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Innocent BystanderHow it works & interactions with other cards

By the ManaCount desk· 3 min read· Murders at Karlov Manor· February 9, 2024
Carte Magic Innocent Bystander

Innocent Bystander 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.

01

Official card text

Whenever this creature is dealt 3 or more damage, investigate. (Create a Clue token. It's an artifact with "{2}, Sacrifice this token: Draw a card.")

How it works : Innocent Bystander

Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall

  1. #1· Wizards of the Coast

    Innocent Bystander's ability triggers only if it's dealt 3 or more damage all at once. It doesn't trigger if damage that adds up to 3 or more is dealt to it at different times.

    No other card is named in this ruling.

  2. #2· 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

  3. #3· 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

  4. #4· 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

  5. #5· 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

  6. #6· 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

02

Legal formats

standardfuturehistorictimelessgladiatorpioneermodernlegacypaupervintagepennycommanderoathbreakerstandardbrawlbrawlcompetitivebrawlpaupercommanderdueltlr
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Meta decks with Innocent Bystander

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Official source