So, I’ve been messing around with Magic: The Gathering Arena again lately, specifically diving into the Explorer format. This weekend there’s a big event, the Explorer Metagame Challenge, and I figured I’d try to come up with some decks to play and maybe snag some of those Pioneer Masters packs and gems. I mean, who doesn’t like free stuff, right?
I started by looking at what decks are popular in Explorer right now. I gotta say, it seems like Rakdos Midrange is the top dog. I’ve seen it everywhere, and honestly, it’s the deck I’ve had the most success with so far. It’s like, everyone and their mother is playing it. So, naturally, I had to give it a shot myself.
Here’s what I did:
- Checked Out the Popular Decks: First, I needed to know what I was up against. I spent some time looking at recent tournament results and what people were saying online about the top Explorer decks. It quickly became clear that Rakdos Midrange was the one to beat.
- Tried Rakdos Midrange: Since it’s so popular, I decided to try Rakdos Midrange for myself. It’s actually pretty straightforward to play, which is nice. I went through the tutorials, which are decent, and played some matches. I started to get a feel for the deck and why it’s so good.
- Looked at Other Strong Decks: But you know, I didn’t want to just copy the most popular deck. I looked at other decks that seemed strong and that I might enjoy playing. I’ve always been a fan of Dragon decks, so I started tinkering with a few of those. I mean, who doesn’t love Dragons? They’ve been around since the beginning of Magic, like with that old-school Shivan Dragon card.
- Explored the Metagame: I also looked into what people are playing on the ladder. I found a pretty cool snapshot of the top 13 decks people are using. It was super helpful to see what kinds of cards people were using in their sideboards and why.
- Experimented with My Own Builds: After getting a good idea of the popular decks, I started experimenting with my own builds. I tried out different combinations of cards, played some matches, and adjusted my decks based on what worked and what didn’t. It was a lot of trial and error, but it was fun!
After all that messing around, I think I’ve come up with a few decks that I feel pretty good about. They might not be the best decks ever, but they’re fun to play, and I think they have a decent shot in the tournament. It’s not all about winning, right? It’s also about having fun and trying out new things.
What I Learned
This whole experience has definitely taught me a lot about the Explorer format and deck building in general. It’s always interesting to see what the “best” decks are, but it’s also important to find decks that you enjoy playing. And sometimes, you can even come up with your own unique builds that can surprise people. I might have a Dragon deck that just wins out of nowhere. Who knows, maybe I’ll see you in the tournament? We’ll see how it goes!
Anyways, that’s my story about diving into the Explorer format and trying to build some decks for the upcoming tournament. It’s been a fun ride, and I’m looking forward to seeing how my decks perform. Wish me luck!
