Spike Weaver MTG Card


Card setsReleased in 4 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost4
RarityRare
TypeCreature — Spike
Power 0
Toughness 0

Key Takeaways

  1. Shielding creatures with Spike Weaver’s fog ability can decisively save them, ensuring sustained board advantage.
  2. Instant speed interaction allows flexible control over combat, elevating tactical possibilities during the game.
  3. Despite a potentially restrictive mana cost, its repeated utility justifies Spike Weaver’s inclusion in strategic decks.

Text of card

Spike Weaver comes into play with three +1/+1 counters on it. , Remove a +1/+1 counter from Spike Weaver: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature. o1, Remove a +1/+1 counter from Spike Weaver: Creatures deal no combat damage this turn.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: Spike Weaver is a versatile card that can effectively serve as a repeater shield for your creatures. By removing +1/+1 counters to prevent all combat damage that would be dealt to a creature this turn, you essentially generate card advantage by saving your creatures from potential destruction in combat and keeping your board presence strong.

Resource Acceleration: While not directly a source of resource acceleration like mana ramp cards, Spike Weaver can indirectly lead to resource acceleration by maintaining your board state. This ensures that all the mana and turns you’ve invested in developing your creature base don’t go to waste, allowing you to commit resources to other strategies and development.

Instant Speed: The ability to use Spike Weaver’s fog effect at instant speed is one of its most significant advantages. Whether it’s during your turn to foil combat tricks, or on your opponent’s turn to disrupt their offense, the ability to dictate the pace of combat encounters provides you with strategic depth and control over the game’s flow.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Spike Weaver demands that you have a card to spare, ready to discard. This can be particularly taxing during the late game when each card in hand is critical for maintaining your board state or responding to opponents’ threats.

Specific Mana Cost: Spike Weaver’s activation cost requires one green mana, which may not always be readily available, especially in multicolored decks that need to manage a diverse mana base. This requirement could potentially delay or prevent the use of its pivotal ability at a crucial moment.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: At a total cost of four mana, three of which are generic and one green, some players might find Spike Weaver on the higher side for investment. In environments where the pace is quick and resources are at a premium, it might be too slow to establish its presence on the battlefield effectively.


Reasons to Include Spike Weaver in Your Collection

Versatility: Spike Weaver offers an adaptable solution to multiple game scenarios. Its ability to provide repeatable creature fog by removing +1/+1 counters can be a game-changer, safeguarding you from incoming attacks or buying crucial turns.

Combo Potential: In decks that manipulate +1/+1 counters, Spike Weaver can become an integral part of various combos, especially with proliferate mechanisms or any strategy that can replenish its counters, allowing for indefinite use of its fog ability.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where aggressive creature strategies are prevalent, having a card like Spike Weaver can be instrumental. It can consistently hinder opponent’s offenses and turn the tides, providing a strategic edge in such environments.


How to beat

The Spike Weaver card in Magic: The Gathering offers a defensive advantage with its ability to place fog counters and prevent combat damage. However, players can outmaneuver this tactic through different strategies. One effective method is using removal spells that can bypass the fog counters, such as Path to Exile or Terminate, which can exile or destroy Spike Weaver before it has a chance to use its abilities.

Another approach is to focus on non-combat win conditions. Cards like Blood Artist, which inflict damage based on creature deaths, or alternative win scenarios like Simic Ascendancy, that capitalize on +1/+1 counters, can circumvent Spike Weaver’s protective abilities. Additionally, strategies that limit the activation of abilities can be crucial. Cards such as Pithing Needle or Phyrexian Revoker can shut down Spike Weaver, preventing the activation of its fog counter ability and clearing the path to victory.

Understanding and anticipating your opponent’s moves are key. By keeping pressure with persistent threats and sidestepping Spike Weaver’s defenses, players can maintain control. It’s about adapting your strategy to overcome obstacles and seize the win.


BurnMana Recommendations

Diving into the MTG realm, Spike Weaver emerges as a compelling card for players seeking resilient defense and strategic flexibility. Its unique ability to fog attacks and protect troops can be pivotal in shifting match dynamics. For those exploring new deck themes or refining existing ones, Spike Weaver’s inclusion could spell the difference between defeat and a clutch save. Looking to reinforce your green deck’s defenses or create new synergies with counter-manipulating strategies? Understanding Spike Weaver’s full potential is essential. Continue your MTG journey with us, where we uncover more ways to harness this card’s power on the battlefield.


Exploring the Versatility of Spike Weaver

Within the realm of Magic: The Gathering, Spike Weaver emerges as a versatile card known for its capacity to prevent damage. This green card functions similarly to other creatures like Spore Frog, which can sacrifice itself to prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn. Spike Weaver, however, offers repeated use due to its multiple +1/+1 counters and the ability to regenerate itself, thereby providing ongoing battlefield control.

Cards like Spike Weaver

Spike Weaver stands toe-to-toe with cards like Moment’s Peace in the aspect of preventing combat damage. While Moment’s Peace can be used twice thanks to flashback, Spike Weaver has the added advantage of being a creature that can contribute to board presence. Another comparable card is Arachnogenesis, creating spiders equal to the number of creatures attacking you, creating blockers while simultaneously preventing damage. Though not a creature itself, Arachnogenesis offers a one-time surprise element, unlike the repeatable, strategical activation of Spike Weaver.

Comparing these cards shows Spike Weaver as a formidable option for decks focusing on defense and longevity. The repeated fog effect and the creature’s ability to protect itself place Spike Weaver as a noteworthy card among MTG’s rich tapestry of options for damage prevention and creature utility.

Spore Frog - MTG Card versions
Moment's Peace - MTG Card versions
Arachnogenesis - MTG Card versions
Spore Frog - Prophecy (PCY)
Moment's Peace - Odyssey (ODY)
Arachnogenesis - Commander 2015 (C15)

Cards similar to Spike Weaver 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
Rootwater Alligator - MTG Card versions
Golden Bear - MTG Card versions
Argothian Swine - MTG Card versions
Elvish Piper - MTG Card versions
Erithizon - MTG Card versions
Saber Ants - 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
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)
Rootwater Alligator - Exodus (EXO)
Golden Bear - Portal Second Age (P02)
Argothian Swine - Urza's Saga (USG)
Elvish Piper - Ninth Edition (9ED)
Erithizon - Mercadian Masques (MMQ)
Saber Ants - 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)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Spike Weaver MTG card by a specific set like Exodus and World Championship Decks 1998, 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 Spike Weaver and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Spike Weaver Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 1998-06-15 and 1999-11-12. Illustrated by Mike Raabe.

#ReleaseNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
11998-06-15ExodusEXO 1281997normalblackMike Raabe
21998-08-12World Championship Decks 1998WC98 bs1281997normalgoldMike Raabe
31999-11-12Battle Royale Box SetBRB 791997normalwhiteMike Raabe
42020-09-26The ListPLST EXO-1281997normalblackMike Raabe

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Spike Weaver has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PremodernLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Spike Weaver card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

DateText
2004-10-04 The second ability includes your own creatures as well.

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