Arena Explorer (BO1) Metagame Tier List and Rankings: Week of May 26, 2022

Introduction

Explorer is a brand new constructed non-rotating format for Magic: The Gathering Arena to be introduced on April 28, 2022 with the release of Streets of New Capenna. It is a “true-to-tabletop” format using all the Pioneer-legal cards (Standard sets from Return to Ravnica onwards, initially using the same banlist) available on MTG Arena. Learn more about the format in our beginner’s guide!

Discover the best Magic: The Gathering Arena Explorer decks and archetypes that the players are using to win tournaments. View and explore our Arena Explorer (best-of-one, BO1) metagame tier list as we rank the top decks, as well as our comprehensive analysis and review. Updated for Streets of New Capenna (SNC).

• Click here to view the separate analysis and tier list for Traditional Explorer (BO3).
• On the tier list table, click on the deck archetype name to find the latest decklists representing it from Mythic ladder, events, and tournaments. Each deck will be ranked in numerical order as well as tier order. The higher something is within the tier, the better it is than other decks.
• The tier list is updated weekly along with a metagame snapshot article.
• You will also find the latest decklist in rank order, along with a brief description.

---

Metagame Snapshot

Our weekly metagame snapshot provide analysis on the standout decks, whether they stand out for their strength, weaknesses, or they have a large change in positioning.

Explorer Metagame Snapshot: Top Decks for the Week of May 19, 2022

---

Explorer Tier List and Rankings

• Tier 1: The best of the best. The most consistent decks that sport the highest win rates and generally, the highest play rates.
• Tier 2: Very solid decks that are slightly lacking in some capacity, whether it’s consistency or power compared to the Tier One archetypes. These can still be strong choices for ladder or for tournaments if you are highly skilled with the archetype or play them during the right metas.
• Tier 3: Either these decks are poorly positioned or have a lot of power/consistency issues. These are decks that see play, but are generally worse choices than your other options.
• Tier 4: Off-meta or decks that are not in the rankings, but we have coverage on.

---

Tier 1 Decks

Mardu Greasefang

Abusing the power of Greasefang, Okiba Boss, this deck looks to turbo out wins by getting a huge, hasty vehicle on board as early as turn 3.

Mono Red Aggro

With blistering speed and extremely efficient threats, Mono Red looks to close out the game before the opponent can enact their game plan.

Mono Blue Spirits

Combining the synergy of the Spirit cards and the cheap interaction of going just blue, Mono Blue Spirits applies pressure quickly and can interact enough to constantly keep the opponent off balance.

Gruul Aggro

Looking to close out games as fast as possible, Gruul is just an amalgamation of the best threats in the colors that can get the opponent dead the fastest.

---

Tier 2 Decks

Selesnya Angels

Powered by a lot of Flying and synergistic creatures, Angels is excellent against fair creature decks as it can easily outscale the opposition!

Boros Feather

Utilizing the power of Feather, the Redeemed, this deck looks to get on the board quickly and kill the opponent out of nowhere!

Rakdos Midrange

A great blend of proactivity and interaction, Rakdos has the tools to beat any deck in the format with it’s efficient threats and varied ways to attack the opponent.

Esper Greasefang

Using the many looting options Blue provides, Esper Greasefang is all in on cheating in a Parhelion II early in the game.

Jeskai Agent

A pile of interaction and a combo finish, Jeskai Yorion plays a mostly fair game plan until it starts stealing all the opponent’s best permanents with Agent of Treachery.

Rakdos Anvil

Using the power of Cat/Oven and Oni-Cult Anvil, Rakdos can be very interactive as it whittles away at the opponent’s life total.

Mono Black Aggro

Utilizing early pressure and interaction, Mono Black Aggro can keep the opponent off balance as it quickly kills them with efficient threats.

---

Tier 3 Decks

Izzet Phoenix

Looking to bring back as many Arclight Phoenix as they can, Phoenix is a powerful tempo deck that can easily accrue free threats and generate a lot of card advantage.

Azorius Control

Looking to stymie every relevant play the opponent could have, Azorius is a great counter to the proactive decks of the meta.

Jund Citadel

With an unbeatable top end of Bolas's Citadel and a bunch of mana dorks to power it out, Jund Citadel is a great midrange deck that quickly transitions into a combo deck in the late game.

Jund Sacrifice

Jund Sacrifice is a pile of synergy with many interweaving combos predominately centered around Cauldron Familiar and Trail of Crumbs.

Mono Black Vampires

Utilizing the power of the insanely strong Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord, Vampires has great tribal synergies, excellent interaction, and powerful starts powered by a good curve or Sorin itself.

Dimir Rogues

Using the powerful Rogues in recent history with the mill payoffs from Throne of Eldraine, Dimir Rogues is a deck that’s equal parts aggressive and interactive.

---

Tier 4 Decks

Coming soon!