Penumbra Spider MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Spider
Abilities Reach
Power 2
Toughness 4

Key Takeaways

  1. Yields two creatures for one, enhancing board presence and overwhelming opponents with its token generation.
  2. Its mana-efficient death-trigger effect provides versatility and unexpected defense in combat situations.
  3. Demands strategic deck building, with mana commitment and considerations for synergistic interactions.

Text of card

Penumbra Spider can block as though it had flying. When Penumbra Spider is put into a graveyard from play, put a 2/4 black Spider creature token into play that can block as though it had flying.

When it snared a passing cockatrice, its own soul darkly doubled.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Penumbra Spider breaks the norm in MTG by offering a unique form of card advantage. When this creature dies, it leaves behind a 2/4 black Spider creature token with reach. This means you essentially get two creatures for the price of one, offering a tactical edge over opponents.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly producing extra mana like traditional ramp spells, the versatility of Penumbra Spider’s token can save critical mana in combat scenarios. An opponent may need to use additional resources to deal with both the original spider and its token, thus indirectly accelerating your resource efficiency.

Instant Speed: Although Penumbra Spider itself isn’t cast at instant speed, its aftermath has a resemblance to that tempo. The element of surprise with the token’s appearance after death can catch an opponent off guard, much like an instant effect, providing unexpected and immediate defensive capabilities during the combat phase.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: While Penumbra Spider presents resilience with its graveyard-triggered ability, it doesn’t come without a catch. To truly leverage the spider’s potential, you might need to consider including ways within your deck to deliberately discard or sacrifice it, adding an extra layer of complexity to deck building and requiring additional synergistic components to maximize effectiveness.

Specific Mana Cost: The incorporation of Penumbra Spider into a deck demands a commitment to green mana. Its specific casting cost of 1GG (one generic and two green mana) restricts flexibility in deck-building, especially for those seeking to craft a multi-colored deck or those operating on a mana base that can’t consistently provide the necessary green mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Sporting a casting cost of three mana for a creature that offers a 2/4 body and the potential for creating another 2/4 creature token might not always represent the best rate of mana-to-effect efficiency. In the landscape of MTG where players often search for creatures that can provide immediate impact or have lower casting costs, Penumbra Spider might not always be the optimal pick, especially in formats where the pace is quicker, and every mana point counts.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Penumbra Spider is an adaptable card that effectively fits into green-based defense strategies. Its ability to block flying creatures gives you an aerial shield, while the creature itself replaces its form with a 2/4 black Spider token, providing ongoing board presence.

Combo Potential: This creature’s death mechanic pairs well with graveyard synergies or decks focused on sacrifice for value plays. It can be combined with cards that capitalize on creature death or token generation for multi-dimensional plays.

Meta-Relevance: Given its reach and token generation, Penumbra Spider holds its ground in metas heavy with flyers and aggro tactics. Its recurrence boosts the resilience of your deck, while not compromising on maintaining a solid defense against various threats.


How to beat Penumbra Spider

The Penumbra Spider presents a unique challenge on the battlefield with its ability to linger after death. Its combination of decent toughness and reach makes it a reliable blocker against flyers. One approach to tackle this arachnid in MTG is by using spells that exile it, bypassing its death-triggered ability. Cards like Path to Exile offer a clean removal option, ensuring the spider doesn’t leave behind a token to haunt you later on.

Another strategy involves countering the creature spell before it even touches the board. A well-timed Counterspell could save you the hassle of dealing with the spider’s web twice. If the spider does make it onto the battlefield, cards that can deal with multiple creatures at once, such as Wrath of God or Damnation, prove highly effective. These spells can destroy Penumbra Spider along with its token, impeding the recursive threat.

Ultimately, overcoming the Penumbra Spider requires a plan to either preemptively manage its casting or comprehensively deal with its presence. Efficient use of removal or counter spells is key to ensuring the spider’s ability doesn’t become a recurring problem in your game.


BurnMana Recommendations

Understanding the strategic diversity of Penumbra Spider can significantly augment your MTG gameplay. The card’s value in creating not just a defensive blockade but also a token that carries on its legacy, lends it to be an exceptional piece in green-focused decks or those harnessing graveyard mechanics. Embrace the tactical depth offered by this unique creature and consider integrating it within your deck to tackle aerial threats and maintain board presence. For those interested in enhancing their strategy with Penumbra Spider’s tenacity, join us for deeper insights and tips on crafting a deck that incorporates this resilient arachnid, ensuring each duel becomes a showcase of your evolving tactical prowess.


Cards like Penumbra Spider

Penumbra Spider is a versatile creature card known for its defensive capabilities in Magic: The Gathering. Its most direct comparison is with card’s like Juvenile Gloomwidow. While both creatures feature a helpful reach attribute, allowing them to block flying creatures, Penumbra Spider promises an additional layer of resilience. Upon its demise, it creates a token that’s a carbon copy of itself, sans the token generation ability.

Arachnus Web also weaves itself into this web of comparisons with its thematic synergy with spiders but instead of creating creatures, it captures and neutralizes opposing threats. Another arachnid-themed counterpart is Sporecap Spider, a creature with a similar mana cost and reach attribute, yet it lacks the token-generating death trigger that gives Penumbra Spider a durable edge in longer battles. The spider’s unique mix of defensive utility and token generation truly sets it apart.

Given these points, Penumbra Spider holds a distinct place for players who prefer defensive strategies and value creatures that offer ongoing board presence in Magic: The Gathering. Its dual ability to deter aerial attacks and persist after death provides a multifaceted tactical advantage.

Juvenile Gloomwidow - MTG Card versions
Arachnus Web - MTG Card versions
Sporecap Spider - MTG Card versions
Juvenile Gloomwidow - Shadowmoor (SHM)
Arachnus Web - Magic 2012 (M12)
Sporecap Spider - Rise of the Eldrazi (ROE)

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

Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Marsh Viper - MTG Card versions
Scarwood Bandits - MTG Card versions
Carnivorous Plant - MTG Card versions
Erhnam Djinn - MTG Card versions
War Mammoth - MTG Card versions
Aurochs - MTG Card versions
Lhurgoyf - MTG Card versions
Jackalope Herd - MTG Card versions
Golden Bear - MTG Card versions
Argothian Swine - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Erithizon - MTG Card versions
Skyshroud Cutter - MTG Card versions
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - MTG Card versions
Fungusaur - MTG Card versions
Viridian Lorebearers - MTG Card versions
Monkey Monkey Monkey - MTG Card versions
Matsu-Tribe Birdstalker - MTG Card versions
Order of the Sacred Bell - MTG Card versions
Giant Spider - Tenth Edition (10E)
Marsh Viper - The Dark (DRK)
Scarwood Bandits - The Dark (DRK)
Carnivorous Plant - Fourth Edition Foreign Black Border (4BB)
Erhnam Djinn - Pro Tour Collector Set (PTC)
War Mammoth - Introductory Two-Player Set (ITP)
Aurochs - Masters Edition II (ME2)
Lhurgoyf - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Jackalope Herd - Exodus (EXO)
Golden Bear - Portal Second Age (P02)
Argothian Swine - Urza's Saga (USG)
Elvish Piper - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Erithizon - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Skyshroud Cutter - Nemesis (NEM)
Ulvenwald Oddity // Ulvenwald Behemoth - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Fungusaur - Eighth Edition (8ED)
Viridian Lorebearers - Fifth Dawn (5DN)
Monkey Monkey Monkey - Unhinged (UNH)
Matsu-Tribe Birdstalker - Saviors of Kamigawa (SOK)
Order of the Sacred Bell - Ninth Edition (9ED)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Penumbra Spider MTG card by a specific set like Time Spiral and Commander 2011, 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 Penumbra Spider and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Penumbra Spider Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2006-10-06 and 2021-03-19. Illustrated by Jeff Easley.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12006-10-06Time SpiralTSP 2102003normalblackJeff Easley
22011-06-17Commander 2011CMD 1672003normalblackJeff Easley
32012-06-01Planechase 2012PC2 732003normalblackJeff Easley
42013-06-07Modern MastersMMA 1572003normalblackJeff Easley
52016-11-25Planechase AnthologyPCA 732015normalblackJeff Easley
62017-03-17Modern Masters 2017MM3 1312015normalblackJeff Easley
72019-11-07Mystery BoosterMB1 12912015normalblackJeff Easley
82020-09-26The ListPLST MM3-1312015normalblackJeff Easley
92021-03-19Time Spiral RemasteredTSR 2232015normalblackJeff Easley

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Penumbra Spider has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

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