Thantis, the Warweaver

Thantis, the Warweaver was originally introduced as the face commander of the Jund-aligned 'Nature of the Beast' deck from the Commander 2018 set. The card was designed to embody the chaotic, aggressive nature of the Shard of Jund, utilizing a forced-combat mechanic that compels opponents to attack each other while simultaneously rewarding the player for the resulting carnage through its built-in reach and vigilance capabilities.

The card's striking illustration was crafted by artist Wisnu Tan, who chose a dynamic, predatory posture to emphasize the creature's spider-like nature and its role as a master manipulator of the battlefield. Upon its release, the card was well-received by players seeking a commander capable of accelerating game states and breaking board stalls, securing its place as a staple of political-style Commander gameplay before later being featured in 'The List,' a rotating selection of cards inserted into modern booster packs to provide players with access to past favorites.