Sly Spy

Sly Spy was released in 2017 as part of the Unstable set, the third silver-bordered expansion for the Magic: The Gathering trading card game designed by Wizards of the Coast. Created under the direction of Mark Rosewater, the Unstable set was specifically engineered to explore unconventional mechanical design and humor that would not be permitted in standard tournament-legal expansions, allowing for experimental gameplay and self-referential design tropes.

The card features an illustration by artist John Stanko, whose whimsical, stylized approach complements the lighthearted nature of the Unstable set. Sly Spy is notable for its 'augment' mechanic, a hallmark of the set that allows players to combine two card halves to create new abilities. The design was received by the player base as a creative exploration of the game's boundaries, emphasizing fun and interaction over the rigid balance typically required for competitive formats.