They Went This Way MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 3 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Sorcery |
| Abilities | Investigate |
| Released | 2024-02-09 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Murders at Karlov Manor |
| Set code | MKM |
| Number | 178 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Andreas Zafiratos |
Text of card
Search your library for a basic land card, put it onto the battlefield tapped, then shuffle. Investigate. (Create a Clue token. It's an artifact with ", Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
"Running doesn't prove guilt, but innocent people don't typically flee into the North Ridge Forest." —Alst of the Foundway Associates
Cards like They Went This Way
“They Went This Way” carves its niche among the array of utility spells in Magic: The Gathering with a distinctive approach to library manipulation. Similar cards, like “Grapple with the Past,” also delve into the graveyard to return a creature card or land to its owner’s hand, but what sets “They Went This Way” apart is its investigation mechanic, allowing a player to also create a Clue token which can be sacrificed later for card draw.
Moving along, we find “Gather the Pack” sharing a common theme. Both cards look at a number of cards on the top of a player’s library and put a creature card into their hand. However, “Gather the Pack” can potentially put more creature cards into hand if spell mastery is triggered, but it lacks the ability to create Clue tokens like “They Went This Way”. Comparatively, “Satyr Wayfinder” also brings the aspect of land cards entering the battlefield from the library, albeit without the hand-picking precision “They Went This Way” provides when selecting creature cards.
All considered, “They Went This Way” presents a unique flexibility, combining elements of deck manipulation and resource accrual that can be pivotal in numerous MTG gameplay situations. It offers a blend of immediate benefits and long-term advantages that can be tailored to different strategies within the game.
Cards similar to They Went This Way by color, type and mana cost
Decks using this card
MTG decks using They Went This Way. 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 | |
 | Simic Ramp | Gladiator | Gladiator Proving Grounds: Week 14 2024 | |
 | Domain | Standard | Domain | Standard League 2024-03-17 |
 | Sealed Deck | Limited | Murders At Karlov Mansion Pre-release |
Card Pros
Card Advantage: They Went This Way is a strategic card that gives players the ability to sift through the top few cards of their library, effectively narrowing down options to find the most useful card and enhancing their gameplay by ensuring access to needed resources at crucial moments.
Resource Acceleration: This card offers a unique form of indirect resource acceleration by potentially revealing land cards, which can then be played to bolster your mana base, or it can put nonland cards into your graveyard, setting up powerful graveyard synergies that many decks thrive upon.
Instant Speed: The ability of They Went This Way to be played at instant speed is a huge asset. It allows you to react to your opponent’s actions, maintain the element of surprise, and make more informed decisions based on the evolving state of the game, keeping you one step ahead.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: ‘They Went This Way’ asks players to part with another card from their hand to cast it, which can deplete your hand faster and might not always be a favorable choice, especially if playing a strategy that values card retention.
Specific Mana Cost: This card’s casting cost necessitates one green mana which can be a sticking point in multicolored decks that might struggle with color fixing or prefer to keep their mana base flexible for various spells.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: The mana investment required for ‘They Went This Way’ potentially outpaces its in-game value, considering that there are other cards which allow tracking down creatures or shuffling the library at a lower or more versatile casting cost.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: They Went This Way is a card that seamlessly slots into a myriad of decks. As a tool for tracking down key creatures from your deck, it’s invaluable for those looking to execute their strategy efficiently.
Combo Potential: The card shines in situations where you’re setting up creature combos or need that missing piece to complete your winning mechanism. Its ability to sift through your deck for a creature ensures that you’re always in touch with your combo pieces.
Meta-Relevance: Given the card’s capacity to fetch needed creatures according to the deck’s demands, it adapts well to evolving metagames. Being one step ahead of your opponents by having the right creature at the right time is often the difference between victory and defeat.
How to beat
They Went This Way is an intriguing card that can shift the momentum in a Magic: The Gathering match by disrupting your opponent’s plans. However, like any spell in the game, it can be outmaneuvered. Knowing when to bait out your opponent’s spells that remove cards from your library is key. Efficient graveyard management can also render They Went This Way much less effective, so consider using cards that can shuffle your graveyard back into your library or that provide card protection.
Utilizing instant speed spells to draw cards or to shuffle your library in response to They Went This Way being cast can significantly minimize the potential damage. Moreover, countering it outright with counter spells ensures you maintain control over the content of your library and deprive your opponent of gaining any insight into your strategy. Cards like Tormod’s Crypt can immediately exile your graveyard, leaving little to no targets for They Went This Way to interact with, thereby mitigating its impact on your game plan.
Understanding the nuances of the game and adapting your play style to the cards you’re up against is critical. By preparing for and properly responding to They Went This Way, you can keep your strategy intact and remain one step ahead of your opponent.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase They Went This Way 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 They Went This Way 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 They Went This Way 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 |