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Investigate
Icon Investigate
Keyword Action
Introduced Shadows over Innistrad
Last used Fallout
Reminder Text Investigate (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with "{2}, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
Storm Scale 2[1]
Statistics
84 cards
{W} 17.9% {U} 25% {B} 2.4% {G} 16.7% {W/U} 8.3% {U/B} 3.6% {R/G} 2.4% {W/B} 2.4% {U/R} 2.4% {R/W} 2.4% {G/U} 6% {M} 4.8% {artifact symbol} 2.4% {land symbol} 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 "{2}, 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 (March 8, 2024—Fallout)

Investigate
A keyword action that creates a Clue artifact token. See rule 701.36, “Investigate.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (March 8, 2024—Fallout)

  • 701.36. Investigate
    • 701.36a “Investigate” means “Create a Clue token.” See rule 111.10f.

Examples[ | ]

Example

Expose Evil {1}{W}
Instant
Tap up to two target creatures.
Investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with "{2}, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

References[ | ]

  1. Mark Rosewater (March 28, 2022). "Deciduous". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. Matt Tabak (March 7, 2016). "Shadows over Innistrad Mechanics". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  3. Mark Rosewater (March 21, 2016). "Chasing Shadows, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  4. Dave Humpherys (March 21, 2016). "Developing Shadows over Innistrad". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. Mark Rosewater (September 6, 2021). "Happy Hunt-ing, Part 2". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. Jess Dunks (June 18, 2021). "Comprehensive Rules Changes". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. Mark Rosewater (September 27, 2021). "Ifwhen un keywording investigate...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  8. Mark Rosewater (September 27, 2021). "Since you guys are moving away from investigate...". Blogatog. Tumblr.
  9. Mark Rosewater (March 28, 2022). "Deciduous". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. Mark Rosewater (January 16, 2024). "Getting Away with Murders at Karlov Manor, Part 1". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
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