Drag the Canal is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
Create a 2/2 white and blue Detective creature token. If a creature died this turn, you gain 2 life, surveil 2, then investigate. (Create a Clue token. It's an artifact with ", Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.")
Complete guide
Drag the Canal is a versatile instant that rewards players for being present at the scene of the crime. While it always provides a creature, its value skyrockets if a creature met its end earlier in the turn. This card is a perfect tool for Dimir players looking to stabilize their board while generating incremental card advantage.
Making the Most of the Evidence
When you cast Drag the Canal, you will always create a 2/2 white and blue Detective creature token regardless of whether a creature died. However, the spell checks if any creature died earlier in the turn as it resolves. If that condition is met, you get a significant bonus: 2 life, a surveil 2 to filter your deck, and a Clue token to draw a card later.
Step-by-Step Resolution
First, you put the 2/2 Detective token onto the battlefield. Second, the spell checks the game state to see if a creature died this turn. If one did, you gain 2 life. Third, you surveil 2 by looking at the top two cards of your library and putting any number into your graveyard. Finally, you investigate by creating a Clue artifact token.
Timing and Strategy
Because this is an instant, you can cast it during your opponent's end step to utilize mana you held up for interaction. If your opponent's creature was destroyed during combat or by a removal spell, Drag the Canal becomes a massive four-for-one: a blocker, life gain, deck filtering, and a future card draw.
Common Misconceptions
Remember that the 'creature died' condition doesn't care whose creature it was. If your own creature was countered or sacrificed, it still counts. Also, keep in mind that Clue is an artifact type, not a creature type, so your Detective token is not a Clue.
Interaction examples
Drag the CanalYou cast Drag the Canal during your own turn after one of your tokens was blocked and killed. Because a creature died, you create the 2/2 Detective, gain 2 life, surveil 2, and create a Clue token to help find your next threat.
CounterspellAn opponent casts a board wipe. In response, you cast Counterspell to stop it. Since no creature died this turn, if you then cast Drag the Canal, you will only receive the 2/2 Detective token and none of the additional bonuses.
An Offer You Can't RefuseYou cast Drag the Canal while a creature is in the graveyard from earlier this turn. Your opponent casts An Offer You Can't Refuse. Because your spell is countered, it never resolves; you do not get the Detective, the life, the surveil, or the Clue.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Drag the Canal
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
Clue is an artifact type. Even though it appears on some cards with other permanent types, it's never a creature type, a land type, or anything but an artifact type.
Card named in this ruling
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
If an effect refers to a Clue, it means any Clue artifact, not just a Clue artifact token. For example, you can sacrifice Wrench to pay for Alquist Proft, Master Sleuth's activated ability.
Card named in this ruling
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
You can't sacrifice a Clue to pay multiple costs. For example, you can't sacrifice a Clue token to activate its own ability and also to activate Alquist Proft, Master Sleuth's ability.
Card named in this ruling
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
Some spells and abilities that investigate may require targets. If each target chosen is an illegal target as that spell or ability tries to resolve, it won't resolve. You won't create any Clue tokens.
Card named in this ruling
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Some abilities trigger "whenever you sacrifice a Clue". Those abilities trigger whenever you sacrifice a Clue for any reason, not just to activate a Clue's activated ability.
Card named in this ruling
Related cards and tokens
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Drag the Canal
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.