sulam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Verdeloth the Ancient - MTG Card versions
Nemata, Grove Guardian - MTG Card versions
Gang of Elk - MTG Card versions
Kavu Howler - MTG Card versions
Crashing Centaur - MTG Card versions
Giant Warthog - MTG Card versions
Rhox - MTG Card versions
Kodama of the East Tree - MTG Card versions
Terra Stomper - MTG Card versions
Feral Throwback - MTG Card versions
Brontotherium - MTG Card versions
Elvish Aberration - MTG Card versions
Force of Nature - MTG Card versions
Craw Wurm - MTG Card versions
Fangren Pathcutter - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Tangle Spider can be an asset in maintaining card superiority on the field. When played at the right moment, its potential to continuously block and eliminate numerous flying threats without being trade-off in the process keeps your hand and field presence balanced.

Resource Acceleration: Despite not directly producing mana or tokens, Tangle Spider does indirectly contribute to resource acceleration. By protecting your other creatures and planeswalkers, you preserve your board state, and therefore, your capability to deploy further threats without additional resource expenditure.

Instant Speed: One of Tangle Spider’s key attributes is its ability to be cast at instant speed, allowing for strategic plays that can surprise an opponent. This ability to flash in during an opponent’s attack phase gives the player the upper hand in combat, often disrupting the opponent’s strategy and potentially saving precious life points or defending key creatures on the board.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Tangle Spider demands a certain level of graveyard readiness to use its Flash ability optimally, potentially requiring the player to discard valuable cards unintentionally.

Specific Mana Cost: With a casting cost that includes both generic and green mana, Tangle Spider may not easily fit into multicolored decks, especially those that do not prioritize green mana sources.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring six mana to deploy, Tangle Spider’s cost is on the higher side, making it less desirable in a fast-paced game where lower-cost creatures can provide a quicker impact on the board.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Tangle Spider offers a broad appeal due to its instant-speed capability to flash into play. This allows for a dynamic defensive playstyle that can adapt to various board situations, making it a fit for decks emphasizing reactive strategies and creature-based control.

Combo Potential: The reach and flash abilities not only allow the Tangle Spider to perform well on its own but also pair seamlessly with cards that benefit from creatures entering the battlefield unexpectedly or that require a creature with reach to execute combos.

Meta-Relevance: In an environment where flying creatures are a common threat, the Tangle Spider can act as a surprise blocker and a deterrent, giving it a place in sideboards or even main decks to combat prevalent flying strategies.


How to beat

Tangle Spider is a creature card in Magic: The Gathering that can bring an unexpected level of control to the battlefield. With its ability to flash in and trap an opponent’s creature with reach, it can change the pace of the game, especially against flying-heavy decks. Unlike cards that may offer similar quick-play defense, the Tangle Spider adds durability with its high toughness, making it more than just a one-time use.

In order to effectively counter Tangle Spider, prioritize removal spells that bypass its defensive capabilities. Consider spells like Doom Blade or Path to Exile, which can remove the creature regardless of its toughness or the timing of its play. Furthermore, by managing your removal resources and maintaining an awareness of your opponent’s mana availability, you can minimize the chances of your key creatures getting caught in Tangle Spider’s web. Planning and resource management become pivotal when playing against this arachnid adversary.

Understanding the potential surprise factor and the defensive role Tangle Spider plays, you can stay one step ahead by keeping instant-speed removal in hand, ready to stop this eight-legged threat before it can stabilize your opponent’s board or provide a valuable block.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Tangle Spider MTG card by a specific set like Darksteel and Tenth Edition, 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 Tangle Spider and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Tangle Spider Magic the Gathering card was released in 2 different sets between 2004-02-06 and 2007-07-13. Illustrated by Terese Nielsen.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12004-02-06DarksteelDST 852003NormalBlackTerese Nielsen
22007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 3032003NormalBlackTerese Nielsen
32007-07-13Tenth Edition10E 303★2003NormalBlackTerese Nielsen

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Tangle Spider has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal
Flash card art

Guide to Flash card ability

Explore the dynamic Flash ability in Magic: The Gathering (MTG), a feature that allows you to cast spells at lightning speed, often leaving your opponents reeling and your strategy several steps ahead. This versatile ability can turn the tide of a game, providing the element of surprise and tactical advantage. It places a premium on timing and foresight, transforming an ordinary deck into a formidable arsenal of instant threats and responses.