Images courtesy of Wizards of the Coast and Marvel

The new Spider-Man set has given us an exciting cycle of Sagas, one for each color. These Sagas depict four beloved Spider-Man story arcs, and also The Clone SagaThe Clone Saga. The cards in this cycle are not created equal, and some of them are significantly stronger than others.

This isn't unusual. In fact, most cycles are uneven like this. Everyone remembers Syr Konrad, the GrimSyr Konrad, the Grim from Throne of Eldraine. Few recall Konrad's pals Syr Alin, the Lion's ClawSyr Alin, the Lion's Claw, or Syr Elenora, the DiscerningSyr Elenora, the Discerning, and even those who do aren't likely to slot them into a deck any time soon.

None of the cards that we'll be talking about today are as memorable as Syr Konrad. Although, with the possible exception of number five, none of them are as forgettable as Syr Alin either.

Let's hop aboard the New York City Subway of Sagas and take a look at what Marvel's Spider-Man has to offer the enchantment subtype.

5. Kraven's Last HuntKraven's Last Hunt

Kraven's Last HuntKraven's Last Hunt will, ironically, be the first card that we talk about today. This card makes it clear that KravenKraven honestly may not be cut out to be a hunter. Perhaps he could retrain as a Legitimate BusinesspersonLegitimate Businessperson instead.

Kraven's Last Hunt is a four-mana Saga that staples together three effects that are individually barely worth one. The first chapter provides some self-mill and a highly conditional removal effect.

The second chapter is a weaker Giant GrowthGiant Growth. Then the final chapter is a color-shifted Raise DeadRaise Dead, a card that has been power creptpower crept againagain and againand again.

Combining many effects onto a single card can be valuable; just look at versatile all stars like Jeska's WillJeska's Will, Boros CharmBoros Charm, and Sublime EpiphanySublime Epiphany. Unfortunately, since none of the individual effects on Kraven’s Last Hunt are worth using, cramming them all together still doesn't provide much value.

If you're looking for a green Saga that'll provide some self-mill, pump up one of your creatures, and provide some power, go for Summon: TitanSummon: Titan instead.

4. The Death of Gwen StacyThe Death of Gwen Stacy

The Eldest RebornThe Eldest Reborn is one of the most popular Sagas in the game. At the time of writing, it appears in more than 69,000 decks. The first two chapters of The Death of Gwen StacyThe Death of Gwen Stacy are a diet version of The Eldest Reborn, offering less powerful effects for a lower casting cost.

During the final chapter, however, the story branches and has an entirely new ending.

The first chapter of The Death of Gwen Stacy is just MurderMurder. Honestly, that’s not fantastic. Three mana is a lot for a single target removal spell, particularly one that can only target creatures. The Eldest Reborn, in contrast, doesn’t target, but does force every opponent at the table to sacrifice a creature, taking out far more threats and getting around hexproof and indestructible.

Chapter two gives every player the option of discarding a card or taking three damage. This targets every player, including the controller of The Death of Gwen Stacy. The idea here is to turn this downside into an upside by discarding a card with madness or mayhem. In almost every instance, this chapter is worse than the second chapter of The Eldest Reborn, which doesn’t force its controller to discard a card, and doesn’t provide opponents the opportunity to take damage rather than discarding.

The final chapter of The Death of Gwen Stacy is a powerful graveyard exiling effect. This chapter slightly redeems the previous two. Being able to exile as many graveyards as you want to for three mana is a great deal. Doing so after wasting two turns fiddling around makes it significantly less exciting.

If your opponent is going off with Muldrotha, you want an answer immediately, not at some point in the near future.

3. Maximum CarnageMaximum Carnage

This card is a massive step up compared to the previous two. Maximum CarnageMaximum Carnage may well be the most impactful Saga in this cycle, although, at five mana, it's also the most expensive.

The first chapter forces every creature that's in play to attack during its controller's combat step. If you don't want to attack with all of your creatures, be sure to cast this card during your second main phase. Bear in mind that you won't need to leave any creatures in reserve to block, since none of your opponents will be able to attack you anyway.

The usefulness of this first effect varies depending on the decks that you're playing against. You'll keep yourself safe, for a turn, from the Light-PawsLight-Paws Voltron player, although they were probably planning on attacking anyway. Conversely, anyone piloting a commander with low stats but a powerful static ability, like Braids, Arisen NightmareBraids, Arisen Nightmare will be furious, unless they can find a way of tapping their commander down prior to the combat phase.

Chapter two adds three red mana to your mana pool, which is always useful. You can use this mana to power out a costly bomb earlier than you would normally be able to. If you're running a storm or a combo deck, then you can also try and line things up so that you generate this three mana on the turn that you're ready to begin putting your game winning sequence into effect.

If you're looking for an interesting storm commander to make use of the chapter two effect, then Electro, Assaulting BatteryElectro, Assaulting Battery can give your opponents a shock. Electro preserves the mana this effect generates across phases, and can also generate plenty of additional mana himself to ensure that you'll be well supported when you start storming off.

The final chapter of this Saga deals five damage to every opponent. While this doesn't affect the board state at all, burning the rest of the table like this can sometimes be the final push to conclude a game that's dragging on.

Maximum CarnageMaximum Carnage works best in storm decks. The first chapter keeps you safe as you wait for your big turn to come. Chapter two provides you with the mana to put that big turn into action, and then the final chapter can help to mop up anyone who survives. At five mana, Maximum CarnageMaximum Carnage is undoubtedly pretty costly, but it's capable of earning its keep.

2. Origin of Spider-ManOrigin of Spider-Man

Despite being the cheapest Saga in this cycle, Origin of Spider-ManOrigin of Spider-Man is on the stronger side. The first chapter creates a 2/1 Spider token with reach. The second puts a +1/+1 counter on a creature you control and turns them into a legendary Spider Hero, and the final chapter grants a creature you control double strike for a single turn.

This card can work as a turn-two play, even with nothing to support it. Two mana for a 3/2 Spider that gains double strike for one turn is a pretty great deal. On top of that, there are a variety of typal and +1/+1 counter synergies that it can take advantage of.

Cosmic Spider-ManCosmic Spider-Man grants a massive selection of powerful abilities to the radioactive arachnid this card creates, and to whoever you turn into a legendary Spider Hero using the chapter two effect. Mary Jane WatsonMary Jane Watson turns this card into a cantrip, and Aunt MayAunt May grants them another +1/+1 counter.

Unsurprisingly, Origin of Spider-Man works best in Spider typal decks. This is a theme that's strongly supported in the new set, so it won't be difficult to find this card a home. Even outside of that niche, this Saga is just a generically useful tool that +1/+1 counter focused decks can use to begin building up their board presence in the early game.

1. The Clone SagaThe Clone Saga

While The Clone SagaThe Clone Saga may be a pretty contentious story arc in the comic books, it still makes for a pretty powerful card. Four mana is the typical rate for a CloneClone effect, and this Saga offers a splash of cloning with some additional upside thrown in for good measure.

When this card enters play, you surveil three. An unusual opening act, for sure, but not one without uses. This effect cleans up your draws for the next few turns, letting you ditch any unwanted land drops or spells you won't be able to cast. On top of that, surveilling is a useful tool for graveyard decks, since it gets your cards into the yard where you'll be able to make use of them.

The second chapter of The Clone SagaThe Clone Saga is where the real magic happens, though. This effect duplicates the next creature spell that you cast. The duplicates aren't legendary, meaning that you can have multiple copies of a legendary creature in play. In other words, this card grants you access to a second copy of your commander. This is huge news!

Cards that can duplicate a commander are few and far betweenfew and far between, and often very costlyvery costly. Whether you're running Deekah, Fractal TheoristDeekah, Fractal Theorist, or Doctor OctopusDoctor Octopus it's always great to have a second copy of your commander around.

The third chapter then grants you some card draw for the turn, whenever a creature you control with a specified name deals combat damage to an opponent. This potentially adds a DivinationDivination on top of the cloning effect granted by the previous chapter. A welcome reward, for sure, but nothing game breaking.

The second chapter of The Clone SagaThe Clone Saga is definitely the highlight of the show here, but the additional upside granted by its beginning and its end are also plenty of fun.

Conclusion

Honestly, none of the new Sagas in Spider-Man are spectacular. Certainly, none of them can compare to the Saga Summon Creatures we saw in Final Fantasy. If KravenKraven went out hunting BahamutBahamut, he wouldn’t stand a chance.

That said, they're still perfectly viable cards that will fit comfortably into many decks.

Maybe you feel that this article is overrating the commander duplicating utility of The Clone SagaThe Clone Saga. Alternatively, maybe you've brewed a deck that really lets Kraven's Last HuntKraven's Last Hunt shine. If any of these Spider-Man Sagas speak to you, let us know down in the comments.

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