Spider-Man India — ruling 1

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.

Spider-Man India — ruling 2

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.

Spider-Man India — ruling 3

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.

Spider-Man India — ruling 4

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.

Spider-Man India : règles, fonctionnement et interactions (MTG)

Spider-Man India 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.) Pavitr's Sevā — Whenever you cast a creature spell, put a +1/+1 counter on target creature you control. It gains flying until end of turn.

Complete guide

Spider-Man India brings the agile Pavitr Prabhakar to the battlefield, offering incredible mobility and team-wide buffs. This card introduces the Web-slinging mechanic, allowing you to deploy him for a reduced cost while recycling your tapped creatures. By leveraging his Pavitr's Sevā ability, every creature you cast becomes a soaring threat.

Understanding Web-slinging

Web-slinging is an alternative cost that allows you to cast Spider-Man India for {1}{G}{W} instead of {3}{G}{W}. To pay this cost, you must return a tapped creature you control to its owner's hand. This is particularly useful for re-using creatures with powerful enter-the-battlefield effects or saving a creature that has already attacked from incoming removal. Note that you must still follow normal timing rules, meaning you can typically only do this during your main phase when the stack is empty.

How Pavitr's Sevā Resolves

The Pavitr's Sevā ability is a cast trigger. This means when you cast any creature spell—including Spider-Man India itself if he is already on the battlefield via a clone effect or similar—the ability goes on the stack on top of that creature spell. You choose a target creature you control, and it receives a +1/+1 counter and flying. Because it is a cast trigger, the target will receive these bonuses before the creature spell you just cast even enters the battlefield.

Common Mistakes

One common error is trying to combine Web-slinging with other alternative costs, such as 'casting without paying its mana cost'; rules state you can only apply one alternative cost at a time. Another mistake is forgetting that the creature returned for Web-slinging must be tapped. However, you can use a creature's mana ability to help pay the {1}{G}{W} cost, which taps that creature, and then immediately return that now-tapped creature to satisfy the Web-slinging requirement.

When to Play Spider-Man India

Spider-Man India is best played when you have a board presence that allows you to capitalize on his low Web-slinging cost. Use it to bounce a creature that has already provided value, then follow up with more creature spells to trigger Pavitr's Sevā. This allows you to push through damage by giving your largest ground threats flying, effectively bypassing your opponent's blockers.

Interaction examples

Recycling Value with Solemn Simulacrum

Solemn Simulacrum

You attack with Solemn Simulacrum. During your second main phase, you cast Spider-Man India for his Web-slinging cost by returning the tapped Solemn Simulacrum to your hand. You have successfully reduced Pavitr's cost and can now recast the Simulacrum on a future turn to search for another land, maximizing your resources.

Doubling the Inspiration with Roaming Throne

Roaming Throne

If you control Roaming Throne and chose 'Spider' or 'Human' as its type, Pavitr's Sevā will trigger an additional time whenever you cast a creature spell. When you cast your next creature, you will put two +1/+1 counters on your target and it will gain flying. This synergy allows you to grow your creatures twice as fast.

Self-Buffing Logic

If Spider-Man India is already on the battlefield and you cast another creature spell, Pavitr's Sevā triggers. You can choose Spider-Man India himself as the target for the +1/+1 counter and flying, allowing him to grow larger and fly over defenders for a lethal strike.

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

How it works : Spider-Man India

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

#1September 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.
#2September 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.
#3September 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.
#4September 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.