Anzrag's RampageAnzrag's Rampage | Art by Lucas Graciano

Murders at Karlov Manor… Anytime that set is mentioned, it will likely be met with some form of criticism. Whether their ire is directed towards its complicated mechanics or Ravnica fatigued, the target of most people's frustration is the theme. A murder mystery set sounded interesting on paper, but unfortunately, it didn’t seem to translate well with the large scale of an entire set.

Even though this set wasn’t a fan favorite, that doesn’t mean there aren’t any hidden gems just laying low in your bulk. Sure, I could highlight cards like Demand AnswersDemand Answers, Escape TunnelEscape Tunnel, Snarling GorehoundSnarling Gorehound, and many other budget singles that have made their way into plenty of decks. However, this rag-tag list of lesser played cards could just be the perfect accomplice for your favorite commander!

My name is Tyler ‘Savesya’ Bucks, and on today’s edition of Bulk Up we're taking a look at the much-maligned crime scene known as Murders at Karlov Manor.

Anzrag's RampageAnzrag's Rampage

First up, we have Anzrag's RampageAnzrag's Rampage, a card that a lot of people thought would take Commander by storm. However, it’s only showing up in 0.65% of possible decks on EDHREC. Here’s a question: when was the last time you saw a VandalblastVandalblast cast for only one target? It’s usually played for its overload cost, which is five mana, the same as Anzrag's RampageAnzrag's Rampage. So, if you have a deck where you could benefit from cheating out a big creature, this might be the spell for you!

In terms of a deck I'd suggest you run Anzrag's RampageAnzrag's Rampage in, let’s take a look at Ureni of the UnwrittenUreni of the Unwritten. This commander loves cheating big Dragons into play, so their decks are packed full of nasty threats just waiting to hit the battlefield. Since Ureni is a whopping seven mana, you could cast Anzrag's RampageAnzrag's Rampage a few turns before your Spirit Dragon comes out, setting your opponents behind, while slamming down a big threat. Everything your deck loves to do!

Treacherous GreedTreacherous Greed

Our next card, Treacherous GreedTreacherous Greed, synergizes perfectly with the new mobilize mechanic from Dragonstorm. Three mana to draw three, gain three, and drain three from your opponents is an amazing rate. When paired with those temporary Warrior tokens you’re making, it can help refill your hand out of nowhere. The fact that it's an instant allows you to cast it at the end of combat, then move into your second main phase with even more options than before!

Zurgo StormrenderZurgo Stormrender, one of the commanders from the recent Mardu precon, allows you to be even trickier with this spell. If you sacrifice one of your tokens at the end of combat, it's still considered an “attacking” creature in the rules of the game. So Zurgo will also draw you a card on top of the ones you get with Treacherous GreedTreacherous Greed. Three mana draw four sounds like good value to me.

Fae FlightFae Flight

Evasion and protection are two important facets to include in a lot of decks, and Fae FlightFae Flight assists with both. When this Aura enters, the enchanted creature gains hexproof until end of turn, which can catch an opponent off guard after they target your commander with removal. Plus, giving flying and a little power boost will help you chip in for damage more freely as the game goes on.

Last week, I wrote about Kotis, the FangkeeperKotis, the Fangkeeper and included Fae FlightFae Flight in that list. That's a perfect example of how useful this spell could be. Even though Kotis has indestructible, giving hexproof for a turn will still save you from getting your commander locked down, halting your game plan in the process. That flying also helps any deck that’s centered around connecting with creatures, especially when that results in stealing your opponent's cards.

Case of the Stashed SkeletonCase of the Stashed Skeleton

Many Commander players shy away from including tutors in their decks, since it can defeat the singleton nature of the format. However, Case of the Stashed SkeletonCase of the Stashed Skeleton has some quirks that will still appeal to those players. In a deck centered around Aristocrats or aggro, this card can slot right in. Making you a token and then allowing you to find any card in your deck once that token disappears feels like the perfect crime.

Another way to ensure “you control no suspected Skeletons” is with Jon Irenicus, Shattered OneJon Irenicus, Shattered One. Giving that token away to someone else not only helps you solve the case, but it continues your plan of forcing your opponents to attack each other. What would you go searching for in this deck? If it was me, I'd go find one of my favorites, Abyssal PersecutorAbyssal Persecutor!

Officious InterrogationOfficious Interrogation

Hear me out; Officious InterrogationOfficious Interrogation might not go in every deck, but it can be an absolute bomb with a lot of commanders. There’s plenty of token decks floating around nowadays, so the fact that this spell is at instant speed means that you could stock up on a whole lot of Clues to piggyback off of your opponents' value. Pairing this with cards like Inspiring StatuaryInspiring Statuary or Rise and ShineRise and Shine can push your board straight into the late game.

An absolute classic commander is Breya, Etherium ShaperBreya, Etherium Shaper, and she works perfectly with Officious InterrogationOfficious Interrogation. Once you have a board full of Clues, leaving just two mana up means you can crack one of them to draw a card or activate one of Breya’s many abilities at any time. This can throw your foes off their game, especially if you have a big pile of Clues just sitting there… menacingly.

Wispdrinker VampireWispdrinker Vampire

We’ve gotten so many cards that care about smaller creatures lately, and Wispdrinker VampireWispdrinker Vampire is one that's seemed to slip under the radar. Draining the table any time a creature with power two or less enters lets you keep your game plan going, while setting your own life total head and shoulders above the rest. Even though that final ability may be expensive, it could just save the game for you with a big attack, or a surprising block.

Adding the Wispdrinker in a deck helmed by Thalisse, Reverent MediumThalisse, Reverent Medium might just put the table on a clock they can’t outrun. Creating small tokens, draining the table, and then making even more on each end step could push your match into the endgame. Then give all those Spirits lifelink and deathtouch to add insult to injury.

Break OutBreak Out

Our next spell is a bit of a head-scratcher. Break OutBreak Out is a two-mana spell that lets you look at the top six cards of your library, and either put a big creature into your hand, or small creature right into play with haste. Now, two mana to draw one creature, with the possibility of whiffing, is a little risky. However, the fact that you could get something out for free is the real star of the show. On top of that, it can make for a fun story to tell at the end of the game.

Raggadragga, Goreguts BossRaggadragga, Goreguts Boss loves mana creatures, which tend to be on the smaller side. Plus, giving one of them haste would be a great way to follow up with another spell on the same turn. Since your commander buffs your mana creatures when they hit the board, you don’t care if they have power two or less in your library. You know that once they're out, they can become big beaters.

Case of the Uneaten FeastCase of the Uneaten Feast

Our final card this week is one that most likely suffers from the issue of people giving up on reading the card halfway through. Case of the Uneaten FeastCase of the Uneaten Feast not only gains you life when creatures enter your board, but once you solve the case, you can cast any creatures in your graveyard for a turn. The value of that effect is incredible, so if this is in a token deck or life gain strategy, you could hit that final ability faster than expected.

It feels like this case and Amalia Benavides AguirreAmalia Benavides Aguirre are made for each other. Not only will it consistently trigger your commander, but if Amalia wipes the board, you can cast some of the creatures you lost all over again! Also, since Amalia is two mana, and this enchantment is one, they curve perfect for an amazing first couple turns.

The Wrap Up

Listen, I know looking at this set again might have brought back too many grisly memories, but I'm proud of you for being brave enough to make it to the end of the article. Who knows, maybe there’s a few of you out there who were morbid enough to love this set, and I for one give all my respect to those players.

So, whether you loved it, hated it, or landed somewhere in between, let me know what you thought of this list in the comments below. Will you be adding any of these cards to your decks, or do you consider this set a closed case? Alright, that’s enough crime puns for one day…