Thorough Investigation MTG Card
2021-07-23 - Number 12
2021-07-23 - Number 281
| Card sets | Released in 2 setsSee all |
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Rare |
| Type | Enchantment |
| Abilities | Investigate,Venture into the dungeon |
Key Takeaways
- Generates card draw and resources through clue tokens, key for card advantage and deck strategy implementation.
- Instant speed activation of clues offers strategic flexibility and unpredictability in gameplay.
- Cards like Thorough Investigation thrive in aggressive playstyles, encouraging frequent attacks and combat phases.
Text of card
Whenever you attack, investigate. (Create a colorless Clue artifact token with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.") Whenever you sacrifice a Clue, venture into the dungeon. (Enter the first room or advance to the next room.)
Key Takeaways
- Generates card draw and resources through clue tokens, key for card advantage and deck strategy implementation.
- Instant speed activation of clues offers strategic flexibility and unpredictability in gameplay.
- Cards like Thorough Investigation thrive in aggressive playstyles, encouraging frequent attacks and combat phases.
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Thorough Investigation offers the capability to generate an ongoing source of card draw. With this enchantment on the field, you can steadily build up your hand, giving you more options and responses to your opponent’s plays as each clue token gets you closer to your deck’s key pieces.
Resource Acceleration: Through its clue tokens, Thorough Investigation provides indirect resource acceleration. Each clue you sacrifice not only draws you a card but effectively thins your deck, smoothly increasing the probability of drawing into your game-winning strategies.
Instant Speed: The clues generated by Thorough Investigation can be cashed in at instant speed, providing flexibility in your gameplay. This allows you to pass turns without committing to a particular line of play, keeping open the possibility to crack a clue and draw into a possibly game-altering card during your opponent’s end step or in response to their actions.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Thorough Investigation asks players to discard a card to activate its clue investigation ability, which could be a setback when your hand is already scarce.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s mana cost includes white mana, which means it can typically only be played in decks that are based around or can generate white mana, potentially limiting its versatility.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana cost that is on the higher side for its investigative functions, players might find that there are other cards in the format that achieve similar outcomes or provide more immediate value without the same level of investment.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Thorough Investigation offers utility in various decks, enhancing those that capitalize on clue tokens for incremental card advantage or powering up strategies that reward you for investigating or drawing cards.
Combo Potential: Beyond offering card draw, the clue tokens generated can work seamlessly with cards that care about artifacts or sacrificing permanents, unlocking new synergies within your deck.
Meta-Relevance: Given that Thorough Investigation applies pressure through steady card acquisition, it can be particularly effective in metas where board presence combined with card advantage dictates the pace of the game.
How to Beat
Thorough Investigation is a notable card in certain MTG decks, often propelling players into advantageous positions through its clue-generating ability tied to attacking. This constant source of card draw and life gain can be daunting. Tackling it requires a strategy that disrupts the synergy Thorough Investigation provides, typically by targeting the clue tokens it produces or removing the enchantment itself.
One effective strategy is employing enchantment removal such as Disenchant or Naturalize to eliminate Thorough Investigation outright, thus cutting off its benefits early in the game. Directly addressing the root cause slashes the card’s advantage, as a foe lacking in cards and life gain is easier to conquer. Furthermore, focusing on creature control to prevent attacking, whether through removal spells or pacifying effects, can halt the generation of clues, significantly weakening the card’s impact on the match.
Ultimately, understanding Thorough Investigation’s role within your opponent’s strategy is crucial. Disrupt their plan, and their investigations will lead nowhere, skewing the game in your favor. By incorporating these countermeasures, you can mitigate the card’s effect and maintain pressure on your opponent throughout the game.
BurnMana Recommendations
Mastering MTG means building not just decks, but strategies that hold up under thorough examination. In light of Thorough Investigation’s pros and cons, consider its place in your collection. Its ability to grow your card advantage while taxing opponents is undeniable, blending well with decks that value artifacts and incremental gains. Yet its limitations suggest the need for a balanced approach. If you’re ready to weave Thorough Investigation into your tactical fabric or keen on learning how to outplay it, join us for deeper insights. Grow with the community and turn each match into a testament to your skillful deck construction.
Cards like Thorough Investigation
Within the realm of clue-generating cards in Magic: The Gathering, the Thorough Investigation stands out for its ability to consistently provide players with valuable clues throughout the course of the game. It resembles other cards like it, such as Tireless Tracker, which grants clue tokens whenever a land enters the battlefield under your control. Yet, Thorough Investigation offers ongoing rewards for merely attacking, a fundamental aspect of gameplay.
Another card worth discussing is Bygone Bishop, which triggers clue tokens when casting creature spells with a mana value of 3 or less. This synergizes well with decks that cast numerous low-cost creatures, whereas Thorough Investigation rewards combative playstyles. Also, Fleeting Memories, which manufactures clues when it enters the battlefield and whenever a land enters under your control, echoes a similar clue-generating theme but is more reliant on land play than creature attacks.
Considering the strengths and playstyles, Thorough Investigation can be an instrumental asset for decks emphasizing aggression and repeated combat phases. Its capacity to both facilitate card advantage and develop board presence through consistent clue creation renders it a unique and potent option for players leveraging offensive strategies in Magic: The Gathering.
Cards similar to Thorough Investigation by color, type and mana cost
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Thorough Investigation MTG card by a specific set like Forgotten Realms Commander and Forgotten Realms Commander, 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 Thorough Investigation and other MTG cards:
- eBay
- TCG Player
- 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
See MTG Products
Printings
The Thorough Investigation Magic the Gathering card was released in 1 different sets between 2021-07-23 and 2021-07-23. Illustrated by Aaron J. Riley.
| # | Released | Name | Code | Symbol | Number | Frame | Layout | Border | Artist |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 2021-07-23 | Forgotten Realms Commander | AFC | 12 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron J. Riley | |
| 2 | 2021-07-23 | Forgotten Realms Commander | AFC | 281 | 2015 | Normal | Black | Aaron J. Riley |
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Thorough Investigation has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Commander | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
Rules and information
The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Thorough Investigation card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.
| Date | Text |
|---|---|
| 2021-07-23 | A player may only have one dungeon in the command zone at a time. |
| 2021-07-23 | Choosing the dungeon or room to venture into is part of resolving the venture into the dungeon keyword action. Once that choice is made, players may not respond until after the appropriate room ability has triggered. |
| 2021-07-23 | Dungeon cards are not part of a player's deck or sideboard. In both constructed and limited formats, players can use any dungeon card when they venture into the dungeon. |
| 2021-07-23 | Dungeons are removed from the game as a state-based action. |
| 2021-07-23 | If you somehow venture into the dungeon while a room's ability is on the stack, you will continue on in the dungeon. If you're already in the last room, complete that dungeon and start a new one. |
| 2021-07-23 | Moving into a dungeon room will cause its room ability to trigger. |
| 2021-07-23 | Once you resolve the last room ability of a dungeon, that dungeon is now completed and is removed from the game. |
| 2021-07-23 | The player venturing into the dungeon chooses which dungeon they will venture into. They may choose a dungeon that they have already completed this game. |
| 2021-07-23 | Thorough Investigation's first ability can trigger only once per combat, no matter how many creatures you attack with. |
| 2021-07-23 | To venture into the dungeon, a player moves their venture marker into the next room of the dungeon they are currently in. If they aren't currently in a dungeon, that player instead chooses a dungeon card from outside the game, puts it into the command zone, and moves their venture marker onto the first room. |
| 2021-07-23 | You can only move forward (well, downward) in a dungeon, never backwards or sideways. |
