Sleight of Hand

Sleight of Hand was originally released in the 1997 Portal set and later transitioned into the core Magic: The Gathering ecosystem, appearing in the Ninth Edition core set with the collector number 99. Designed as a blue sorcery, the card reflects the game's enduring focus on card selection and library manipulation, allowing a player to look at the top two cards of their library and add one to their hand. Its inclusion in Ninth Edition marked a period where Wizards of the Coast sought to streamline core sets to be more accessible for new players while maintaining tactical depth.

The artwork for this version was illustrated by Greg Staples, who utilized a distinct, moody aesthetic to capture the essence of a magician manipulating reality. Staples' work on this piece was designed to evoke a sense of mystery and calculated deception, fitting for a card that rewards precise planning. Upon its release in the mid-2000s, the card was received as a functional staple for blue decks, praised for its efficiency and low mana cost, eventually becoming a recurring presence in various formats that require consistent deck thinning and card quality.