Oreskos Explorer MTG Card


Boosts card advantage by finding multiple Plains, strengthening your strategy with added land resources. Accelerates access to lands, thereby allowing quicker plays of higher-cost cards in your game plan. Despite its upside, might constrict deck flexibility and prove less efficient in fast-paced games.
Card setsReleased in 9 setsSee all
Mana cost
Converted mana cost2
RarityUncommon
TypeCreature — Cat Scout
Power 2
Toughness 2

Text of card

When Oreskos Explorer enters the battlefield, search your library for up to X Plains cards, where X is the number of players who control more lands than you. Reveal those cards, put them into your hand, then shuffle your library.


Cards like Oreskos Explorer

Oreskos Explorer carries unique value within the realm of white mana cards in MTG, bearing resemblance to effects found in cards like Gift of Estates. Like the Explorer, Gift of Estates fetches lands into your hand, ensuring land drops for subsequent turns. The difference lies primarily in the condition for activation; Oreskos Explorer requires you to have fewer lands than an opponent to benefit, while Gift of Estates gets its edge when you’re down to two or fewer lands in play.

Knight of the White Orchid is another card that invites comparison. This knight also scouts out lands but places them onto the battlefield instead, offering an immediate advantage. However, it shares the stipulation that an opponent must control more lands than you, adding a tactical layer to timing your plays. Land Tax also plays in this field of land manipulation. Despite its non-creature status, it boasts extensive deck thinning capabilities, potentially pulling up to three lands at the upkeep, but it kicks in only if you lag behind in land count.

What makes Oreskos Explorer stand out is its creature status, which provides additional board presence. Analyzing these similar cards reveals that while each has its niche, Oreskos Explorer blends the utility of land acquisition with the strategic element of creature play in MTG.

Gift of Estates - MTG Card versions
Knight of the White Orchid - MTG Card versions
Land Tax - MTG Card versions
Gift of Estates - MTG Card versions
Knight of the White Orchid - MTG Card versions
Land Tax - MTG Card versions

Cards similar to Oreskos Explorer by color, type and mana cost

White Knight - MTG Card versions
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Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions
White Knight - MTG Card versions
Soul Shepherd - MTG Card versions
Soltari Monk - MTG Card versions
Talon Sliver - MTG Card versions
Keeper of the Light - MTG Card versions
Faith Healer - MTG Card versions
Angelic Page - MTG Card versions
Avenger en-Dal - MTG Card versions
Spirit Weaver - MTG Card versions
Voice of the Blessed - MTG Card versions
Stoneforge Mystic - MTG Card versions
Drannith Magistrate - MTG Card versions
Leonin Lightscribe - MTG Card versions
Silver Knight - MTG Card versions
Longbow Archer - MTG Card versions
Silverflame Squire // On Alert - MTG Card versions
Flumph - MTG Card versions
Cloudreach Cavalry - MTG Card versions
Samite Healer - MTG Card versions
Kor Firewalker - MTG Card versions

Card Pros

Card Advantage: Oreskos Explorer can significantly boost your card advantage by potentially searching for multiple Plains cards and ensuring you have ample land resources to execute your strategy effectively.

Resource Acceleration: Although not directly providing mana, Oreskos Explorer can be pivotal in resource acceleration as it increases the number of lands you have available, thus accelerating your ability to play higher-cost cards sooner.

Instant Speed: While Oreskos Explorer does not have instant speed, its ability to secure land cards upon entry can set the stage for future turns where you can make use of instant-speed spells without being constrained by land availability.


Card Cons

Discard Requirement: Oreskos Explorer necessitates discarding another card to activate certain abilities. This trade-off might backfire if your hand is already running thin, forcing you to relinquish potentially crucial plays later in the game.

Specific Mana Cost: The mana cost for Oreskos Explorer requires white mana, which could hinder deck-building flexibility. Players running multicolor decks might find it challenging to consistently meet the white mana requirement, thereby reducing the card’s general utility in varied deck architectures.

Comparatively High Mana Cost: With a mana value that is on the higher side for its effects, Oreskos Explorer may not stack up well against other options in the same mana range. In fast-paced games, the return on investment in terms of board presence and game impact might not be as significant as other cards costing less or offering more immediate value.


Reasons to Include Oreskos Explorer in Your Collection

Versatility: Oreskos Explorer is a flexible card suitable for any deck running white. It excels in multiplayer formats like Commander where you often have opponents with more lands, ensuring you can consistently snatch those Plains out of your deck, optimizing your land drops.

Combo Potential: This innocuous cat soldier holds potential in landfall strategies, as each Plains retrieved plays well with cards triggering off land enterings, such as Omnath, Locus of Creation, or Tatyova, Benthic Druid. It’s also a functional piece in blink or reanimate decks, allowing you to reuse its land-tutoring effect for additional advantage.

Meta-Relevance: As games become more interactive with longer durations, especially in Commander, having consistent land drops is crucial. Oreskos Explorer ensures you keep pace in such metas, complementing white’s tendency towards land-based ramp and supporting strategies that require a stable mana base.


How to Beat

Oreskos Explorer is a card that can quickly pivot the momentum of a game in Magic: The Gathering by giving players land advantage, especially when they’re playing from behind. Addressing this card effectively requires disrupting this land-based strategy to maintain control of the game’s pace. Some players may opt to remove it before its land-searching ability triggers, using instant speed removal like Path to Exile. Since the Oreskos Explorer’s ability hinges on your opponent having more lands, another strategy is to ensure you are not falling behind on land drops yourself.

Land destruction cards can also be a viable method to maintain parity, as they can keep both players at a similar land count, nullifying the Explorer’s advantage. Additionally, leveraging graveyard hate to remove any fetched Plains from the game with cards like Rest in Peace also renders the Explorer’s ability a one-time use. Preventing repeated value from recursion strategies is crucial for tipping the scales in your favor.

Ultimately, your plan to beat Oreskos Explorer will depend on your deck’s strengths. Staying proactive on the board and managing resources efficiently will reduce the impact this card can have on the game’s outcome.


BurnMana Recommendations

Taking full advantage of MTG’s strategic depth means leveraging every card to its fullest, and Oreskos Explorer is no exception. This versatile piece plays a key role in land acquisition strategies, particularly in the resource-driven white decks. Whether through enhancing landfall mechanics or offering a foothold in Commander play, the Explorer is a smart addition to decks that thrive on consistency. The landscape of MTG is vast and intricate, and we invite you to further explore the synergies and setups that can make cards like Oreskos Explorer integral to your victories. Join us for a deeper dive into strategy and card optimization to truly excel in your next MTG challenge.


Where to buy

If you're looking to purchase Oreskos Explorer MTG card by a specific set like Commander 2015 and Legendary Cube Prize Pack, 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 Oreskos Explorer and other MTG cards:

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Printings

The Oreskos Explorer Magic the Gathering card was released in 9 different sets between 2015-11-13 and 2023-08-04. Illustrated by Winona Nelson.

#ReleasedNameCodeSymbolNumberFrameLayoutBorderArtist
12015-11-13Commander 2015C15 62015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
22015-11-18Legendary Cube Prize PackPZ1 102015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
32017-08-25Commander 2017C17 682015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
42018-06-08BattlebondBBD 1002015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
52018-06-08Commander Anthology Volume IICM2 322015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
62020-09-26The ListPLST C21-982015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
72020-11-20Commander LegendsCMR 3812015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
82021-04-23Commander 2021C21 982015NormalBlackWinona Nelson
92023-08-04Commander MastersCMM 8322015NormalBlackWinona Nelson

Legalities

Magic the Gathering formats where Oreskos Explorer has restrictions

FormatLegality
CommanderLegal
LegacyLegal
PaupercommanderRestricted
OathbreakerLegal
VintageLegal
DuelLegal

Rules and information

The reference guide for Magic: The Gathering Oreskos Explorer card rulings provides official rulings, any errata issued, as well as a record of all the functional modifications that have occurred.

Date Text
2015-11-04 If no player controls more lands than you do, you'll still search and shuffle your library, although you can't find any cards.
2015-11-04 The value of X is determined as Oreskos Explorer's triggered ability resolves.