<p style="text-align: right;"><em><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morska, Undersea Sleuth" href="#" target="_blank">Morska, Undersea Sleuth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/katemaxpaint">Ekaterina Burmak</a></em></p>
<p>With the recent release of <em>Avatar: The Last Airbender</em>, four <a href="https://avatar.fandom.com/wiki/Bending_arts">bending arts</a> are now a part of <em>Magic. </em>The one we'll focus on today is <a href="https://draftsim.com/mtg-waterbending/">waterbending</a>, an interesting blend between the abilities <a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Convoke">convoke</a> and <a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Improvise">improvise</a>.</p>
<p>When I think about having a bunch of artifacts laying around waiting to be tapped for stuff, my mind immediately goes to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clue" href="#" target="_blank">Clue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> production, but which commander cares about Clues and is in the right color combination to access the new waterbending tech?</p>
<p>Today, we're going to rebuild the popular (currently the tenth most played <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/bant">Bant commander</a>) face of last year's <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/deep-clue-sea-precon-review"><em>Deep Clue Sea</em> precon</a>: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Morska, Undersea Sleuth" href="#" target="_blank">Morska, Undersea Sleuth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. After all, who could be better fit for waterbending than a Vedalken Fish who lives underwater?</p>
<h2>What Does Morska, Undersea Sleuth Do?</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Morska, Undersea Sleuth"></div></div>
<p>Morska has a built-in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reliquary Tower" href="#" target="_blank">Reliquary Tower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect, granting us no maximum hand size. She also cares about drawing multiple cards and will grow each time we draw our second card each turn. Importantly, this is not restricted to our own turn, so spells like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brainstorm" href="#" target="_blank">Brainstorm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> that draw multiple cards at instant speed will still grant her two +1/+1 counters.</p>
<p>The most important part for maximizing our waterbending potential, however, is Morska's ability to <a href="https://mtg.fandom.com/wiki/Investigate">investigate</a> each turn during our upkeep.</p>
<h2>How Did This Deck Look Before <i>Avatar: The Last Airbender</i>?</h2>
<p>Let's use EDHREC's handy dandy <a href="https://edhrec.com/average-decks/morska-undersea-sleuth">Average Deck feature</a> to see how other brewers have built around Morska. Using the list below, we can put our own detective hats on and investigate the most prominent categories that show up.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Morska, Undersea Sleuth Average Deck" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Morska, Undersea Sleuth
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Academy Manufactor
*1 Adrix and Nev, Twincasters
*1 Alandra, Sky Dreamer
*1 Bennie Bracks, Zoologist
*1 Chulane, Teller of Tales
*1 Cyberdrive Awakener
*1 Detective of the Month
*1 Erdwal Illuminator
*1 Esix, Fractal Bloom
*1 Ethereal Investigator
*1 Forensic Gadgeteer
*1 Innocuous Researcher
*1 Jaheira, Friend of the Forest
*1 Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse
*1 Junk Winder
*1 Kappa Cannoneer
*1 Kellan, Inquisitive Prodigy // Tail the Suspect
*1 Koma, Cosmos Serpent
*1 Lonis, Cryptozoologist
*1 Merchant of Truth
*1 Piper Wright, Publick Reporter
*1 Psychosis Crawler
*1 Shimmer Dragon
*1 Tangletrove Kelp
*1 Thought Monitor
*1 Tireless Tracker
*1 Wavesifter
*1 Whirler Rogue
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Idol of Oblivion
*1 Inspiring Statuary
*1 Nettlecyst
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Curiosity
*1 Talisman of Progress
*1 Talisman of Unity
*1 Tamiyo&#039;s Journal
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Armed with Proof
*1 Knowledge Is Power
*1 Mechanized Production
*1 On the Trail
*1 Ongoing Investigation
*1 Search the Premises
*1 Teferi&#039;s Ageless Insight
*1 Ulvenwald Mysteries
*1 Wilderness Reclamation
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Arcane Denial
*1 Beast Within
*1 Confirm Suspicions
*1 Counterspell
*1 Disorder in the Court
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Officious Interrogation
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Farewell
*1 Farseek
*1 Finale of Revelation
*1 Follow the Bodies
*1 Fumigate
*1 Rise and Shine
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tezzeret, Betrayer of Flesh
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Azorius Chancery
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*5 Forest
*1 Irrigated Farmland
*5 Island
*1 Krosan Verge
*1 Lonely Sandbar
*1 Path of Ancestry
*5 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Scattered Groves
*1 Seaside Citadel
*1 Selesnya Sanctuary
*1 Simic Growth Chamber
*1 Skycloud Expanse
*1 Spire of Industry
*1 Sungrass Prairie
*1 Temple of Enlightenment
*1 Temple of Mystery
*1 Temple of Plenty
*1 Tranquil Thicket
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Clue Creation</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lonis, Cryptozoologist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Academy Manufactor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Officious Interrogation"></div></div>
<p>Beyond Morska, the Average Deck has 18 cards that create <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clue" href="#" target="_blank">Clue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> tokens and four that bolster artifact token production. In this deck, Clues serve as the usual source of slow-but-steady card advantage, but they also synergize in various ways with cards in other categories below.</p>
<div>
<h2>Clues Matter</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Shimmer Dragon"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Junk Winder"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Inspiring Statuary"></div></div>
<p>Clue (and other token) production can advance our card draw (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Idol of Oblivion" href="#" target="_blank">Idol of Oblivion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bennie Bracks, Zoologist" href="#" target="_blank">Bennie Bracks, Zoologist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shimmer Dragon" href="#" target="_blank">Shimmer Dragon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), turn into mana (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jaheira, Friend of the Forest" href="#" target="_blank">Jaheira, Friend of the Forest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Inspiring Statuary" href="#" target="_blank">Inspiring Statuary</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>), or cause mass disruption (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Junk Winder" href="#" target="_blank">Junk Winder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<h2>Closers</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyberdrive Awakener"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rise and Shine"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nettlecyst"></div></div>
<p>While <a href="https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/xwu3e/etymology_of_the_term_durdle/">durdling</a> around with Clues can be fun, we're going to want to close out the game eventually. The Average Deck allows us to "go wide" and turn Clues into a board full of threats (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyberdrive Awakener" href="#" target="_blank">Cyberdrive Awakener</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tangletrove Kelp" href="#" target="_blank">Tangletrove Kelp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rise and Shine" href="#" target="_blank">Rise and Shine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) or "go tall" and use them to make one big threat (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kappa Cannoneer" href="#" target="_blank">Kappa Cannoneer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nettlecyst" href="#" target="_blank">Nettlecyst</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>).</p>
<h2>Bread and Butter</h2>
<h3>Mana</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Tezzeret, Betrayer of Flesh"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Farseek"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Azorius Signet"></div></div>
</div>
<p>The Average Deck has 36 lands, seven nonland sources of mana, and seven conditional mana boosters/cost-reducers, for a total of 50 "mana-stuff" (highly technical term).</p>
<p>This is a great start, but the fact that we have permanent mana sinks and card draw in the form of Clues means we can go even higher (especially on actual lands).</p>
<p>But wait a second, doesn't more card draw mean we can get away with playing fewer lands?</p>
<p><a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=DTAhqhi8LU0">This video</a> makes the convincing argument that the opposite is actually true, claiming:</p>
<blockquote><p><em>If your commander costs four or more and draws cards, not only should you not run [fewer] lands than you otherwise would, you actually should run more. That's a draw spell you'll have every game, and the only barrier between you and those sweet, sweet cards is drawing enough lands or ramp to get there. Ditto if the deck is heavy on draw that costs a lot of mana. Medium to large draw will cut through that slightly higher density of lands with no problem, so running a higher land count won't hurt you. It will only serve to lessen the chance of screw.</em></p></blockquote>
<p>Although Morska does only cost three mana, the fact that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Clue" href="#" target="_blank">Clue</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>-based card draw is so mana-intensive means a deck built around this commander largely falls in the category described above. With that being said, let's include a few more lands in the rebuild.</p>
<h3>Disruption</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Farewell"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Confirm Suspicions"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Disorder in the Court"></div></div>
<p>The Average Deck has a slew of classic targeted <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-w" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-u" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-g" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span> removal spells (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Swords to Plowshares" href="#" target="_blank">Swords to Plowshares</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Path to Exile" href="#" target="_blank">Path to Exile</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Generous Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Generous Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beast Within" href="#" target="_blank">Beast Within</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>) alongside classic sweepers (<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fumigate" href="#" target="_blank">Fumigate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farewell" href="#" target="_blank">Farewell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>). There are also some on-theme disruption spells, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Confirm Suspicions" href="#" target="_blank">Confirm Suspicions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disorder in the Court" href="#" target="_blank">Disorder in the Court</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<h2>The Rebuild</h2>
<h3>Waterbending</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Water Tribe Rallier"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Waterbender Ascension"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Secret of Bloodbending"></div></div>
<p>Let's take a look at the new cards that care about waterbending. We can see great inclusions in many different important categories:</p>
<ul>
<li>Big Threats – <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Benevolent River Spirit" href="#" target="_blank">Benevolent River Spirit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope" href="#" target="_blank">Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>Draw/Selection – <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Water Tribe Rallier" href="#" target="_blank">Water Tribe Rallier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Katara, Bending Prodigy" href="#" target="_blank">Katara, Bending Prodigy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waterbender Ascension" href="#" target="_blank">Waterbender Ascension</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spirit Water Revival" href="#" target="_blank">Spirit Water Revival</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>Disruption – <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Aang, Swift Savior" href="#" target="_blank">Aang, Swift Savior</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Water Whip" href="#" target="_blank">Water Whip</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Waterbender&#039;s Restoration" href="#" target="_blank">Waterbender&#039;s Restoration</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li>Game-Ending Advantage – <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Secret of Bloodbending" href="#" target="_blank">Secret of Bloodbending</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link side-by-side"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="The Legend of Kuruk" href="#" target="_blank">The Legend of Kuruk</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<h3>Challenge the Stats</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sarinth Steelseeker"></div></div>
<p>At only an 11% inclusion rate, this little guy from <em>The Brothers' War </em>isn't being shown nearly enough love. A hidden gem doesn't always have to do something big and splashy. Sometimes, it's just the small piece of the puzzle that holds the whole thing together. In a deck with gigantic waterbending costs, like <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-8" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-10" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, and even <span class="mana-container-container"><span class="mana-container"><i class="ms ms-cost ms-20" style="margin-left: inherit !important;"></i></span></span>, Clues can get you a lot of the way there, but you still need to hit your land drops! Furthermore, sifting through the top card of your deck has added utility with so many ways to draw extra cards at will.</p>
<h2>Putting It All Together</h2>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Waterbending Morska" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Morska, Undersea Sleuth
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Aang, Swift Savior // Aang and La, Ocean&#039;s Fury
*1 Academy Manufactor
*1 Angelic Sleuth
*1 Benevolent River Spirit
*1 Broodstar
*1 Bygone Bishop
*1 Cyberdrive Awakener
*1 Detective of the Month
*1 Drowner of Truth // Drowned Jungle
*1 Duggan, Private Detective
*1 Erdwal Illuminator
*1 Ethereal Investigator
*1 Forensic Gadgeteer
*1 James, Wandering Dad // Follow Him
*1 Junk Winder
*1 Kappa Cannoneer
*1 Katara, Bending Prodigy
*1 Katara, Water Tribe&#039;s Hope
*1 Kellan, Inquisitive Prodigy // Tail the Suspect
*1 Lavinia, Foil to Conspiracy
*1 Lonis, Cryptozoologist
*1 Lonis, Genetics Expert
*1 Lord Jyscal Guado
*1 Merchant of Truth
*1 Piper Wright, Publick Reporter
*1 Private Eye
*1 Sarah Jane Smith
*1 Sarinth Steelseeker
*1 Sharp-Eyed Rookie
*1 Sophia, Dogged Detective
*1 The Mechanist, Aerial Artisan
*1 Thought Monitor
*1 Tireless Tracker
*1 Water Tribe Rallier
*1 Whirler Rogue
*1 Wojek Investigator
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Disorder in the Court
*1 Dispatch
*1 Endless Detour
*1 Officious Interrogation
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Waterbender&#039;s Restoration
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Organic Extinction
*1 Secret of Bloodbending
*1 Spirit Water Revival
*1 Suppression Ray // Orderly Plaza
*1 Voyage Home
*1 Water Whip
[/Sorceries]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Five Hundred Year Diary
*1 Inspiring Statuary
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Thopter Fabricator
*1 Thousand Moons Smithy // Barracks of the Thousand
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Case of the Pilfered Proof
*1 On the Trail
*1 Ongoing Investigation
*1 The Legend of Kuruk // Avatar Kuruk
*1 Waterbender Ascension
*1 Wilderness Reclamation
[/Enchantments]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tezzeret, Betrayer of Flesh
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Archway of Innovation
*1 Brushland
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Flooded Grove
*2 Forest
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*1 Irrigated Farmland
*6 Island
*1 Overflowing Basin
*1 Overgrown Farmland
*1 Path of Ancestry
*3 Plains
*1 Razortide Bridge
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Scattered Groves
*1 Secluded Starforge
*1 Secret Tunnel
*1 Skycloud Expanse
*1 Spire of Industry
*1 Sungrass Prairie
*1 Sunpetal Grove
*1 Tanglepool Bridge
*1 Thornglint Bridge
*1 Uthros, Titanic Godcore
*1 Yavimaya Coast
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<div>
<h2>Deck Checklist</h2>
<ul>
<li>51 mana sources (38 lands, 3 mana rocks, 8 misc., 2 MDFCs)</li>
<li>11 cards with waterbending</li>
<li>10 cards that draw/search (not even counting all the Clue production!)</li>
<li> 6 targeted disruption</li>
<li> 6 mass disruption</li>
</ul>
</div>
<div>
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p>Thank you for reading today, and I hope you have fun tinkering with the new "bending" abilities and Clue-based strategies as we welcome the release of <em>Avatar: The Last</em> Airbender. Until next time!</p>
</div>


Rebuilding Morska, Undersea Sleuth With Waterbending

Deep Clue Sea Precon Review

<h1>Getting a Clue</h1>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The year is 2016. </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shadows Over Innistrad </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">spoilers are rolling in. I'm loving all of them. Especially this one:</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25263" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Clue-Token.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">My favorite mechanic from </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shadows </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">was (and still is) Investigate. The flavor is sharp, and everyone loves drawing cards, but there's even more to be done with Clues than just cracking them.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">For those who've never read this column before, welcome! Each week we build an EDH deck around a specific mechanic using the power of EDHREC. Grab your hat and pipe, because this week, we're doing some investigating!</span></p>
<hr />
<h2>It's Elementary</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">I like to begin my forays into EDHREC with a card that exemplifies the mechanic I'm building around. This need not be a commander, though that's a great place to start, if possible. Unfortunately, there are no legendary creatures with the Investigate mechanic, so let's think a little smaller.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">In my opinion, the best card that Investigates is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tireless Tracker" href="#" target="_blank">Tireless Tracker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25264" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Tireless-TRacker.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">She's efficient, she scales with the game, and she represents several additional cards in value. Plus, she has sweet double swords. Let’s look up <a href="https://edhrec.com/cards/tireless-tracker">Tireless Tracker on EDHREC</a>:</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter wp-image-25265" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Screen-Shot-2018-11-27-at-7.53.13-PM.png" alt="" width="727" height="501" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">So here are some options. Thinking back on the Investigate mechanic, it’s spread pretty evenly over the <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/gwu">Bant colors</a> (blue, green, and white). That focuses our options.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis" href="#" target="_blank">Kynaios and Tiro of Meletis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are interesting. They’re Bant plus red, and though red doesn’t offer any Investigate, it could open some new options. Hmm…</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">On second thought, I like those colors, just not the commander. Kynaios and Tiro are solid, yes, but they do little for our theme. So if we still want to play blue/green/red/white, there’s only one other way to get there. Partners!</span></p>
<hr />
<h2>Partnering Up</h2>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25276" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Akiri.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Akiri, Line-Slinger" href="#" target="_blank">Akiri, Line-Slinger</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> pairs nicely with our mechanic. Each Clue boosts her power, and barring a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vandalblast" href="#" target="_blank">Vandalblast</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, they likely won't be going anywhere. Sweet!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">That leaves us in need of a blue/green partner commander, of which there are two. The clear choice here, I believe, is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thrasios, Triton Hero" href="#" target="_blank">Thrasios, Triton Hero</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. </span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25277" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Thrasios.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This card is super versatile and fits into essentially any EDH deck: solid early blocker, a nice mana sink, and an excellent card draw/ramp option in the late game. Love it!</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Okay, now we have our commanders. Where do we go from here?</span></p>
<hr />
<h2>The Clues</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hopping over to <a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/akiri-line-slinger-thrasios-triton-hero">the page for our commanders</a>, we see that there are already a few like-minded deck builders around the internet. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Erdwal Illuminator" href="#" target="_blank">Erdwal Illuminator</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bygone Bishop" href="#" target="_blank">Bygone Bishop</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Confirm Suspicions" href="#" target="_blank">Confirm Suspicions</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Confront the Unknown" href="#" target="_blank">Confront the Unknown</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Second Harvest" href="#" target="_blank">Second Harvest</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Root Out" href="#" target="_blank">Root Out</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tamiyo&#039;s Journal" href="#" target="_blank">Tamiyo&#039;s Journal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ongoing Investigation" href="#" target="_blank">Ongoing Investigation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ulvenwald Mysteries" href="#" target="_blank">Ulvenwald Mysteries</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all welcome additions to our deck. We could consider <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trail of Evidence" href="#" target="_blank">Trail of Evidence</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but since the average instant/sorcery count of these commanders is just 15, it feels like a long shot.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">To increase our clue density, we’ll want to add some additional Clue makers that aren’t pictured. I like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drownyard Explorers" href="#" target="_blank">Drownyard Explorers</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Humble the Brute" href="#" target="_blank">Humble the Brute</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thraben Inspector" href="#" target="_blank">Thraben Inspector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Byway Courier" href="#" target="_blank">Byway Courier</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Yes, we’re forced to play junkers to enable our strategy, but I think this should play out as one of those whole-is-greater-than-the-sum-of-its-parts style of decks.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The tricky thing about the Investigate mechanic is that it's limited to just </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Shadows Over Innistrad. </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Its companion set, </span><i><span style="font-weight: 400;">Eldritch Moon, </span></i><span style="font-weight: 400;">didn't even have the Investigate ability! That's certainly a limiting factor. However, we can still find some nice workarounds to support our theme.</span></p>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25266" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Brudiclad.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an excellent addition from this year's commander product. The key semantic element on this card is "choose a token." Not a creature token—any token. So at the beginning of combat, you create a 2/1 Myr. Then, if you have even one other Clue, you may select it as your token and convert your Myr (and any other tokens you own) into Clues. Somebody give this guy a Sherlock Holmes hat.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><a href="https://edhrec.com/commanders/brudiclad-telchor-engineer">Brudiclad's commander page</a> is also helpful for finding additional Clue makers. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mechanized Production" href="#" target="_blank">Mechanized Production</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, for instance, creates an additional Clue every turn. It can even act as a win condition if no one deals with it!</span></p>
<hr />
<h2>The Payoffs</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Drawing copious amounts of cards is fun and all, but we should probably solve our case at some point. Besides Akiri acting as a legitimate threat with lots of Clues on the board, there are many other cards in the history of <em>Magic</em> that interact favorably with batches of artifacts. Let's start with some recent ones.</span></p>
<h3>Karn, Scion of Urza</h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25267" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Karn.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Karn, Scion of Urza" href="#" target="_blank">Karn, Scion of Urza</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will be one of the best cards in the deck (if you can swing his price tag). His -2 ability dumps out mini Akiris. I also love that he's a colorless card in our four color deck, meaning mana will never be an issue when casting him. And hey, the card drawing can't hurt either.</span></p>
<hr />
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hellkite Tyrant</span></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25268" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Hellkite-Tyrant.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">It's unlikely that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hellkite Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Hellkite Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will win you the game, but I love the upside. At worst, this is a six-mana 6/5 with flample that steals opposing artifacts. A must-have for this deck.</span></p>
<hr />
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Hellkite Igniter</span></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25269" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Hellkite-Igniter.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Okay, its base stats aren't all that impressive. The 5/5 body feels a little underwhelming for seven mana, even considering the flying and trample. But if you untap with the Igniter, you're going to deal huge amounts of damage. Imagine having five Clues on the battlefield and swinging in for 25. I like the sound of that!</span></p>
<hr />
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Lodestone Myr</span></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25270" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Lodestone-Myr.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lodestone Myr" href="#" target="_blank">Lodestone Myr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is a nice payoff for all the artifacts we're generating. What I like best about this card is that you need not sacrifice the Clues (or other artifacts) to use its ability.</span></p>
<hr />
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Broodstar</span></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25271" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Broodstar.jpeg" alt="" width="222" height="310" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">The synergies are obvious with this one. You should often cast <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Broodstar" href="#" target="_blank">Broodstar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for two or three mana, getting an 8/8 or a 7/7 with flying. Also, if you generate more Clues, its power and toughness will rise accordingly.</span></p>
<hr />
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer</span></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25272" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/Jor-Kadeen-the-Prevailer.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;"><em>Metalcraft</em> is an excellent mechanic to pair with Investigate, and there might be no better payoff than <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer" href="#" target="_blank">Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. +3/+0 to all your creatures is great. At that point, almost all your creatures will trade up, or maybe even just trump your opponents' creatures. Furthermore, he grants the bonus to himself, too. Eight power with first strike is a nasty combination - ust ask Akiri.</span></p>
<hr />
<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">The Antiquities War</span></h3>
<p><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-25273" src="http://articles.edhrec.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/The-Antiquities-War.png" alt="" width="223" height="311" /></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This one is on the line for me, so I'd appreciate getting readers' thoughts on it. Funnily enough, we don't have all that many pure artifacts in the deck—the total count is about 30. Thus, Chapters I and II aren't really the best draw. We're playing it for Chapter III.</span></p>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">With enough Clues, that final Chapter could become a game-winning play. I like swinging in for a thirty or forty damage to end the game. However, the card's relative slowness concerns me. Have others had success with this card? Please let me know!</span></p>
<hr />
<h2>The Final List</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">Here it is…</span></p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="My Dear Watson" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
Akiri, Line-Slinger
Thrasios, Triton Hero
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
Broodstar
Daring Sleuth
Vedalken Humiliator
Lodestone Myr
Hellkite Tyrant
Jor Kadeen, the Prevailer
Sailor of Means
Hellkite Igniter
Brudiclad, Telchor Engineer
Drownyard Explorers
Myr Battlesphere
Merchant&#039;s Dockhand
Prosperous Pirates
Soul of New Phyrexia
Darksteel Juggernaut
Bygone Bishop
Byway Courier
Graf Mole
Master of Etherium
Freejam Regent
Tireless Tracker
Hangarback Walker
Briarbridge Patrol
Thraben Inspector
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
Commander&#039;s Sphere
Magnifying Glass
Lightning Greaves
Relic of Progenitus
Sol Ring
Tamiyo&#039;s Journal
Blinkmoth Urn
Darksteel Ingot
Inspiring Statuary
Mimic Vat
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
Thopter Spy Network
Mechanized Production
Ulvenwald Mysteries
Trail of Evidence
Ongoing Investigation
Weirding Wood
The Antiquities War
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
Sylvan Reclamation
Confirm Suspicions
Survive the Night
Confront the Unknown
Jace&#039;s Scrutiny
Path to Exile
Humble the Brute
Second Harvest
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
Root Out
Wave of Reckoning
Fell the Mighty
Blasphemous Act
Reverse Engineer
Gone Missing
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
Karn, Scion of Urza
Saheeli, the Gifted
Tezzeret, Artifice Master
[/Planeswalkers]
[Land]
Command Tower
Izzet Boilerworks
Tree of Tales
Krosan Verge
Boros Garrison
Selesnya Sanctuary
Seaside Citadel
Irrigated Farmland
Exotic Orchard
Seat of the Synod
Ancient Den
Jungle Shrine
Terramorphic Expanse
Mystic Monastery
Simic Growth Chamber
Transguild Promenade
Sheltered Thicket
Evolving Wilds
Frontier Bivouac
Gruul Turf
Azorius Chancery
Great Furnace
6 Island
4 Mountain
4 Forest
4 Plains
[/Land]"></span></div>
<hr />
<h2>Conclusion</h2>
<p><span style="font-weight: 400;">This seems like a fun deck. I'm looking forward to playing it. I'll let you know how it does, and let me know your thoughts below! </span></p>


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