Investigate
| Investigate | |
|---|---|
| Keyword Action | |
| Introduced | Shadows over Innistrad |
| Last used | Alchemy: Innistrad |
| Reminder Text |
Investigate (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with " , Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.") |
| Storm Scale | 4[1] |
| Statistics |
45 cards  20%  31.1%  2.2%  22.2%  4.4%  2.2%  2.2%  2.2%  2.2%  4.4%  4.4%  2.2% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Investigate" | |
Investigate is a keyword action introduced in Shadows over Innistrad[2][3][4] and reused in Innistrad: Midnight Hunt[5].
Description
To investigate, you put a Clue token onto the battlefield. Clues are colorless artifacts, which have the ability ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card."
Investigate sometimes is triggered when specific things happen. For example, you get to investigate whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control or a nontoken creature you control dies. There is also a number of cards that trigger when a Clue is sacrificed. It makes the decision of when to sacrifice a Clue more interesting. You don't always do it as soon as possible.
Fae Offering from Modern Horizons 2 was the first card to create Clue tokens without investigating. As a consequence, the Clue token became a predefined token.[6][7] However, Investigate won't be obsoleted.[8]
Rules
From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- Investigate
- A keyword action that creates a Clue artifact token. See rule 701.36, “Investigate.”
From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)
- 701.36. Investigate
- 701.36a “Investigate” means “Create a Clue token.” See rule 111.10f.
Examples
Example
Expose Evil 
Instant
Tap up to two target creatures.
Investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
References
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (June 28, 2016). "I already miss investigate. Storm scale?". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Matt Tabak (March 7, 2016). "Shadows over Innistrad Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 21, 2016). "Chasing Shadows, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Dave Humpherys (March 21, 2016). "Developing Shadows over Innistrad". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 6, 2021). "Happy Hunt-ing, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Jess Dunks (June 18, 2021). "Comprehensive Rules Changes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 27, 2021). "Ifwhen un keywording investigate...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (September 27, 2021). "Since you guys are moving away from investigate...". Blogatog. Tumblr.