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Premier Draft MKM 1 April 2024

1 April 06:52 - Necross911 7 Wins - 2 Losses
Maindeck
Instant, Sorcery, Enchantment, Artifact (9)
1 No Witnesses image
2 Not on My Watch image
1 Outrageous Robbery image
1 Lead Pipe image
1 Slice from the Shadows image
1 Extract a Confession image
1 Murder image
1 Toxin Analysis image
Creature (15)
2 Festerleech image
2 Rot Farm Mortipede image
1 Persuasive Interrogators image
1 Alley Assailant image
1 Undercity Eliminator image
3 Sanguine Savior image
1 Aurelia's Vindicator image
1 Massacre Girl, Known Killer image
1 Novice Inspector image
1 Unscrupulous Agent image
1 Leering Onlooker image
Land (16)
2 Public Thoroughfare image
8 Swamp image
6 Plains image
Sideboard
1 Rot Farm Mortipede image
1 Curious Cadaver image
1 Lead Pipe image
1 Call a Surprise Witness image
2 Macabre Reconstruction image
1 On the Job image
1 Wrench image
1 Toxin Analysis image
1 Shock image
2 Case of the Gorgon's Kiss image
1 Slime Against Humanity image

Pack 1 Pick 1: No Witnesses
No Witnesses image 4 So, this is Wrath of God, but a little worse if your opponent has the most creatures, and a little better if you do. Sweepers are obviously enormously powerful, but they do get awkward in Limited if you’re the aggro deck. They are at their best when you're behind, and uncastable if you're ahead, so they are always hard to evaluate.
Unyielding Gatekeeper image 3.5 The best thing to do with this when you turn it face up is to help your creature dodge removal, but just rebuying ETBs, flipping disguised creatures, or getting rid of a problematic nonland permanent an opponent controls and giving them a detective instead makes this into a bit of a swiss army knife.
Undercity Sewers image
Undercity Eliminator image 3.5 If you can exile a creature with this, it’s gonna feel pretty awesome – but only if you’re giving up something expendable. The ideal thing to give up is a clue, but there are other things around worth sacrificing. It isn’t going to work amazingly in every deck, but I think this will feel close enough to Ravenous Chupacabra often enough.
Case of the Pilfered Proof image 1.5 I don't think this is very good. You have to play it ahead of your detectives to get the counters, and there’s where most of the value is, because getting an extra clue here and there isn’t the most impressive payoff.
Burden of Proof image 2.5 This is a very interesting version of this “Frogify”-type effect. Lately it seems like they are doing their darnedest to design one that’s actually solid in Limited, and they’ve had some success with that lately. I think they’ve done it again here. The usual problem with this type of card is that you don’t really entirely remove a creature when you turn it into a 1/1, so you’re often coming out behind. However, this adds a couple of important wrinkles. First, it has Flash – so you can turn something into a 1/1 at instant speed, which all-but-guarantees that it’s going down. Second, if your creature is a detective, this is a powerful combat trick. It’s also really nice that they made it only buff detectives you control, otherwise this card would be super frustrating.
Shady Informant image 2.5 If you could only play this face up, it would be a pretty nice card. It has high enough power to trade with a whole lot of stuff, and the death trigger is likely to let you kill something else too – and that’s a 2-for-1. So, the fact you can get it on the board earlier in the game without your opponent knowing it’s lurking there makes it even nicer.
Riftburst Hellion image 2.5 This isn’t going to feel amazing either way you get the 6/7 with Reach, but the fact that it IS a huge creature with the upside of being castable as a three mana 2/2 Ward 2 makes it worthwhile.
Thinking Cap image 2 If this were always 1 to Equip, it would probably be a 2.5, just because that’s a fairly efficient boost – one that’s easy to move around. Detectives are plentiful enough in this format that this still looks solid.
Nervous Gardener image 3 A two mana 2/2 isn’t what it used to be, but that’s the fail case here, and this has the upside of fixing your mana. Note, by the way, that it can grab this format’s dual lands, should you pick one up.
Innocent Bystander image 1.5 A two mana 2/1 that always gives you a clue when it dies is probably a C, but obviously enough this doesn’t always do it. In fact, in a lot of situations where it takes three, your opponent’s creature probably survives. That means this will often just be trading with another two drop or, worse – a 1/1 token.
Auspicious Arrival image 2 This is a solid trick – one that represents a 2-for-1 thanks to that Clue. +2/+2 for two isn’t the most impressive boost-to-cost ratio, but it’s enough.
Behind the Mask image 1 This type of card rarely works out in Limited, and I think even at one mana I’m not super interested in this. It’s easy to look at this and see it as a trick with multiple modes – and that is what it is, but reducing a creature to 1/1 or growing a creature to 4/3, or turning a clue into a 4/3, while possibilities is only useful situationally. You need stat-lines to line up just right, and if you’re turning your 2/2 or something into a 4/3 it’s really not worth it. Furthermore, shrinking an opposing creature to a 1/1 is only relevant or useful when your opponent attacks with the right creature that you actually want to remove. Basically, this is too situational to do something worthwhile very often.
Pack 1 Pick 2: Not on My Watch
Not on My Watch image 3 If you’re in the market for this kind of effect, it’s super efficient. The problem is, lots of decks aren’t really in on this kind of effect. If you’re an aggro deck, this isn’t very good, because you want removal that lets you get blockers out of the way. If you’re not aggressive, though, this ends up feeling like premium removal.
Lead Pipe image 2 One to play and two to equip isn’t a complete disaster for +2/+0. You can use it to really give you a better attack than you would otherwise have, and the life loss effect gives you some inevitability. That said, if the card ended there I’m not sure I’d think it was worth playing very often. It just doesn’t feel like it would have enough of an impact to be worth a card, even as cheap as it is. However, by giving you the ability to sacrifice the Pipe to draw a card, you’re really mitigating against that problem. Your Equipment can be pretty bad if you run out of creatures, or if you really need something more impactful, you can just throw it away. I’m still not ultra impressed here, but I think if you’ve got lots of creatures in a black deck, playing this seems fine.
Get a Leg Up image 3 This trick gives +1/+1 as a floor, and it can give a way bigger boost than that. We've seen this card before without the Reach, and it's always a good trick.
Sample Collector image 2.5 This can be put the counter on itself, and it attacking as a ¾ on turn four doesn’t seem impossible but…it’s also not incredible. The ability to put the counter elsewhere does give you some nice flexibility, but the base stat-line here is mediocre and that’s kind of a problem for a creature that has to attack to be something more than a vanilla creature. Especially because you also need to set this up a bit.
Curious Cadaver image 3 A 4-mana 3/1 Flyer is kind of a liability. Sure, it can hit the opponent reasonably hard for the cost, but it also dies to everything, including lots of cheap removal and creature ETB abilities. This offsets that a little bit because it can come back from your graveyard, but don’t underestimate how much of a pain it is that you have to keep recasting it every time. Still, it’s an evasive creature with reasonably high power that just doesn’t stay dead, and overall that’s something I’m interested in. I could see this underwhelming in the end if that 1 toughness is extra easy to deal with in this format.
Shock image 3.5 Shock is a 3.5 as it usual is. It’s definitely premium because you can spend only a single mana to kill significantly more expensive creatures – and you can do it at instant speed! Plus, it can even finish off your opponent.
Projektor Inspector image 2.5 A three mana 3/2 that loots on ETB is decent, and looting with this more than once isn’t impossible.
On the Job image 1.5 // 3.0 As usual with Inspiring Charge effects, this is a build around. Red/White decks look the most well-positioned for this as they can go the widest, but you really need to be all in on curving out and going wide, or this isn’t worth it, even with the clue. It’s probably a D in your typical White deck, but a card you’re usually going to be happy with one of in your more aggressive decks.
Due Diligence image 2 Without the ETB this would be really bad. If you throw the ETB in the mix, it gets more interesting. There are going to be times where you cast this and end up with two great attacks as a result, and the Vigilance makes it so you don’t have to give up on defending yourself either, so chances are better than normal that those attacks are worth taking. Alternatively, making one thing get +4/+4 and Vigilance for a turn doesn’t sound bad either. You do need to be careful about casting this, as you do with most Auras, but this one does enough to be make the cut a decent chunk of the time.
Slime Against Humanity image 0.0 // 3.0 You need at least three of these before they are worth playing, and 4 is better.
Shady Informant image 2.5 If you could only play this face up, it would be a pretty nice card. It has high enough power to trade with a whole lot of stuff, and the death trigger is likely to let you kill something else too – and that’s a 2-for-1. So, the fact you can get it on the board earlier in the game without your opponent knowing it’s lurking there makes it even nicer.
Tunnel Tipster image 4 A two mana 1/1 that can tap for green is already a C-level card, and this has legitimate potential to grow throughout the game, which means it can stay more relevant than most mana dorks. Of course, if you draw it late it isn’t the most impressive thing ever, but playing this on turn two and playing a couple of Disguise creatures seems like a super common play pattern. This Common looks quite good.
Pack 1 Pick 3: Outrageous Robbery
Sanitation Automaton image 1.5 This has mediocre stats and a mediocre ETB.
Outrageous Robbery image 4 So, this is effectively an X draw spell, except you get to steal your opponents stuff instead. I wouldn’t count on milling your opponent out with it, but there is a chance of it. Because it’s an Instant you can exile a bunch of stuff and then start playing it on your turn. Obviously it doesn’t add to the board and its expensive to really get there with it, but I think it’s powerful enough to be a 4.0
Shadowy Backstreet image
Fuss image 3.5 The Fuss mode can be pretty darn strong if you’re going wide and you’re the beat down. Meanwhile, Bother is less efficient, but also less situational. 6-mana for three 1/1 flyers and surveil 2 isn’t amazing, but you’re also fairly unlikely to die after you cast it thanks to those three bodies, and surveil 2 makes it likely you’re going to draw something meaningful.
No More Lies image 2 A harder to cast mana leak, even with exile upside, isn't that good in Limited. It can hit some stuff early, but being able to leave up this mana is far from a guarantee. Then, the longer the game goes on, the less useful it is, because your opponent is more likely to be able to pay the tax.
Coerced to Kill image 4 This is pretty great. Mind Control effects are incredibly strong, and even though this one weakenes the creature in most cases, you still remove an opposing creature and get a 1/1 death touch. I mean, imagine this was a 5-mana Sorcery that gives you a 1/1 death touch and destroys a creature – that’s basically what this is, and that’s amazing. The creature actually keeps any abilities it has too, so sometimes it will be better! Importantly, this can get you back ahead from behind.
Public Thoroughfare image 2.5 This is another nice source of fixing, even if it does require you to jump through a few hoops. Being able to only tap a Clue or something once when you play it is nice.
Murder image 3.5 Murder is still a pretty good Magic card in Limited. The double black can be a pain, but this is still premium.
Pick Your Poison image 0.5 Even at one mana and with all these modes, this still feels like it won't do enough far too often. I think it's a sideboard card.
Museum Nightwatch image 2.5 Spending 4 mana to get a 3/2 and a 2/2 is decent, and you can Disguise this to keep your opponent from knowing that it will leave value behind.
Snarling Gorehound image 2.5 A one mana 1/1 Menace feels pretty nice on turn one, and this is likely to give you some card selection and graveyard synergy throughout the game. Seems like nice value for one mana.
Pack 1 Pick 4: Festerleech
Defenestrated Phantom image 2 No matter how you cast this, you’re really not getting a very good deal. You do still have the upside of having this big ol’ flyer you can cast in the early game, but like I said, it’s never going to feel that good. It isn’t terrible either. I’m giving it a C-. 
Festerleech image 3 This is going to feel quite nice on turn one, especially because if you’re in Black you’re probably a graveyard deck, and this certainly enables things early. You’re almost guaranteed an attack on turn two, since even if your opponent played their own one drop, they aren’t going to be able to block this when you have two mana up, and a 3/3 can stay relevant pretty much all game long, though it does have somewhat diminishing returns the later the game goes.
No More Lies image 2 A harder to cast mana leak, even with exile upside, isn't that good in Limited. It can hit some stuff early, but being able to leave up this mana is far from a guarantee. Then, the longer the game goes on, the less useful it is, because your opponent is more likely to be able to pay the tax.
Tin Street Gossip image 3.5 A 4-mana 4/4 with Vigilance is a great starting point, and this has upside that is very useful in this format. Red-Green especially has an interest in big ol’ Disguise creatures too. That Vigilance of course means it can swing and then tap for mana in the same turn, which is a nice combination.
Basilica Stalker image 2.5 It's never going to feel like you’re getting great value with the Stalker, whether you disguise it first or otherwise. But it probably won't feel bad either.
Jaded Analyst image 1.5 It feels like every single one of these creatures that has defender but loses defender when X happens has been really unimpressive, and I kind of thing this is too. I get it, you can give up a clue and attack with it, but by the time you can set that up, it isn’t like a 3/2 is going to light the world on fire. Most of the time this type of card is a 3/3, so at least it is a reasonable blocker, but a 3/2 is substantially worse.
Sanguine Savior image 3 A three mana 2/1 with Flying and Lifelink is pretty solid. It won’t always be able to get in there, but it will fairly often, and evasive lifelinkers are pretty sweet because they really shift a race in your favor. So, the fact that you can also play it first down first and give something else lifelink too is nice upside.
They Went This Way image 2 I like that this can ultimately give you a 2-for-1. I don’t like that it’s a Sorcery that doesn’t add to the board in any meaningful way. It definitely fixes your mana, and in games that go long enough that Clue is gonna feel pretty nice, but not doing anything to add to the board on turn three has been a liability in most formats of late. I kind of hope this is a format where you can do stuff like this, but I’m going to err on the side of caution.
Projektor Inspector image 2.5 A three mana 3/2 that loots on ETB is decent, and looting with this more than once isn’t impossible.
Gearbane Orangutan image 1.5 If you can either destroy an opposing artifact, or give up an expendable artifact when you play this, it’ll be fine. Ideally of course, you give up a clue. Still, I think there are going to be enough situations where neither mode is useful and this is a miserable card when that happens.
Pack 1 Pick 5: Rot Farm Mortipede
Lead Pipe image 2 One to play and two to equip isn’t a complete disaster for +2/+0. You can use it to really give you a better attack than you would otherwise have, and the life loss effect gives you some inevitability. That said, if the card ended there I’m not sure I’d think it was worth playing very often. It just doesn’t feel like it would have enough of an impact to be worth a card, even as cheap as it is. However, by giving you the ability to sacrifice the Pipe to draw a card, you’re really mitigating against that problem. Your Equipment can be pretty bad if you run out of creatures, or if you really need something more impactful, you can just throw it away. I’m still not ultra impressed here, but I think if you’ve got lots of creatures in a black deck, playing this seems fine.
Essence of Antiquity image 2.5 A 5-mana 1/10 is…kind of okay. It can block for days, although the lower power will make it unable to kill stuff all that often. The Disguise part is pretty sweet here, though. You’re usually going to play this face down and have it lie in wait as a 2/2, up until you reach a point where transforming it is advantageous. This will most frequently be when you can use it to blank a removal spell, but turning it into a 1/10 can be valuable all on its own, and untapping your whole board can have benefits too.
Glint Weaver image 2.5 Here’s this format big ol’ green creature that gains you life, which can help you stabilize from behind. If the Weaver is alone, it’s a 7-mana 6/6 with Reach that gains you 6 life – that’s not amazing, but it’s passable – and because you can distribute the counters in any number of ways, it’s often going to be better than that. This is because you’ll be able to put it on creatures who can already attack and/or gain even more life than 6. Still, this is a 7-drop, something that gives me a little pause in today’s limited formats. I do think it’s the right kind of 7-drop because it gives you value on board almost no matter what and gains you life.
Rot Farm Mortipede image 3 The boost that the Mortipede gets is legit, as a 4/4 menace lifelinker is far better than a ¾. Getting stuff to leave your graveyard isn’t a huge ask in the format either, as the entire “Collect Evidence” mechanic is all about doing that. Putting cards from your graveyard to your hand and all of that will trigger this too. I think most Black decks will realistically be able to trigger this once or twice a game, and that’s really all you need for this to pull its weight.
Reasonable Doubt image 2 This can hit any type of spell, but your opponent can also ignore it with spare mana. As usual, that type of card is never amazing, although it can feel pretty nice in the early game.
Offender at Large image 2 Just playing this face up is going to be the play more often than not, and when you do it has a reasonable shot at giving you an attack you didn’t have before. This is the type of disguise creature you probably only play face down when you’ve got nothing else going on on turn three. Either way, this card looks like it will have trouble making the cut sometimes.
Gravestone Strider image 2.5 When one mana filtering is attached to a creature, it has performed pretty well, and this even comes with the addition of graveyard hate, something that certainly matters in the format.
Airtight Alibi image 2 When you can use this correctly, it can be an absolute beating. It can work as a decent trick that leaves the buff behind, and it can blank removal. Turning off Suspect will usually be more upside than downside, too. Still, it's tricky to leave up this much mana.
Pack 1 Pick 6: Persuasive Interrogators
Agency Outfitter image 2.5 The idea here is that you search up these two cards and use the Glass to equip the Cap, in which case the Outfitter is effectively a 5/5 Flyer. The problem is that you need those cards in your deck to make it happen, and Magnifying Glass is pretty terrible to have in your deck.
Persuasive Interrogators image 2.5 There’s not enough poison in this format for the Interrogators to poison someone out very often. Obviously, you’re going to need a ton of Clues to get there. So, most of the card’s value is just being a 6-mana ⅚ that Investigates and that’s…passable, especially with the poison upside.
Sanctuary Wall image 1 The tap effect here isovercosted, even with a stun counter – especially because the wall stuns itself too! Still, if you use it on your opponent’s turn, you’re going to get rid of that stun counter first and the wall will be ready to go by the time your opponent’s stunned creature gets untapped again. Overall, though, I think this is too overcosted for what it is and the baseline isn’t impressive either. I don’t think this makes the cut very often.
Gravestone Strider image 2.5 When one mana filtering is attached to a creature, it has performed pretty well, and this even comes with the addition of graveyard hate, something that certainly matters in the format.
Gearbane Orangutan image 1.5 If you can either destroy an opposing artifact, or give up an expendable artifact when you play this, it’ll be fine. Ideally of course, you give up a clue. Still, I think there are going to be enough situations where neither mode is useful and this is a miserable card when that happens.
Sanitation Automaton image 1.5 This has mediocre stats and a mediocre ETB.
Faerie Snoop image 3 A three mana ¼ flyer isn’t a disaster, and the Disguise upside here is pretty real. Drawing a card is always nice, and there’s plenty of incentive for putting things in the graveyard too. These hybrid Disguise costs also mean these are going to be playable in a wider variety of decks than just Blue-Black.
Behind the Mask image 1 This type of card rarely works out in Limited, and I think even at one mana I’m not super interested in this. It’s easy to look at this and see it as a trick with multiple modes – and that is what it is, but reducing a creature to 1/1 or growing a creature to 4/3, or turning a clue into a 4/3, while possibilities is only useful situationally. You need stat-lines to line up just right, and if you’re turning your 2/2 or something into a 4/3 it’s really not worth it. Furthermore, shrinking an opposing creature to a 1/1 is only relevant or useful when your opponent attacks with the right creature that you actually want to remove. Basically, this is too situational to do something worthwhile very often.
Pack 1 Pick 7: Alley Assailant
Granite Witness image 2.5 A 4-mana 3/2 with Flying and Vigilance is sort of passable, so the Disguise upside here is a nice thing to have around. Tapping or untapping things isn’t always gonna be useful, but when it is, it can be pretty awesome.
Crime Novelist image 3 It has a pretty ugly starting point, but if you have Clues and other artifacts and sacrifice stuff, this can get big. And because Clues draw you cards, the mana might actually matter too.
Curious Inquiry image 2.5 Auras that cost one blue and give a creature +1/+1 and the ability to draw you a card when they hit your opponent have a pretty good track record in Limited. This is because it can allow you to ensure that you’re going to at least break even on cards even by hitting your opponent once, and the card advantage can quickly bury your opponent. Getting a clue is a bit worse than drawing a card straight up, even in a format with clue payoffs, but this still looks like a nice card, especially in decks that have cheap evasive creatures.
Krovod Haunch image 2.5 One to play and two to equip for +2/+0 is kind of alright, and when it isn’t meaningful enough for you, this basically becomes 4 mana to make two 1/1 tokens and gain you three life. Neither mode is crazy of course, but the modality this gives you makes it a decent inclusion. I’m giving it a C. 
Crimestopper Sprite image 2.5 A three mana 2/2 flyer isn’t too bad, and one that stuns something on ETB is probably a 3.0, it’s just a great tempo play to add to the board while getting a creature out of the way. This won’t always stun stuff, and isn’t that likely to do it on turn three, but I think it will do it often enough.
Alley Assailant image 2.5 Both modes seem fairly acceptable here, and I think the design is actually really interesting. Most of the time on turn 3 you’re probably just going to want to play it as a 3-mana 3/3 that enters tapped, but sometimes you’re in a spot where you really need to be able to block, and you can play it Disguised when that’s the case, and draining 3 life from your opponent is a pretty real effect.
Shady Informant image 2.5 If you could only play this face up, it would be a pretty nice card. It has high enough power to trade with a whole lot of stuff, and the death trigger is likely to let you kill something else too – and that’s a 2-for-1. So, the fact you can get it on the board earlier in the game without your opponent knowing it’s lurking there makes it even nicer.
Pack 1 Pick 8: Rot Farm Mortipede
Convenient Target image 1.5 One red for +1/+1 and Menace isn't the worst, and because you can get this back it isn't going to 2-for-1 you. You can also use it to get a blocker out of the way in a pinch.
Offender at Large image 2 Just playing this face up is going to be the play more often than not, and when you do it has a reasonable shot at giving you an attack you didn’t have before. This is the type of disguise creature you probably only play face down when you’ve got nothing else going on on turn three. Either way, this card looks like it will have trouble making the cut sometimes.
Felonious Rage image 2 We've seen this card before, more or less, and it’s a nice trick. The power boost lets your creature take down most stuff, and you come out ahead thanks to the token, and at only one mana it is really priced to move.
Rubblebelt Maverick image 3.5 These days, they give us lots of Common one drops that do a whole bunch of little things, and almost all of them have been impressive in Limited – I think this is another one of those. A one mana 1/1 with Surveil 2 is probably playable to begin with, especially if you’re a graveyard deck. Add to that the ability to put a counter on something, and this card just feels like it will do a ton of work.
Rot Farm Mortipede image 3 The boost that the Mortipede gets is legit, as a 4/4 menace lifelinker is far better than a ¾. Getting stuff to leave your graveyard isn’t a huge ask in the format either, as the entire “Collect Evidence” mechanic is all about doing that. Putting cards from your graveyard to your hand and all of that will trigger this too. I think most Black decks will realistically be able to trigger this once or twice a game, and that’s really all you need for this to pull its weight.
Jaded Analyst image 1.5 It feels like every single one of these creatures that has defender but loses defender when X happens has been really unimpressive, and I kind of thing this is too. I get it, you can give up a clue and attack with it, but by the time you can set that up, it isn’t like a 3/2 is going to light the world on fire. Most of the time this type of card is a 3/3, so at least it is a reasonable blocker, but a 3/2 is substantially worse.
Pack 1 Pick 9: Undercity Eliminator
Undercity Eliminator image 3.5 If you can exile a creature with this, it’s gonna feel pretty awesome – but only if you’re giving up something expendable. The ideal thing to give up is a clue, but there are other things around worth sacrificing. It isn’t going to work amazingly in every deck, but I think this will feel close enough to Ravenous Chupacabra often enough.
Shady Informant image 2.5 If you could only play this face up, it would be a pretty nice card. It has high enough power to trade with a whole lot of stuff, and the death trigger is likely to let you kill something else too – and that’s a 2-for-1. So, the fact you can get it on the board earlier in the game without your opponent knowing it’s lurking there makes it even nicer.
Thinking Cap image 2 If this were always 1 to Equip, it would probably be a 2.5, just because that’s a fairly efficient boost – one that’s easy to move around. Detectives are plentiful enough in this format that this still looks solid.
Auspicious Arrival image 2 This is a solid trick – one that represents a 2-for-1 thanks to that Clue. +2/+2 for two isn’t the most impressive boost-to-cost ratio, but it’s enough.
Behind the Mask image 1 This type of card rarely works out in Limited, and I think even at one mana I’m not super interested in this. It’s easy to look at this and see it as a trick with multiple modes – and that is what it is, but reducing a creature to 1/1 or growing a creature to 4/3, or turning a clue into a 4/3, while possibilities is only useful situationally. You need stat-lines to line up just right, and if you’re turning your 2/2 or something into a 4/3 it’s really not worth it. Furthermore, shrinking an opposing creature to a 1/1 is only relevant or useful when your opponent attacks with the right creature that you actually want to remove. Basically, this is too situational to do something worthwhile very often.
Pack 1 Pick 10: Lead Pipe
Lead Pipe image 2 One to play and two to equip isn’t a complete disaster for +2/+0. You can use it to really give you a better attack than you would otherwise have, and the life loss effect gives you some inevitability. That said, if the card ended there I’m not sure I’d think it was worth playing very often. It just doesn’t feel like it would have enough of an impact to be worth a card, even as cheap as it is. However, by giving you the ability to sacrifice the Pipe to draw a card, you’re really mitigating against that problem. Your Equipment can be pretty bad if you run out of creatures, or if you really need something more impactful, you can just throw it away. I’m still not ultra impressed here, but I think if you’ve got lots of creatures in a black deck, playing this seems fine.
Curious Cadaver image 3 A 4-mana 3/1 Flyer is kind of a liability. Sure, it can hit the opponent reasonably hard for the cost, but it also dies to everything, including lots of cheap removal and creature ETB abilities. This offsets that a little bit because it can come back from your graveyard, but don’t underestimate how much of a pain it is that you have to keep recasting it every time. Still, it’s an evasive creature with reasonably high power that just doesn’t stay dead, and overall that’s something I’m interested in. I could see this underwhelming in the end if that 1 toughness is extra easy to deal with in this format.
Slime Against Humanity image 0.0 // 3.0 You need at least three of these before they are worth playing, and 4 is better.
Shady Informant image 2.5 If you could only play this face up, it would be a pretty nice card. It has high enough power to trade with a whole lot of stuff, and the death trigger is likely to let you kill something else too – and that’s a 2-for-1. So, the fact you can get it on the board earlier in the game without your opponent knowing it’s lurking there makes it even nicer.
Pack 1 Pick 11: Public Thoroughfare
Sanitation Automaton image 1.5 This has mediocre stats and a mediocre ETB.
Public Thoroughfare image 2.5 This is another nice source of fixing, even if it does require you to jump through a few hoops. Being able to only tap a Clue or something once when you play it is nice.
Snarling Gorehound image 2.5 A one mana 1/1 Menace feels pretty nice on turn one, and this is likely to give you some card selection and graveyard synergy throughout the game. Seems like nice value for one mana.
Pack 1 Pick 12: Sanguine Savior
Basilica Stalker image 2.5 It's never going to feel like you’re getting great value with the Stalker, whether you disguise it first or otherwise. But it probably won't feel bad either.
Sanguine Savior image 3 A three mana 2/1 with Flying and Lifelink is pretty solid. It won’t always be able to get in there, but it will fairly often, and evasive lifelinkers are pretty sweet because they really shift a race in your favor. So, the fact that you can also play it first down first and give something else lifelink too is nice upside.
Pack 1 Pick 13: Lead Pipe
Lead Pipe image 2 One to play and two to equip isn’t a complete disaster for +2/+0. You can use it to really give you a better attack than you would otherwise have, and the life loss effect gives you some inevitability. That said, if the card ended there I’m not sure I’d think it was worth playing very often. It just doesn’t feel like it would have enough of an impact to be worth a card, even as cheap as it is. However, by giving you the ability to sacrifice the Pipe to draw a card, you’re really mitigating against that problem. Your Equipment can be pretty bad if you run out of creatures, or if you really need something more impactful, you can just throw it away. I’m still not ultra impressed here, but I think if you’ve got lots of creatures in a black deck, playing this seems fine.
Pack 2 Pick 1: Aurelia's Vindicator
Magnifying Glass image 1 This is a bad mana rock that is way too slow at making Clues.
Aurelia's Vindicator image 5 A 4-mana 4/2 with flying, lifelink and ward 2 can do a ton of work, and if your opponent can’t find a way to deal with it quickly – something that is difficult thanks to Ward, it’s going to end up causing all kinds of problems for your opponent. The race will get completely out of control! You’re frequently just going to play this face up because of that. But it also has some really insane late game upside, where you play it face down and then turn it face up. The exile effect is reminiscent of Angel of Serenity, in that the stuff it exiles can go back to player’s hands. This means that you can do double duty with that type of effect. You can use it to remove stuff of your opponents – but for insurance, you can also exile some of your own graveyard stuff, so that if your opponent does find a way to kill the Vindicator, you’re going to get some cards back too.  I think the whole package here is a bomb.
Shadowy Backstreet image
Chalk Outline image 0.0 / 3.5 The idea here is to play cards with Collect Evidence alongside this, and if you have enough of that going on – and enough creatures in your deck – this has the potential to be a fairly absurd engine, since it effectively gives you 2 cards every time you Collect Evidence. The problem is that this does absolutely nothing up front. Still, the upside is kind of insane, and I think accessible enough in some decks for this to get a buildaround grade. 
Torch the Witness image 4 It’s always going to feel like very efficient removal, and it scales all game long and it’s likely to let you investigate in most situations, so you even get a 2-for-1!
Lumbering Laundry image 2 We’ve seen in past sets with Morph that being able to look at your opponent’s face-down cards isn’t really worth spending mana. Sure, the information is nice, and there’s worse things you could sink your mana into, but until you reach a point where you have literally nothing else you can do, you’re not going to be using this ability. So, what you’re left with is a pretty medium creature with a bit of Disguise upside.
On the Job image 1.5 // 3.0 As usual with Inspiring Charge effects, this is a build around. Red/White decks look the most well-positioned for this as they can go the widest, but you really need to be all in on curving out and going wide, or this isn’t worth it, even with the clue. It’s probably a D in your typical White deck, but a card you’re usually going to be happy with one of in your more aggressive decks.
Out Cold image 2 I’m not always a huge fan of cards that just Stun things, as it often doesn’t feel like they do enough to be worth a card. Sure, you can get two creatures out of the way for two attacks and two blocks, but if you don’t have the game in-hand by the time they untap, you’re going to be in trouble.  But because this gives you a Clue, it gives you that card back. I still don’t really think you want more than one, but this looks like a pretty good version of this effect. It can even hit Disguised creatures without you having to worry about Ward.
Escape Tunnel image 3 This is Evolving Wilds with upside, and that upside can allow you send in an unblockable Disguise creature.
Macabre Reconstruction image 2.5 Paying two for this is very doable, and when you do that it feels great. You probably don't want more than one, though.
Basilica Stalker image 2.5 It's never going to feel like you’re getting great value with the Stalker, whether you disguise it first or otherwise. But it probably won't feel bad either.
Slime Against Humanity image 0.0 // 3.0 You need at least three of these before they are worth playing, and 4 is better.
Goblin Maskmaker image 2 So, if you get this on exactly turn one and you have some Disguise creatures in your hand, this can feel pretty good – as dropping a 2/2 Ward 2 on turn two – one that will have all kinds of upside – is pretty awesome. The problem is that this has diminishing returns as the game goes on, especially because it has to attack to give you that discount.
Pack 2 Pick 2: Massacre Girl, Known Killer
Slice from the Shadows image 3.5 Uncounterability actually matters in this set because of all the Disguise creatures with Ward. –X/-X is never going to feel super efficient, but it’s an instant and it scales all game, so I think it’s premium.
Massacre Girl, Known Killer image 5 A 4-mana 4/4 Menace is something you always play, and she brings some amazing upside! Wither will make life hard for your opponent, since their creatures will now lose stats even when they successfully block something. And it combos particularly well with her other ability – if a creature dies against something that has wither, it’s always going to have toughness less than 1, and that ability will trigger. In other words, any time you attack you’re putting a ton of pressure on your opponent where they have to choose between taking the damage or potentially giving you cards.
Magnetic Snuffler image 2.5 This set does have some Equipment that sacrifice themselves and draw you a card, and that’s kind of what it’s supposed to interact with. There’s also a decent amount of self-mill in the format. But…I still wouldn’t count on triggering that ETB all that often. When you can, it will feel nice. I think most of the value of the Snuffler comes from the fact that it grows when you sacrifice clues or other artifacts – but, the fact it starts out so inefficiently makes it hard for me to really feel great about this card.
Hard-Hitting Question image 3.5 They have really been pushing these punch effects lately. There once was a time where one mana for a straight up fight effect was a nice Limited card, but now we get a one-sided fight for the same cost! Obviously, it’s pretty darn good. You do need to have a sizable enough creature around to make it do its thing the best, and you have to pick your spots because removal is an utter blowout, but we’re still talking about a one mana removal spell…this’ll feel like a Green Swords to Plowshares pretty often.
Neighborhood Guardian image 2.5 The boost is nice and all but…it’s not amazing when you have to jump through some pretty specific hoops to make it happen. And sure, there’s lots of Diguise in this set that will trigger this, not to mention creature tokens and the like, but this still seems pretty medium. 
Rubblebelt Maverick image 3.5 These days, they give us lots of Common one drops that do a whole bunch of little things, and almost all of them have been impressive in Limited – I think this is another one of those. A one mana 1/1 with Surveil 2 is probably playable to begin with, especially if you’re a graveyard deck. Add to that the ability to put a counter on something, and this card just feels like it will do a ton of work.
Seasoned Consultant image 2 This will feel pretty nice attacking as a 3/3, but it probably won’t be doing that until turn 4 at the earliest, so it isn’t going to be lighting the world on fire either.
Rakish Scoundrel image 2 A 4-mana 3/3 death touch is probably a 1.5. It can trade for anything, but that’s really only exciting on cheap death touchers, and this definitely isn’t one. And sure, this can grant indestructibility when it enters, or can do it at instant speed if you have the mana for disguise – which means that it will kill whatever blocks it and survive thanks to death touch and indestructibility, but it seems like you’re just paying too much mana for this no matter how you deploy it.
Toxin Analysis image 1.5 This is really cheap, and cheap tricks are often real good for their ability to punch above their weight class – and this one even gives you a clue! But…there’s a problem. It doesn’t offer anything that can help your creature survive combat. Sure, your creature can always trade thanks to this, but it’s still going to feel close enough to a 2-for-1 to sting when you have to use it that way. It does work nicely with Suspect, but I don't think that's enough.
Deduce image 2.5 This is a nice little card draw spell, because it ultimately gives you a 2-for-1, and there’s lots of additional upside for making Clue tokens in the format. You probably don’t want too many of these because they don’t really add to the board.
Goblin Maskmaker image 2 So, if you get this on exactly turn one and you have some Disguise creatures in your hand, this can feel pretty good – as dropping a 2/2 Ward 2 on turn two – one that will have all kinds of upside – is pretty awesome. The problem is that this has diminishing returns as the game goes on, especially because it has to attack to give you that discount.
Crimestopper Sprite image 2.5 A three mana 2/2 flyer isn’t too bad, and one that stuns something on ETB is probably a 3.0, it’s just a great tempo play to add to the board while getting a creature out of the way. This won’t always stun stuff, and isn’t that likely to do it on turn three, but I think it will do it often enough.
Pack 2 Pick 3: Sanguine Savior
Murder image 3.5 Murder is still a pretty good Magic card in Limited. The double black can be a pain, but this is still premium.
Illicit Masquerade image 2 This is a neat design, but it seems a little too finicky to be great in Limited. You need a few things to line up correctly for this to do its thing: First, you need a board state. Probably the smallest thing it asks you for, but…if you don’t have a couple of creatures in play, this isn’t going to feel very good. After that, you need your creatures to die – something you can certainly manufacture. And third, you need stuff in your graveyard. Now, all of that is fairly doable, at least individually, but you need them all to line up with the right timing for Illicit Masquerade to work. It is nice it has Flash, which makes it easier for you to find that timing, but I think there are going to be too many situations where the Masquerade either does nothing, or is too slow at doing something.
Sudden Setback image 3.5 We’ve seen a lot of 4 mana blue cards lately that let you get rid of a nonland permanent by giving your opponent the option of put it on top or bottom of the library, and they’ve fared pretty well. None of them have been amazing, but they let you trade 1-for-1 and you can do it at instant speed. So, add in the ability to also do this with spells on the stack, and I think we’re talking about a fairly high quality card.
Case of the Shattered Pact image 2.5 A colorless source of fixing is a nice thing to have around, and this format has enough multicolored stuff going on that solving this isn’t impossible, and obviously the Case itself increases your chances of having a deck that lets you solve this, but I still think this will be hard enough to solve that most of the value just comes from its ability to fix your mana, with some occasional late-game upside.
Soul Search image 1.5 This hits a wide enough variety of things to not to be an entirely useless discard spell, and the fact that sometimes you can get a token is pretty sweet.
Sanguine Savior image 3 A three mana 2/1 with Flying and Lifelink is pretty solid. It won’t always be able to get in there, but it will fairly often, and evasive lifelinkers are pretty sweet because they really shift a race in your favor. So, the fact that you can also play it first down first and give something else lifelink too is nice upside.
Gadget Technician image 3.5 Playing this face up gives you a pretty nice rate, and the Disguise option is pretty nice too. This looks like a really good common.
Unscrupulous Agent image 3 We see this card a lot lately, and it’s always pretty nice. Goes after a card in your opponents hand while adding to the board, and then you can sacrifice it or otherwise utilize it for other purposes, sometimes it even feels like you’re getting a 2-for-1.
Gearbane Orangutan image 1.5 If you can either destroy an opposing artifact, or give up an expendable artifact when you play this, it’ll be fine. Ideally of course, you give up a clue. Still, I think there are going to be enough situations where neither mode is useful and this is a miserable card when that happens.
Gravestone Strider image 2.5 When one mana filtering is attached to a creature, it has performed pretty well, and this even comes with the addition of graveyard hate, something that certainly matters in the format.
Deduce image 2.5 This is a nice little card draw spell, because it ultimately gives you a 2-for-1, and there’s lots of additional upside for making Clue tokens in the format. You probably don’t want too many of these because they don’t really add to the board.
Pack 2 Pick 4: Not on My Watch
Case of the Ransacked Lab image 0 If you don't solve this, it's unplayable. And you're not solving it.
Flotsam image 2.5 The Flotsam side helps you set up graveyard shenanigans and replaces itself, and the Jetsam side gives you a free spell. Neither are going to feel like the most efficient thing in the world in most cases – You have to pay 4 total mana to mill three and draw a card with Flotsam, and Jetsam isn’t usually going to give you back the mana you spent, and if either of this card was only one or the other it would be too narrow and mediocre. But, having both makes a big difference – that’s what is great about split cards. Both plays might be kind of meh, but the fact remains you have a card that does something useful and something early late, and most cards don’t have that kind of flexibility.
Rope image 1.5 I think this is the worst card in this cycle. The buffs it offers are underwhelming, especially when you’re paying 3 to equip.
Fuss image 3.5 The Fuss mode can be pretty darn strong if you’re going wide and you’re the beat down. Meanwhile, Bother is less efficient, but also less situational. 6-mana for three 1/1 flyers and surveil 2 isn’t amazing, but you’re also fairly unlikely to die after you cast it thanks to those three bodies, and surveil 2 makes it likely you’re going to draw something meaningful.
Not on My Watch image 3 If you’re in the market for this kind of effect, it’s super efficient. The problem is, lots of decks aren’t really in on this kind of effect. If you’re an aggro deck, this isn’t very good, because you want removal that lets you get blockers out of the way. If you’re not aggressive, though, this ends up feeling like premium removal.
On the Job image 1.5 // 3.0 As usual with Inspiring Charge effects, this is a build around. Red/White decks look the most well-positioned for this as they can go the widest, but you really need to be all in on curving out and going wide, or this isn’t worth it, even with the clue. It’s probably a D in your typical White deck, but a card you’re usually going to be happy with one of in your more aggressive decks.
Basilica Stalker image 2.5 It's never going to feel like you’re getting great value with the Stalker, whether you disguise it first or otherwise. But it probably won't feel bad either.
Pick Your Poison image 0.5 Even at one mana and with all these modes, this still feels like it won't do enough far too often. I think it's a sideboard card.
Make Your Move image 2 We see this type of removal that only hits big creatures all the time, and it’s usually pretty mediocre, simply because its too narrow. They usually don’t even make the cut in your main deck. But, stapling Disenchant to it is a pretty big upgrade, especially in a set that has a fair number of both, probably makes this into a solid playable, and I think it even has a shot at being better than that.
Gearbane Orangutan image 1.5 If you can either destroy an opposing artifact, or give up an expendable artifact when you play this, it’ll be fine. Ideally of course, you give up a clue. Still, I think there are going to be enough situations where neither mode is useful and this is a miserable card when that happens.
Pack 2 Pick 5: Curious Cadaver
Macabre Reconstruction image 2.5 Paying two for this is very doable, and when you do that it feels great. You probably don't want more than one, though.
Curious Cadaver image 3 A 4-mana 3/1 Flyer is kind of a liability. Sure, it can hit the opponent reasonably hard for the cost, but it also dies to everything, including lots of cheap removal and creature ETB abilities. This offsets that a little bit because it can come back from your graveyard, but don’t underestimate how much of a pain it is that you have to keep recasting it every time. Still, it’s an evasive creature with reasonably high power that just doesn’t stay dead, and overall that’s something I’m interested in. I could see this underwhelming in the end if that 1 toughness is extra easy to deal with in this format.
Polygraph Orb image 1 We usually see this card draw effect at or even 3 mana, so paying five for it, and at Sorcery speed is rough. It does load your graveyard to set up Collect Evidence, which it itself has, but I’m not that impressed with the activated ability either. Giving your opponent three options on this kind of effect oftens amounts to them being able to choose one that just doesn’t do anything. Speaking of not doing anything, that’s what this card does when it comes to the board, so I think this is kind of a liability.
Rakish Scoundrel image 2 A 4-mana 3/3 death touch is probably a 1.5. It can trade for anything, but that’s really only exciting on cheap death touchers, and this definitely isn’t one. And sure, this can grant indestructibility when it enters, or can do it at instant speed if you have the mana for disguise – which means that it will kill whatever blocks it and survive thanks to death touch and indestructibility, but it seems like you’re just paying too much mana for this no matter how you deploy it.
Magnifying Glass image 1 This is a bad mana rock that is way too slow at making Clues.
Basilica Stalker image 2.5 It's never going to feel like you’re getting great value with the Stalker, whether you disguise it first or otherwise. But it probably won't feel bad either.
Demand Answers image 2.5 We’ve come a long way since Tormenting Voice. This is an Instant and you can choose to sacrifice an artifact or discard a card as an additional cost. That’s actually a pretty big deal, because this format has so many Clues.
Defenestrated Phantom image 2 No matter how you cast this, you’re really not getting a very good deal. You do still have the upside of having this big ol’ flyer you can cast in the early game, but like I said, it’s never going to feel that good. It isn’t terrible either. I’m giving it a C-. 
Sanitation Automaton image 1.5 This has mediocre stats and a mediocre ETB.
Pack 2 Pick 6: Festerleech
The Chase Is On image 2 This is expensive for a trick, but your creature is likely to win combat and you even get a 2-for-1 in the long run.
It Doesn't Add Up image 2 This lets you reanimated something at instant speed. Of course…because you are forces to suspect the creature, it can't ambush block stuff, and that’s a big part of what would make this sweet. As is, it's an expensive removal spell with an effect that has just as mich downside as upside, and this kind of thing even with upside isn't always useful. That doesn't add up to a very good grade.
Festerleech image 3 This is going to feel quite nice on turn one, especially because if you’re in Black you’re probably a graveyard deck, and this certainly enables things early. You’re almost guaranteed an attack on turn two, since even if your opponent played their own one drop, they aren’t going to be able to block this when you have two mana up, and a 3/3 can stay relevant pretty much all game long, though it does have somewhat diminishing returns the later the game goes.
Vitu-Ghazi Inspector image 2.5 You're not usually going to be able to unlock this cards full power on turn two, and while a ⅓ with reach isn't a disaster for two mana, it isn't remotely close to good either. The good news is that the ETB is useful pretty much all game long.
Alley Assailant image 2.5 Both modes seem fairly acceptable here, and I think the design is actually really interesting. Most of the time on turn 3 you’re probably just going to want to play it as a 3-mana 3/3 that enters tapped, but sometimes you’re in a spot where you really need to be able to block, and you can play it Disguised when that’s the case, and draining 3 life from your opponent is a pretty real effect.
Public Thoroughfare image 2.5 This is another nice source of fixing, even if it does require you to jump through a few hoops. Being able to only tap a Clue or something once when you play it is nice.
Riftburst Hellion image 2.5 This isn’t going to feel amazing either way you get the 6/7 with Reach, but the fact that it IS a huge creature with the upside of being castable as a three mana 2/2 Ward 2 makes it worthwhile.
Due Diligence image 2 Without the ETB this would be really bad. If you throw the ETB in the mix, it gets more interesting. There are going to be times where you cast this and end up with two great attacks as a result, and the Vigilance makes it so you don’t have to give up on defending yourself either, so chances are better than normal that those attacks are worth taking. Alternatively, making one thing get +4/+4 and Vigilance for a turn doesn’t sound bad either. You do need to be careful about casting this, as you do with most Auras, but this one does enough to be make the cut a decent chunk of the time.
Pack 2 Pick 7: Call a Surprise Witness
Call a Surprise Witness image 2.5 We’ve seen two mana spells that reanimate small creatures and give them a little buff work out reasonably well of late, and I think this is another one of those. It does take set up, and a deck made up of the right composition, but I don’t think it will be hard to feel like you’re getting a good deal when you can cast this.
Cease image 2.5 The Cease side lets you hate on the graveyard while replacing itself which…probably wouldn’t be good enough to make the main deck in this format. The Desist side is more situational, but there are definitely going to be board states in this format where it really impacts the board, and most of the time when you get to 6 mana it has a pretty good chance at destroying something, just…hopefully not your stuff.
Pick Your Poison image 0.5 Even at one mana and with all these modes, this still feels like it won't do enough far too often. I think it's a sideboard card.
Defenestrated Phantom image 2 No matter how you cast this, you’re really not getting a very good deal. You do still have the upside of having this big ol’ flyer you can cast in the early game, but like I said, it’s never going to feel that good. It isn’t terrible either. I’m giving it a C-. 
Rot Farm Mortipede image 3 The boost that the Mortipede gets is legit, as a 4/4 menace lifelinker is far better than a ¾. Getting stuff to leave your graveyard isn’t a huge ask in the format either, as the entire “Collect Evidence” mechanic is all about doing that. Putting cards from your graveyard to your hand and all of that will trigger this too. I think most Black decks will realistically be able to trigger this once or twice a game, and that’s really all you need for this to pull its weight.
Demand Answers image 2.5 We’ve come a long way since Tormenting Voice. This is an Instant and you can choose to sacrifice an artifact or discard a card as an additional cost. That’s actually a pretty big deal, because this format has so many Clues.
Deduce image 2.5 This is a nice little card draw spell, because it ultimately gives you a 2-for-1, and there’s lots of additional upside for making Clue tokens in the format. You probably don’t want too many of these because they don’t really add to the board.
Pack 2 Pick 8: Novice Inspector
Fanatical Strength image 3 We’ve seen Run Amok in the past, and it has a strictly worse text box because it can only target attacking creatures, and Run Amok was an absolute beating in aggro decks. I think this will be too. The stats boost + trample can just wreck combat in so many ways, and make damage lethal out of nowhere. The boost is enough to save a creature from some removal spells in a pinch too.  You’re going to want to keep this card in the back of your mind any time you’re playing someone who is in Green.
Case of the Gateway Express image 4 The ETB will be a reasonable removal spell most of the time, and sometimes a really good one – and this case is easier to solve than most. The reward isn’t exactly game-breaking, but it’s certainly relevant, especially because it’s effectively stapled to a solid removal spell.
Lead Pipe image 2 One to play and two to equip isn’t a complete disaster for +2/+0. You can use it to really give you a better attack than you would otherwise have, and the life loss effect gives you some inevitability. That said, if the card ended there I’m not sure I’d think it was worth playing very often. It just doesn’t feel like it would have enough of an impact to be worth a card, even as cheap as it is. However, by giving you the ability to sacrifice the Pipe to draw a card, you’re really mitigating against that problem. Your Equipment can be pretty bad if you run out of creatures, or if you really need something more impactful, you can just throw it away. I’m still not ultra impressed here, but I think if you’ve got lots of creatures in a black deck, playing this seems fine.
Gnaw to the Bone image
Thinking Cap image 2 If this were always 1 to Equip, it would probably be a 2.5, just because that’s a fairly efficient boost – one that’s easy to move around. Detectives are plentiful enough in this format that this still looks solid.
Novice Inspector image 3.5 This is a functional reprint of Thraben Inspector, which was amazing. Two pieces of material for one mana is awesome.
Pack 2 Pick 9: Macabre Reconstruction
Magnifying Glass image 1 This is a bad mana rock that is way too slow at making Clues.
Chalk Outline image 0.0 / 3.5 The idea here is to play cards with Collect Evidence alongside this, and if you have enough of that going on – and enough creatures in your deck – this has the potential to be a fairly absurd engine, since it effectively gives you 2 cards every time you Collect Evidence. The problem is that this does absolutely nothing up front. Still, the upside is kind of insane, and I think accessible enough in some decks for this to get a buildaround grade. 
On the Job image 1.5 // 3.0 As usual with Inspiring Charge effects, this is a build around. Red/White decks look the most well-positioned for this as they can go the widest, but you really need to be all in on curving out and going wide, or this isn’t worth it, even with the clue. It’s probably a D in your typical White deck, but a card you’re usually going to be happy with one of in your more aggressive decks.
Macabre Reconstruction image 2.5 Paying two for this is very doable, and when you do that it feels great. You probably don't want more than one, though.
Slime Against Humanity image 0.0 // 3.0 You need at least three of these before they are worth playing, and 4 is better.
Pack 2 Pick 10: Slice from the Shadows
Slice from the Shadows image 3.5 Uncounterability actually matters in this set because of all the Disguise creatures with Ward. –X/-X is never going to feel super efficient, but it’s an instant and it scales all game, so I think it’s premium.
Magnetic Snuffler image 2.5 This set does have some Equipment that sacrifice themselves and draw you a card, and that’s kind of what it’s supposed to interact with. There’s also a decent amount of self-mill in the format. But…I still wouldn’t count on triggering that ETB all that often. When you can, it will feel nice. I think most of the value of the Snuffler comes from the fact that it grows when you sacrifice clues or other artifacts – but, the fact it starts out so inefficiently makes it hard for me to really feel great about this card.
Toxin Analysis image 1.5 This is really cheap, and cheap tricks are often real good for their ability to punch above their weight class – and this one even gives you a clue! But…there’s a problem. It doesn’t offer anything that can help your creature survive combat. Sure, your creature can always trade thanks to this, but it’s still going to feel close enough to a 2-for-1 to sting when you have to use it that way. It does work nicely with Suspect, but I don't think that's enough.
Deduce image 2.5 This is a nice little card draw spell, because it ultimately gives you a 2-for-1, and there’s lots of additional upside for making Clue tokens in the format. You probably don’t want too many of these because they don’t really add to the board.
Pack 2 Pick 11: Unscrupulous Agent
Soul Search image 1.5 This hits a wide enough variety of things to not to be an entirely useless discard spell, and the fact that sometimes you can get a token is pretty sweet.
Unscrupulous Agent image 3 We see this card a lot lately, and it’s always pretty nice. Goes after a card in your opponents hand while adding to the board, and then you can sacrifice it or otherwise utilize it for other purposes, sometimes it even feels like you’re getting a 2-for-1.
Gearbane Orangutan image 1.5 If you can either destroy an opposing artifact, or give up an expendable artifact when you play this, it’ll be fine. Ideally of course, you give up a clue. Still, I think there are going to be enough situations where neither mode is useful and this is a miserable card when that happens.
Pack 2 Pick 12: On the Job
Rope image 1.5 I think this is the worst card in this cycle. The buffs it offers are underwhelming, especially when you’re paying 3 to equip.
On the Job image 1.5 // 3.0 As usual with Inspiring Charge effects, this is a build around. Red/White decks look the most well-positioned for this as they can go the widest, but you really need to be all in on curving out and going wide, or this isn’t worth it, even with the clue. It’s probably a D in your typical White deck, but a card you’re usually going to be happy with one of in your more aggressive decks.
Pack 2 Pick 13: Macabre Reconstruction
Macabre Reconstruction image 2.5 Paying two for this is very doable, and when you do that it feels great. You probably don't want more than one, though.
Pack 3 Pick 1: Leering Onlooker
Griffnaut Tracker image 2 4-mana 3/2 flyers aren’t what they once were, but hating on the graveyard has value, and the stat-line isn’t a complete disaster. I’m giving this a C. 
Case of the Crimson Pulse image 4 This gives you a more expensive Tormenting Voice up front, and once you solve it, it becomes a pretty insane card advantage engine. If you’re a low-to-the-ground Red deck, it isn’t going to be that hard to solve this quickly, and the card’s baseline is already fairly acceptable – and once it’s fully unlocked it is very likely to win you the game. The card’s biggest downside is that it doesn’t impact the board, but the upside is so much that I think that's fine.
Case of the Gorgon's Kiss image 2.5 If you can solve this the value is insane, and it can certainly set that up for you. On the flip side, it also the potential to do absolutely nothing.
Flourishing Bloom-Kin image 3 This is best in a heavy green deck, but even outside of that, it helps you ramp your mana and will be a reasonable size.
No More Lies image 2 A harder to cast mana leak, even with exile upside, isn't that good in Limited. It can hit some stuff early, but being able to leave up this mana is far from a guarantee. Then, the longer the game goes on, the less useful it is, because your opponent is more likely to be able to pay the tax.
Leering Onlooker image 3.5 I’m reasonably happy with a two mana ⅓ Flyer, and this one gives you a couple bodies out of the graveyard. This means that if you’re milling yourself it still gives you value, and just casting it normally and getting the bodies back later is a nice feeling too.
Laid to Rest image 1.0 // 4.0 This is mostly here for the GW deck, which is all about Humans and +1/+1 counters, and in that deck, this is going to be a pretty serious value engine. Drawing cards and gaining life is really going to enable you to grind out wins. Sure, costing 4 and not adding to the board is kind of a big deal, but the good news is that while it may not actually add something to the board, it does alter the board, in the sense that your opponent now has to deal with the fact that if they attack you, you can threaten to gain life and draw cards. This is definitely a build around, but I think its one that has a high enough ceiling that you may want to consider taking it early.
On the Job image 1.5 // 3.0 As usual with Inspiring Charge effects, this is a build around. Red/White decks look the most well-positioned for this as they can go the widest, but you really need to be all in on curving out and going wide, or this isn’t worth it, even with the clue. It’s probably a D in your typical White deck, but a card you’re usually going to be happy with one of in your more aggressive decks.
Cerebral Confiscation image 1 So…this is either Mind Rot or Coercion, and neither of those is a great card these days, mostly because they don’t do anything in the late game and don’t add to the board.
Deduce image 2.5 This is a nice little card draw spell, because it ultimately gives you a 2-for-1, and there’s lots of additional upside for making Clue tokens in the format. You probably don’t want too many of these because they don’t really add to the board.
Nervous Gardener image 3 A two mana 2/2 isn’t what it used to be, but that’s the fail case here, and this has the upside of fixing your mana. Note, by the way, that it can grab this format’s dual lands, should you pick one up.
Suspicious Detonation image 2.5 If this was always 5 mana, it’d probably be a 1.5. That’s a really clunky Sorcery that usually can’t trade up. But, this will cost two fairly often in Red decks. Sacrificing a Clue is all you need to be able to do, and as we’ve seen there are otherwise to sacrifice artifacts too. It can also go after Disguised creatures since it can’t be countered.
Haazda Vigilante image 2.5 If you can get a counter of this, the rate on this will feel fine. Doing so doesn’t seem like a big stretch with all the Disguise creatures, either. It’s nice he does it on attacks too, so getting two counters of him is a real possibility.
Pack 3 Pick 2: Extract a Confession
Analyze the Pollen image 2.5 So, this is a new take on Traverse the Ulvenwald, which isn't as good in Limited as it is in constructed. Still, it provides good fixing early and in the late game it can tutor up your best creature.
Audience with Trostani image 1.5 At worst this is three mana for a 0/1 that draws you a card. That’s not good, but as a fail case it could be worse. This set does have a bunch of different creature tokens, but it still feels like drawing two with this is pretty medium, and expecting more than that is an unreasonable expectation. You can set it up sometimes, sure, but not often enough.
Axebane Ferox image 4 Nothing super fancy here, just a super efficient creature that your opponent won’t always be able to target with stuff, especially in the early game.
Eliminate the Impossible image 1.5 I’m not the biggest fan of this type of effect – but when they tack card draw on to it, it starts to get more interesting. The usual problem is that this is only useful in fairly narrow situations, and getting a trade to happen is hard. It can sort of function as a bad fog, or a bad combat trick, but obviously…neither of those are things you want to be going after. But, because it Investigates – and it’s relatively cheap – those problems are more acceptable.
Flotsam image 2.5 The Flotsam side helps you set up graveyard shenanigans and replaces itself, and the Jetsam side gives you a free spell. Neither are going to feel like the most efficient thing in the world in most cases – You have to pay 4 total mana to mill three and draw a card with Flotsam, and Jetsam isn’t usually going to give you back the mana you spent, and if either of this card was only one or the other it would be too narrow and mediocre. But, having both makes a big difference – that’s what is great about split cards. Both plays might be kind of meh, but the fact remains you have a card that does something useful and something early late, and most cards don’t have that kind of flexibility.
Sudden Setback image 3.5 We’ve seen a lot of 4 mana blue cards lately that let you get rid of a nonland permanent by giving your opponent the option of put it on top or bottom of the library, and they’ve fared pretty well. None of them have been amazing, but they let you trade 1-for-1 and you can do it at instant speed. So, add in the ability to also do this with spells on the stack, and I think we’re talking about a fairly high quality card.
Vitu-Ghazi Inspector image 2.5 You're not usually going to be able to unlock this cards full power on turn two, and while a ⅓ with reach isn't a disaster for two mana, it isn't remotely close to good either. The good news is that the ETB is useful pretty much all game long.
Deduce image 2.5 This is a nice little card draw spell, because it ultimately gives you a 2-for-1, and there’s lots of additional upside for making Clue tokens in the format. You probably don’t want too many of these because they don’t really add to the board.
They Went This Way image 2 I like that this can ultimately give you a 2-for-1. I don’t like that it’s a Sorcery that doesn’t add to the board in any meaningful way. It definitely fixes your mana, and in games that go long enough that Clue is gonna feel pretty nice, but not doing anything to add to the board on turn three has been a liability in most formats of late. I kind of hope this is a format where you can do stuff like this, but I’m going to err on the side of caution.
Toxin Analysis image 1.5 This is really cheap, and cheap tricks are often real good for their ability to punch above their weight class – and this one even gives you a clue! But…there’s a problem. It doesn’t offer anything that can help your creature survive combat. Sure, your creature can always trade thanks to this, but it’s still going to feel close enough to a 2-for-1 to sting when you have to use it that way. It does work nicely with Suspect, but I don't think that's enough.
Goblin Maskmaker image 2 So, if you get this on exactly turn one and you have some Disguise creatures in your hand, this can feel pretty good – as dropping a 2/2 Ward 2 on turn two – one that will have all kinds of upside – is pretty awesome. The problem is that this has diminishing returns as the game goes on, especially because it has to attack to give you that discount.
Extract a Confession image 3.5 This looks like a great common. Edicts tend to be at their best when your opponent has the fewest creatures. That usually means the early game. But thanks to collevt evidence here, this stays pretty good by the mid to late game, as getting rid of your opponents highest power creature will also mean their best creature loke 80 percent of the time.
Pack 3 Pick 3: Public Thoroughfare
It Doesn't Add Up image 2 This lets you reanimated something at instant speed. Of course…because you are forces to suspect the creature, it can't ambush block stuff, and that’s a big part of what would make this sweet. As is, it's an expensive removal spell with an effect that has just as mich downside as upside, and this kind of thing even with upside isn't always useful. That doesn't add up to a very good grade.
Urgent Necropsy image 3 You’ll almost never have a planeswalker to destroy with this, but you’ll basically always have a creature, and Enchantments and Artifacts aren’t far-fetched either. Most frequently, you’ll probably just take down a creature with it at instant speed, and it takes some pretty real setup. Although that set up does look obtainable in Black-Green decks. This will feel nuts when you hit three permanents, but your opponent both has to have those and you have to have the right cards in your graveyard. So, this has a high ceiling but a miserable floor.
Forensic Researcher image 3 The most useful thing this can do is ramp your mana, but untapping permanents has other uses too. Having access to the tap effect in the mid-to-late game is nice too, as it can start allowing you to really manufacture situations where you have great attacks no matter what your opponent is doing.
Case of the Gorgon's Kiss image 2.5 If you can solve this the value is insane, and it can certainly set that up for you. On the flip side, it also the potential to do absolutely nothing.
Forum Familiar image 2.5 This is a Disguise creature that you’re going to want to play face down about 99% of the time., since if you don’t, it’s just a vanilla one mana 1/1 and those tend to get irrelevant quickly. However, if you play this face down it’s going to be pretty darn relevant thanks to its ability to bounce your permanents. You can do this to rebuy ETBs or help a creature dodge removal and stuff like that, but you can even just return a land if you just want the Familiar to be a 2/2. Obviously that’s not optimal, but it’s something. I think this will lie in wait and have big impacts on many games. This also gives us back-to-back white Disguise creatures who can turn face up and blank removal, so that’s something your’e going to have to keep in mind.
Thinking Cap image 2 If this were always 1 to Equip, it would probably be a 2.5, just because that’s a fairly efficient boost – one that’s easy to move around. Detectives are plentiful enough in this format that this still looks solid.
Rakish Scoundrel image 2 A 4-mana 3/3 death touch is probably a 1.5. It can trade for anything, but that’s really only exciting on cheap death touchers, and this definitely isn’t one. And sure, this can grant indestructibility when it enters, or can do it at instant speed if you have the mana for disguise – which means that it will kill whatever blocks it and survive thanks to death touch and indestructibility, but it seems like you’re just paying too much mana for this no matter how you deploy it.
Rot Farm Mortipede image 3 The boost that the Mortipede gets is legit, as a 4/4 menace lifelinker is far better than a ¾. Getting stuff to leave your graveyard isn’t a huge ask in the format either, as the entire “Collect Evidence” mechanic is all about doing that. Putting cards from your graveyard to your hand and all of that will trigger this too. I think most Black decks will realistically be able to trigger this once or twice a game, and that’s really all you need for this to pull its weight.
Dramatic Accusation image 2.5 Three mana Blue Auras that tap a creature down usually aren’t anything special. The problem is that they don’t entirely remove the creature in all situations, so abilities are still relevant, and if your opponent has a way to sacrifice or otherwise utilize the tapped down creature you end up feeling like you’re really far behind. The Accusation’s activated ability adds an interesting wrinkle to this, since now you can get rid of the creature if it has problematic abilities and everything. The downside is your opponent might draw it again later.
Defenestrated Phantom image 2 No matter how you cast this, you’re really not getting a very good deal. You do still have the upside of having this big ol’ flyer you can cast in the early game, but like I said, it’s never going to feel that good. It isn’t terrible either. I’m giving it a C-. 
Public Thoroughfare image 2.5 This is another nice source of fixing, even if it does require you to jump through a few hoops. Being able to only tap a Clue or something once when you play it is nice.
Pack 3 Pick 4: Murder
On the Job image 1.5 // 3.0 As usual with Inspiring Charge effects, this is a build around. Red/White decks look the most well-positioned for this as they can go the widest, but you really need to be all in on curving out and going wide, or this isn’t worth it, even with the clue. It’s probably a D in your typical White deck, but a card you’re usually going to be happy with one of in your more aggressive decks.
Break Out image 3 This is a two mana card selection spell that gives you an option of adding to the board, and that's pretty awesome.
Repulsive Mutation image 3 because leaving up mana and hoping your opponent plays into it can be a really serious problem. You have to be careful about using them.
Case of the Gorgon's Kiss image 2.5 If you can solve this the value is insane, and it can certainly set that up for you. On the flip side, it also the potential to do absolutely nothing.
Seasoned Consultant image 2 This will feel pretty nice attacking as a 3/3, but it probably won’t be doing that until turn 4 at the earliest, so it isn’t going to be lighting the world on fire either.
Vitu-Ghazi Inspector image 2.5 You're not usually going to be able to unlock this cards full power on turn two, and while a ⅓ with reach isn't a disaster for two mana, it isn't remotely close to good either. The good news is that the ETB is useful pretty much all game long.
Murder image 3.5 Murder is still a pretty good Magic card in Limited. The double black can be a pain, but this is still premium.
Demand Answers image 2.5 We’ve come a long way since Tormenting Voice. This is an Instant and you can choose to sacrifice an artifact or discard a card as an additional cost. That’s actually a pretty big deal, because this format has so many Clues.
Sanitation Automaton image 1.5 This has mediocre stats and a mediocre ETB.
Reasonable Doubt image 2 This can hit any type of spell, but your opponent can also ignore it with spare mana. As usual, that type of card is never amazing, although it can feel pretty nice in the early game.
Pack 3 Pick 5: Wrench
Pick Your Poison image 0.5 Even at one mana and with all these modes, this still feels like it won't do enough far too often. I think it's a sideboard card.
Curious Cadaver image 3 A 4-mana 3/1 Flyer is kind of a liability. Sure, it can hit the opponent reasonably hard for the cost, but it also dies to everything, including lots of cheap removal and creature ETB abilities. This offsets that a little bit because it can come back from your graveyard, but don’t underestimate how much of a pain it is that you have to keep recasting it every time. Still, it’s an evasive creature with reasonably high power that just doesn’t stay dead, and overall that’s something I’m interested in. I could see this underwhelming in the end if that 1 toughness is extra easy to deal with in this format.
Harried Dronesmith image 3.5 Pumping out a temporary 1/1 thopter every turn is plenty good. Remember to play the dronesmith in your first main phase so you can get the value of the trigger the turn you play it! Not only does it give you a way to chip in for damage, but Red – and especially Blue/Red has a boat load of payoffs for sacrificing artifacts too, and this will feel like an engine in that type of deck.
Wrench image 2.5 All of these Cluequipments are solid or better, because they offer a decent effect, while also having the ability to be thrown away for something else when the Equipment doesn’t do enough. The stats boost here isn’t the most efficient thing ever, and the tap effect is expensive, but it certainly isn’t a bad mana sink – and the fact you can swing with something, keep it untapped, and leave mana up for the effect is nice.
Snarling Gorehound image 2.5 A one mana 1/1 Menace feels pretty nice on turn one, and this is likely to give you some card selection and graveyard synergy throughout the game. Seems like nice value for one mana.
Bubble Smuggler image 2 If you need to play a two drop well…it is one. A pretty bad one, but one nonetheless. Then if you need something on three you can disguise it, and then in the late game it can become a big monster. Now, this card isn’t ever going to make you feel like you’re doing something busted, as it’s kind of medium at all three points in the game, but the fact it can do all those things is enough for it to be fine.
Slime Against Humanity image 0.0 // 3.0 You need at least three of these before they are worth playing, and 4 is better.
Shock image 3.5 Shock is a 3.5 as it usual is. It’s definitely premium because you can spend only a single mana to kill significantly more expensive creatures – and you can do it at instant speed! Plus, it can even finish off your opponent.
Thinking Cap image 2 If this were always 1 to Equip, it would probably be a 2.5, just because that’s a fairly efficient boost – one that’s easy to move around. Detectives are plentiful enough in this format that this still looks solid.
Pack 3 Pick 6: Toxin Analysis
Buried in the Garden image 4 Its an Oblivion Ring stapled to a mana ramp Aura. 'Nuff said.
Forum Familiar image 2.5 This is a Disguise creature that you’re going to want to play face down about 99% of the time., since if you don’t, it’s just a vanilla one mana 1/1 and those tend to get irrelevant quickly. However, if you play this face down it’s going to be pretty darn relevant thanks to its ability to bounce your permanents. You can do this to rebuy ETBs or help a creature dodge removal and stuff like that, but you can even just return a land if you just want the Familiar to be a 2/2. Obviously that’s not optimal, but it’s something. I think this will lie in wait and have big impacts on many games. This also gives us back-to-back white Disguise creatures who can turn face up and blank removal, so that’s something your’e going to have to keep in mind.
Putrid Warrior image
Shady Informant image 2.5 If you could only play this face up, it would be a pretty nice card. It has high enough power to trade with a whole lot of stuff, and the death trigger is likely to let you kill something else too – and that’s a 2-for-1. So, the fact you can get it on the board earlier in the game without your opponent knowing it’s lurking there makes it even nicer.
Rakish Scoundrel image 2 A 4-mana 3/3 death touch is probably a 1.5. It can trade for anything, but that’s really only exciting on cheap death touchers, and this definitely isn’t one. And sure, this can grant indestructibility when it enters, or can do it at instant speed if you have the mana for disguise – which means that it will kill whatever blocks it and survive thanks to death touch and indestructibility, but it seems like you’re just paying too much mana for this no matter how you deploy it.
Red Herring image 1.5 This can do some serious work if you play it on turn two, and if you get it later in the game you can give it up to get a card. It’s an artifact and a clue, so it’s got some synergy in the format too, especially in Blue-Red. Still…the card’s fail case doesn’t exactly excite me. Paying 4 to draw a card, even in installments isn’t exactly awesome.
Toxin Analysis image 1.5 This is really cheap, and cheap tricks are often real good for their ability to punch above their weight class – and this one even gives you a clue! But…there’s a problem. It doesn’t offer anything that can help your creature survive combat. Sure, your creature can always trade thanks to this, but it’s still going to feel close enough to a 2-for-1 to sting when you have to use it that way. It does work nicely with Suspect, but I don't think that's enough.
Behind the Mask image 1 This type of card rarely works out in Limited, and I think even at one mana I’m not super interested in this. It’s easy to look at this and see it as a trick with multiple modes – and that is what it is, but reducing a creature to 1/1 or growing a creature to 4/3, or turning a clue into a 4/3, while possibilities is only useful situationally. You need stat-lines to line up just right, and if you’re turning your 2/2 or something into a 4/3 it’s really not worth it. Furthermore, shrinking an opposing creature to a 1/1 is only relevant or useful when your opponent attacks with the right creature that you actually want to remove. Basically, this is too situational to do something worthwhile very often.
Pack 3 Pick 7: Sanguine Savior
Basilica Stalker image 2.5 It's never going to feel like you’re getting great value with the Stalker, whether you disguise it first or otherwise. But it probably won't feel bad either.
Slimy Dualleech image 2.5 This can buff itself, and if you have tokens or disguise creatures to send in, you can put your opponent in a pretty bad spot.
Sumala Sentry image 4 Two counters is a big deal, and the fact you can turn them face up at instant speed can really make this a beating.
Polygraph Orb image 1 We usually see this card draw effect at or even 3 mana, so paying five for it, and at Sorcery speed is rough. It does load your graveyard to set up Collect Evidence, which it itself has, but I’m not that impressed with the activated ability either. Giving your opponent three options on this kind of effect oftens amounts to them being able to choose one that just doesn’t do anything. Speaking of not doing anything, that’s what this card does when it comes to the board, so I think this is kind of a liability.
Cerebral Confiscation image 1 So…this is either Mind Rot or Coercion, and neither of those is a great card these days, mostly because they don’t do anything in the late game and don’t add to the board.
Agency Coroner image 2 This is a lot of mana for the usual sacrifice a creature draw a card effect, but the fact you’ll sometimes draw two helps soften that blow.
Sanguine Savior image 3 A three mana 2/1 with Flying and Lifelink is pretty solid. It won’t always be able to get in there, but it will fairly often, and evasive lifelinkers are pretty sweet because they really shift a race in your favor. So, the fact that you can also play it first down first and give something else lifelink too is nice upside.
Pack 3 Pick 8: Shock
Thinking Cap image 2 If this were always 1 to Equip, it would probably be a 2.5, just because that’s a fairly efficient boost – one that’s easy to move around. Detectives are plentiful enough in this format that this still looks solid.
Curious Inquiry image 2.5 Auras that cost one blue and give a creature +1/+1 and the ability to draw you a card when they hit your opponent have a pretty good track record in Limited. This is because it can allow you to ensure that you’re going to at least break even on cards even by hitting your opponent once, and the card advantage can quickly bury your opponent. Getting a clue is a bit worse than drawing a card straight up, even in a format with clue payoffs, but this still looks like a nice card, especially in decks that have cheap evasive creatures.
Wrench image 2.5 All of these Cluequipments are solid or better, because they offer a decent effect, while also having the ability to be thrown away for something else when the Equipment doesn’t do enough. The stats boost here isn’t the most efficient thing ever, and the tap effect is expensive, but it certainly isn’t a bad mana sink – and the fact you can swing with something, keep it untapped, and leave mana up for the effect is nice.
Shock image 3.5 Shock is a 3.5 as it usual is. It’s definitely premium because you can spend only a single mana to kill significantly more expensive creatures – and you can do it at instant speed! Plus, it can even finish off your opponent.
Pick Your Poison image 0.5 Even at one mana and with all these modes, this still feels like it won't do enough far too often. I think it's a sideboard card.
Unauthorized Exit image 2 This card is always pretty decent. You go down a card in most cases, but you get some nice tempo, and Surveil 1 can improve your next draw and/or load your graveyard. It is hurt a little bit by the absence of a dedicated spell deck in the format.
Pack 3 Pick 9: Case of the Gorgon's Kiss
Case of the Gorgon's Kiss image 2.5 If you can solve this the value is insane, and it can certainly set that up for you. On the flip side, it also the potential to do absolutely nothing.
Laid to Rest image 1.0 // 4.0 This is mostly here for the GW deck, which is all about Humans and +1/+1 counters, and in that deck, this is going to be a pretty serious value engine. Drawing cards and gaining life is really going to enable you to grind out wins. Sure, costing 4 and not adding to the board is kind of a big deal, but the good news is that while it may not actually add something to the board, it does alter the board, in the sense that your opponent now has to deal with the fact that if they attack you, you can threaten to gain life and draw cards. This is definitely a build around, but I think its one that has a high enough ceiling that you may want to consider taking it early.
On the Job image 1.5 // 3.0 As usual with Inspiring Charge effects, this is a build around. Red/White decks look the most well-positioned for this as they can go the widest, but you really need to be all in on curving out and going wide, or this isn’t worth it, even with the clue. It’s probably a D in your typical White deck, but a card you’re usually going to be happy with one of in your more aggressive decks.
Cerebral Confiscation image 1 So…this is either Mind Rot or Coercion, and neither of those is a great card these days, mostly because they don’t do anything in the late game and don’t add to the board.
Suspicious Detonation image 2.5 If this was always 5 mana, it’d probably be a 1.5. That’s a really clunky Sorcery that usually can’t trade up. But, this will cost two fairly often in Red decks. Sacrificing a Clue is all you need to be able to do, and as we’ve seen there are otherwise to sacrifice artifacts too. It can also go after Disguised creatures since it can’t be countered.
Pack 3 Pick 10: Toxin Analysis
Eliminate the Impossible image 1.5 I’m not the biggest fan of this type of effect – but when they tack card draw on to it, it starts to get more interesting. The usual problem is that this is only useful in fairly narrow situations, and getting a trade to happen is hard. It can sort of function as a bad fog, or a bad combat trick, but obviously…neither of those are things you want to be going after. But, because it Investigates – and it’s relatively cheap – those problems are more acceptable.
Flotsam image 2.5 The Flotsam side helps you set up graveyard shenanigans and replaces itself, and the Jetsam side gives you a free spell. Neither are going to feel like the most efficient thing in the world in most cases – You have to pay 4 total mana to mill three and draw a card with Flotsam, and Jetsam isn’t usually going to give you back the mana you spent, and if either of this card was only one or the other it would be too narrow and mediocre. But, having both makes a big difference – that’s what is great about split cards. Both plays might be kind of meh, but the fact remains you have a card that does something useful and something early late, and most cards don’t have that kind of flexibility.
Sudden Setback image 3.5 We’ve seen a lot of 4 mana blue cards lately that let you get rid of a nonland permanent by giving your opponent the option of put it on top or bottom of the library, and they’ve fared pretty well. None of them have been amazing, but they let you trade 1-for-1 and you can do it at instant speed. So, add in the ability to also do this with spells on the stack, and I think we’re talking about a fairly high quality card.
Toxin Analysis image 1.5 This is really cheap, and cheap tricks are often real good for their ability to punch above their weight class – and this one even gives you a clue! But…there’s a problem. It doesn’t offer anything that can help your creature survive combat. Sure, your creature can always trade thanks to this, but it’s still going to feel close enough to a 2-for-1 to sting when you have to use it that way. It does work nicely with Suspect, but I don't think that's enough.
Pack 3 Pick 11: Rot Farm Mortipede
It Doesn't Add Up image 2 This lets you reanimated something at instant speed. Of course…because you are forces to suspect the creature, it can't ambush block stuff, and that’s a big part of what would make this sweet. As is, it's an expensive removal spell with an effect that has just as mich downside as upside, and this kind of thing even with upside isn't always useful. That doesn't add up to a very good grade.
Case of the Gorgon's Kiss image 2.5 If you can solve this the value is insane, and it can certainly set that up for you. On the flip side, it also the potential to do absolutely nothing.
Rot Farm Mortipede image 3 The boost that the Mortipede gets is legit, as a 4/4 menace lifelinker is far better than a ¾. Getting stuff to leave your graveyard isn’t a huge ask in the format either, as the entire “Collect Evidence” mechanic is all about doing that. Putting cards from your graveyard to your hand and all of that will trigger this too. I think most Black decks will realistically be able to trigger this once or twice a game, and that’s really all you need for this to pull its weight.
Pack 3 Pick 12: Case of the Gorgon's Kiss
Case of the Gorgon's Kiss image 2.5 If you can solve this the value is insane, and it can certainly set that up for you. On the flip side, it also the potential to do absolutely nothing.
Demand Answers image 2.5 We’ve come a long way since Tormenting Voice. This is an Instant and you can choose to sacrifice an artifact or discard a card as an additional cost. That’s actually a pretty big deal, because this format has so many Clues.
Pack 3 Pick 13: Slime Against Humanity
Slime Against Humanity image 0.0 // 3.0 You need at least three of these before they are worth playing, and 4 is better.
Draft Pick Overview