Every Magic: The Gathering enthusiast will tell you that the game is as much about creativity as it is about strategy. Each deck is an echo of its creator’s imagination, a bespoke puzzle waiting to be pieced together. For me, the spark of creativity ignited when I stumbled upon an irresistibly charming deck box on Etsy. It was no ordinary container; it was shaped like the iconic Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo. Drenched in nostalgic teal paint and adorned with the signature flower decals, it whispered to me a comforting ‘zoinks’. Although I neither needed nor had planned for it, the moment I laid eyes on that box, I knew I had to build a deck that matched the box’s whimsical essence.
But this wasn’t going to be just any deck; it had to embody the spirit of Scooby-Doo, a franchise known for its blend of humor, adventure, and mystery-solving charm. The question loomed: How does one encapsulate the essence of Scooby-Doo in a deck of Magic: The Gathering cards? The answer revealed itself in the form of a mechanic that truly captures the investigatory spirit of the Scooby gang—Investigate.
Investigate is a delightful mechanic rich in thematic heft. It allows you to create Clue tokens, which can be sacrificed for two mana to draw a card. This mechanic mirrors the gang’s modus operandi perfectly: gathering clues to piece together the resolution of whatever mystery they’ve stumbled upon. Every card drawn feels akin to uncovering a new piece of evidence, leading you closer to unmasking the ‘villain’.
The deck needed a face, a leader as dedicated to revealing secrets as Fred and Velma. Enter Morska, Undersea Sleuth from the Magic universe’s Murders at Karlov Manor. Morska fits the theme like Scooby snacks on a weekend road trip. Her abilities align seamlessly—a limitless hand size, free Clue tokens every turn, and growing strength with every second card you draw in a turn. With her color identity rooted in green, white, and blue, she draws upon the vast resources of ramp, removal, and card draw. The deck began to hum like a live version of the Mystery Machine itself.
In the world of Magic, each color provides different facets essential to solving any enigma:
– Green provides the setup and mana ramp, serving as the foundation upon which the mystery is unraveled.
– Blue takes on the Sherlock Holmes role, dealing with clues and investigations, an embodiment of Velma’s keen intellect.
– White ensures everything stays orderly with its strong removal and protection spells, much like Daphne’s knack for keeping the gang together.
The cast of characters doesn’t stop at Morska. The supporting lineup is just as essential for setting the stage. Tireless Tracker keeps the Clue token supply flowing. Thorough Investigation tantalizes with rewards upon successful attacks, offering more clues to crack the case wide open. Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse converts copious card draws into creature tokens, bringing in a dash of Scooby-Doo’s chaotic yet charming presence. By the midgame, your play space resembles an artifact smorgasbord, enabling an artifacts strategy as an alternative route to victory.
In gameplay, the opening phases set the tone. Cards like Cultivate and Farseek seamlessly prepare your mana base, setting the stage for Morska to take the spotlight and for the Clue-based deductions to commence. Morska’s ability, being active on any turn, allows you to jaggedly mimic the Scooby Gang’s daring adventure through a haunted house—uncovering pieces of the puzzle at strategic, often suspenseful, moments. It keeps the opponent guessing, much like an expertly-placed red herring.
The paths to victory are diverse. Whether Morska swells to an impressive size to deliver the win through Commander damage, or you unleash a token rush overwhelming the opponents, or even exploit the artifact angle to transform Clues into an unavoidable advantage—the feeling of sleuthing to success remains intact. Each alternative route boasts its own Scooby Doo-inspired flair to the eventual ‘aha!’ moment, where the true face behind the façade is finally revealed.
Overall, the deck sits comfortably in the mid to high casual range. Ever consistent, resilient, and delightfully interactive, it aligns with the Scooby-Doo philosophy of there always being a mystery to unravel. With Morska generating a free Clue token each turn, downtime is not in this deck’s vocabulary. What makes this deck shine is its authenticity—each game feels like an episodic adventure of its namesake. It’s not merely a mechanism for winning matches, but a narrative that unravels like an old-school Scooby-Doo episode within the realms of tabletop gaming. Shuffle up your Mystery Machine, gather the gang, and prepare to unmask the culprits over and over again—like clockwork, or should I say, like a cunning trap that Fred would be proud of.
