Innocent Bystander sits in red aggro and token shells as a small but tactical threat from Murders at Karlov Manor. At a casting cost of {1}{R} it enters as a 2/1 Goblin Citizen that pressures early life totals and trades favorably against many one-toughness blockers. The card’s printed trigger gives you incremental advantage when you push damage through: when Innocent Bystander is dealt three or more damage, investigate creates a Clue artifact you can later sacrifice to draw. That interaction widens outcomes in combat and against burn, turning otherwise wasted damage into card selection.
Play it in decks that value tempo and resource conversion. It pairs neatly with mass damage spells, chump blockers that survive long enough for the trigger, and sacrifice synergies that capitalize on Clues. The flavor matches the set’s tone: a seemingly harmless witness who ends up changing the scene of the crime. For players who evaluate trades and value card economy, Innocent Bystander is a compact tool that shifts marginal plays into meaningful advantages.
Card Details:
-
Mana Cost – {1}{R}
-
Card Type – Creature
-
Subtypes – Goblin Citizen
-
Card Text / Rules Text (Printed) – Whenever Innocent Bystander is dealt 3 or more damage, investigate. (Create a Clue token. It is an artifact with "2, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card.")
-
Power / Toughness – 2/1
