Araña, Heart of the SpiderAraña, Heart of the Spider | Art by Kevin Glint

If you've picked up some boosters from the new Spider-Man set, you may have come across the legendary creature Araña, Heart of the SpiderAraña, Heart of the Spider in a pack. Well, if it sparked some inspiration for you, then I have a full deck built around her that you can pick up for only $20 (using TCGPlayer pricing).

The Commander - Araña, Heart of the Spider

There's a lot of directions you could take Araña, Heart of the SpiderAraña, Heart of the Spider in, since modifying a creature can be done in several different ways. Even though a Voltron deck was the first thing that came to mind, I eventually landed on a go-wide style strategy.

The main core of this list is filled with cards that deal with counters, since that's one of the best ways to modify a large number of creatures all at once. However, you'll still see a few Equipment and Auras fill out this list.

Your main goal with this deck is to fill up the board with modified creatures, then drop your commander when the time is right. Even though it might feel awkward, be sure to hold off on playing your land or casting spells before combat, since Araña only lets you play the cards you exile that turn. You don't want to deploy what's in your hand, while you let spells go to waste in exile.

Let's take a look at what makes this deck tick.

Card Advantage

• Commander Liara PortyrCommander Liara Portyr: Since this deck's main game plan is to attack and cast spells from exile, this creature is exactly what you're looking for to help supercharge your games.
• Kami of CelebrationKami of Celebration: This Spirit helps you in two different ways: It gives you access to cards when you attack, and modifies more of your creatures when you cast those spells.
• Laelia, the Blade ReforgedLaelia, the Blade Reforged: Growing with counters when your cards are put in exile is just what your commander wants to see in the 99, which makes Laelia one of this deck's all-stars.

• Dusk Legion DuelistDusk Legion Duelist: Araña adds a counter to one of your creatures on combat, which means pairing her with this Duelist can make for a solid draw engine.
• Towashi Guide-BotTowashi Guide-Bot: Since this deck is focused on going wide with modified creatures, there's a good chance that this Bot's card draw cost will be reduced to zero.
• Witch's MarkWitch's Mark: Here's a spell that's a tricky inclusion on the list. While the card selection it offers is great, the key detail here is that it gives out an Aura token to one of your creatures, which will make it modified.

Naturally Modified

• Skyknight SquireSkyknight Squire: Getting this creature out early will ensure you have an evasive modified threat to attack with, which will continue to grow with counters turn after turn.
• Zack FairZack Fair: Coming out with a counter already on him makes Zack a strong one-drop. However, that protection ability is what makes it an auto-include in this list.
• Scholar of New HorizonsScholar of New Horizons: Since this deck is low to the ground, there's not as much ramp as usual in the 99, but this creature synergizes perfectly with the build without slowing down your engine.

• Dragoon's LanceDragoon's Lance: entering your board already equipped to a token means that this is a two mana-modified evasive flyer, which will easily trigger your commander over and over again.
• Hexgold HalberdHexgold Halberd: having a cheap creature out with first strike and trample is nice and it gets even better if you equip this axe onto another bigger threat later in the game.
• Mandibular KiteMandibular Kite: one mana for a modified flyer is perfect in this list, since you can get it down early and start swinging to trigger your other value players.

Modified Enhancers

• Resourceful DefenseResourceful Defense: This deck is focused a bit more on counter synergies, which makes this enchantment perfect for making sure they don't go to waste.
• Metastatic EvangelMetastatic Evangel: The goal with this list is to play out creatures to send into combat, so attaching a proliferate effect to each one of them when they enter will help your plan start to snowball.
• Grateful ApparitionGrateful Apparition: Here's a creature that's perfect for equipping, enchanting, and especially adding counters to, since each time it deals combat damage it's going to grow your team.

• Abzan FalconerAbzan Falconer: Here's one of the most important creatures on this list. Giving your board evasion will set you up to totally take over your games.
• Envoy of the AncestorsEnvoy of the Ancestors: Since this is an aggro deck, you could get caught in matches where your life total is in danger. Adding lifelink to your board will ensure you don't get taken out by a light breeze.
• Guardian of the ForgottenGuardian of the Forgotten: Here's an interesting way to bring some resiliency to this deck. If you happen to lose some of your key pieces, they'll get replaced by the top card of your library.

Mass Modifiers

• Unbreakable FormationUnbreakable Formation: Usually this card is cast in response to a board wipe. However, in this list, casting it on your main phase and attacking with a board of modified creatures could spell the end for the rest of the table.
• Spectacular ShowdownSpectacular Showdown: While you can cast this early on to give a creature double strike, overloading it in the late game can be a massive dose of power that'll send the table into chaos.
• Requisition RaidRequisition Raid: Pairing removal with a way to modify your whole board, like this spell does, will make this deck far more adaptable in different situations.

Finishers

• Chocobo KnightsChocobo Knights: This whole list is designed to send your team into combat, which means that adding double strike to the mix will be sure to lower your opponents' life totals to dangerous levels.
• Mirror-Style MasterMirror-Style Master: Once this card hits the board, it gives that copying ability, and a counter, to one of your creatures. This means you'll be ready to swing out with a team that's twice as big right away.
• Sephiroth, Fallen HeroSephiroth, Fallen Hero: Turning your modified creatures into 7/5s is a crazy effect in this deck when you realize that most of your board will have counters on them, meaning that they'll be hitting for even more damage than first glance.

Araña, Heart of the Spider Budget Commander Deck List

In Closing

Well, there you have it: a super budget deck built around Araña, Heart of the SpiderAraña, Heart of the Spider. I hope this inspires you to put this list together, because it truly does pack a punch.

Let me know what you think about this list in the comments below. Also, if you're looking for more budget Spider-Man content, please check out my YouTube channel where I cover some of the best cards in the set.

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