<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stingerfling Spider" href="#" target="_blank">Stingerfling Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/daveallsop">Dave Allsop</a></em></p>
<p>Are you arachnophobic? Cause I'm not.</p>
<p>In fact, I'd much rather encounter a spider over an insect. Perhaps that's just me, but spiders are cool!</p>
<p>Insects are gross.</p>
<p>But in <em>Magic,</em> both are just creature types. They have their synergies, they have theirs strengths, and they have their ridiculous amount of token generation. But it's not as if they're as core to the identity of a color as, say, Vampires. And they overlap much more than you might initially expect.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Giant Spider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Arachnoid"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Archweaver"></div></div>
<h2>What Is Playing "Out Of Type?"</h2>
<p>There are many ways to engage with the game, but not all of them are designed around winning. Many playstyles and methods of deckbuilding are thereby forgotten or abandoned, given that <em>Magic</em> is a game where you are intended to win.</p>
<p>Or at least, <em>attempt</em> to win.</p>
<p>Playing "Out Of Type" is what happens when you play with unconventional or obtuse strategies. You're still trying to win, you just give up the luxury of intended synergies and well-known combos. The goal is to explore new cards and strategies, to pick up on facets of the game that very few have even stopped to consider, and to maybe even win a few games along the way, though that's not necessarily likely. You'll sure have a unique experience, though!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hitchclaw Recluse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cactarantula"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Canoptek Spyder"></div></div>
<h2>What Spiders Do Well</h2>
<p>While there are certainly a variety in the types of Spiders in <em>Magic,</em> overwhelmingly they fall into one a few different archetypes. This should be expected, given that they're overwhelmingly green-aligned, though it does mean that they fill a rather specific niche in the game.</p>
<h3>Reach Blockers</h3>
<p>A fair amount of Spiders are simply mid-range, medium-cost creatures that have little more than reach. Quite useful for blocking fliers, though certainly not the most exciting thing to be known for.</p>
<p>Many take this a step further, giving some additional form of utility or enter-the-battlefield effect, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arachnus Spinner" href="#" target="_blank">Arachnus Spinner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Others, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ancient Spider" href="#" target="_blank">Ancient Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, just gain an additional keyword on top of their ability to block fliers.</p>
<p>These baseline-Spiders tend not to be worth including in a deck outside of filling space, and even then you have better options. Their cost-to-benefit ratio simply isn't viable.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Goliath Spider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Canopy Spider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gnottvold Recluse"></div></div>
<h3>Deathtouch Strikers</h3>
<p>A far more deadly subcategory of Spider are those that take inspiration from why many people fear them: their venom.</p>
<p>Deathtouch might be the second-most common keyword across Spiders after reach. As is typical with creatures that have deathtouch, their power struggles but is more than made up for by their ability to destroy any creature they deal damage to.</p>
<p>There're also some that have either wither or infect, such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blightwidow" href="#" target="_blank">Blightwidow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. These accomplish a similar effect to deathtouch, just with some more work involved. This can be made easier with Spiders like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Copper Longlegs" href="#" target="_blank">Copper Longlegs</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but Spiders usually don't survive more than a single combat.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, many Spiders are able to give pause to even the most gallant opponents. Creature removal is never in short supply with them.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Deadly Recluse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hoarding Recluse"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Juvenile Gloomwidow"></div></div>
<h3>Destruction</h3>
<p>Speaking of creature removal, many Spiders specialize in destroying permanents. In line with green, this is usually relegated to flying creatures, though more generalized options are certainly available. Some, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obelisk Spider" href="#" target="_blank">Obelisk Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, function quite similarly to the wither keyword, while others take an ETB approach. They usually struggle to remove other, noncreature permanents, though this isn't always the case!</p>
<p>Just as green is inclined to do, artifacts and enchantments are in danger as well.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stingerfling Spider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Acid Web Spider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chainweb Aracnir"></div></div>
<h3>Token Generation</h3>
<p>Of course, it wouldn't be green without massive investments into token generation.</p>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arasta of the Endless Web" href="#" target="_blank">Arasta of the Endless Web</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the most well-regarded of such Spiders, swarming your board far faster than any opponent can easily respond to, and while they only fill the role of baseline "reach" Spiders, that's still a wall! When combined with something that increases the power of your Spiders, it becomes oppressive.</p>
<p>But these decks are fragile, given their dependence on those centerpiece permanents. There are ways to scale off of this in more sustainable ways, such as holding onto <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider Spawning" href="#" target="_blank">Spider Spawning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for after a board wipe, but the strength of Spiders is often in numbers buffed by a few select creatures.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brood Weaver"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Broodspinner"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Drider"></div></div>
<h3>Spiders Strong Together</h3>
<p>There are a few notable cards that buff your Spiders, and they tend to be quite powerful. You already have many mid-range Spiders that can block flying creatures. Some have deathtouch, others trample or first strike.</p>
<p>Then you give them +2/+2 or ward or something similar. It's no joke, though it certainly isn't the strongest setup as removing those few support pieces will dismantle your board state. You might be able to return them with something like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nyx Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Nyx Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but a web's only as strong as its weakest thread.</p>
<p>In <em>Magic,</em> disparate Spiders just don't synergize with one another as well as other creature types.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shelob, Child of Ungoliant"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ishkanah, Grafwidow"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wall Crawl"></div></div>
<h2>But What If You Didn't Play Arachnids?</h2>
<p>Of course by that, I mean what if you played a bunch of Spider-related cards that were not, themselves, "typical" Spiders?</p>
<h3>Entomology</h3>
<p>Spiders are not insects. Therefore, you have a <i>prime </i>opportunity to make a mixed-kindred deck of the two and upset every entomologist you play against.</p>
<p>It's justifiable if you just call the deck "Creepy Crawlies kindred," but it's actually not that mechanically unsound. There are Spiders that create Insects, Insects that buff Spiders, and pests that pretend like they were invited.</p>
<p>Insects are at their strongest in swarms, funnily enough, so you could get quite the board when pairing them with Spiders. They often involve black in addition to green, meaning you'll have fantastic sacrificial fodder. A good few even have deathtouch, cracking some of those tough nuts you'll be dealing with.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Blex, Vexing Pest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragonlair Spider"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="The Swarmweaver"></div></div>
<h3>Spiders, Man</h3>
<p>Then there's the <em>Spider-Man</em> set. Just about the entire set revolves around Spiders, though some specify "Spider Hero" as opposed to the generalized form. Whether you're web-slinging with Universes Beyond or you're traveling <em>Through the Omenpaths,</em> you have new options for Spider support without ever getting creepy or crawly!</p>
<p>A form of support common to these <em>Spider-Man</em> decks is token generation, given that the set seems to quite enjoy the idea of the Spider from the comics being a 2/1 green Spider with reach.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Origin of Spider-Man"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Peter Parker"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spiders-Man, Heroic Horde"></div></div>
<p>... despite the fact that the card these tokens are based on is a 1/1 with reach and deathtouch. Certainly it's a matter of balance, though it is an interesting distinction to make.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Radioactive Spider"></div></div>
<p>Though there are also many, <em>many</em> abilities that trigger off of or benefit from possessing multiple Spiders. These might be indirect, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider Manifestation" href="#" target="_blank">Spider Manifestation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> being able to reduce the cost of your more powerful Spiders consistently. Or it could be one of the many supporting cast members of the <em>Spider-Man</em> set who revolve around Spiders.</p>
<p>You can get card draw, life gain, mana production. There's also quite a few nongreen cards and commanders released in this set, meaning you could quite reasonably keep it as an anchor but otherwise go off the deep end into white or red. Even blue and black have support, though that's primarily with Villains and Symbiotes.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aunt May"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spider-Punk"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mary Jane Watson"></div></div>
<h3>Also Fynn</h3>
<p>I can't neglect <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fynn, the Fangbearer" href="#" target="_blank">Fynn, the Fangbearer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>By himself, he can turn a smattering of weak, spamming deathtouch Spiders into a swarm of poison counters. Forget proliferate or infect or toxic: all you need is him, a way to produce Spiders, and a means of keeping him alive.</p>
<p>He might not single-handedly win you games, but he'll sure make them a lot easier. Particularly when paired with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shelob, Child of Ungoliant" href="#" target="_blank">Shelob, Child of Ungoliant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, any degree of token generation will grant a warded, poisonous army.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fynn, the Fangbearer"></div></div>
<h2>Spiders Are Weird</h2>
<p>In <em>Magic,</em> Spiders can <em>almost</em> do most things. That sounds like a nothing sentence, but bear with me.</p>
<p>Spiders as a creature type can create many tokens very easily. They have a range of costs with smaller and larger creatures in their number. They have in-and-out of type benefits to Spiders!</p>
<p>But they can't do much on their own. At least, not in the same way archetypal creature types of the color pie can.</p>
<p>Even with the recent <em>Spider-Man</em> set, Spiders give you some card draw and make themselves stronger. Perhaps you'll gain some life depending on what creatures you're playing, but you won't sweep across tables and make your friends tear their hair out.</p>
<p>Which, probably, is a good thing. Still, a shame that they don't quite stack up the way I hoped they would.</p>


How To Play Spiders Differently In Commander

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="SP//dr, Piloted by Peni" href="#" target="_blank">SP//dr, Piloted by Peni</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://toniinfante.com/">Toni Infante</a></em></h6>
<p>Hello, everyone, my name is Jonathan, and today I'll be going over the best uncommon legends from <em>Marvel's Spider-Man</em>!</p>
<p>As we know, this set brought along a ton of new possible commanders, and, while everyone's attention was focused on rares and mythic rares, this time I'll be looking at some of the numerous uncommon cards you might have overlooked among all of these new toys!</p>
<p>One quick side note before starting: I'll cover them in color identity order. This means that the order they are presented in does not reflect the quality of the cards at all. With this out of the way, let's dive into the best uncommon legends!</p>
<hr />
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Chameleon, Master of Disguise" href="#" target="_blank">Chameleon, Master of Disguise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chameleon, Master of Disguise"></div></div>
<p>I already talked about this card at length in <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/the-best-mayhem-cards-from-marvels-spider-man">another article</a>, so I won't repeat myself too much, but I also <em>really</em> need to express how powerful this card is. In fact, when put into the right list, this is a three-mana clone effect that circumvents the legend rule, perhaps allowing you to have two copies of your commander in play at the same time. Retaining its name although it has another creature's textbox immediately puts this card in the same tier as staples of the format such as <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spark Double" href="#" target="_blank">Spark Double</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakashima of a Thousand Faces" href="#" target="_blank">Sakashima of a Thousand Faces</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>I wouldn't recommend playing it as your commander of choice, since the aforementioned <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sakashima of a Thousand Faces" href="#" target="_blank">Sakashima of a Thousand Faces</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> actually does its job better. Nonetheless, it's still a great legend to put in the 99, so if your deck cares about your commander (as it should), this is a card you should absolutely consider including, especially if you run discard synergies.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Chameleon, Master of Disguise"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spark Double"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sakashima of a Thousand Faces"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Madame Web, Clairvoyant" href="#" target="_blank">Madame Web, Clairvoyant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Madame Web, Clairvoyant"></div></div>
<p>Let's start with this card's glaring problem: its mana value. Before reading what it does, this is a six-mana mono-blue creature with no built-in protection. In other words, it's an expensive card in a color combination with little to no ramp and it requires additional cards to grant its survivability.</p>
<p>But hey, many great stories have a rough start.</p>
<p>Looking at its effects, that's where things get interesting. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Madame Web, Clairvoyant" href="#" target="_blank">Madame Web</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> allows us to look at and cast noncreature cards from the top card of our library, and she also offers some top deck manipulation. Yes, I did omit the "Spider spells" part of its effect, but for a good reason: there are only 8 Spiders that can be played in mono-blue decks, so that's basically a non-existent line.</p>
<p>This card's effects are for sure interesting, for it basically grants unlimited card draw as long as there's a noncreature spell on the top of our library. Of course, it pairs extremely well with cantrips like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ponder" href="#" target="_blank">Ponder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Preordain" href="#" target="_blank">Preordain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, which can both be cast from the top <em>and</em> help us manipulate said top of the library.</p>
<p>Nonetheless, its drawbacks are equally relevant. Mainly, if our deck is not stacked correctly, we've basically paid six mana for a vanilla 4/4 with quite the target on its back.</p>
<p>All in all, this is for sure an interesting commander to build around, perhaps including cards with flashback to take advantage of the light mill sub-theme. I could also see it as a secret backup commander in the 99 of certain decks; <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kess, Dissident Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Kess, Dissident Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> comes off the top of my head.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brainstorm"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ponder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kess, Dissident Mage"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider-Man Noir" href="#" target="_blank">Spider-Man Noir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spider-Man Noir"></div></div>
<p>This card makes for an interesting counter/reanimator commander. In fact, when reanimating, you usually end up with one scary creature attacking, and it's rather difficult to build a wider board. That's where <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider-Man Noir" href="#" target="_blank">Spider-Man Noir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> comes in clutch, rewarding you for attacking with only one body. At the same time, it synergizes well with small creatures that put counters on themselves, like the evergreen <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Walking Ballista" href="#" target="_blank">Walking Ballista</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Hence, the intended gameplan of the deck would be playing a bunch of small- to medium-sized creatures with a bunch of counters on them in the early game while filling the graveyard however you like. Then, in the midgame, our commander can start putting in some work, keeping the counters flowing and the graveyard full. Lastly, in the late game, our big monsters can come back form the underworld to close out the matter.</p>
<p>The clear problem with this idea is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider-Man Noir" href="#" target="_blank">Spider-Man Noir</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s mana cost. In fact, five mana is a bit too high for the whole engine to function without any effort. Of course, black's many ritual effects can help playing our commander earlier than usual, but that only goes so far.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Walking Ballista"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reanimate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dark Ritual"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="SP//dr, Piloted by Peni" href="#" target="_blank">SP//dr, Piloted by Peni</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="SP//dr, Piloted by Peni"></div></div>
<p>This one is among the most interesting cards we've discussed today.</p>
<p>Let's get the obvious critique out of the way: it's a bit overpriced for its effect, but that's a leitmotiv across all of today's cards at this point.</p>
<p>Now, getting to the juicy part of this creature: it grants an absurd amount of card draw. It's extremely easy to modify a creature, and everyone can choose their own preferred flavor: counters, Auras, or Equipment. Personally, I'd recommend the latter two in this specific case, for they offer more options to grant evasion to your creatures. In fact, considering we are playing a white-blue commander, not many of our bodies will have built-in ways to grant they'll connect in combat. Of course, we can count on flyers, but something as simple as an <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aqueous Form" href="#" target="_blank">Aqueous Form</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Loxodon Warhammer" href="#" target="_blank">Loxodon Warhammer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will most likely have more success.</p>
<p>The icing on this very tasty cake is the counter that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="SP//dr, Piloted by Peni" href="#" target="_blank">SP//dr, Piloted by Peni</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> comes with as it enters the battlefield: this allows any other creature to immediately become modified and, therefore, a draw engine.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Abzan Falconer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Aqueous Form"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Loxodon Warhammer"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prowler, Clawed Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Prowler, Clawed Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vulture, Scheming Scavenger" href="#" target="_blank">Vulture, Scheming Scavenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Prowler, Clawed Thief"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vulture, Scheming Scavenger"></div></div>
<p>I wanted to cover these two cards together because they both fuel a new kindred strategy that this set has created: Villains. Actually, I had wanted to talk about another card first, namely, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tombstone, Career Criminal" href="#" target="_blank">Tombstone, Career Criminal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but I couldn't really justify it being at the helm of a mono-black Villain deck.</p>
<p>Instead, I'd like to refer to these three cards as the core of this new kindred deck, for they all bring something powerful to the table.</p>
<p>Starting with the last mentioned, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tombstone, Career Criminal" href="#" target="_blank">Tombstone, Career Criminal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a perfect pivotal card for such a build. It provides recursion in the mid-to-late game while also counting on a very good effect throughout the game.</p>
<p>Next, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vulture, Scheming Scavenger" href="#" target="_blank">Vulture, Scheming Scavenger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a very good aggressive card, making all of our Villains more difficult to block and giving us an incentive to enter the red zone as much as possible. The main problem with this card is, once again, its cost: six mana is way too much for such a simple effect, especially considering it doesn't have any kind of protection written in its text.</p>
<p>Last but not least, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prowler, Clawed Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Prowler, Clawed Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the true star of the show. First and foremost, it's as cheap as it gets: a three-mana evasive creature that can start swinging early. Yet, the truly interesting part comes in the second half of the card. In fact, not only is it cheap, it is also very good when played early, for every subsequent Villain will grant us card selection <em>and</em> graveyard filling.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tombstone, Career Criminal"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vulture, Scheming Scavenger"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Prowler, Clawed Thief"></div></div>
<p>In addition, the latter two commanders truly benefit from their color identity. Being in Dimir colors vastly deepens the pool of Villains to choose from, which was the main reason that prevented me from considering <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tombstone, Career Criminal" href="#" target="_blank">Tombstone, Career Criminal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a possible commander. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Prowler, Clawed Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Prowler, Clawed Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in particular shines as a general option, both for the reasons mentioned before and because it fuels a graveyard-matters subtheme. Of course, both of the other two mentioned Villains perfectly fit in this strategy.</p>
<p>The only limiting factor I notice is the sheer number of creatures to choose from. It's true that the blue-black identity increases this quantity, but it's still far from many other established kindred strategies. As of now, there are 32 Villains in Dimir colors, which is not bad, but not excellent either. This implies we might end up including cards we don't really want to only for consistency's sake, and that's never a good sign.</p>
<p>All in all, I think this is a very promising deck idea, but it heavily relies on how much support the archetype will receive in future sets.</p>
<hr />
<p>This is all from me for now! Do you have any additional thoughts on the commanders discussed today? Would you have included some more? Let me know in the comments down below!</p>


The Best Uncommon Legends in Marvel's Spider-Man

<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Giant Spider" href="#" target="_blank">Giant Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Illustrated by <a href="https://gallegosart.com/">Randy Gallegos</a></em></p>
<p>In real life, the humble yet adept spider is a predatory hunter, ensnaring its prey before drinking its victim's blood. Some spiders are venomous; some of their venoms can incapacitate things much larger than us. Many of them hide within the darkness to keep their ghastly vigil.</p>
<p>All this to say, no pretense determines that spiders aren't inherently scary animals. And yet, over the years, humankind has learned to coexist (or at least try to ignore) our arachnid neighbors. This is partly made manifest via a revamped association and fascination with them, thanks to corporate properties like Marvel's <em>Spider-Man</em> franchise.</p>
<p>In the context of <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>, Spiders are some of the most true-to-reality creatures in the game. Typically, they have reach and occasionally deathtouch. However, if you've been paying much attention to the <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/marvels-spider-man-preview-season-kicks-off-at-pax-west" target="_blank" rel="noopener">previews for <em>Marvel's Spider-Man</em></a>, <em>Magic</em>'s newest upcoming set, you may see that reach and deathtouch don't come standard with Spider-People. In this way, they're not exactly the truest to form anymore, statistically.</p>
<p>For this reason, today I'm going to look at the top 10 non-Marvel Spiders in <em>Magic: The Gathering</em>. This is obviously an article based on personal preference. Feel free to agree or disagree with my choices in the comments!</p>
<p>Let's begin.</p>
<h2>10) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silklash Spider" href="#" target="_blank">Silklash Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Silklash Spider"></div></div>
<p>Call me old-fashioned, but I find that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Silklash Spider" href="#" target="_blank">Silklash Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is still an extremely relevant threat to flying creatures in formats where it's still legal.</p>
<p>It came out originally back in 2002 with the <em>Onslaught</em> expansion. Its ability to pump mana into damaging flyers is nothing short of deadly for the average Angel or Dragon players in formats like Commander. This is especially true when you realize that Silklash Spider can also block before dealing that damage, then potentially kill an attacking flyer that's been weakened enough by the activated ability.</p>
<p>As for why Silklash Spider can't be higher on this list, it costs a hefty <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-3" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. And then, you have to pump <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-x" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> into its ability whenever you want to use it. Such a large investment of mana means it's a prime target for removal. I'm not saying it "dies to removal" as an argument. I'm saying it draws more removal towards it than I'd like.</p>
<p>However, it can't be overstated how cool this older Spider creature is. Therefore, it deserves its 10th-place spot on this list.</p>
<h2>9) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obelisk Spider" href="#" target="_blank">Obelisk Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Obelisk Spider"></div></div>
<p>A dark horse pick from 2017's <em>Hour of Devastation</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Obelisk Spider" href="#" target="_blank">Obelisk Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a cool piece of interactive support. With its ability to act as though it's got wither in addition to normal damage, Obelisk Spider is a powerful 3-drop in decks like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons" href="#" target="_blank">Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Volrath, the Shapestealer" href="#" target="_blank">Volrath, the Shapestealer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Volrath, the Shapestealer"></div></div>
<p>Beyond this strong ability, it also acts as an <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/aristocrats" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Aristocrat</a> effect for these decks, something that may be a bit harder to find space for otherwise. However, the idea that it takes that role primarily in decks that care about counter placement means Obelisk Spider is overall a bit of a niche card.</p>
<p>While it's a bit more specialized than Silklash Spider, the cost and its novel effect are enough to elevate it to 9th place.</p>
<h2>8) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Doom Weaver"></div></div>
<p>Emerging from the set-booster exclusives of <em>Innistrad: Crimson Vow</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doom Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Doom Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a worthy Spider for 8th place within this Top 10 list. The creature is a formidably tough creature with a posterior-heavy toughness of eight. This base toughness and its reach ability are both nice for being able to block a wide range of opposing creatures, even at a mana value of six.</p>
<p>But what puts Doom Weaver on the list at all is its soulbond ability. When it's paired with another creature, both of them can potentially let a player draw many cards when they die.</p>
<p>However, the Weaver wants to be played in a Spider-typal deck, and doesn't have the power to draw a ton of cards on its own. Given that Spiders typically don't have a lot of power to them natively, it's not a very reliable source of card advantage, sadly. However, the draw is enough to put Doom Weaver at #8 on this list.</p>
<h2>7) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonlair Spider" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonlair Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dragonlair Spider"></div></div>
<p>A card originally printed in <em>Primordial Hunger</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thromok the Insatiable" href="#" target="_blank">Thromok the Insatiable</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>'s precon for <em>Planechase 2012</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dragonlair Spider" href="#" target="_blank">Dragonlair Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a large, mana-intensive Spider that makes a ton of Insect tokens if allowed to stick around for long enough.</p>
<p>A mighty 5/6 for a hefty <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-r" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, Dragonlair Spider is a great deterrent for opponents who like to sling spells with abandon.</p>
<p>The catch to this creature is probably the fact that it's got a really, <em>really</em> specific mana cost. That, and the tokens it makes, which feel like they <em>should</em> have flying, don't. But beyond that, there's not a lot of ill to speak of for this one. It's worth #7, which is where it belongs.</p>
<p>And who wants to argue with a Spider living in a dragon's lair?</p>
<h2>6) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thantis, the Warweaver" href="#" target="_blank">Thantis, the Warweaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thantis, the Warweaver"></div></div>
<p>Our first legendary Spider on this Top 10 list, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thantis, the Warweaver" href="#" target="_blank">Thantis, the Warweaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a creature that doesn't do a lot of the things that Spiders want to do in <em>Magic</em>. Sure, it has reach, but despite also having vigilance, most other Spiders <em>don't</em>. Pairing this unfortunate fact with its mandate to force each creature to attack means Thantis is a bit of a trap for the discerning Commander player.</p>
<p>Nevertheless, there are obviously ways to mitigate this issue within deckbuilding for a deck with Thantis at the head. Plenty of cards can grant a Thantis-run battlefield vigilance, so that's always a plus.</p>
<p>However, that Thantis isn't in colors that usually have creatures with vigilance is a blow against its ranking here. Therefore, Thantis makes the list, but at a below-average rank of 6th place.</p>
<h2>5) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spinner of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Spinner of Souls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spinner of Souls"></div></div>
<p>Debuting in <em>Foundations</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spinner of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Spinner of Souls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a creature that's all upside. With an above-rate stat line of 4/3 for only <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-2" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, it's already doing great, even in monogreen where big creatures are the norm. However, it's got reach (par for the course for Spiders, as mentioned previously) and a strong effect.</p>
<p>Spinner of Souls will never leave your board bereft of creatures!</p>
<p>My argument for why Spinner of Souls is only worth 5th place could be seen as a bit controversial, however. I think it's a very strong creature, to be sure. But my issue with it is that, like Thantis and several other Spiders not on this list, Spinner is not quite Spider-like. Its power is higher than its toughness, which is extremely uncharacteristic of Spiders in <em>Magic</em>. Even if it's a 4/3, which is a minuscule difference overall, that feels like it shouldn't be the case.</p>
<p>So, while Spinner of Souls is a fantastic card, it's a suboptimal Spider from this perspective, and that puts it at #5 on this list.</p>
<h2>4) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Twitching Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Twitching Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Twitching Doll"></div></div>
<p>An interesting mana-producing artifact creature from <em>Duskmourn: House of Horror</em>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Twitching Doll" href="#" target="_blank">Twitching Doll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> gets my pick for #4 on this Top 10 list. It's not a bad creature, and it's sufficiently as creepy as it truly should be in the setting of Duskmourn.</p>
<p>What's more, upon dying it has the propensity to spawn a <em>ton</em> of Spider tokens. These tokens have reach, which is why I am more than willing to overlook the lack thereof on Twitching Doll.</p>
<p>As far as flavor goes, this card makes my skin crawl. I'm often looking for that in multiversal horror settings like Innistrad or Duskmourn. In this way, Twitching Doll is more than satisfactory for me, and the Spider aspect has no small part in that. To that effect, Twitching Doll deserves its 4th-place spot. It's not higher, if only because a few others are just better Spiders.</p>
<h2>3) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nyx Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Nyx Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nyx Weaver"></div></div>
<p>At #3 is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nyx Weaver" href="#" target="_blank">Nyx Weaver</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This enchantment creature is one that I'm sure many of my readers have seen before in plenty of preconstructed Commander decks. Nyx Weaver came out initially in <em>Journey Into Nyx</em>, the third set of the original <em>Theros</em> block. Since then, it's been a mainstay in various green-black precons across the board.</p>
<p>There's clearly a very good reason for that, because it's been printed so often since then.</p>
<p>To its credit, Nyx Weaver supplants so many self-mill decks to this date. Right now, it's in 68,519 decks out of a possible 1,401,221 decks that could use it, a veritable 4.89% of decks, percentage-wise. With nearly 5% of decks that could run Nyx Weaver doing so, it speaks volumes to the helpful versatility of the enchantment Spider's ability suite.</p>
<p>However, there are two more Spiders on this list that are far more useful for a Spider deck than Nyx Weaver, so Nyx Weaver gets 3rd place here.</p>
<h2>2) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shelob, Child of Ungoliant" href="#" target="_blank">Shelob, Child of Ungoliant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shelob, Child of Ungoliant"></div></div>
<p>At our penultimate (ascending) rank of #2 is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shelob, Child of Ungoliant" href="#" target="_blank">Shelob, Child of Ungoliant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, our only Spider from <em>Universes Beyond</em> on the list. Shelob is a wonderfully scary Spider. She does everything one would expect from a Spider, from having deathtouch to eating her prey alive.</p>
<p>She's also an 8/8 for only <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-b" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>. That's an excellent rate for a creature with no downsides. Shelob also gives her keywords to all other Spiders you control, essentially making all of her Spiders into her children in turn.</p>
<p>The only real issue I find with Shelob, Child of Ungoliant is that she's not really a <em>Magic: The Gathering</em> Spider outside of the fact that she's a <em>Magic</em> card now. <em>Lord of the Rings</em> was a fantastic set and felt like the way <em>Magic</em> should handle <em>Universes Beyond</em>, but beyond that, Shelob isn't a <em>Magic</em> character, memetics aside.</p>
<p>Plus, the one thing that Shelob, as a Spider, lacks is arguably the most important for a Spider to have: the ability to block flying creatures. So, Shelob is beaten out at #2 on this list.</p>
<p>With Shelob at 2nd place, what could the #1 non-Marvel Spider in <em>Magic</em> be? The answer... Probably won't surprise you!</p>
<h2>The Top Non-Marvel Spider in <em>Magic</em> Is...</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ishkanah, Grafwidow"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ishkanah, Grafwidow" href="#" target="_blank">Ishkanah, Grafwidow</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is the top non-Marvel Spider in this Top 10 list. While she costs a relatively hefty <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-4" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> for a 3/5 creature with reach, Ishkanah does a ton for Spider decks. She creates a <em>lot</em> of Spider creature tokens at a given time, crafting a cluttered stalemate for creatures. What's more, she can turn those stalemates into a race against time with her activated ability.</p>
<p>Ishkanah is a pure stone-cold killer, and it shows.</p>
<p>With that, I'd like to open the floor to you, dear readers. Which non-Marvel Spiders are your favorite picks for your Spider typal Commander decks? Do you have a favorite that isn't on this list? Sound off in the comments below!</p>


spider

How To Play Spiders Differently In Commander

The Best Uncommon Legends in Marvel's Spider-Man

The Top 10 Non-Marvel Spiders in Magic: The Gathering

Spider-Rex, Daring Dino Commander Deck Tech

Commander Fusion: Innistrad Remastered Edition!

Archetune-Up - Lolth Be Praised!

Archetune-Up - A Tangled Web We Weave