Carnage Interpreter MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Creature — Devil Detective |
| Abilities | Investigate |
| Released | 2024-02-23 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Ravnica: Clue Edition |
| Set code | CLU |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 26 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Justine Cruz |
Text of card
When Carnage Interpreter enters the battlefield, discard your hand, then investigate four times. (To investigate, create a Clue token. It's an artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.") As long as you have one or fewer cards in hand, Carnage Interpreter gets +2/+2 and has menace.
Cards like Carnage Interpreter
The Carnage Interpreter joins the robust lineup of creatures offering both offensive capabilities and auxiliary benefits in Magic: The Gathering. When comparing this fearsome creature to its peers, it stands out through its card cycling ability. Glimpse of the Unthinkable is a card that echoes the milling potential of Carnage Interpreter, digging through ten cards of your opponent’s deck with precision, albeit as a one-shot effect without the board presence provided by a creature card.
In a similar realm, Jace’s Archivist allows for a consistent milling strategy, though requiring a tap and a cost to activate, thus offering a different tempo to the game. Another card worth mentioning is Sphinx’s Tutelage, which offers a repeated milling effect whenever you draw a card. While not a creature, it offers a more passive approach to disrupt your opponent’s deck over time.
All in all, while each of these cards serves the goal of depleting your opponent’s library, Carnage Interpreter stands out by providing a persistent threat on the board in addition to its strategic milling ability, giving it a unique position amongst its milling counterparts.
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Carnage Interpreter. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Mono-Red Prison | Legacy | Mono-Red Prison | Legacy Challenge 32 2024-05-18 (1) |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Carnage Interpreter offers a sustainable form of card advantage by allowing a glimpse into the opponent’s hand, potentially revealing their strategy and adapting yours accordingly.
Resource Acceleration: This card provides an inherent advantage by allowing you to utilize fallen creature cards for an extra push, ramping up your resources as the game progresses.
Instant Speed: With the ability to operate at instant speed, Carnage Interpreter can effectively disrupt an opponent’s plan during their turn, all the while keeping your own strategy flexible and responsive.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Carnage Interpreter demands a card be discarded to activate its abilities, which can be a setback if your hand is already depleted or if it costs you a valuable game piece.
Specific Mana Cost: With its necessity for black mana for casting, the Carnage Interpreter might not seamlessly fit into a multi-color deck or one that doesn’t generate enough black mana efficiently.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Requiring a total of four mana, including two black, may be steep for some strategies, especially when compared to other creatures in the same mana range that potentially offer immediate board impact without additional costs.
Reasons to Include Carnage Interpreter in Your Collection
Versatility: Carnage Interpreter is a flexible card that can slot into numerous deck archetypes. Its capacity to act as both a threat and utility can be leveraged in aggressive, midrange, or even some control decks looking for a late-game finisher.
Combo Potential: Its unique abilities may synergize with strategies centered around life loss or damage amplification. This opens the door to multiple combo avenues that could exploit such interactions for powerful effects.
Meta-Relevance: Dependable on the current meta-shape in your playgroup or tournament scene, Carnage Interpreter might serve as an excellent response to prevailing strategies or as an unexpected game-changer that opponents may not be prepared to handle.
How to beat
The Carnage Interpreter is a force to be reckoned with on the battlefield of Magic: The Gathering. Its capacity to disrupt your game plan makes it an unwelcome sight across the table. To outmaneuver this menacing card, consider using spot removal spells that can take it out before its controller capitalizes on its potential. Instant-speed removals like Murder or Path to Exile bypass the necessity of waiting for your turn and can disrupt your opponent’s plan during their own turn.
Board sweepers are another strategic tool in your arsenal. Cards such as Wrath of God or Damnation can clear the battlefield of Carnage Interpreter along with any other creatures, resetting the stage to your advantage. It’s crucial to manage your removal resources wisely to ensure you’re ready to respond when this threat hits the board.
Don’t forget about counter spells. If you’re playing blue, keeping cancelation magic like Counterspell or Negate in hand when you suspect your opponent might cast Carnage Interpreter could save you from a dire situation. As always, knowledge of the meta and predicting your adversary’s plays remains a key to victory.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Carnage Interpreter MTG card by a specific set like Ravnica: Clue Edition, 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 Carnage Interpreter and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
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Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Carnage Interpreter has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |