Explorer
| Historic | |
|---|---|
| DCI Sanctioned | |
| Paper |
 |
| Magic Online |
|
| Magic Arena |
 |
| Rules | |
| Type | Constructed |
| Multiplayer |
|
| Add. rules | Best-of-one and Best-of-three |
Explorer is a constructed format that is Magic: The Gathering Arena's on-ramp to eventually support Pioneer on the client.[1]
Description
The format was introduced on April 21, 2021, to help Arena transition into supporting Pioneer and "true-to-tabletop" gameplay.
Background
The 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.[2] In July 2020, the Pioneer Masters set was announced, which Historic nearer to the Pioneer format. [3]
In December 2021, the release of Alchemy: Innistrad paired Historic with it in terms of card changes. By including Alchemy cards 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.[4] Although people asked for the return of Pioneer or Pioneer light, Wizards seemed to search for another format.
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.[5]
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 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.
- Return to Ravnica
- Gatecrash
- Dragon's Maze
- Magic 2014
- Theros
- Born of the Gods
- Journey into Nyx
- Magic 2015
- Khans of Tarkir
- Fate Reforged
- Dragons of Tarkir
- Magic Origins
- Battle for Zendikar
- Oath of the Gatewatch
- Welcome Deck 2016
- Shadows over Innistrad
- Eldritch Moon
- Kaladesh
- Aether Revolt
- Welcome Deck 2017
- Amonkhet
- Hour of Devastation
- Ixalan
- Rivals of Ixalan
- Dominaria
- Core Set 2019
- Guilds of Ravnica
- Ravnica Allegiance
- War of the Spark
- Core Set 2020
- Throne of Eldraine
- Theros Beyond Death
- Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
- Core Set 2021
- Zendikar Rising
- Kaldheim
- Strixhaven: School of Mages
- Adventures in the Forgotten Realms
- Innistrad: Midnight Hunt
- Innistrad: Crimson Vow
- Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty
Banned List
- 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
As of April 21st, 2022, the following cards are banned in Explorer:
- Balustrade Spy[6]
- Bloodstained Mire[7]
- Flooded Strand[7]
- Felidar Guardian[8]
- Field of the Dead[9]
- Inverter of Truth[10]
- Kethis, the Hidden Hand[10]
- Leyline of Abundance[8]
- Lurrus of the Dream-Den[11]
- Nexus of Fate[12]
- Oko, Thief of Crowns[12]
- Once Upon a Time[9]
- Polluted Delta[7]
- Smuggler's Copter[9]
- Teferi, Time Raveler[6]
- Undercity Informer [6]
- Underworld Breach[10]
- Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath [6]
- Veil of Summer[13]
- Walking Ballista[10]
- Wilderness Reclamation[6]
- Windswept Heath[7]
- Wooded Foothills[7]
References
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (April 21, 2021). "MTG Arena: State of the Game - Streets of New Capenna". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Brett Teran (June 27, 2019). "MTG Arena update: Introducing the Historic format". Magic Esports.
- ↑ MTG Arena: State of the Game – July 2020. magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast (July 15, 2020]).
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (February 8, 2022). "MTG Arena: State of the Game - Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Monthly Announcement Day (Video). Weekly MTG. YouTube (April 22, 2022).
- ↑ a b c d e Ian Duke (February 15, 2021). "February 15, 2021 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c d e Blake Rasmussen (October 21, 2019). "Announcing the Pioneer Format". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Ian Duke (November 04, 2019). "November 4, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c Ian Duke (December 02, 2019). "December 2, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c d Ian Duke (August 3, 2020). "August 3, 2020 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 7, 2022). "March 7, 2022 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Ian Duke (December 16, 2019). "December 16, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ian Duke (November 11, 2019). "November 11, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.