Superior Foes of Spider-ManHow it works & interactions with other cards

How the Ability Triggers

Whenever you cast a spell with a mana value of 4 or greater, Superior Foes of Spider-Man triggers. Note that this happens upon casting, not upon the spell resolving. When the ability resolves, you have the option to exile the top card of your library. If you choose to exile it, you gain the permission to play that card. This permission lasts until Superior Foes of Spider-Man exiles another card through its own ability.

Playing the Exiled Cards

You must follow all normal timing rules for the exiled card. If it is a land, you can only play it during your main phase when the stack is empty and you have a land drop available. If it is a spell, you must pay its mana cost. If you cast another spell with mana value 4 or greater and choose to exile a new card, the previous card is no longer playable via this ability, even if you hadn't used it yet.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Players often forget that the 'mana value' is determined by the printed cost in the corner of the card, not how much mana was actually spent. For example, if a spell's cost is reduced, it still triggers Superior Foes of Spider-Man as long as its printed mana value is 4 or higher. Additionally, remember that if Superior Foes of Spider-Man leaves the battlefield and returns, it is a new object; you cannot play cards exiled by the 'old' version of the creature.

Interaction examples

Chaining Big Spells

Solemn Simulacrum

You cast Solemn Simulacrum, which has a mana value of 4. This triggers Superior Foes of Spider-Man. You exile the top card of your library. As long as you don't trigger the Foes again and exile a new card, you can play that exiled card at any time it would normally be legal to do so.

Doubling the Villainy

Roaming Throne

With Roaming Throne on the battlefield naming 'Human' or 'Villain', the triggered ability of Superior Foes of Spider-Man triggers twice whenever you cast a spell with mana value 4 or greater. The first trigger resolves, exiling a card. Then the second trigger resolves, exiling a second card. Because the second card was 'another card' exiled by the creature, the first card immediately becomes unplayable, meaning you only ever have access to the most recently exiled card.