All cards from the MTG Spider-Man set have been officially revealed, and this set looks like an absolute blast. Whether you’re a Spider-Man fanatic or not, it’s hard to deny how creative the card designs are.
Beyond just the flavor, there are a handful of cards that are also quite powerful that could make an impact on Constructed upon release. With this in mind, we set out to try to rank the strongest of the bunch for Constructed play. There are a lot of cards to be excited about, but we feel these cards stand out in the crowd. So, without further ado, here are the best MTG Spider-Man Constructed cards.
#8: Lizard, Connors’s Curse
Kicking off this list, we have Lizard, Connors’s Curse. Lizard isn’t the flashiest card design. Instead, it gets most of its value from its efficiency. A four-mana 5/5 with Trample is already above rate as a beater. Once you factor in the enters-the-battlefield ability, you’ve got a versatile threat on your hands.
We’ve seen both mono-green and Simic aggro decks pop up in the last month in Standard, and Lizard could be a nice addition. In some spots, turning one of your one-drops like Hemosymbic Mite into a 4/4 when Lizard enters adds a ton of extra power to the board. In other positions, forcing a problematic creature on the opponent’s side to lose all abilities (say, Enduring Curiosity) will pull you further ahead.
The main reason Lizard isn’t higher on the list is because it has a lot of competition. There’s only so much room for four-drops in a beatdown shell, and Ouroboroid has proven its worth already. Nonetheless, Lizard’s Standard potential is there, so it deserves a spot on this list.
#7: Spider-Sense
Next up, we have Spider-Sense. Spider-Sense is an unusual piece of counter magic with a lot going on. As a two-mana way to counter an instant, sorcery, or triggered ability, Spider-Sense isn’t all that exciting. There are better options in Standard at two mana, especially for Azorius shells.
Where things get interesting is when you can reliably utilize the Web-slinging ability. The best way to maximize this effect is to pair it with cheap creatures that have triggered abilities. For example, bouncing Spyglass Siren or Nurturing Pixie to counter a meaningful spell or triggered ability can be a big swing. The Web-Slinging ability can even protect one of your tapped creatures from removal by letting you bounce it back to your hand, though the card would arguably just counter the removal spell anyway.
Add in cards like Warden of the Inner Sky that let you tap your creatures on command, and you’ve got a reliable piece of disruption on your hands. Messing with opposing board wipes in an assertive strategy is nice, and there’s a lot more you can do with this. Once again, competition is steep with Spell Pierce being a viable option, and there isn’t exactly a top-tier home for Spider-Sense at the moment. Still, the upside is there in the right deck, so the card is worth consideration.
#6: Urban Retreat
Urban Retreat is one of the most intriguing cards on this list, and one that’s a bit difficult to evaluate. It’s rare we see a land that bypasses the “one land per turn” rule. It enters tapped and doesn’t have any basic land types, so most decks won’t want it. However, the opportunity cost of playing this land is low, and there are a few ways to enable Urban Retreat as a ramp element.
In a Nurturing Pixie shell, returning Pixie back to your hand not only gives you more mana to work with, but also lets you replay Pixie and generate additional value. Meanwhile, in mana-hungry decks with Arboreal Grazer, it’s easy to set up an attack with your 0/3 to get yet another extra land into play. Perhaps this interaction earns Urban Retreat a slot in Simic Scapeshift decks in Pioneer.
The sorcery speed restriction does put a cap on some of the shenanigans you could otherwise pull off. As such, Urban Retreat requires specific deckbuilding to utilize, hence why it’s not super high on this list.
#5: Hydro-Man, Fluid Felon
Hydro-Man is one of the best blue tempo threats we’ve ever received. This creature grows in blue-based Prowess style decks to deal damage, and turns into an untapped land on your opponent’s turns. Not only does this protect Hydro-Man from Sorcery Speed removal, but you get to hold up interaction as well.
Considering that Spell Pierce and Into the Flood Maw are popular, effective spells castable with Hydro-Man, this seems like a fantastic threat for Standard and beyond.
#4: Spectacular Spider-Man
Spectacular Spider-Man, by contrast, has obvious appeal for generic aggro decks. A 3/2 with Flash for two mana is above the bar. It’s a Human, so it synergizes with all of the Human payoffs in Pioneer. It threatens to gain flying on command, making it easier to get past board stalls.
Above all, it fills a similar role that Guardian of Faith used to do in Standard against board wipes. Protecting your squad against Day of Judgment is essential, and Spectacular Spider-Man delivers. All this value on a two-drop creature? Sign me up!
#3: Hobgoblin, Mantled Marauder
Hobgoblin is a strong payoff for any strategy focused on discarding cards. It’s reminiscent of Slickshot Show-Off, though it requires a bit more work to get going.
There are a variety of ways to discard cards at little cost. Whether that be with Faithless Looting in Modern Hollow One shells or Tersa Lightshatter in Standard Izzet decks, Hobgoblin pushes damage FAST.
Current versions of Izzet Cauldron in Standard feature a lot of ways to loot away cards, as well as Proft’s Eidetic Memory to grow Hobgoblin. The deck doesn’t have a lot of room for other creatures in its current form, though a ban to Vivi Ornitier in the future could open the door for Hobgoblin to see more play.
There are even cards like Brass’s Tunnel-Grinder that can enable enormous hits out of nowhere. All this potential has us excited, and earns Hobgoblin the third spot on this list.
#2: Spider-Woman, Stunning Savior
At number two, we have Spider-Woman, Stunning Savior. Spider-Woman is the one card on this list that has a lot of potential in Eternal formats. Most importantly, Vintage.
Forcing your opponent’s Moxen, Mana Crypt, and other broken artifacts to enter tapped gives you a huge tempo advantage. It excels against Grim Monolith decks, and there isn’t as much creature removal in Vintage to punish you for playing a measly 2/2. It even pairs well with Lurrus of the Dream-Den and can be pitched to Force of Will.
As a flier that forces your opponent’s creatures to enter tapped, it wouldn’t be shocking if Spider-Woman sees some Standard or Pioneer play as well. There’s a lot to like about this Stax piece.
#1: Arachne, Psionic Weaver
Earning the top spot in our rankings, we have Arachne, Psionic Weaver. Arachne is a really sweet design. You can cast it as a three-mana 3/3 that makes your choice of noncreature card types cost more to cast. Slowing down opposing board wipes is powerful, and you’ll get to see your opponent’s hand so you can make a more informed decision on what type to name.
However, the Web-slinging ability is what puts it over the top. Cheating this card into play for one mana after hitting with a one-drop is a great way to cement your tempo advantage. Combine this effect with Thalia, Guardian of Thraben in Pioneer mono-white Humans, and your opponent is in for a rough time.
Arachne and Spider-Woman are two Stax pieces that provide a big bang for your buck. We look forward to seeing them in action when MTG Spider-Man officially releases.
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