Thran Spider MTG Card
2022-11-18 - Number 254
2022-11-18 - Number 368
2002-06-24 - Number 105826
2022-11-18 - Number 45
| Card sets | Released in 4 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Artifact Creature — Spider |
| Abilities | Reach |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 4 |
Key Takeaways
- Thran Spider disrupts opponents by destroying enchantments as it enters the battlefield, offering card advantage.
- Flash ability allows strategic surprise plays, enhancing your control over the game’s flow.
- Mana and card costs must be weighed against the spider’s board impact and utility in a deck.
Text of card
Reach When Thran Spider enters the battlefield, you and target opponent each create a tapped Powerstone token. : Look at the top four cards of your library. You may reveal an artifact card from among them and put it into your hand. Put the rest on the bottom of your library in a random order.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Thran Spider provides an edge by allowing interactions with enchantments. Its ability to destroy an enchantment when it enters the battlefield can potentially thwart an opponent’s strategy and equate to a two-for-one trade in your favor, by both adding a creature to your board and removing a key piece from theirs.
Resource Acceleration: While the Thran Spider itself does not directly generate additional mana or tokens, it contributes to board presence which can deter opponents from attacking. This implicit defense helps conserve resources for more critical plays, keeping your mana and spells ready for when they’re most needed.
Instant Speed: With the ability to cast the Thran Spider at instant speed due to its flash mechanic, it provides strategic flexibility. This allows you to surprise an opponent by removing an enchantment during their turn or at a moment when they least expect it, preserving the element of surprise and maintaining tactical control.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: In the case of Thran Spider, you may find the discard requirement constraining, especially when your hand is already depleted from deploying other strategies.
Specific Mana Cost: Thran Spider necessitates a specific type of mana to cast, which could potentially restrict its integration into multi-colored decks that may not always have the necessary mana readily available.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While Thran Spider provides certain benefits, the mana cost is significant, and in a fast-paced game, it’s critical to consider whether the impact of the card is commensurate with its cost. Other creatures or spells might offer competitive advantages at a lower investment, making them preferable in optimized deck builds.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Thran Spider plays a multifaceted role in several deck builds. Its ability to tap an artifact or enchantment upon entering the battlefield allows for adaptive strategies whether you’re aiming to disrupt opponent plans or protect your key assets.
Combo Potential: Given its creature type and triggered ability, Thran Spider can easily fit into synergistic combos. It can function as a crucial component for intricate interactions, particularly in decks that capitalize on tapping and untapping mechanics or seek to exploit ETB (Enter The Battlefield) triggers.
Meta-Relevance: Thran Spider proves useful in metas where artifacts and enchantments are prevalent. With the capability to selectively hinder these permanents, this card could offer an edge, especially in formats where such strategies dominate the field.
How to beat
Thran Spider is a creature card in Magic: The Gathering that offers players the tactical advantage of reaching through flying enemies. This specialized creature can block and take down opponents’ winged threats that would otherwise go uncontested. Yet it’s important to know the strategies to counteract the Thran Spider’s defensive utility.
To surpass this arachnid’s capabilities, consider utilizing spells that can either bypass its reach or that can directly remove it from the battlefield. Sweepers, such as “Wrath of God” or “Damnation”, serve as excellent resets, clearing the board of all creatures including those with pesky abilities. Removal spells, like “Path to Exile” or “Doom Blade”, offer pinpoint precision in handling the threat at a potentially lower mana cost.
Altering your own deck to incorporate creatures with trample or additional abilities such as first strike can also tilt engagements in your favor. These combat enhancements can make it difficult for the Thran Spider to serve as an effective blocker. In summary, a blend of flexible removal and strategic creature selection proves essential in claiming victory over your eight-legged adversary on the MTG battlefield.
Cards like Thran Spider
The Thran Spider enters the rich tapestry of creature cards within Magic: The Gathering as a unique component. When evaluating this card, natural parallels arise with the likes of Giant Spider, a card that has been a part of the game since its inception. Both cards offer the crucial ability to reach and engage flying creatures, a pivotal strategy in disrupting aerial assaults. However, Thran Spider distinguishes itself with a lower mana cost, enabling quicker gameplay deployment compared to the Giant Spider’s four mana cost.
Moving forward, Spinneret Sliver also serves as a creature that can block flying enemies, but the sliver’s effect applies to all Slivers you control, not just itself. Though it lacks individual strength and is dependent on the presence of other Slivers, it offers versatility that the Thran Spider does not. Lastly, Canopy Spider can be seen as an alternative, though it offers a smaller body, it still provides that essential defensive ability against flying creatures.
In essence, Thran Spider stands out with its cost-effective means of fielding a capable aerial defender. It can be a compelling choice for players looking to fortify their defenses early while ultimately shaping the battlefield dynamics in their favor.
Cards similar to Thran Spider by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Thran Spider MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and The Brothers' War Art Series, 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 Thran Spider and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
Printings
The Thran Spider Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2022-11-18 and 2022-11-18. Illustrated by Joshua Cairos.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Magic Online Promos | PRM | 105826 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Joshua Cairos | ||
| 2 | The Brothers' War Art Series | ABRO | 45 | 2015 | Art series | Borderless | Joshua Cairos | ||
| 3 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War | BRO | 254 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Joshua Cairos | |
| 4 | 2022-11-18 | The Brothers' War | BRO | 368 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Joshua Cairos |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Thran Spider has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Alchemy | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Thran 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 | Although all the cards in The Brothers' War that create Powerstone tokens create a tapped Powerstone token, entering the battlefield tapped isn't part of the token's definition. Notably, if you create a token that is a copy of a Powerstone token, the token copy won't enter the battlefield tapped. |
| 2022-10-14 | Powerstone tokens are a kind of predefined token. Each one has the artifact subtype "Powerstone" and the ability ": Add . This mana can't be spent to cast a nonartifact spell." |
| 2022-10-14 | You can use the added by a Powerstone token on anything that isn't a nonartifact spell. This includes paying costs to activate abilities of both artifact and nonartifact permanents, paying ward costs, and so on. |