Investigator's Journal MTG Card


Investigator’s Journal provides card advantage, refilling hands and offering strategic options. Instant speed allows flexible responses during critical moments in the game. Clue tokens from the Journal enhance resource acceleration and combo potential.
Card setsReleased in 6 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityRare
TypeArtifact — Clue

Text of card

Investigator's Journal enters the battlefield with a number of suspect counters on it equal to the greatest number of creatures a player controls. , , Remove a suspect counter from Investigator's Journal: Draw a card. , Sacrifice Investigator's Journal: Draw a card.


Cards like Investigator's Journal

Investigator’s Journal brings a unique blend of utility to the Magic: The Gathering gameplay. This artifact offers players a sleuthing advantage, progressively getting clues as your turns unfold, reminiscent of how cards like Tamiyo’s Journal operate. However, whereas Tamiyo’s Journal requires direct sacrificing of clues to dig through your deck, Investigator’s Journal accumulates value automatically, counting your permanent’s individual types to grant clues.

Another parallel could be drawn with Thraben Inspector, a creature that provides a clue token when it enters the battlefield. Although the Inspector gives immediate value, the Investigator’s Journal has the potential for a larger long-term payout. Comparatively, Bygone Bishop probes into similar territory, but it triggers clue creation whenever you cast a creature spell with a certain mana value, making it a more conditional choice compared to the Journal’s consistent generation of clues.

Overall, Investigator’s Journal stands out in the MTG world for its passive, yet consistently escalating advantage in clue generation. It’s an exceptional card for players aiming to gain incremental value and draw power in longer games, setting it apart as a steady tool for deck refinement and resource advantage.

Tamiyo's Journal - MTG Card versions
Thraben Inspector - MTG Card versions
Bygone Bishop - MTG Card versions
Tamiyo's Journal - MTG Card versions
Thraben Inspector - MTG Card versions
Bygone Bishop - MTG Card versions

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Essence Bottle - MTG Card versions
Emerald Medallion - MTG Card versions
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Cursed Totem - MTG Card versions
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Millikin - MTG Card versions
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Card Pros

Card Advantage: Investigator’s Journal plays a key role in card advantage by letting players gather vital information, essentially drawing more cards to keep their hand equipped with options.

Resource Acceleration: Enhancing your resource pool, this card potentially ramps up your mana capabilities, setting the pace for an accelerated game by delivering additional clues to sharpen your strategy.

Instant Speed: The instant speed nature of this card allows players to respond promptly to the unfolding game, utilizing it at the most opportune moment, thus keeping opponents on their toes and maximizing strategic depth.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Investigator’s Journal necessitates parting with a card from your hand, which could leverage a tactical setback, especially when your hand is already dwindling and each card holds substantial value in your gameplay strategy.

Specific Mana Cost: The casting obligation for Investigator’s Journal involves a precise alignment of mana, which could pose a challenge for multicolored decks starved for the precise color sequence, thereby potentially impeding its immediate deployment on the battlefield.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: Endeavoring to activate Investigator’s Journal comes at a considerable mana expenditure that could otherwise be invested into more cost-efficient alternatives, possibly granting you a tactical edge by bolstering your board presence or disrupting opponent’s strategies more effectively.


Reasons to Include in Your Collection

Versatility: Investigator’s Journal offers an adaptable tool for a variety of deck archetypes. With its static ability to accrue Clue tokens that drive card draw, it can significantly enhance your ability to maintain hand advantage in the game.

Combo Potential: The Clue tokens produced by Investigator’s Journal aren’t merely for drawing cards; they’re also artifacts that can interact with numerous other cards and abilities, offering combo interactions such as powering up affinity mechanisms or enabling improvise spells.

Meta-Relevance: Given its potential to feed strategies that thrive on consistent card advantage, Investigator’s Journal aligns well with a meta where grinding out value is crucial to outmaneuver opponents in longer, more drawn-out matches.


How to beat Investigator’s Journal

Investigator’s Journal is a notable artifact card that can become quite bothersome for opponents in Magic: The Gathering. The card’s efficacy is driven by its ability to amass clues, granting the controller card advantage over time. The foremost strategy in incapacitating the benefit of Investigator’s Journal is to inhibit its ability to accrue clue counters. Employing artifact removal spells such as Disenchant or Naturalize can dismantle the Journal before it gathers momentum.

Control decks could also benefit from counterspell options, preventing the Journal from entering the game at all. Consistent pressure on your opponent is another approach, forcing them to use mana resources elsewhere, thus neglecting the Journal’s clue accumulation. Stay mindful of the board state and take preemptive measures if possible. Remember that in an attrition war, the card advantage afforded by the Journal could swing the game; neutralizing the artifact swiftly is paramount to maintaining an edge.

Lastly, explore using cards that capitalize on the opponent’s artifacts, such as By Force or Release the Gremlins, transforming a disadvantage into a resource for yourself. A well-thought-out strategy combined with keen timing will help ensure that Investigator’s Journal doesn’t unravel your path to victory.


BurnMana Recommendations

If you’re seeking to keep your plays sharp and ahead of the curve in MTG, consider integrating Investigator’s Journal into your collection. Its utility in card advantage and resource acceleration can be a game changer. Understanding when to optimize its instant speed for maximum effect is crucial. Be wary, though, of its discard requirement and ensure your mana base can support it. Embrace its potential with combo synergies and its meta-relevance. If you’re curious about refining your deck or hunting for insights on leveraging artifacts like Investigator’s Journal, join our community and discover the strategic depth it can add to your gameplay.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Investigator's Journal MTG card by a specific set like Magic Online Promos and Innistrad: Crimson Vow, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.

For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.

Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.

Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Investigator's Journal and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Investigator's Journal Magic the Gathering card was released in 4 different sets between 2021-11-19 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by 2 different artists.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12002-06-24Magic Online PromosPRM 954492015NormalBlackYeong-Hao Han
22021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 2582015NormalBlackYeong-Hao Han
32021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 3452015NormalBorderlessAlix Branwyn
42021-11-19Innistrad: Crimson VowVOW 3962015NormalBlackYeong-Hao Han
52022-01-28Innistrad: Double FeatureDBL 5252015NormalBlackYeong-Hao Han
62023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 9562015NormalBlackYeong-Hao Han

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Investigator's Journal has restrictions

FormatLegality
StandardLegal
HistoricbrawlLegal
HistoricLegal
LegacyLegal
OathbreakerLegal
GladiatorLegal
PioneerLegal
CommanderLegal
ModernLegal
FutureLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal
ExplorerLegal
BrawlLegal
PennyLegal
TimelessLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Investigator's Journal card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2021-11-19 You don't choose an opponent to determine how many suspect counters are placed on Investigator's Journal as it enters the battlefield. You always use the greatest number possible.