Top Picks For Murders at Karlov Manor

Sherlock at Homes

Introducing Murders at Karlov Manor, Magic's very own whodunit adventure and mystery-solving experience. This latest Ravnica-based set leaves our prolonged presences on the plane feeling worn-out, despite a still-fresh Ravnica Remastered series. Even amidst the return of familiar characters and the introduction of new faces, everything in the endless city seems to be suffering from Sherlock fever.

$30.00

$7.97

Immersed in flavor and wholeheartedly embracing its theme, Murders at Karlov Manor introduces six mechanics and implements significant structural changes in both product and card opening. Play Boosters make their debut in the set, fully replacing Draft and Set Boosters. Along with this change, The List has been updated to feature Special Guest cards curated to align with the theme of the set. Among the highlights are iconic cards like Show and Tell and Field of the Dead.

Gut Feeling

Continuing the current interest in land recursion from the graveyard, we are introduced to Undergrowth Recon. The limitation of its upkeep trigger and the lands entering the battlefield tapped must be considered, which severely impacts its post-release price. However, drawing parallels to similar effects seen in cards like Conduit of Worlds and Ramunap Excavator, both of which are gradually gaining traction, Undergrowth Recon may experience a harsh decline before gradually appreciating in value.

$6.85

$1.18$0.79

Breathing new life into the "Arch" cycle of cards is Archdruid's Charm, a modular card that mirrors the impact its predecessor, Archmage's Charm, experienced upon release.

While the green charm provides added flexibility, excelling in typical green effects, its price trajectory may mimic that of Archmage's Charm. Despite the initial surge in value, followed by a sharp decline and eventual resurgence years later, Archmage's Charm has struggled to maintain staple status. While it’s difficult to speculate on the future of the card, my current impression suggests Archdruid's Charm will find its niche and establish stable pricing relatively swiftly.

Forging a link between Bomat Courier and creeping growth of power in cards, we encounter Connecting the Dots. While this card may not turn any heads initially, its long-term potential may create a compelling spec. The conditional effect can accumulate over time in a game and then be cashed in when other resources are drained. In slower formats like EDH, decks often have room for cards that gain more advantage over time. In a faster environment like Standard, mono-red decks already hold a significant presence but lack hand replenishment; Connecting the Dots could seamlessly fill that gap.

Sticky Business

Becoming the sixth card to be unlimited in a deck, we have Slime Against Humanity. 

This card creates ever-expanding Oozes, defiantly mocking graveyard-exiling effects, which means we have numerous comparison points for this kind of effect.

Firstly, the card works exceptionally well with +1/+1 interactions, facilitating the doubling of counters or the addition of other keyword abilities. Secondly, its linearly increasing number of creatures, growing with each cast of the spell, ensures a steady board expansion over time.

While Slime Against Humanity may not secure a strong foothold in many formats, there remains a non-zero percent chance of it finding some play in Pauper.

Now, delving into the practicalities of acquiring 30 copies of these unlimited-in-deck cards, let's examine the sticky logistics. When reviewing pricing graphs across various sites, a pattern begins to emerge. Generally, smaller available quantities from sellers align closely with market prices and pose no immediate concerns. However, opting for larger quantities from a single seller, perhaps to avoid issues like shipping costs and waiting for multiple packages, results in a sharp price increase. Take Persistent Petitioners as an example: a $1.72 market price leaps to an average of $3.00 for any seller offering quantities in the 20+ range.

Fetch-Tap-Surveil

Introducing a new rare land cycle, each representing one of the ten guilds, the Tap-Surveil lands make their debut in this set. These serve as a nod to Ravnica's Shocklands, but in a powered-down form. Having the relevant basic land type attached to them elevates their power compared to many other dual lands, however, the drawback of entering the battlefield tapped levels the playing field. The key consideration revolves around assessing the value of Surveil 1 when played or fetched.

$2.04$2.49

$2.40$2.49

In my view, information holds significant value as a resource in decks that have the time to utilize this advantage without sacrificing playing on the curve. Consequently, the closest comparison for these lands would be the Temple cycle from Theros, even though they weren't fetchable. Having seen play in Standard and moving gradually into EDH decks, this cycle could have achieved higher price peaks, but multiple reprints have contributed to a decline over the years.

Taking fetching into account, the Tap-Surveil lands are a direct upgrade over the Temple cycle and will likely be reflective of this in release prices, ranging from $2 to $3 upon release. Unless they become indispensable in Standard or Pioneer, their prices will experience a decline sooner rather than later.

Clue/do

Ravnica: Clue Edition marks the next collaboration of the Magic IP, venturing into a different medium. This collaboration appears to strike a more favorable tone than previous cross-promotions with IHOP and Lovesac, creating tangible cards introduced into the game for eternal formats. Determining the price of these cards poses a challenge due to the limited quantity that may hit the market. Notably, a borderless Shockland is featured as a box topper, and each edition box includes eight boosters, reminiscent of the design seen in Jumpstart.

The design behind the set’s rares and uncommons created a unique blend of throwbacks and familiar mechanics catering to appeal to both new and seasoned players. 

As for individual picks, the two standouts from randomized cards are Lavinia, Foil to Conspiracy, and Afterlife Insurance. Lavinia serves as another generator card for Clues and an effective mana dork for cracking them, aligning with the main set's emphasis on clues and potential future token support. Depending on the availability of copies, Lavinia may be a slow-growing card over time.

As for Afterlife Insurance, this is a cost-effective cantrip-like spell with a specific purpose that strikes me as a combo piece waiting to happen. While there is a limited chance for it to skyrocket in price, it may be a worthwhile spec for those brave enough to buy in.

Dénouement

The Murders at Karlov Manor previews defied my expectations. From its inception, the set and cards included left me severely disinterested and considering skipping this product entirely. While my overall opinion hasn't undergone a drastic shift, a closer examination of some of the cards included sparked a slight interest.

My anticipation for this set is that it will offer numerous relatively inexpensive cards for speculation and become a good entry point for those embarking on their MTG finance journey. Whether it be Pauper playable like Pick Your Poison or the new cycle of Surveil lands, the range of options is quite open.

Join me again in the next installment of New Horizons as we investigate Commander: Murders at Karlov Manor.

Further Reading:

Shocklands and the Ramifications of Staple Reprints in Magic