Homarid Explorer MTG Card
| Mana cost | |
| Converted mana cost | 4 |
| Rarity | Common |
| Type | Creature — Homarid Scout |
| Abilities | Mill |
| Released | 2018-04-27 |
| Set symbol | |
| Set name | Dominaria |
| Set code | DOM |
| Power | 3 |
| Toughness | 3 |
| Number | 53 |
| Frame | 2015 |
| Layout | Normal |
| Border | Black |
| Illustred by | Jehan Choo |
Text of card
When Homarid Explorer enters the battlefield, target player puts the top four cards of their library into their graveyard.
"Homarids spread northward from Sarpadia as the climate cooled, raiding coastal settlements for supplies." —*Time of Ice*
Cards like Homarid Explorer
Homarid Explorer is a unique addition to the assortment of mill cards in the world of Magic: The Gathering. A notable comparison is with Manic Scribe, which also has the capacity to put cards from an opponent’s library into their graveyard. While Manic Scribe requires delirium to be effective, Homarid Explorer foregoes such prerequisites, milling opponents upon entry without additional conditions.
Another similar card is Pilfering Imp, which, aside from milling, offers the advantage of forcing an opponent to discard a card. Although Pilfering Imp offers the flexibility of being a dual threat, it lacks the immediate impact of Homarid Explorer’s entrance to the battlefield. Then we consider Returned Centaur, a creature that mills upon entering the battlefield like Homarid Explorer, but it lacks the Explorer’s human synergy benefits and is in a different color identity, which can influence deck building decisions.
Evaluating the effectiveness of these options, Homarid Explorer holds its own among mill cards, especially considering it doesn’t hinge on particular prerequisites and integrates easily with human-related synergies. This positions it as a solid choice for players looking to incorporate mill strategies into their game without the complication of additional requirements.
Cards similar to Homarid Explorer by color, type and mana cost
Card Pros
Card Advantage: The Homarid Explorer, when it enters the battlefield, allows you to target a player who then puts the top four cards of their library into their graveyard. This mill effect can indirectly serve as card advantage, particularly in decks that capitalize on opponents’ graveyard contents or your own self-mill strategies.
Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing resource acceleration, the Homarid Explorer can fuel escape mechanisms, delve abilities, or other graveyard synergies, thus accelerating your access to resources indirectly through graveyard manipulation.
Instant Speed: While Homarid Explorer itself does not operate at instant speed, it can complement a deck that operates on instant speed mechanics. It fits into the curve where you may pass the turn with mana open for instant-speed interaction and then deploy the Explorer if no action was taken, maintaining board presence and tempo.
Card Cons
Discard Requirement: Homarid Explorer necessitates the milling of cards, which can inadvertently aid opponents using graveyard strategies, turning a potential asset into a liability.
Specific Mana Cost: This creature card demands a precise combination of blue mana, potentially limiting its integration in multicolored decks where mana flexibility is key.
Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a casting cost of four mana, Homarid Explorer’s impact on the game may not measure up to other options available for similar or lower mana investments.
Reasons to Include in Your Collection
Versatility: Homarid Explorer is a card that can be quite adaptable in different deck builds. Its ability to mill an opponent add layers of strategy in both mill-focused decks and those that might capitalize on graveyard manipulation.
Combo Potential: When paired with cards that benefit from putting opponent’s cards into the graveyard, the Homarid Explorer shines. It can become an integral part of decks that use the opponent’s graveyard as a resource or for triggering abilities such as those found on cards like “Fleet Swallower” or “Fraying Sanity”.
Meta-Relevance: In environments where longer, grindy games are common, Homarid Explorer’s impact can grow significantly. As part of a control or mill strategy, it slowly erodes the opponent’s resources, which can be pivotal in late-game scenarios where each card in a deck counts.
How to Beat Homarid Explorer
Homarid Explorer, when played in MTG, can offer strategic value to control decks by potentially milling valuable cards from the opponent’s library. Its arrival on the battlefield triggers a four-card mill, creating an immediate impact that could alter the resources at your adversary’s disposal.
To counteract the efficacy of Homarid Explorer, players should consider strategies that protect their library or leverage graveyard synergies. Using cards that can reshuffle your graveyard back into your library, such as Elixir of Immortality, mitigates the potential disruption caused by the Explorer’s mill effect. Another approach is to include cards with graveyard abilities that benefit from having more cards in the graveyard, thus turning the Explorer’s ability to your advantage. Cards like Tarmogoyf or other creatures that grow in power with graveyard card count might shoulder the game in your favor.
In essence, while Homarid Explorer introduces a strategic mill component to the game, judicious deck-building and reactive play choices can effectively negate its impact, or even harness it, to enhance your own position in the game.
Where to buy
If you're looking to purchase Homarid Explorer MTG card by a specific set like Dominaria, there are several reliable options to consider. One of the primary sources is your local game store, where you can often find booster packs, individual cards, and preconstructed decks from current and some past sets. They often offer the added benefit of a community where you can trade with other players.
For a broader inventory, particularly of older sets, online marketplaces like TCGPlayer, Card Kingdom and Card Market offer extensive selections and allow you to search for cards from specific sets. Larger e-commerce platforms like eBay and Amazon also have listings from various sellers, which can be a good place to look for sealed product and rare finds.
Additionally, Magic’s official site often has a store locator and retailer lists for finding Wizards of the Coast licensed products. Remember to check for authenticity and the condition of the cards when purchasing, especially from individual sellers on larger marketplaces.
Below is a list of some store websites where you can buy the Homarid Explorer and other MTG cards:
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- eBay
- Card Kingdom
- Card Market
- Star City Games
- CoolStuffInc
- MTG Mint Card
- Hareruya
- Troll and Toad
- ABU Games
- Card Hoarder Magic Online
- MTGO Traders Magic Online
See MTG Products
Legalities
Magic the Gathering formats where Homarid Explorer has restrictions
| Format | Legality |
|---|---|
| Historicbrawl | Legal |
| Historic | Legal |
| Legacy | Legal |
| Paupercommander | Legal |
| Oathbreaker | Legal |
| Gladiator | Legal |
| Pioneer | Legal |
| Commander | Legal |
| Modern | Legal |
| Pauper | Legal |
| Vintage | Legal |
| Duel | Legal |
| Explorer | Legal |
| Penny | Legal |
| Timeless | Legal |