Borderland Explorer MTG Card

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Borderland Explorer provides a nuanced approach to card advantage. While the card itself does not directly allow a player to draw extra cards, it offers an exchange that can be profitable in the right setup. By discarding a card, preferably one that has value in the graveyard, you can ensure access to the land you might otherwise miss, helping maintain a smooth flow of resources.

Resource Acceleration: When you use Borderland Explorer’s ability, it helps with resource acceleration by ensuring you hit your land drops. This can be particularly beneficial in decks that feature a lot of utility lands, or in multicolored decks where the ability to fetch a specific type of basic land can significantly aid in color fixing.

Instant Speed: Although Borderland Explorer itself is not an instant, the flexibility it provides when it enters the battlefield can be tactically akin to instant-speed plays. By waiting to activate its ability until the moment is most opportune, perhaps in response to an opponent’s action or at the end of their turn, it allows for adaptable plays that can keep an opponent guessing.

Card Cons

Discard Requirement: One drawback of playing Borderland Explorer is the discard obligation to activate its ability. While this might benefit some strategies, it can be a setback in others, especially if your hand is already depleted or if valuable cards are in your grasp.

Specific Mana Cost: Borderland Explorer necessitates green mana as part of its casting cost, thus restricting its seamless integration into decks that don’t run green or have a limited mana base to support multiple colors.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of two mana for a 3/1 body, Borderland Explorer might seem reasonable, but the real cost glimmers when considering the additional discard for land searching. In fast-paced games, where every mana point counts, this cost could put you at a disadvantage compared to other low-cost creatures with less stringent requirements or comparable creatures that may offer additional benefits without the need for discarding cards.

Reasons to Include Borderland Explorer in Your Collection

Versatility: Borderland Explorer is a flexible card, easily slipped into various deck builds. Its ability to exchange an unwanted card for a potential land ensures a smoother mana flow, which is essential for any deck’s functioning.

Combo Potential: With the capacity to discard and search for a basic land card, Borderland Explorer has a natural synergy with graveyard strategies, setting the stage for powerful plays with cards that profit from cards being in the graveyard.

Meta-Relevance: In a game where managing resources is crucial, Borderland Explorer maintains its relevance. Its low casting cost and quick impact on the board make it a valuable addition, especially in formats where land plays and graveyard interactions are plentiful.

How to beat Borderland Explorer

Borderland Explorer is a versatile creature card in Magic: The Gathering that offers both a solid body and an opportunity for card filtering. In the same vein as cards such as Satyr Wayfinder, Borderland Explorer allows players to unearth lands from their deck, ensuring a smoother mana curve. However, unlike Satyr Wayfinder, which puts lands directly onto the battlefield, Borderland Explorer requires a discarded card to execute this action, making strategic hand management imperative.

Defeating a card like Borderland Explorer entails prioritizing removal spells that can efficiently deal with two-toughness creatures without a significant loss of resources. Consider options like Shock or Fatal Push for an effective response. Additionally, leveraging graveyard interaction can be advantageous as playing against Borderland Explorer may inadvertently fuel your opponent’s graveyard strategies. Thus, including cards that exile or shuffle graveyards into decks, such as Relic of Progenitus or Tormod’s Crypt, can mitigate this risk and disrupt your opponent’s plan. Analyzing Borderland Explorer’s strengths and adapting your strategy accordingly is key to overcoming this resourceful card’s potential impacts on the game.