Following the record-breaking success of the Magic: The Gathering – Final Fantasy expansion, which generated $200 million in sales on its launch day in June, Wizards of the Coast aims for similar triumph with its upcoming Marvel`s Spider-Man MTG expansion, set to release on September 26.
This article offers an exclusive preview of two cards from the new Spider-Man set, both featuring different iterations of the Scarlet Spider: Ben Reilly and Kaine Parker. Each card showcases a unique combination of Magic`s color pie.
Scarlet Spider, Ben Reilly
Scarlet Spider, Ben Reilly
- Legendary Creature – Spider Human Hero
- Costs one generic, one red, and one green mana to cast
- 4 power/3 toughness
- Web-slinging for one red and one green mana (You may cast this spell for one red and one green mana if you also return a tapped creature you control to its owner`s hand.)
- Trample
- Sensational Save – If Scarlet Spider was cast using web-slinging, he enters with X +1/+1 counters on him, where X is the mana value of the returned creature.
While Ben Reilly initially appears to be a powerful card, maximizing his potential demands strategic setup, encouraging players to deploy him later in the game for optimal impact.
A 4/3 creature with Trample for three mana is already strong. However, by utilizing his Web-slinging ability to return a higher-cost creature (e.g., a six or seven-mana creature that has just attacked) to your hand, Ben transforms into a formidable 10/9 or 11/10 trampling threat. The reduced mana cost also creates an opportunity to re-cast the returned creature. For instance, pairing him with a card like Gladiolus Amicita from Final Fantasy would not only buff Ben but also allow you to search for an additional land.
Scarlet Spider, Kaine
Scarlet Spider, Kaine
- Legendary Creature – Spider Human Hero
- Costs one red and one black mana to cast
- 2 power/1 toughness
- Menace
- When Scarlet Spider enters, you may discard a card. If you do, put a +1/+1 counter on him.
- Mayhem for one red or black mana (You may cast this card from your graveyard for one red or black mana if you discarded it this turn. Timing rules still apply.)
Kaine introduces the set`s new Mayhem mechanic, an enhancement of the classic Madness ability. While Madness required immediate casting of a discarded card, Mayhem grants players the flexibility to cast the card from their graveyard anytime until the end of the current turn, offering more strategic depth.
Although Kaine`s 2/1 body for two mana is modest, his Menace ability ensures he can attack unblocked if the opponent controls only one creature. Discarding a card upon his entry gives him a +1/+1 counter, boosting him to a 3/2 and potentially dealing three damage. Furthermore, if the discarded card also possesses Mayhem, it can be strategically cast from the graveyard later in the turn.
The Magic: The Gathering – Marvel`s Spider-Man expansion is slated for release on September 26 at local game stores and major retailers. Prerelease events will precede this launch, taking place from September 19-21 at participating local game stores.