Players are now free to play with any of the new Spider Man cards in paper. This small set has some very strong additions to a multitude of different formats.
One card I did not have on my radar for competitive events, though, was Cosmic Spider-Man. This five-color legend looks like a blast for casual Spider-themed EDH decks, but is it strong enough to make a competitive splash? As it turns out, it’s already showcasing its value. A Cosmic Spider-Man deck made top eight of a 123-player Duel Commander event this weekend, proving that it’s no ordinary five-drop.
What Cosmic Spider-Man Brings to the Table
In a Spider typal shell, obviously the triggered ability of Cosmic Spider-Man has a ton of appeal. Even the weakest of Spiders become premium threats with this legend in play.
With this in mind, you may be surprised to hear that this Duel Commander deck features zero Spider cards in the 99! Instead, Cosmic Spider-Man is simply used as a five-color beater.
The five keywords on this card make it surprisingly strong. As a creature with Haste and evasion, it fights over the Initiative and the Monarch really well. In a format ruled by Aragorn, King of Gondor, this is a big deal. It lines up well against board wipes, too, while putting immense pressure on the opponent. In a 20-life format like Duel Commander, it doesn’t take many hits from this card to end the game.
Then, thanks to the Lifelink ability, Cosmic Spider-Man becomes extremely difficult for aggro shells to race. It outsizes Pyrokinesis and Fury, both of which see tons of play in red aggro and beyond.
As a five-color Commander, Cosmic Spider-Man also gives you access to an array of midrange threats from across the color spectrum. Being able to play Minsc & Boo, Timeless Heroes and Psychic Frog in the same deck goes a long way. Thanks to the presence of Fetchlands and dual lands, you have the mana to support all of these excellent individual cards.
Going five colors even maximizes cards like Leyline Binding and Evasive Action. With all these factors put together, Cosmic Spider-Man is a surprisingly great Commander option.
Midrange Gameplan
As expected, the majority of creatures in this deck are primarily cards that are strong on rate. This deck is less focused on synergy and more focused on raw power.
Most of the one-mana creatures are mana dorks. Noble Hierarch, Ignoble Hierarch, and Deathrite Shaman all accelerate you towards Cosmic Spider-Man, while simultaneously fixing your colors and providing a little extra value through Exalted or other activated abilities.
At two mana, cards such as Orcish Bowmasters and Ajani, Nacatl Pariah can be nuisances for the opponent in an efficienct manner. The same can be said for Oko, Thief of Crowns and Fable of the Mirror-Breaker at three mana.
All of these cards generate some sort of advantage when they stick. This makes it tough for anyone relying on targeted removal to keep pace with you on resources.
Many of your threats are also good at turning the corner in a flash. Minsc & Boo is at the top of the list, but Headliner Scarlett and Pyrogoyf fit the bill as well. Add in Cosmic Spider-Man at the top end, and you’re in good shape to close games in a timely fashion.
Disruption
The rest of the deck is made up of cheap interaction to keep your head above water. Three free Elementals from Modern Horizons 2 make an appearance. Their versatility makes them all extremely powerful, and being able to play them for free lets you push your advantage later in the game.
For traditional removal spells, you get access to the best options from all colors. Fatal Push, Swords to Plowshares, and Lightning Bolt are all top tier one-mana plays.
You’ll also find plenty of cheap pieces of counter magic. From Mana Leak to Daze, you’re well set up to stop opposing bombs from hitting the table. These cards are necessary against combo shells. Without them, seeing Lier, Disciple of the Drowned across the table would be a nightmare.
At the end of the day, it’s impressive to see a new five-color legend have success right away. There are other five-color choices, including Jenson Carthalion, Druid Exile, but Cosmic Spider-Man being a massive attacker the turn it comes down makes it the perfect closer for this build. Despite the competition, don’t be surprised if we see more of Cosmic Spider-Man in the future.
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