Collect evidence is a new MTG keyword action introduced with Murders at Karlov Manor. In this article, you’ll find all the information you need to understand this mechanic, such as:
- What does collect evidence do?
- How to pay collect evidence costs?
- Can you respond to your opponent collecting evidence?
- And more!
So, without further ado, let’s start collecting evidence.
How Does Collect Evidence Work?
Collect evidence is a new type of cost, that some cards can ask you to pay. There isn’t one specific benefit for paying. They vary from card to card.
Collect evidence always has a number associated with it. In order to collect evidence X, you need to exile any number of cards from your graveyard with total mana value X or more.
That’s pretty straightforward, right? In the following section, you’ll find some examples, to see this mechanic in action.
Examples
Here’s Analyze the Pollen, an exciting rare with collect evidence 8.
With this card, collecting evidence comes as an additional cost when you cast it. You can choose not to pay this cost. In that scenario, you search your library for a basic land card and put it in your hand.
However, you can collect evidence 8. You do so by exiling cards from your graveyard with total mana value 8 or more. (For example, you could exile Ancient Carp and Ancient Carp, as 5+3=8) If you do that, the cards gets a nice upgrade. Now you can search for any land, or for a creature. That’s quite powerful!
More Examples
It’s not necessary for collect evidence to be used as a additional casting cost. It can be used in various ways, as these two examples illustrate.
Izoni triggers both when it comes into play and when it attacks. In both cases, you may collect evidence 4. So, if you exile any number of cards from your graveyard, with total mana cost 4 or more, you’ll get two Spiders for your troubles.
Axebane Ferox is quite interesting, as it combines collect evidence with ward mechanic. If you’re opponent wants to target, they need to collect evidence 4. If they don’t (or can’t), their spell or ability will be countered.
So, if your opponent doesn’t have cards with total mana value 4 or more in their graveyard, Ferox is going to represent a big problem.
MTG Collect Evidence – FAQ
Now you have the basic ideas about collect evidence. Nevertheless, there might be some details that you aren’t sure about. That’s why we gathered some frequently asked questions about this mechanics, and answered them:
Collect evidence is a cost. In order to collect evidence 8, you need to exile cards with total mana value 8 or more from your graveyard.
No, you need to exile cards from your own graveyard.
Though luck. In that case, you can’t pay the cost, so you won’t get the effect that comes with paying it.
This mechanic is best enabled by cards that fill your graveyard. Either by self-mill or discard mechanics.
Yes, you can. There is no upper limit to how many cards you can exile with a single instance of collect evidence.
If something about collect evidence is still unclear to you, ask us in the comments below. We’ll answer as soon as we can.
Conclusion
That’s all about the MTG collect evidence rules. Now you know how to use cards with this mechanic to your advantage, Hopefully, they’ll win you plenty of games. Do you perhaps want to collect some of these new cards? If so, you can order Murders at Karlov Manor Play boosters on Amazon.
On the other hand, if you first want to learn more about the set, check out Murders at Karlov Manor spoilers.
Until next time, have fun, and may your graveyard always contain enough cards to pay for your collect evidence costs.