Horned Sliver

The Horned Sliver was originally released as part of the Tempest expansion in 1997, a set designed to introduce the Sliver creature type to Magic: The Gathering. Created by Mike Elliott, the Sliver concept centered on a hive-mind mechanic where each creature granted its unique ability to all other Slivers on the battlefield, encouraging players to build synergistic, creature-heavy decks. The card was illustrated by Melissa A. Benson, whose work during this era helped define the unsettling, biological aesthetic of the early game sets.

This specific printing comes from The List, a curated selection of cards from Magic's history that appear in Set Boosters. By including classic cards like the Horned Sliver, Wizards of the Coast intended to provide long-time players with nostalgic reprints while introducing newer players to the complex mechanics of the game's past. The card remains a staple of casual tribal decks, serving as a functional piece that gives the entire Sliver swarm the 'trample' keyword, maintaining its relevance in the game's evolving ecosystem.