Simian Spirit Guide

Simian Spirit Guide was originally introduced in the 2007 Magic: The Gathering set Planar Chaos. Designed by the Wizards of the Coast research and development team, the card was created as part of the 'color pie bleed' experiment, which intentionally placed mechanics—in this case, fast mana acceleration—into a color that does not typically possess them. The card serves as a 'mana monkey' that can be exiled from the hand to provide a single red mana, a design intended to offer aggressive decks a burst of speed.

The card has since become a staple in eternal formats like Legacy and Modern, often used to fuel explosive opening turns in combo or hyper-aggressive strategies. Its inclusion in 'The List' is a reflection of its enduring mechanical relevance, as the set consists of curated reprints intended to introduce iconic or functional cards to newer players and collectors. Its design, featuring art by Jim Murray, remains a recognizable example of the high-risk, high-reward cards that define specific eras of Magic history.