Murders at Karlov Manor is drawing on all kinds of detectives, and this MTG set has just revealed a rather blatant reference to Scooby Doo.
MTG’s Murders at Karlov Manor sets an intriguing murder mystery on the classic plane of Ravnica. Detectives of all stripes are getting in on the case, as the city is transformed by a flurry of crime-causing, fugitive-fleeing, and case-cracking.
With this set drawing on great mystery archetypes, players are beginning to spot references to some of the greatest fictional sleuths of all time. Sherlock Holmes and Columbo both get their dues in Murders at Karlov Manor, but the set wouldn’t be complete without a nod to Mystery Inc. and their faithful Great Dane detective.
Sophia, Dogged Detective packs snacks and brews clues
As the resident Shaggy stand-in, Sophia summons MTG’s Scooby when entering the battlefield. The hound in this case is Tiny, a 2/2 with Trample that can quickly grow to absurd levels of damage with evasion to boot. Thanks to the Green and Blue in Sophia’s color identity, you’ll have access to copious amounts of mana to spend on her sac effect and turn Tiny into a one-shot killer.
Sophia not only serves as a great Murders at Karlov Manor card in her own right, but she’s also a surprisingly effective Commander for dog Creatures in general. Whenever any of your dogs deal damage to a player, Sophia generates a Clue and Scooby Snack-style Food Token. These Artifact Tokens can then be sacrificed to provide incremental buffs to all your dogs’ power, quickly turning them into devastating sources of damage.
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While the Investigate mechanic is tied particularly strongly to this set and its themes, there’s no reason why Sophia, Dogged Detective can’t be added to decks that amass dogs from all across MTG. The enduring popularity of Rin and Seri as a Commander proves that cats and dogs have real staying power in this game.
With Wizards of the Coasts’ new limited-run model leading to many players missing out on the new Secret Lair: Raining Cats and Dogs Commander deck, Sophia can serve as a great budget alternative that doesn’t require shelling out to scalpers. With these Shaggy and Scooby doppelgangers by their side, MTG players will be able to sniff out clues and pilot dog decks to victory.
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