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| rules = Best-of-one and Best-of-three
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'''Explorer''' is a [[constructed]] [[format]] that is [[Magic: The Gathering Arena]]'s on-ramp to eventually support [[Pioneer]] on the client. The format was introduced on April 21, 2021, to help Arena transition into supporting Pioneer and "true-to-tabletop" gameplay.<ref name="Explorer">{{DailyRef|magic-digital/mtg-arena-state-game-streets-new-capenna-2022-04-21|MTG Arena: State of the Game – ''Streets of New Capenna''|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|April 21, 2022}}</ref>  
'''Explorer''' is a [[constructed]] [[format]] introduced on April 21, 2022, as an on-ramp for the ''[[Magic: The Gathering Arena]]'' software to eventually support the [[Pioneer]] format. Like Pioneer, it is a [[rotating format|non-rotating format]] where core sets and expansions since ''[[Return to Ravnica]]'' are legal, but necessarily excluding cards not yet implemented in the game. Unlike ''Arena''<nowiki>'</nowiki>s other major non-rotating format, [[Historic (format)|Historic]], Explorer was created to support "true-to-tabletop" gameplay, and thus does not use [[designed-for-digital|digital-only]] or [[Alchemy card]]s.<ref name="Explorer">{{DailyRef|magic-digital/mtg-arena-state-game-streets-new-capenna-2022-04-21|MTG Arena: State of the Game – ''Streets of New Capenna''|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|April 21, 2022}}</ref>  


==Background==
==Background==
The [[Historic (format)|Historic format]] was implemented in November 2019, as a format that would allow ''Arena'' players to make use of cards that were no longer [[legal]] in [[Standard]] after [[rotation]].<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.dailyesports.gg/mtg-arena-update-introducing-the-historic-format/|title=MTG Arena update: Introducing the Historic format|author=Brett Teran|date=June 27, 2019|publisher=[[Magic Esports]]}}</ref> In July 2020, the ''[[Pioneer Masters]]'' set was announced, which would bring Historic nearer to the Pioneer format.<ref name="July update">{{DailyRef|magic-digital/mtg-arena-state-game-july-2020-07-15|MTG Arena: State of the Game – July 2020|author=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|date=July 15, 2020]}}</ref>  
Originally, the first format that would allow ''Arena'' players to make use of all cards that were no longer [[legal]] in [[Standard]] after [[rotation]] was the implementation of the [[Historic (format)|Historic format]] in November 2019.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.dailyesports.gg/mtg-arena-update-introducing-the-historic-format/|title=MTG Arena update: Introducing the Historic format|author=Brett Teran|date=June 27, 2019|publisher=[[Magic Esports]]}}</ref> To expand Historic, the ''[[Pioneer Masters]]'' set was announced in July 2020, bringing Historic nearer to the [[Pioneer]] format.<ref name="July update">{{DailyRef|magic-digital/mtg-arena-state-game-july-2020-07-15|MTG Arena: State of the Game – July 2020|author=[[Wizards of the Coast]]|date=July 15, 2020]}}</ref>


In December 2021, the release of ''[[Alchemy: Innistrad]]'' paired Historic with it in terms of card changes. By including [[Alchemy card]]s in Historic, MTG Arena lost its only "true to tabletop" non-rotating format. As the introduction of Pioneer also had been put on hold, negative feedback forced Wizards of the Coast to quickly announce that they would be searching for an alternative.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-digital/mtg-arena-state-game-kamigawa-neon-dynasty-2022-02-09|MTG Arena: State of the Game - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty|[[Wizards of the Coast]]| February 8, 2022}}</ref> Although people asked for the return of Pioneer or ''Pioneer light'', Wizards seemed to search for another format.  
However, the release of ''[[Jumpstart: Historic Horizons]]'' in August 2021 included a selection of cards with [[Designed-for-digital|digital-only mechanics]]. A few months later, the release of ''[[Alchemy: Innistrad]]'' introduced additional digital-exclusive cards to Historic. By including [[Alchemy card]]s and other digital-only cards in the format, Historic stopped being "true to tabletop", leaving ''MTG Arena'' without a non-rotating format of that type. This created negative feedback, and in February 2022, Wizards of the Coast announced they were exploring the development of a new format to meet the demand.<ref>{{DailyRef|magic-digital/mtg-arena-state-game-kamigawa-neon-dynasty-2022-02-09|MTG Arena: State of the Game - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty|[[Wizards of the Coast]]| February 8, 2022}}</ref> Explorer was introduced as a format in April 2022. It turned out to be mechanically the same as a format called "What was Written," a Midweek Magic event format that allowed cards from Return to Ravnica Block forward and had the same banlist as Pioneer. It answered the ask and demand for a Constructed, non-rotating, "true-to-tabletop" format using all the Pioneer-legal cards available on MTG Arena, with a path towards becoming the true Pioneer format on Arena.<ref>{{YouTubeRef|OP2DuFLLSeA|Monthly Announcement Day|channel=[[Weekly MTG]]|date=April 22, 2022}}</ref>


However, when Explorer was introduced as a format in April 2022, it turned out to be exactly what the people had been asking for: a Constructed, non-rotating, "true-to-tabletop" format using all the Pioneer-legal cards available on MTG Arena, with a path towards becoming true Pioneer.<ref>{{YouTubeRef|OP2DuFLLSeA|Monthly Announcement Day|channel=[[Weekly MTG]]|date=April 22, 2022}}</ref>
==Explorer Anthologies==
{{Main|Explorer Anthology}}
[[Explorer Anthology|Explorer Anthologies]] are added to the game to supplement the Explorer format. The first ''Explorer Anthology'' was released on July 28, 2022, and added 20 Explorer-legal cards to MTG Arena, from iconic powerhouses to offbeat favorites.<ref>{{DailyRef|https://magic.wizards.com/en/archive/magic-digital/mtg-arena-state-game-alchemy-horizons-baldurs-gate|MTG Arena: State of the Game – ''Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate''|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|July 6, 2022}}</ref>


==Deck construction==
==Deck construction==
All the regular rules for constructed formats apply. Decks must contain a minimum of sixty cards. There is no maximum deck size; however, you must be able to shuffle your deck with no assistance. Like other constructed formats, a [[sideboard]] of at most fifteen cards can be used. With the exception of [[basic land]]s and cards like <c>Rat Colony</c>, a player's combined deck and sideboard may not contain more than four of any individual card.
All the regular rules for constructed formats apply. Decks must contain a minimum of sixty cards. There is no maximum deck size; however, decks in ''Arena'' can not have more than 250 cards. Like other constructed formats, a [[sideboard]] of at most fifteen cards can be used. Except for [[basic land]]s and cards like <c>Rat Colony</c>, a player's combined deck and sideboard may not contain more than four of any individual card.


===Set legality===
===Set legality===
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*''[[Innistrad: Crimson Vow]]''
*''[[Innistrad: Crimson Vow]]''
*''[[Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty]]''
*''[[Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty]]''
*''[[Streets of New Capenna]]''
*''[[Dominaria United]]''
*''[[The Brothers' War]]''
*''[[Phyrexia: All Will Be One]]''
*''[[March of the Machine]]''
*''[[March of the Machine: The Aftermath]]''
*''[[Wilds of Eldraine]]''
*''[[The Lost Caverns of Ixalan]]''
*''[[Murders at Karlov Manor]]''
}}
}}


===Banned List===
===Banned List===
{{See also|Timeline of DCI bans and restrictions}}
{{See also|Timeline of DCI bans and restrictions}}
Explorer will follow the Pioneer ban-list at first. Any cards that cause problems with interactions with [[Designed-for-digital]] cards in the pool will be banned rather than be rebalanced or suspended
Explorer will follow the [[Pioneer]] banned list at first. Any cards that cause problems in Explorer specifically (such as because the format hasn't yet added [[answer]]s found in Pioneer) will be banned rather than be rebalanced or suspended, just as with other paper formats, but this type of ban is likely to be reversed as Explorer grows toward parity with Pioneer.<ref name="Explorer"/>


As of April 21st, 2022, the following cards are banned in Explorer:
As of June 7th, 2022, there is one Explorer-specific ban:
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
*<c>Tibalt's Trickery</c><ref name="May 2022">{{DailyRef|magic-digital/may-11-2022-banned-and-restricted-announcement|May 11, 2022 Banned and Restricted Announcement|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|May 11, 2022}}</ref>
}}


In addition, cards banned in Pioneer are banned in Explorer:
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
*<c>Balustrade Spy</c><ref name="February 2021">{{DailyRef|news/february-15-2021-banned-and-restricted-announcement|February 15, 2021 Banned and Restricted Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|February 15, 2021}}</ref>
*<c>Bloodstained Mire</c><ref name="Announcing">{{DailyRef|news/announcing-pioneer-format-2019-10-21|Announcing the Pioneer Format|[[Blake Rasmussen]]|October 21, 2019}}</ref>
*<c>Bloodstained Mire</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
*<c>Expressive Iteration</c><ref name="June 2022">{{DailyRef|magic-digital/June-7-2022-banned-and-restricted-announcement|June 7, 2022 Banned and Restricted Announcement|[[Michael Majors]] and [[Ian Duke]]|June 7, 2022}}</ref>
*<c>Field of the Dead</c><ref name="December 2, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/december-2-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|December 2, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|December 02, 2019}}</ref>
*<c>Flooded Strand</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
*<c>Flooded Strand</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
*<c>Felidar Guardian</c><ref name="November 4, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/november-4-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|November 4, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|November 04, 2019}}</ref>
*<c>Geological Appraiser</c><ref name="December 2023">{{DailyRef|news/announcements/december-4-2023-banned-and-restricted-announcement|December 4, 2023 Banned and Restricted Announcement|[[Dan Musser]]|December 4, 2023}}</ref>
*<c>Field of the Dead</c><ref name="December 2, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/december-2-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|December 2, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|December 02, 2019}}</ref>
*<c>Karn, the Great Creator</c><ref name="December 2023"/>
*<c>Inverter of Truth</c><ref name="BR20200808">{{DailyRef|news/august-8-2020-banned-and-restricted-announcement|August 3, 2020 Banned and Restricted Announcement|Ian Duke|August 3, 2020}}</ref>
*<c>Kethis, the Hidden Hand</c><ref name="BR20200808"/>
*<c>Kethis, the Hidden Hand</c><ref name="BR20200808"/>
*<c>Leyline of Abundance</c><ref name="November 4, 2019"/>
*<c>Leyline of Abundance</c><ref name="November 4, 2019"/>
Line 83: Line 98:
*<c>Oko, Thief of Crowns</c><ref name="December 16, 2019"/>
*<c>Oko, Thief of Crowns</c><ref name="December 16, 2019"/>
*<c>Once Upon a Time</c><ref name="December 2, 2019"/>
*<c>Once Upon a Time</c><ref name="December 2, 2019"/>
*<c>Polluted Delta</c><ref name="Announcing">{{DailyRef|news/announcing-pioneer-format-2019-10-21|Announcing the Pioneer Format|[[Blake Rasmussen]]|October 21, 2019}}</ref>
*<c>Polluted Delta</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
*<c>Smuggler's Copter</c><ref name="December 2, 2019"/>
*<c>Teferi, Time Raveler</c><ref name="February 2021"/>
*<c>Teferi, Time Raveler</c><ref name="February 2021"/>
*<c>Undercity Informer</c> <ref name="February 2021"/>
*<c>Underworld Breach</c><ref name="BR20200808"/>
*<c>Underworld Breach</c><ref name="BR20200808"/>
*<c>Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath</c> <ref name="February 2021"/>
*<c>Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath</c> <ref name="February 2021"/>
*<c>Veil of Summer</c><ref name="November 11, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/november-11-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|November 11, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|November 11, 2019}}</ref>
*<c>Veil of Summer</c><ref name="November 11, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/november-11-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|November 11, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|November 11, 2019}}</ref>
*<c>Walking Ballista</c><ref name="BR20200808"/>
*<c>Wilderness Reclamation</c><ref name="February 2021"/>
*<c>Wilderness Reclamation</c><ref name="February 2021"/>
*<c>Windswept Heath</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
*<c>Windswept Heath</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
*<c>Winota, Joiner of Forces</c><ref name="June 2022"/>
*<c>Wooded Foothills</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
*<c>Wooded Foothills</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
}}
The following cards are not yet available in ''Arena'' but would be banned if they were released in a future set:
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
*<c>Balustrade Spy</c><ref name="February 2021">{{DailyRef|news/february-15-2021-banned-and-restricted-announcement|February 15, 2021 Banned and Restricted Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|February 15, 2021}}</ref>
*<c>Felidar Guardian</c><ref name="November 4, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/november-4-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|November 4, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|November 04, 2019}}</ref>
*<c>Inverter of Truth</c><ref name="BR20200808">{{DailyRef|news/august-8-2020-banned-and-restricted-announcement|August 3, 2020 Banned and Restricted Announcement|Ian Duke|August 3, 2020}}</ref>
*<c>Undercity Informer</c> <ref name="February 2021"/>
*<c>Walking Ballista</c><ref name="BR20200808"/>
}}
Two cards are legal in Pioneer and implemented in Arena, but are only playable if [[conjure]]d by other cards. They cannot be obtained or crafted as part of a player's collection, and therefore cannot be part of an Explorer deck.
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
*<c>Fog</c>
*<c>Stormfront Pegasus</c>
}}
}}


Line 100: Line 129:


==See also==
==See also==
* [[Pioneer]]
*[[Pioneer]]


{{Formats|Constructed}}
{{Formats|Constructed}}
[[Category:Release day maintenance]]
[[Category:Release day maintenance]]

Latest revision as of 20:54, 30 March 2024

Explorer
DCI Sanctioned
Paper {Cross}
Magic Online {Cross}
Magic Arena {Tick}
Rules
Type Constructed
Multiplayer {Cross}
Add. rules Best-of-one and Best-of-three

Explorer is a constructed format introduced on April 21, 2022, as an on-ramp for the Magic: The Gathering Arena software to eventually support the Pioneer format. Like Pioneer, it is a non-rotating format where core sets and expansions since Return to Ravnica are legal, but necessarily excluding cards not yet implemented in the game. Unlike Arena's other major non-rotating format, Historic, Explorer was created to support "true-to-tabletop" gameplay, and thus does not use digital-only or Alchemy cards.[1]

Background

Originally, the first format that would allow Arena players to make use of all cards that were no longer legal in Standard after rotation was the implementation of the Historic format in November 2019.[2] To expand Historic, the Pioneer Masters set was announced in July 2020, bringing Historic nearer to the Pioneer format.[3]

However, the release of Jumpstart: Historic Horizons in August 2021 included a selection of cards with digital-only mechanics. A few months later, the release of Alchemy: Innistrad introduced additional digital-exclusive cards to Historic. By including Alchemy cards and other digital-only cards in the format, Historic stopped being "true to tabletop", leaving MTG Arena without a non-rotating format of that type. This created negative feedback, and in February 2022, Wizards of the Coast announced they were exploring the development of a new format to meet the demand.[4] Explorer was introduced as a format in April 2022. It turned out to be mechanically the same as a format called "What was Written," a Midweek Magic event format that allowed cards from Return to Ravnica Block forward and had the same banlist as Pioneer. It answered the ask and demand for a Constructed, non-rotating, "true-to-tabletop" format using all the Pioneer-legal cards available on MTG Arena, with a path towards becoming the true Pioneer format on Arena.[5]

Explorer Anthologies

Main article: Explorer Anthology

Explorer Anthologies are added to the game to supplement the Explorer format. The first Explorer Anthology was released on July 28, 2022, and added 20 Explorer-legal cards to MTG Arena, from iconic powerhouses to offbeat favorites.[6]

Deck construction

All the regular rules for constructed formats apply. Decks must contain a minimum of sixty cards. There is no maximum deck size; however, decks in Arena can not have more than 250 cards. Like other constructed formats, a sideboard of at most fifteen cards can be used. Except for basic lands and cards like Rat Colony, a player's combined deck and sideboard may not contain more than four of any individual card.

Set legality

Cards from all regular core sets and expansions since Return to Ravnica (including exclusives that only appeared in Welcome Deck 2016 and Welcome Deck 2017) are legal.

Banned List

See also: Timeline of DCI bans and restrictions.

Explorer will follow the Pioneer banned list at first. Any cards that cause problems in Explorer specifically (such as because the format hasn't yet added answers found in Pioneer) will be banned rather than be rebalanced or suspended, just as with other paper formats, but this type of ban is likely to be reversed as Explorer grows toward parity with Pioneer.[1]

As of June 7th, 2022, there is one Explorer-specific ban:

In addition, cards banned in Pioneer are banned in Explorer:

The following cards are not yet available in Arena but would be banned if they were released in a future set:

Two cards are legal in Pioneer and implemented in Arena, but are only playable if conjured by other cards. They cannot be obtained or crafted as part of a player's collection, and therefore cannot be part of an Explorer deck.

References

  1. ↑ a b Wizards of the Coast (April 21, 2022). "MTG Arena: State of the Game – Streets of New Capenna". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Brett Teran (June 27, 2019). "MTG Arena update: Introducing the Historic format". Magic Esports.
  3. ↑ MTG Arena: State of the Game – July 2020. magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast (July 15, 2020]).
  4. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (February 8, 2022). "MTG Arena: State of the Game - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  5. ↑ Monthly Announcement Day (Video). Weekly MTG. YouTube (April 22, 2022).
  6. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (July 6, 2022). "MTG Arena: State of the Game – Alchemy Horizons: Baldur's Gate". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (May 11, 2022). "May 11, 2022 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. ↑ a b c d e Blake Rasmussen (October 21, 2019). "Announcing the Pioneer Format". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ a b Michael Majors and Ian Duke (June 7, 2022). "June 7, 2022 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. ↑ a b Ian Duke (December 02, 2019). "December 2, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. ↑ a b Dan Musser (December 4, 2023). "December 4, 2023 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. ↑ a b c d Ian Duke (August 3, 2020). "August 3, 2020 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  13. ↑ a b Ian Duke (November 04, 2019). "November 4, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  14. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 7, 2022). "March 7, 2022 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  15. ↑ a b Ian Duke (December 16, 2019). "December 16, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  16. ↑ a b c d e Ian Duke (February 15, 2021). "February 15, 2021 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  17. ↑ Ian Duke (November 11, 2019). "November 11, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

See also

DCI
Sanctioned
Casual
Constructed
Limited/Draft
Multiplayer
Retired
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