Frostweb Spider MTG Card


Frostweb Spider - Coldsnap
Mana cost
Converted mana cost3
RarityCommon
TypeSnow Creature — Spider
Abilities Reach
Released2006-07-21
Set symbol
Set nameColdsnap
Set codeCSP
Power 1
Toughness 3
Number109
Frame2003
Layoutnormal
Borderblack
Illustred byGreg Hildebrandt

Key Takeaways

  1. Frostweb Spider excels in defense, creating tokens to counter flying threats, boosting strategic flexibility.
  2. Requires deck fine-tuning to optimize discard abilities and mana costs, limiting its universal appeal.
  3. It shines in spider tribal or anti-flyer decks, adding value through versatility and meta relevance.

Text of card

Frostweb Spider can block as though it had flying. Whenever Frostweb Spider blocks a creature with flying, put a +1/+1 counter on Frostweb Spider at end of combat.

Its white webs glitter, mimicking the frost on the tree's branches.


Card Pros

Card Advantage: With Frostweb Spider’s repeatable ability to create spider tokens when blocking, you can establish a potent defensive line while potentially keeping card equity in hand for other strategic moves.

Resource Acceleration: While Frostweb Spider itself doesn’t directly accelerate resources, the ability to consistently block and survive against fliers means you may effectively save resources that would otherwise be spent on managing aerial threats.

Instant Speed: While not an instant itself, the Frostweb Spider synergizes well with instant-speed spells that bolster your defense or prevent damage, making it a dependable cornerstone in any deck utilizing such tactics.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Playing Frostweb Spider demands precise deck construction to ensure you can leverage its discard requirement without diminishing your hand’s potential.

Specific Mana Cost: Requiring a mix of one green mana and two colorless, this card cannot be effortlessly slotted into just any deck and may not be the best fit for a multi-colored strategy.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: For a creature that provides a moderate defensive benefit, the three mana investment might be steep for players aiming to maintain tempo or establish early presence on the board.


Reasons to Include Frostweb Spider in Your Collection

Versatility: Frostweb Spider can seamlessly slot into decks that need a reliable blocker against flying creatures. Its reach attribute allows it to defend against aerial assaults, making it a flexible pick for any green deck that struggles with flying threats.

Combo Potential: This spider shines in decks that utilize arachnid synergies or effects that capitalize on creatures with reach. It can be a key piece in a spider tribal deck or work well with cards that benefit from a wealth of creatures with specific abilities.

Meta-Relevance: In a game state dominated by decks with fliers, Frostweb Spider becomes an excellent meta choice. Its ability to block multiple flying attackers also provides a tactical edge in multiplayer formats, where creatures with evasion capabilities are common.


How to beat

The Frostweb Spider presents an interesting challenge in Magic: The Gathering, equipped with reach and the unique ability to protect itself from blue creatures. What makes it a tricky adversary is its flexibility on the battlefield, functioning both as an effective blocker for flying creatures and as a resistive barrier against blue creature spells.

To effectively counter the Frostweb Spider, players should consider leveraging flyers without blue attributes or spells that don’t target it directly, such as mass removals. This allows you to sidestep the spider’s defensive capabilities and manage the board without having to confront its immunities. Cards like Pyroclasm can be particularly potent, as they deal damage to all creatures irrespective of color, efficiently clearing out smaller threats like the Frostweb Spider without discrimination.

Ultimately, circumventing the Frostweb Spider’s defenses requires strategic deck building and a keen sense of timing. By including non-targeted removal or creatures unaffected by the spider’s reach, players can overcome this icy arachnid’s frosty web and pave the way to victory.


Cards like Frostweb Spider

Frostweb Spider presents a unique toolset for players looking to bolster their defense against flying creatures. Much like the arachnid, cards such as Giant Spider provide a natural deterrent with its ability to block creatures with flying, making it a classic for warding off aerial assaults. Frostweb Spider, however, adds a layer of complexity with its snow-based mechanic, which allows it to snare multiple flyers at once given you have enough snow mana at your disposal.

Assessing the utility spectrum introduces us to cards like Silklash Spider. This spider not only excels with flying creature control but can also actively destroy them with its X mana ability. Although not as mana-efficient as Frostweb Spider for single-target control, its board-clearing potential cannot be overlooked. Another relative is Penumbra Spider which, despite lacking an inherent mechanic against flyers, compensates by creating a token copy of itself upon death, contributing to battlefield persistence.

Each of these arachnid allies provides valuable options for dealing with flying threats. Frostweb Spider’s snow synergy often reaps benefits in specific deck builds, securing its place in decks optimized for snowy conditions and creature control.

Giant Spider - MTG Card versions
Silklash Spider - MTG Card versions
Penumbra Spider - MTG Card versions
Giant Spider - Limited Edition Alpha (LEA)
Silklash Spider - Onslaught (ONS)
Penumbra Spider - Time Spiral (TSP)

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

Cat Warriors - MTG Card versions
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Rysorian Badger - MTG Card versions
Sabertooth Cobra - MTG Card versions
Quirion Druid - MTG Card versions
Uktabi Orangutan - MTG Card versions
Spike Feeder - MTG Card versions
Hungry Hungry Heifer - MTG Card versions
Titania's Chosen - MTG Card versions
Taoist Mystic - MTG Card versions
Femeref Archers - MTG Card versions
Verduran Enchantress - MTG Card versions
Fyndhorn Elder - MTG Card versions
Lydari Druid - MTG Card versions
Steel Leaf Champion - MTG Card versions
Realmwalker - MTG Card versions
Topiary Stomper - MTG Card versions
Territorial Scythecat - MTG Card versions
Wirewood Savage - MTG Card versions
Shizuko, Caller of Autumn - MTG Card versions
Cat Warriors - Legends (LEG)
Lurker - The Dark (DRK)
Rysorian Badger - Homelands (HML)
Sabertooth Cobra - Mirage (MIR)
Quirion Druid - Visions (VIS)
Uktabi Orangutan - World Championship Decks 1997 (WC97)
Spike Feeder - Stronghold (STH)
Hungry Hungry Heifer - Unglued (UGL)
Titania's Chosen - Urza's Saga (USG)
Taoist Mystic - Portal Three Kingdoms (PTK)
Femeref Archers - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Verduran Enchantress - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Fyndhorn Elder - Seventh Edition (7ED)
Lydari Druid - Sega Dreamcast Cards (PSDG)
Steel Leaf Champion - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Realmwalker - The Lost Caverns of Ixalan Commander (LCC)
Topiary Stomper - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Territorial Scythecat - Magic Online Promos (PRM)
Wirewood Savage - Onslaught (ONS)
Shizuko, Caller of Autumn - Betrayers of Kamigawa (BOK)

Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Frostweb Spider MTG card by a specific set like Coldsnap, 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 Frostweb Spider and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Frostweb Spider has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
ModernLegal
OathbreakerLegal
PauperLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
PredhLegal
PennyLegal

Rules and information

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

DateText
2006-07-15 If Frostweb Spider blocks a creature with flying that’s just powerful enough to kill it, it will die before it can get the +1/+1 counter.
2006-07-15 If Frostweb Spider somehow blocks more than one creature with flying during the same combat, its ability will trigger multiple times.

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