Sneak Attack

Sneak Attack was originally released in the 1999 Urza's Saga expansion as a powerful enchantment that allows players to cheat high-cost creatures into play for a single turn. It emerged during an era defined by high-variance, combo-heavy gameplay, and its design by the Magic: The Gathering team sought to provide a volatile, red-aligned tool for explosive temporary aggression. The card quickly became a staple for players looking to circumvent traditional mana costs.

The Double Masters iteration, featuring collector number 145, serves as a premium reprint intended to make the card more accessible to contemporary players while providing updated art. The original illustration by Mike Raabe established the card's iconic visual language of chaotic, sudden combat, and subsequent versions have maintained this theme of impulsive, high-impact maneuvers. Within the broader history of the game, it remains a defining example of red color identity's ability to create immediate, though ephemeral, board pressure.