Every Magic: The Gathering aficionado seems to have that one serendipitous moment of inspiration when an idea for a new deck just appears, almost as if by magic. Mine came in the most unexpected and delightfully nostalgic way—through a deck box on Etsy masquerading as the good old Mystery Machine from Scooby-Doo. With its teal paint and those iconic flower decals, it radiated such a vibrant groove that I couldn’t resist. That whimsical vehicle, always at the ready to ferry Fred, Velma, Daphne, Shaggy, and Scooby on their next caper, beckoned me to construct an equally enchanting deck that would feel right at home inside it.

The quest to craft this deck took the shape of a true mystery fitting for the Scooby-Doo universe. How does one translate the adventurous sleuthing of the gang into spell-slinging strategy? The answer lay in the Investigate mechanic—a perfect representation of clues sprinkled throughout a mystery. Casting spells that generate Clue tokens, then cracking them with mana to draw cards, mirrors that “ah-ha” moment of piecing together evidence, stepping ever closer to solving the bizarre conundrum at hand.

Of course, a deck is only as good as its commander, and for a deck built around solving mysteries, our intrepid leader needed to be an expert in uncovering secrets. Enter Morska, Undersea Sleuth from the intriguing set, Murders at Karlov Manor. Morska was a natural fit. Her prowess in removing your maximum hand size, manifesting a Clue token gratis every turn, and beefing up with every second card drawn made her the perfect detective. In green, white, and blue hues, she navigates the deck with aplomb, supplying ramp, removal, and card draw like a mystery-solving machine on high alert.

The charm of this deck is its episodic nature, much like the beloved Scooby-Doo show. Each card plays a pivotal role in the gang’s make-believe adventures:

– Tireless Tracker, ever-vigilant, delivers a steady stream of Clues for playing lands.

– Thorough Investigation ensures that every escapade results in additional Clue tokens.

– Jolrael, Mwonvuli Recluse transforms all that gathered intelligence into formidable foe-facing creature tokens.

By midgame, your battlefield transforms into a burgeoning set of artifacts, hinting at an emergent artifact strategy—an alternative path for victory if ever your main sleuthing skids to a halt.

The deck unfurls its sleeves early on with a heavy emphasis on groundwork, courtesy of cards like Cultivate and Farseek that bolster your mana reserves, paving the way for Morska and the ensuing investigations. Once our star detective graces the field, the deck morphs into a methodical engine. It churns out Clues, holds bundles of mana, and harnesses instances to crack Clues at the most opportune moments for an exhilarating thrill of discovery. Leveraging Morska’s ability on any turn invites a harum-scarum adventure akin to sneaking through a ghostly abode, unraveling its mystique bit by bit.

When it comes to clinching victory, this deck doesn’t just rely on one modus operandi. Morska herself can expand to formidable stature, potentially defeating opponents via Commander damage. Alternatively, the token repertoire can swarm adversaries in a cacophony of creature chaos. A side benefit of amassing Clues and artifacts is their transformation into an indomitable advantage that spells doom for your foes.

What’s truly special about this deck is that it’s less about the pursuit of victory and more about the storyline experience it offers. As you shuffle the Mystery Machine deck and lay out your cards, you’re not just positioning for a win; you’re spinning a yarn of detection, sleuthing, and that triumphant unmasking. You’re living out the plot of every old Scooby-Doo episode—investigating, gathering evidence, and pulling the curtain back on the solution as the credits roll.

While this deck fits comfortably in the mid to high casual range, its allure lies in how deeply it echoes the spirit of its source material. Each game session isn’t merely a battle of wits over cardboard—it’s also a nostalgic journey filled with charm, reminiscent of a Saturday morning cartoon romp. It’s the quintessential Magic deck with a hearty splash of whimsy—a tangible homage to the thrill of solving mysteries while reminding you to ask, “Would you do it for a Scooby Snack?”

Scooby Doo MTG