Sly Spy MTG Card
2017-12-08 - Number 67e
2017-12-08 - Number 67d
2017-12-08 - Number 67a
2017-12-08 - Number 67b
2017-12-08 - Number 67c
2017-12-08 - Number 67f
Text of card
Whenever Sly Spy deals combat damage to a player, that player reveals the top card of his or her library. Put that card into your hand and you lose life equal to its converted mana cost.
The Agents of S.N.E.A.K.—Spies Nimbly Eluding Adversaries' Knives.
Cards like Sly Spy
Sly Spy is a unique piece in the MTG rogue-themed decks, sharing similarities with other cards that thrive off deception and unforeseen attacks. One card it often gets compared to is Thieves’ Guild Enforcer. Both excel in rogue decks, and Thieves’ Guild Enforcer also becomes stronger as more cards are put into opponents’ graveyards. However, Sly Spy is distinguished by its ability to deal combat damage directly to a player and trigger a specific effect based on its variant.
Another card worth mentioning in the same breath is Oona’s Blackguard. Like Sly Spy, this card is advantageous in a rogue strategy, giving other rogues you control a boost when dealing combat damage. But unlike the multiple variants and flexible effects of Sly Spy, Oona’s Blackguard focuses on hand disruption. Then there’s Invisible Stalker – unblockable and hexproof make it a persistent threat, though it lacks Sly Spy damage-triggered abilities that disrupt an opponent’s game plan.
Considering these comparisons, Sly Spy finds its niche by not only fitting well within rogue synergies but also providing situational advantages that can catch opponents off guard during gameplay.
Cards similar to Sly Spy by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Empowers deck cycling with potential hand replenishment, nudging you ahead in maintaining a robust selection of cards.
Resource Acceleration: Increases the speed of your gameplay by subtly shifting the balance of resources to your favor, ensuring you’re a step ahead.
Instant Speed: Adds strategic depth to plays with reactionary tactics, offering a surprise element during the heat of battle.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Sly Spy necessitates that you discard another card to activate its key abilities. This can put you at a disadvantage, especially in the late game when your hand might be running low, forcing tough decisions about resource management.
Specific Mana Cost: Sly Spy requires a dedicated commitment to black mana in your deck. This specificity can restrict its inclusion to mono-black or two-color decks that can reliably produce black mana, potentially excluding it from more diverse deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The card’s mana value can be considered steep for its effects. Sly Spy competes with other cards in the same mana range that may provide more immediate impact or versatility on the battlefield, potentially making it a less favorable choice during deck construction.
Reasons to Include Sly Spy in Your Collection
Versatility: Sly Spy offers flexibility in deck-building with its unique ability to target specific types of players, making it a clever inclusion in any nuanced strategy that focuses on player conditions.
Combo Potential: With the right setup, this card can work wonders by synergizing with other cards that benefit from targeting opponents or activating upon dealing combat damage, potentially unlocking new avenues for victory.
Meta-Relevance: As the landscape of gameplay often changes, being armed with a card like Sly Spy can give you an unexpected edge, particularly against decks that are unprepared for direct player interactions of this nature.
How to beat Sly Spy
Sly Spy is a unique card from the Unstable set that poses an intriguing challenge for players in Magic: The Gathering. It’s a creature card that, when it deals combat damage to a player, allows you to destroy target creature that player controls whose name is exactly four letters long. To effectively counter this card, you need to build a strategy that either avoids having creatures with four-letter names or employs tactics to prevent Sly Spy from dealing combat damage.
Visual deterrents like creatures with reach or flying can act as protective barriers. Additionally, incorporating instant spells that can either remove Sly Spy before it attacks, or negate its attack after it’s declared, can effectively mitigate its destructive potential. Keep in mind that Sly Spy’s ability hinges on dealing combat damage, so cards that can alter combat outcomes are crucial in any deck facing this quirky agent.
Ultimately, Sly Spy highlights the importance of not only creature strength but also the strategic depth behind creature names. Awareness and pre-emptive deck adjustments can turn the tables on this seemingly enigmatic operative.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Sly Spy MTG card by a specific set like Unstable and Unstable, 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 Sly Spy and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Printings
The Sly Spy Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2017-12-08 and 2017-12-08. Illustrated by Michael Phillippi.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 67e | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Michael Phillippi | |
| 2 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 67d | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Michael Phillippi | |
| 3 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 67a | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Michael Phillippi | |
| 4 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 67b | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Michael Phillippi | |
| 5 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 67c | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Michael Phillippi | |
| 6 | 2017-12-08 | Unstable | UST | 67f | 2015 | Normal | Silver | Michael Phillippi |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Sly Spy card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2018-01-19 | If you cast a permanent card put into your hand this way, you’ll control the permanent it becomes. However, Sly Spy doesn’t change who its owner is. It’s put into its owner’s graveyard. If it’s returned to its owner’s hand, it will go to the hand of its actual owner, and so on. |
| 2018-01-19 | If you cast an instant or sorcery card put into your hand this way, it’ll be put into its owner’s graveyard as it resolves. |
| 2018-01-19 | While the card is in your hand, if it would be shuffled into your library, it’s instead shuffled into its owner’s library. |