In this article we’ll focus on some budget decks for Explorer to (hopefully) help people get into the format. We think it might be helpful to compile a few in a post and talk about getting into Explorer, expectations for the decks, etc.
Explorer is pretty enjoyable format despite the relative prevalence of combo-oriented decks (Greasefang and etc) just as a change of pace from standard, since there’s more viable archetypes overall — red deck wins, blue white control, feather, etc. The format is also more diverse below diamond/mythic, where old standard decks see much more play.
Explorer’s uniquely situated as a budget format on arena because of this. You get access to a pool of commons/uncommons nearly as big as Historic’s, but the lower overall power level allows for cheap decks with a focused enough gameplan to still get wins. This dynamic isn’t likely to shift dramatically as time goes on, since big Pioneer decks like Greasefang are already present in the meta, but many cards that facilitate budget friendly Pioneer decks (such as Monastery Swiftspear and Experiment One) are not on the client. That idea does partly depend on what cards Wizards selects for Explorer focused anthologies, but overall the format is well positioned for long term casual/budget play.
With that in mind all decks in this article are built with a single digit number of rares that are powerful enough to consistently get wins in play queue and lower ranks, probably up to gold/plat or so with no upgrades, and they can serve as a template should you want to spend more rares powering them up. We used rares in the mana base where possible so that they’re both optional and usable in other decks should you end up not liking the specific list. Let’s hit on the decks gamelan and upgrade potential individually.
Mono White Enchant Aggro
0 Rares
A mono white aggro list build around dumping your hand onto the field early and using All That Glitters/Michiko’s Reign of Truth to make massive threats. This is one of our favourites because the 4x Roadside Reliquary (almost always a draw 2) gives it a surprising amount of card advantage. There’s some room to tinker with the list without spending rares (e.g. Shambling Suit fits in the archetype) and it can be upgraded into a more conventional auras or artifacts list with cards like Sram, Senior Edificer and Light Paws, Emperor’s Voice.
Retributive Chef/Mono Black Drain
5 Rares (5 In the mana base)
A mono black drain deck that functions almost like a burn list, we forgot Grey Merchant in favour of cheap drain spells and more utility interactions. The dank meme in it being you sac Retributive Wand to Dockside Chef to hit things for 5. Doesn’t have a super clear upgrade path, but would be a fine deck to start cramming format staples like Thoughtseize into.
Mono Red Burn
6 Rares (2 In the mana base)
You know it you love/hate it, count to 20 with burn. The most expensive of the lists here at 4 mandatory rares, but also the most “tier”/easy to upgrade into a serious meta deck with cards like Chandra, Dressed to Kill. Anthologies are also likely to upgrade burn with Monastery Swiftspear and Eidolon of the Great Revel.
Budget Gonti Control
5 Rares (2 in the mana base)
A mono black list based around hand hate, removal, and a theft-focused top end. It can be inconsistent, but is one of the lists more likely to actually steal wins away from top meta decks due to being very interactive. Very fun when it’s firing on all cylinders, stealing cards leads to some great moments. This one can upgrade much more cleanly into a black-focused discard/control/etc list, as many pieces can easily be swapped with higher rarity counterparts. Rares froms tandard like the new Sorin or Invoke Despair would also fit well.
Anyway, we hope this breakdown was interesting or helpful!
