Explore

Explore
[[File:{{#setmainimage:MTGA Explore.png}}|70x70px]]
Keyword Action
Introduced	Ixalan
Last used	Alchemy: Ixalan
Reminder Text	Explore (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back on top or into your graveyard.)
Storm Scale	5
Statistics	39 cards 15.4% 10.3% 20.5% 2.6% 38.5% 2.6% 2.6% 7.7% 12 Map creation cards 8.3% 41.7% 8.3% 25% 8.3% 8.3%
Scryfall Search
keyword:"Explore"

Explore is a keyword action introduced in Ixalan. The mechanic was created by Ken Nagle.

Description

If a creature you control explores, you reveal the top card of your library. If the revealed card is a land, put that card into your hand. If it's not a land card, put a +1/+1 counter on the exploring creature. Then, you decide whether the nonland card goes back on top of your library or into your graveyard. In a sense, Explore is an alternate version of Surveil.

Most creatures that explore, do so because of a triggered ability when they enter the battlefield. Creatures may also explore as a result of an activated ability.

Ixalan has a few cards with abilities that trigger whenever a creature you control explores.

History

After its introduction in Ixalan, Explore also appeared in Rivals of Ixalan. Later it was occasionally used in supplemental and Universes Beyond sets.

In The Lost Caverns of Ixalan, the mechanic returned as an integrated part of the predefined Map token as well as more broadly in the set.

Rules

From the glossary of the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

Explore

A keyword action that causes a player to reveal the top card of their library and then to take different actions depending on whether a land card is revealed this way. See rule 701.40, “Explore.”

From the Comprehensive Rules (June 7, 2024—Modern Horizons 3)

• 701.40. Explore
  • 701.40a Certain abilities instruct a permanent to explore. To do so, that permanent’s controller reveals the top card of their library. If a land card is revealed this way, that player puts that card into their hand. Otherwise, that player puts a +1/+1 counter on the exploring permanent and may put the revealed card into their graveyard.
  • 701.40b A permanent “explores” after the process described in rule 701.40a is complete, even if some or all of those actions were impossible.
  • 701.40c If a permanent changes zones before an effect causes it to explore, its last known information is used to determine which object explored and who controlled it.

Rulings

• If an ability instructs a creature to explore, its controller reveals the top card of their library. If it's a land card, they'll put it into their hand. Otherwise, they'll put a +1/+1 counter on that creature, then choose to either leave that card on top of their library or put it into their graveyard.
• Once an ability that causes a creature to explore begins to resolve, no player may take any other actions until it's done. Notably, opponents can't try to remove the exploring creature after you reveal a nonland card but before it receives a counter.
• If no card is revealed, most likely because that player's library is empty, the exploring creature receives a +1/+1 counter.
• If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to explore but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still explores. If you reveal a nonland card this way, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on anything, but you may put the revealed card into your graveyard. Effects that trigger "whenever a creature explores" trigger as appropriate.
• Some spells or abilities might cause a creature to explore multiple times in a row. If you reveal a nonland card when a creature explores and leave it on top of your library, then the creature explores again immediately afterwards, you'll reveal the same card again.
• In some unusual cases, noncreature permanents may explore. For example, if the creature card returned by Defossilize is somehow not a creature once it's on the battlefield, it can still explore. You'll take all the same actions, and you may end up putting a +1/+1 counter on the permanent. (Note that some effects target a creature, and those effects would still require a legal target to have it explore.)

Example

Example

Tishana's Wayfinder
Creature — Merfolk Scout
2/2
When Tishana's Wayfinder enters the battlefield, it explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)