Arachne, Psionic Weaver — ruling 1

You can't choose a subtype, such as creature types like Spider or Hero, artifact types like Treasure or Food, or enchantment types like Aura.

Arachne, Psionic Weaver — ruling 2

Web-slinging represents an alternative cost. If another effect allows you to play a card for a different alternative cost, including "without paying its mana cost," you can't also choose to pay its web-slinging cost. If any additional costs from other sources are applied, you must pay those.

Arachne, Psionic Weaver — ruling 3

You must follow all normal timing rules when casting a spell with web-slinging. For creatures, that usually means you must cast it during a main phase of your turn while the stack is empty.

Arachne, Psionic Weaver — ruling 4

If any permanent has an ability that triggers when the permanent you return leaves the battlefield, that ability will be put on the stack after you finish casting the spell, and it will resolve before that spell.

Arachne, Psionic Weaver — ruling 5

Card types other than creature include artifact, battle, enchantment, instant, kindred, planeswalker, and sorcery. Technically, you could also choose land, but lands are never cast, so doing so would have no effect. (The same is true for card types that don't appear in most games, like plane or scheme.)

Arachne, Psionic Weaver — ruling 6

The creature you return must be tapped at the time you pay costs, but doesn't necessarily need to be tapped before you start casting the spell. For example, if you tap a creature with a mana ability to pay part of the spell's web-slinging cost, you could also return that creature to your hand to pay the cost.

Arachne, Psionic Weaver : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Arachne, Psionic Weaver is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.

Official card text

Web-slinging (You may cast this spell for if you also return a tapped creature you control to its owner's hand.) As Arachne enters, look at an opponent's hand, then choose a card type other than creature. Spells of the chosen type cost more to cast.

Complete guide

Arachne, Psionic Weaver is a versatile legendary hero that combines early-game tempo with a persistent taxing effect on your opponents. By utilizing her unique Web-slinging ability, you can bounce your own creatures for value while limiting the spells your opponents can play.

Understanding Web-slinging

Web-slinging is an alternative cost that allows you to cast Arachne, Psionic Weaver for just one white mana. To use this, you must return a tapped creature you control to its owner's hand as you cast the spell. This is part of the cost of casting the spell, not a triggered effect. Note that you must still follow normal timing rules, meaning you can generally only cast Arachne during your main phase unless an effect gives her flash.

How the Tax Resolves

As Arachne, Psionic Weaver enters the battlefield, you look at an opponent's hand and choose a non-creature card type such as artifact, enchantment, instant, planeswalker, or sorcery. Once chosen, all spells of that type—regardless of who casts them—cost one generic mana more to cast. This choice happens as she enters, so it does not use the stack and cannot be responded to once the spell begins to resolve.

Common Mistakes

A common error is trying to choose a subtype, such as 'Aura' or 'Equipment.' You must choose a card type, not a subtype. Additionally, remember that while you can technically choose 'Land,' lands are played and not cast, so the tax will have no effect on them. Lastly, if you have another effect allowing you to cast a spell 'without paying its mana cost,' you cannot combine it with the Web-slinging alternative cost.

Strategic Implementation

Arachne is most effective when used to reset powerful 'enters-the-battlefield' abilities on your own creatures. By attacking with a creature to get it tapped, then casting Arachne for her Web-slinging cost, you protect your creature from sorcery-speed removal while establishing a tax that disrupts your opponent's specific hand contents.

Interaction examples

Bouncing for Value

Solemn Simulacrum

You have Solemn Simulacrum on the battlefield from a previous turn. You attack with it so it becomes tapped. During your second main phase, you cast Arachne, Psionic Weaver for her Web-slinging cost of {W}, returning the tapped Solemn Simulacrum to your hand. Arachne enters, you look at an opponent's hand, and choose 'Sorcery.' Now you can replay the Golem later to fetch another land.

Double Entry Synergy

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Spider' or 'Human,' Arachne, Psionic Weaver's entry ability is still only an 'as enters' replacement effect, not a triggered ability. Therefore, Roaming Throne will not cause you to choose two different card types. You still look at one hand and choose one card type, and that type will cost {1} more to cast.

Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.

How it works : Arachne, Psionic Weaver

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1September 19, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
You can't choose a subtype, such as creature types like Spider or Hero, artifact types like Treasure or Food, or enchantment types like Aura.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#2September 19, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Web-slinging represents an alternative cost. If another effect allows you to play a card for a different alternative cost, including "without paying its mana cost," you can't also choose to pay its web-slinging cost. If any additional costs from other sources are applied, you must pay those.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#3September 19, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
You must follow all normal timing rules when casting a spell with web-slinging. For creatures, that usually means you must cast it during a main phase of your turn while the stack is empty.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#4September 19, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
If any permanent has an ability that triggers when the permanent you return leaves the battlefield, that ability will be put on the stack after you finish casting the spell, and it will resolve before that spell.
No other card is named in this ruling.
#5September 19, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
Card types other than creature include artifact, battle, enchantment, instant, kindred, planeswalker, and sorcery. Technically, you could also choose land, but lands are never cast, so doing so would have no effect. (The same is true for card types that don't appear in most games, like plane or scheme.)
No other card is named in this ruling.
#6September 19, 2025· Wizards of the Coast
The creature you return must be tapped at the time you pay costs, but doesn't necessarily need to be tapped before you start casting the spell. For example, if you tap a creature with a mana ability to pay part of the spell's web-slinging cost, you could also return that creature to your hand to pay the cost.
No other card is named in this ruling.