Innocent Bystander MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 2 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Goblin Citizen |
| Abilities | Investigate |
| Released | 2024-02-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Murders at Karlov Manor |
| Set code | MKM |
| Power | 2 |
| Toughness | 1 |
| Number | 133 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Warren Mahy |
Text of card
Whenever Innocent Bystander is dealt 3 or more damage, investigate. (Create a Clue token. It's an artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
"Whoops, this isn't my street! Don't mind me! I'll just be on my way while you enjoy your . . . very sharp knives."
Cards like Innocent Bystander
Innocent Bystander presents MTG enthusiasts with a versatile tool for amassing creature advantages. This card echoes similarities with others such as Hunted Witness, which also leaves behind value after being dealt with. Hunted Witness provides a lifelink creature upon its demise, whereas Innocent Bystander offers flexibility with its morph ability—allowing for a surprise element during gameplay. The benefit of creating an additional creature upon death is also seen in Doomed Traveler, yet Innocent Bystander stands out with the potential to morph and become an unexpected blocker or threat on the board.
Another card worth mentioning in this context is Sultai Emissary. Like Innocent Bystander, it manifests the top card of your library when it dies. However, one key difference is that Innocent Bystander requires an extra mana investment to trigger its morph ability, while Sultai Emissary’s death trigger is automatic. This adds a strategic layer to gameplay decisions when opting for Innocent Bystander’s inclusion in a deck.
Evaluating Innocent Bystander alongside its counterparts, it’s clear that its morphing capability and potential creature generation can offer strategic depth and unexpected plays that appeal to players looking to maximize value from their creatures’ demise within the game.
Cards similar to Innocent Bystander by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using Innocent Bystander. Dig deeper into the strategy of decks, sideboard cards, list ideas and export to play in ARENA or MOL.
| # | Name | Format | Archetype | Event |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Decklist | Free form | 86#CS | |
 | Lilypadms MKM Sealed | Free form | UOL MKM Sealed League | |
 | Sealed Deck | Limited | Murders At Karlov Mansion Pre-release |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: Innocent Bystander offers a unique mechanism that allows players to potentially draw a card when certain conditions are met. This can generate card advantage, ensuring that you have more options available compared to your opponent, thus better positioning you for victory.
Resource Acceleration: By meeting its conditions, Innocent Bystander can also allow you to gain an extra mana and thus accelerate your resource pool. This can be crucial for deploying bigger threats or key spells ahead of your opponent’s curve, giving you a decisive edge in the race for board control.
Instant Speed: The instant speed of Innocent Bystander’s trigger conditions grants you the flexibility to respond to your opponent’s actions. This strategic advantage ensures that you can maximize the card’s potential on your terms, keeping your foes guessing and your plan one step ahead.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Innocent Bystander requires a discard from your hand to trigger its card draw ability. This can be a tangible downside when your hand is already diminished or when every card in play is critical to your strategy.
Specific Mana Cost: While Innocent Bystander’s mana cost may appear manageable, it demands both white and blue mana. This specificity can potentially restrict the card’s inclusion to decks that run these colors, hindering its versatility across various deck builds.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: Clocking in at a converted mana cost that might be deemed steep for its effect, Innocent Bystander competes with other options available within the same range. Players often weigh its cost against the immediate impact and efficiency of other cards before deciding to include it in their lineup.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Innocent Bystander is adaptable to various playing styles, slotting neatly into decks that thrive on having creatures with diverse abilities. Its morph mechanic allows for surprising shifts in the game, catering to strategies that keep the opponent guessing.
Combo Potential: With its game-altering effects when turned face up, Innocent Bystander can synergize with cards focused on revealing creatures or triggering enter-the-battlefield effects, setting the stage for potent combination plays.
Meta-Relevance: Given that some competitive environments feature decks that manipulate creature dynamics, Innocent Bystander’s ability to adapt can prove pivotal, making it a card that aligns well with emergent gameplay trends.
How to beat
Innocent Bystander presents itself as an interesting challenge to overcome in the game of Magic: The Gathering. At its core, this card thrives in environments filled with spells and abilities targeting multiple creatures or players. Its potency lies in its ability to transfer any damage, targeted effects, or negative impacts from you or another permanent you control to itself, potentially saving your crucial assets from harm. This protective umbrella it offers can sway the momentum of the game.
To effectively navigate around Innocent Bystander’s capabilities, direct removal spells that don’t target, such as board wipes or global effects like Wrath of God, become invaluable. These ensure that Innocent Bystander can’t redirect the effect. Additionally, leveraging non-damage-based spot removal, such as exile or bounce effects found in cards like Path to Exile or Unsummon, can safely neutralize the card without triggering its substitution ability. These strategic considerations, when applied thoughtfully, can maintain your pace and control of the match despite Innocent Bystander’s protective nature.
Understanding and utilizing the correct tools to dismantle the defense it provides can be the key to maintaining the upper hand against decks that feature this deceptively simple yet strategic card.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Innocent Bystander 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 Innocent Bystander 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 Innocent Bystander 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 |