Simian Sling MTG Card


Gain card advantage and outmaneuver your opponent with Simian Sling’s efficient resource exchange. Instant speed allows for flexible responses, making Simian Sling a surprising play against adversaries. Despite its benefits, be wary of Simian Sling’s higher mana cost and specific red mana requirement.
Simian Sling - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
Mana cost
Converted mana cost1
RarityCommon
TypeArtifact Creature — Equipment Monkey
Abilities Reconfigure
Released2022-02-18
Set symbol
Set nameKamigawa: Neon Dynasty
Set codeNEO
Power 1
Toughness 1
Number163
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byNicholas Elias

Text of card

Equipped creature gets +1/+1. Whenever Simian Sling or equipped creature becomes blocked, it deals 1 damage to defending player. Reconfigure (: Attach to target creature you control; or unattach from a creature. Reconfigure only as a sorcery. While attached, this isn't a creature.)


Cards like Simian Sling

Simian Sling emerges as a versatile tool among red spells in Magic: The Gathering. Its utility lies within its ability to deal damage either to a creature or a player, setting it up for comparison with the likes of Shock. Shock is a staple in red decks for its economical two damage at a low cost, but Simian Sling requires the additional sacrifice of a treasure to unlock its potential. Though arguably with slightly more setup involved, Simian Sling steps up with its flexible damage distribution.

Looking at other parallels, Magma Jet is another card that deals two damage, but also has the added advantage of scrying 2, refining future plays. Simian Sling lacks this foresight, yet offers a reusable option given enough treasures. Then we review Pillar of Flame, which offers a direct two damage and exiles the target if it would perish, a subtlety that could be crucial in matches against graveyard-centric strategies, an edge that the more straightforward Simian Sling doesn’t share.

In essence, evaluating Simian Sling alongside its counterparts highlights a balance between versatility and resource management in MTG. Its distinct treasure-dependent mechanic invites creative strategy, carving out a niche in the array of red direct damage spells.

Shock - MTG Card versions
Magma Jet - MTG Card versions
Pillar of Flame - MTG Card versions
Shock - MTG Card versions
Magma Jet - MTG Card versions
Pillar of Flame - MTG Card versions

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Boots of Speed - MTG Card versions
Dueling Rapier - MTG Card versions
Reinforced Ronin - MTG Card versions
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Experimental Synthesizer - MTG Card versions
Goldhound - MTG Card versions
A-Jackhammer - MTG Card versions
Mishra's Research Desk - MTG Card versions
Churning Reservoir - MTG Card versions
Furnace Skullbomb - MTG Card versions
Beamtown Beatstick - MTG Card versions
Mirran Banesplitter - MTG Card versions
Dire Flail // Dire Blunderbuss - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Simian Sling serves as a strategic tool for gaining card dominance on the battlefield. By enabling you to efficiently exchange resources, you position yourself to outmatch opponents by sheer volume of accessible cards.

Resource Acceleration: This card is an asset for ramping up your resources swiftly. It helps by providing an advantageous boost, allowing you to deploy more demanding spells or creatures earlier than typically possible.

Instant Speed: The versatility of instant speed spells cannot be overstated, and Simian Sling is no exception. The ability to react during your opponent’s move makes it a valuable and unpredictable addition to your arsenal, providing strategic depth to your gameplay.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Simian Sling demands discarding a card as an extra play cost. This can deplete your hand, especially critical when resources should be conserved for decisive plays.

Specific Mana Cost: This card specifically requires red mana for activation, which could restrict its integration in multi-color decks that might not consistently produce the necessary mana.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that stands on the higher side, Simian Sling can be considered less mana-efficient compared to other spells offering similar or greater effects. It could be a tough fit in fast-paced decks that rely on low-cost actions.


Reasons to Include Simian Sling in Your Collection

Versatility: Simian Sling is a flexible card that can be slotted into a myriad of deck archetypes, particularly those that leverage the power of creature effects or require additional ways to deal damage.

Combo Potential: This card shines in its ability to combine with enablers that care about spellslinger or direct damage strategies, potentially unlocking powerful synergies within your deck.

Meta-Relevance: Given that certain MTG formats prize swift interactions, Simian Sling’s capability to impact the board early and contribute to ongoing pressure makes it a strong contender for current and shifting metagames.


How to beat

Simian Sling is a card to watch out for in MTG due to its ability to disrupt opponents by dealing damage while offering potential ramp. Struggling against Simian Sling often comes from its transformative feature, turning excess lands into fiery projectiles. While its capacity to accelerate mana can be game-changing, there are ways to mitigate its impact on the match.

One effective strategy against Simian Sling involves prioritizing the removal of creatures that can leverage the additional mana it provides. This reduces the threat of a ramp and emphasizes the need for timely interaction. Similarly, controlling the number of lands on your opponent’s battlefield through land destruction or bounce effects can weaken Simian Sling’s efficiency. Playing instant-speed removal allows you to respond flexibly to threats, thereby diminishing the card’s advantage.

Ultimately, understanding the matchups and having the right answers in your deck can turn the tables on Simian Sling’s aggression. Wise deck construction that includes versatile removal spells ensures that you stay one step ahead, maintaining control of the game despite the pressures exerted by this unique card.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re looking to refine your deck with Simian Sling, it’s essential to exploit its strengths and be wary of its trade-offs. The card’s ability to enhance your card advantage and accelerate resources makes it a potent tool to outmaneuver your opponents. However, remember to balance resource management to avoid depleting your hand prematurely. Incorporate it into strategies that benefit from instant-speed interactions and prepare for any metagame shifts. For those facing Simian Sling, focus on instant-speed removals and control strategies that mitigate its effects. Looking to deepen your strategic prowess with Simian Sling or find effective counterplays? Join us for a comprehensive guide to mastering this intriguing card and refining your MTG gameplay.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Simian Sling MTG card by a specific set like Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Simian Sling and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Simian Sling has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Simian Sling card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2022-02-18 Although it causes an Equipment to become attached to a creature, reconfigure is not an “equip ability” for the purpose of cards like Fighter Class and Leonin Shikari.
2022-02-18 An Equipment creature can never become attached to itself. If an effect tries to do this, nothing happens.
2022-02-18 An Equipment creature with reconfigure can be attached to creatures by effects other than its reconfigure ability, such as the activated ability of Brass Squire.
2022-02-18 An Equipment doesn't become tapped when the permanent it's attached to becomes tapped. For example, if you attack with a creature that is equipped with Acquisition Octopus, then use reconfigure to unattach Acquisition Octopus after combat, the Octopus will be untapped and could be used to block during your opponent's turn.
2022-02-18 As soon as an Equipment creature with reconfigure stops being a creature, any Equipment and Auras with enchant creature abilities become unattached. Auras that can enchant an Equipment that isn't a creature remain attached to it.
2022-02-18 Attaching an Equipment with reconfigure to a creature causes that Equipment to stop being a creature until it becomes unattached. It also loses any creature subtypes it had.
2022-02-18 If Simian Sling becomes blocked, Simian Sling deals the damage. If the equipped creature becomes blocked, that creature deals the damage, not Simian Sling.
2022-02-18 If a permanent with reconfigure is somehow still a creature after it becomes attached (perhaps due to an effect like that of March of the Machines), it immediately becomes unattached from the equipped creature.
2022-02-18 If an Equipment with reconfigure somehow loses its abilities while it is attached, the effect causing it to not be a creature continues to apply until it becomes unattached.
2022-02-18 Reconfigure represents two activated abilities. Reconfigure
-ost] means “
-ost: Attach this permanent to another target creature you control. Activate only as a sorcery,” and “
-ost: Unattach this permanent. Activate only if this permanent is attached to a creature and only as a sorcery.”
2022-02-18 Similarly, if an Equipment is tapped, its reconfigure abilities may still be activated and it may still become attached to creatures. Becoming attached doesn't untap it. In most cases, an attached Equipment being tapped won't affect gameplay, but it will be relevant if it becomes unattached again before it untaps.