Because green isn't supposed to get the kinds of tapdown or arresting effects that would flavorfully represent its use of restraints - like web, vines, or coils - I've designed this card to explore possible alternatives of effectively immobilizing a creature in green while staying true to green's color pie.
Web-Trap Spider3GG
Creature - Spider
Reach 2G: Put a web counter on target creature.
Whenever a player attacks or blocks with or activates an ability of a creature with a web counter on it, ~ deals damage equal to its power to that creature.
2/4
If a webbed up creature struggles, the spider deals damage to it, quite possibly killing it. Therefore, the webbed creature's controller won't be eager to actually attack or block with or activate abilities of the webbed creature. Normally Web-Trap Spider would fight or bite the webbed creature, but since Spiders usually have toughness greater than power, instead it uses "butt biting" (a combination of biting and "butt fighting").
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
The "butt bite" makes sense mechanically but the flavor is off. I think a normal bite is better. 2 damage is enough to take down many utility creatures and cheap flyers and for the bigger creatures 2 damage is enough to have a significant impact on combat math. This way it also means you have extra synergy with pumps, +1/+1 counters and equipment since this spider is a prime target for those.
So my suggestion is bring the cost down to 2GG and have a usual bite or keep the cost and make it 3/5. Either way this card should be rare if it's printed in a draft set.
Another suggestion to represent the webbing is taking inspiration from Root Snare:
Giant Weaver3GG
Creature - Spider {C}
Flash, reach
When ~~ enters the battlefield, you may tap ~~. If you do, prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.
2/4
I'm not a fan of using Fog effects to represent restraint. Yeah, I guess it makes some sense mechanically - the restraint prevents the creature from dealing damage - but to me such a snare should be long-term, and possibly tied to damage. Plants and Snakes can just use fight or bite effects to represent constriction, but spiderweb needs a slightly different execution as its main purpose is to restrain prey until the Spider administers its fatal bite. That said, I see where you're coming from regarding using regular "biting" over "butt biting".
I have an idea for a related card that uses a similar "move and the Spiders eat you" kind of trap, but swapping activation out for tapping. Perhaps I should try using it on Web-Trap Spider as well?
Web SnareG
Enchantment - Aura
Enchant non-Spider creature
Whenever enchanted creature attacks, blocks, or becomes tapped, each Spider you control deals damage equal to its power to it. The worst thing you can do is get caught in the web. But if you do get caught, the next worst thing you can do is thrash about in a desperate attempt to escape.
MTGS Wikia Article about "New World Order"
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
PSA to everyone who keeps forgetting about the Reserved List:
You're on a website dedicated to talking about MtG. You're only a few keystrokes away from finding out what cards are on the Reserved List. You're also only a few keystrokes away from finding out why some cards on the Reserved List got foil printings in FtV, as Judge promos, or whatnot, as well as why that won't happen again. Stop doing this.
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Web-Trap Spider 3GG
Creature - Spider
Reach
2G: Put a web counter on target creature.
Whenever a player attacks or blocks with or activates an ability of a creature with a web counter on it, ~ deals damage equal to its power to that creature.
2/4
If a webbed up creature struggles, the spider deals damage to it, quite possibly killing it. Therefore, the webbed creature's controller won't be eager to actually attack or block with or activate abilities of the webbed creature. Normally Web-Trap Spider would fight or bite the webbed creature, but since Spiders usually have toughness greater than power, instead it uses "butt biting" (a combination of biting and "butt fighting").
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.
So my suggestion is bring the cost down to 2GG and have a usual bite or keep the cost and make it 3/5. Either way this card should be rare if it's printed in a draft set.
Another suggestion to represent the webbing is taking inspiration from Root Snare:
Giant Weaver 3GG
Creature - Spider {C}
Flash, reach
When ~~ enters the battlefield, you may tap ~~. If you do, prevent all combat damage that would be dealt this turn.
2/4
BGU Control
R Aggro
Standard - For Fun
BG Auras
I have an idea for a related card that uses a similar "move and the Spiders eat you" kind of trap, but swapping activation out for tapping. Perhaps I should try using it on Web-Trap Spider as well?
Web Snare G
Enchantment - Aura
Enchant non-Spider creature
Whenever enchanted creature attacks, blocks, or becomes tapped, each Spider you control deals damage equal to its power to it.
The worst thing you can do is get caught in the web. But if you do get caught, the next worst thing you can do is thrash about in a desperate attempt to escape.
Every time I read a comment about "Well if this card had card draw/trample/haste/indestructible/hexproof/life gain...", I think "You're missing the point." They're armchair developer comments that fail to take into account the card's role in the greater Limited and Standard environment. No, it may not be as good as whatever card you're comparing it to. There's a reason for that. Not every burn spell is Lightning Bolt, nor does it need to be or should be.