Investigate
| Investigate | |
|---|---|
|
[[File:{{#setmainimage:Icon Investigate.png}}|70x70px]] | |
| Keyword Action | |
| Introduced | Shadows over Innistrad |
| Last used | Fallout |
| Reminder Text |
Investigate (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with " , Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.") |
| Storm Scale | 2[1] |
| Statistics |
84 cards  17.9%  25%  2.4%  16.7%  8.3%  3.6%  2.4%  2.4%  2.4%  2.4%  6%  4.8%  2.4%  3.6% |
| Scryfall Search | |
| keyword:"Investigate" | |
Investigate is a keyword action introduced in Shadows over Innistrad[2][3][4] and reused in Innistrad: Midnight Hunt[5]. It later became deciduous.
Description
To investigate, you create a Clue token. Clues are colorless artifacts, which have the ability ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card."
Investigate sometimes is triggered when specific things happen. For example, Tireless Tracker lets you investigate when a land enters the battlefield under your control, and Ulvenwald Mysteries lets you investigate when a nontoken creature you control dies. Some cards also have abilities that trigger when a Clue is sacrificed. This makes the decision of when to sacrifice a Clue more interesting, and so in some cases sacrificing Clues as soon as possible is not necessarily the best play.
Fae Offering and Academy Manufactor from Modern Horizons 2 were the first cards to create Clue tokens without investigating (as these cards simultaneously create other predefined tokens along with Clues). As a consequence, the Clue token also became a predefined token.[6][7] However, investigate won't be made obsolete.[8]
Investigate and clue tokens are considered to be deciduous.[9] It was a main mechanic for Murders at Karlov Manor where it was used in several ways (e.g. as a trigger, on spells, etc.).[10]
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 (March 28, 2022). "Deciduous". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ 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.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (March 28, 2022). "Deciduous". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Mark Rosewater (January 16, 2024). "Getting Away with Murders at Karlov Manor, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.