Hotshot Investigators MTG Card


Hotshot Investigators can improve card advantage through combat damage and investigating. Clue tokens from Hotshot Investigators offer flexibility by providing resources at instant speed. The card’s specific color and cost may limit its inclusion in diverse MTG decks.
Hotshot Investigators - Murders at Karlov Manor
Mana cost
Converted mana cost6
RarityCommon
TypeCreature — Vedalken Detective
Abilities Investigate
Released2024-02-09
Set symbol
Set nameMurders at Karlov Manor
Set codeMKM
Power 4
Toughness 4
Number60
Frame2015
LayoutNormal
BorderBlack
Illustred byJodie Muir

Text of card

When Hotshot Investigators enters the battlefield, return up to one other target creature to its owner's hand. If you controlled it, investigate. (Create a Clue token. It's an artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")

They always think they're better than the local investigators. They're usually right.


Cards like Hotshot Investigators

Hotshot Investigators carve their own niche in the detective theme of Magic: The Gathering. Their uniqueness largely comes from their ability to tap and remove counters from opponents’ creatures or other permanents. This feature makes them similar to cards like Thrashing Brontodon, which can also manage counters, but instead of tapping, it sacrifices itself for the ability to destroy an artifact or enchantment, providing a more definitive answer to threats.

Comparatively, Deputy of Detention offers a different approach to control. Although not directly interacting with counters, it detains a target nonland permanent an opponent controls and all other permanents that player controls with the same name. This ability to potentially clear multiple threats at once gives Deputy a wider impact in certain situations than Hotshot Investigators. Kitesail Freebooter is another card that shares the investigative trait, as it temporarily exiles a noncreature, nonland card from an opponent’s hand. However, unlike the steady utility of digging for clues provided by Hotshot Investigators, the Freebooter’s effect can be reversed if it’s removed from the battlefield.

Ultimately, Hotshot Investigators bring a persistent and nuanced strategy to the table, offering MTG players the capability to control the battlefield incrementally, which positions them distinctively among other similar cards.

Thrashing Brontodon - MTG Card versions
Deputy of Detention - MTG Card versions
Kitesail Freebooter - MTG Card versions
Thrashing Brontodon - MTG Card versions
Deputy of Detention - MTG Card versions
Kitesail Freebooter - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Hotshot Investigators by color, type and mana cost

Sea Serpent - MTG Card versions
Sibilant Spirit - MTG Card versions
Drifting Djinn - MTG Card versions
King Crab - MTG Card versions
Sea Monster - MTG Card versions
Sun Quan, Lord of Wu - MTG Card versions
Sliptide Serpent - MTG Card versions
Cloud Djinn - MTG Card versions
Zanam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Mahamoti Djinn - MTG Card versions
Deepfathom Skulker - MTG Card versions
Sakashima's Protege - MTG Card versions
Zahid, Djinn of the Lamp - MTG Card versions
Shoreline Ranger - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Dismisser - MTG Card versions
Novijen Sages - MTG Card versions
Storm Elemental - MTG Card versions
Draining Whelk - MTG Card versions
Brine Elemental - MTG Card versions
Arcanis the Omnipotent - MTG Card versions
Sea Serpent - MTG Card versions
Sibilant Spirit - MTG Card versions
Drifting Djinn - MTG Card versions
King Crab - MTG Card versions
Sea Monster - MTG Card versions
Sun Quan, Lord of Wu - MTG Card versions
Sliptide Serpent - MTG Card versions
Cloud Djinn - MTG Card versions
Zanam Djinn - MTG Card versions
Mahamoti Djinn - MTG Card versions
Deepfathom Skulker - MTG Card versions
Sakashima's Protege - MTG Card versions
Zahid, Djinn of the Lamp - MTG Card versions
Shoreline Ranger - MTG Card versions
Vedalken Dismisser - MTG Card versions
Novijen Sages - MTG Card versions
Storm Elemental - MTG Card versions
Draining Whelk - MTG Card versions
Brine Elemental - MTG Card versions
Arcanis the Omnipotent - MTG Card versions

Decks using this card

MTG decks using Hotshot Investigators. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.

#NameFormatArchetypeEvent
DecklistDecklist Free form86#CS

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Hotshot Investigators allow you to investigate whenever a nontoken creature you control deals combat damage to a player. This translates into potential card draw, bolstering your hand and keeping your options open as you strategize your way to victory.

Resource Acceleration: The clue tokens generated through the investigate mechanic can be translated into card draw, but they also represent additional resources. By sacrificing these tokens, you gain access to more cards, thus accelerating your resource accumulation and allowing you to outpace your opponent.

Instant Speed: Hotshot Investigators may not be an instant themselves, but they grant you clue tokens that can be sacrificed at instant speed. This flexibility means that during any moment of the game, especially during your opponent’s turn, you can capitalize on the opportunity to draw cards and further your game plan without missing a beat.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Engaging with Hotshot Investigators means fulfilling a discard condition. For players, having to discard can be challenging, particularly when your hand is already running thin on valuable cards. This requirement could hamper your strategic plans, especially if you’re holding onto key cards for later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: Hotshot Investigators comes with a mana cost that includes both blue and red mana. This specificity necessitates a deck that can consistently produce or accommodate these colors, potentially limiting the card’s versatility in decks that are not focused on these colors or that have a more limited mana base.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Investing four mana for what Hotshot Investigators offers might seem steep, especially when considering other cards in the same mana range that might provide more immediate impact or value. The balance between cost and reward is vital, and in some scenarios, this card might not measure up against other options available in your collection.


Reasons to Include Hotshot Investigators in Your Collection

Versatility: Hotshot Investigators is a card that offers flexibility across various deck builds. Suited for blue-based strategies, it can disrupt opponents while providing a steady flow of card advantage.

Combo Potential: This card shines in combinations, capable of synergizing with mechanics that care about card drawing, shuffling, or graveyard manipulation, making it a powerful piece in intricate in-game interactions.

Meta-Relevance: In a meta where spell-heavy or graveyard-dependent decks are prominent, Hotshot Investigators can play a critical role, offering both a proactive plan and reactive answers to opponent’s moves.


How to beat

Hotshot Investigators has emerged as a noteworthy card, capturing the attention of players across the MTG realm. This unique card creates an engaging dynamic with its capacity to neuter opposing creatures through its investigation abilities. To successfully navigate a game against this card, focus on removal spells that can efficiently deal with Hotshot Investigators before their ability to create clues and deconstruct your board state becomes overwhelming.

One strategy is to employ instant-speed removal, allowing you to react swiftly to their presence on the battlefield. Cards like Fatal Push or Path to Exile are prime examples, providing an option to address the Investigators without losing pace in your game plan. Additionally, cards that provide mass removal, such as Wrath of God or Blasphemous Act, offer a remedy to clear multiple threats, including the Investigators, in one sweeping motion. As such, include a diversity of removal in your deck to stay ahead of your opponent’s strategy and ensure that Hotshot Investigators doesn’t constrain your path to victory.

Ultimately, staying adaptable and prepared with a versatile arsenal of spells can tilt the odds in your favor. By dismantling the Hotshot Investigators swiftly and efficiently, you uphold your tempo and sustain pressure on your opponent, guiding you towards triumph in your MTG endeavors.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Hotshot Investigators MTG card by a specific set like Murders at Karlov Manor, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Hotshot Investigators and other MTG cards:

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Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Hotshot Investigators has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
StandardbrawlLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
PauperLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
TimelessLegal