Hotshot Investigators MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 6 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Vedalken Detective |
| Abilities | Investigate |
| Released | 2024-02-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Murders at Karlov Manor |
| Set code | MKM |
| Power | 4 |
| Toughness | 4 |
| Number | 60 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jodie 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.
Cards similar to Hotshot Investigators by color, type and mana cost
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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- 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
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Hotshot Investigators has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Standard | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Standardbrawl | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Future | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Brawl | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |