Exploring Murders at Karlov Manor

Sample Collector card art

Continuing the 'Exploring' series I started in this post, today I look at Murders at Karlov Manor (MKM), released in February 2024. Quotes from cards or the rules are in italics below.

Mechanics

MKM introduces the following key words, ability words, or card subtypes:

- Cloak: this mechanic instructs you to do this to other cards, putting them on the battlefield face-down as a creature. (To cloak a card, put it onto the battlefield face down as a 2/2 creature with ward {2}. Turn it face up any time for its mana cost if it’s a creature card.)

- Collect Evidence [x]: this is usually an additional cost to cast a spell or use an ability, often granting additional powerful effects. (To collect evidence [x], exile cards with total mana value [x] or greater from your graveyard.)

- Disguise [cost]: like cloak, this mechanic results in face-down creatures on the battlefield. (You may cast this card face down for {3} as a 2/2 creature with ward {2}. Turn it face up any time for its disguise cost.)

- Suspect: some cards instruct you to 'suspect' a creature. That makes it suspected (It has menace and can’t block.). Some cards give greater effects if they target a suspected creature.

- Case cards: an enchantment subtype, this provides an initial effect, instructions to 'solve' the case, and the effect that happens when the case is solved (solving happens at the beginning of your end step).

Returning mechanics include:

- Investigate: this is a way to create an artifact token, called a Clue, that can be sacrificed for card draw. (Create a Clue token. It’s an artifact with “{2}, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.”)

Themes/Flavor

MKM is set on the Ravnica plane—a popular setting that has featured in many Magic sets since Ravnica: City of Guilds was released in 2005. Ravnica is about two-color guilds, each with their own focus and synergy. This time, though, there is also an overarching theme of mystery and, with it, detectives (who, not surprisingly, trend toward investigating and solving cases). There are an astonishing 47 of them in this set.

Thoughts

Like The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, I find the mechanics in this set wordy/clunky (though LCI is worse). I don't care much for face-down cards, either. Thematically, though, the mechanics are fitting. The detective/mystery vibe is kinda fun, though I find it odd seeing 'monsters' in Sherlock Holmes garb (see top picture). Overall, the set is just not my cup of tea.