Sporecap Spider MTG Card
2010-04-23 - Number 209
2014-06-06 - Number 179
2019-10-04 - Number 176
| Card sets | Released in 3 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Spider |
| Abilities | Reach |
| Power | 1 |
| Toughness | 5 |
Key Takeaways
- Sporecap Spider excels in defense, its reach deters flyers, boosting board stability and card advantage.
- Its low cost complements ramp decks, helping preserve life and build up for late-game threats.
- While non-instant, Sporecap Spider’s reach pressures opponents, mimicking instant-speed interaction.
Text of card
Reach (This creature can block creatures with flying.)
"They don't move much, but then again, if you get caught in its web, it has all the time in the world to get to you." —Saidah, Joraga hunter
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Sporecap Spider’s reach ability is a passive benefit that helps you maintain board control by deterring flying attackers. This allows you to keep your valuable cards on the board for longer, indirectly contributing to a form of card advantage by protecting your other resources.
Resource Acceleration: While the Sporecap Spider itself does not directly offer mana acceleration, its low casting cost fits well in decks that focus on developing the board quickly. It’s a solid inclusion in ramp decks where preserving life in the early game can be crucial for later turns when your bigger threats come online.
Instant Speed: Although Sporecap Spider does not operate at instant speed, its intrinsic ability to threaten potential attackers at all times—thanks to its reach—can influence opponent plays. This ongoing pressure can often function similarly to instant speed interaction by forcing your opponent to play around the possibility of the spider intercepting key creatures.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sporecap Spider may not have a discard requirement itself, but it can be less impactful in a hand where discarding is necessary to cast more influential spells or effects due to its specific role on the battlefield.
Specific Mana Cost: Requiring both green mana and generic mana, its cost may not be steep, but it does mean Sporecap Spider primarily fits into green-centric decks, potentially limiting its versatility across various deck archetypes.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: While the mana cost of three for a 1/5 creature with reach may seem reasonable, in competitive play, there are creatures and spells that could provide greater value or a stronger board presence for a similar, if not lower, mana investment.
Reasons to Include Sporecap Spider in Your Collection
Versatility: Sporecap Spider is a great defensive option for decks that aim to stall the board while setting up their win conditions. Its reach ability allows it to effectively block flying creatures, which are common threats in many MTG games.
Combo Potential: This card works well within strategies that capitalize on creatures with reach or those that benefit from creature type synergies, such as Spider tribal or decks utilizing cards like Arachnogenesis for creating tokens and controlling combat phases.
Meta-Relevance: As aggro strategies with flying creatures gain prevalence in the game, including Sporecap Spider can be a decisive reaction to the evolving meta. Its robustness against flying swarms ensures that your collection remains competitive and adaptive to such shifts.
How to beat
Sporecap Spider stands as a defensive staple in decks that aim to stall and build a formidable board presence. This creature excels at deterring airborne offenses, thanks to its reach attribute which allows it to block flying creatures. Consequently, overpowering it from the ground becomes a strategy worth considering. Creatures with trample pose a significant threat as they can bulldoze through the Spider’s defenses and still deal damage to the player.
Apart from confronting it physically, enchantment-based removal spells can effectively bypass its web of protection. Spells that don’t target it directly, like board wipes or those that reduce its toughness to zero, are excellent tools in any player’s arsenal against Sporecap Spider. Managing the battlefield and keeping the Spider from forming symbiotic relationships with other creatures or effects that bolster its staying power will tip the scales in your favor. Maintaining pressure and versatile removal in your strategy ensures the Spider’s reign on the board is short-lived.
Understanding the nuances of these strategies helps navigate past obstacles like Sporecap Spider. Keeping these tips in mind enhances gameplay, leading to a more satisfying experience at the card table.
Cards like Sporecap Spider
Sporecap Spider, a unique creature card in Magic: The Gathering, offers an intriguing blend of defense and evasion. Resembling the stature of Giant Spider, both creatures boast the reach ability, pivotal in obstructing flying adversaries. However, Sporecap Spider is distinct with its beastly toughness, allowing it to survive attacks from most common airborne threats. Meanwhile, Giant Spider edges out with an extra point of power, presenting a minor offensive advantage.
The discussion of arachnids in MTG isn’t complete without mentioning Canopy Spider. It’s a more cost-effective option with the same reach trait but it stands out less in terms of sturdiness against flying creatures when compared to Sporecap Spider. On the other side of the spectrum, we have Sentinel Spider, which also has vigilance in addition to reach, granting it the versatility to attack without letting its guard down defensively, unlike our subject card.
Evaluating Sporecap Spider alongside its counterparts illustrates how it excels in games that require a stalwart defense against decks heavy on flying units. It may lack the offensive prowess of some alternatives, but its utility as a defensive bulwark makes it a card worth considering for players who value aerial control in their gameplay strategy.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sporecap Spider MTG card by a specific set like Rise of the Eldrazi and Conspiracy, 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 Sporecap 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 Sporecap Spider Magic the Gathering card was released in 3 different sets between 2010-04-23 and 2019-10-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2010-04-23 | Rise of the Eldrazi | ROE | 209 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West | |
| 2 | 2014-06-06 | Conspiracy | CNS | 179 | 2003 | Normal | Black | Lars Grant-West | |
| 3 | 2019-10-04 | Throne of Eldraine | ELD | 176 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Josu Hernaiz |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Sporecap Spider has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Predh | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |
