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Innistrad loses its mind
What this set is
Shadows over Innistrad returns to Magic's gothic horror plane five years later, and this time the threat is madness. Avacyn and her angels have turned on the humans, and the story is a mystery about why.
Investigate is the new mechanic: it creates a Clue token, an artifact you can sacrifice for {2} to draw a card. Delirium rewards having four or more card types in your graveyard, and madness returns from the Odyssey block. Double-faced cards and werewolves are back too.
For Commander, The Gitrog Monster, Anguished Unmaking, Tireless Tracker, Cryptolith Rite and the allied-color shadow lands, such as Choked Estuary, are from here.
Themes
Every mechanic in Shadows over Innistrad
Investigate
Create a Clue token: a colorless artifact with "{2}, Sacrifice this artifact: Draw a card." Clues show up in many later sets.
Delirium
An ability word: a bonus if there are four or more card types among cards in your graveyard.
Skulk
The creature can't be blocked by creatures with greater power.
Madness
If you discard the card, you may cast it for its madness cost instead. Back from the Odyssey block.
Transform
Double-faced cards and werewolves return, using the same day-night werewolf rule as the first Innistrad.
Where You Can Play It
Format legality
Shadows over Innistrad shipped under a single code and is legal in Pioneer, Modern and the eternal formats.
Not Standard-legal. Standard only ever holds the last few years of sets, so everything this old has long since left it. These cards are still playable in Pioneer, Modern, Legacy, Vintage and Commander. Commons from any set are Pauper-legal; that isn't listed per set here.
Limited
The draft format
Drafted as three packs of Shadows over Innistrad. Clues and delirium gave several pairs a graveyard plan.
Spirits and Clues
Fliers
Fliers and investigate for card advantage.
Delirium
Graveyard
Fill the graveyard with different card types.
Madness
Aggro
Discard outlets and madness cards.
Werewolves
Aggro
Werewolves that flip if the opponent slows down.
Commanders
The most played commanders from Shadows over Innistrad
The legends this set is best known for. Tap one for its printings and what it costs.
Boosters, precons and singles from Shadows over Innistrad are on TCGplayer.
FAQ
Common questions
Where did Clue tokens come from?
Shadows over Innistrad introduced investigate, which creates Clue tokens. A Clue is an artifact you sacrifice for {2} to draw a card.
What does delirium require?
Four or more card types among cards in your graveyard. Card types include artifact, creature, enchantment, instant, land, planeswalker, sorcery, battle and kindred.
All card names, art, and mechanics belong to Wizards of the Coast. Shadows over Innistrad released on Apr 8, 2016; details reflect the set as published. Sources: Wizards of the Coast set pages and release notes, Draftsim, Untapped.gg.
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