Decathlon Event 8: Traditional Explorer Guide and Decklists

The eighth Decathlon event is Traditional (Best of Three or Bo3) Explorer! Here’s everything you need to know about this event, rewards and sample decklists from the community that achieved the maximum 7 wins.

Event Details

• Duration: January 10, 2023 @ 8:00 AM PST to January 13, 2023 @ 8:00 AM PST
• Format: Explorer
• Entry Fee: 2,000 Gold or 400 Gems
• Ends After: 5 wins or 2 losses, whichever comes first
• Match Structure: Best-of-three matches (BO3)

Rewards

Pack Rewards

Packs awarded during Decathlon events can be from sets legal in Standard and Historic.

• Standard main set: 40%
• Non-Standard main set pack: 40%
• Alchemy set – 10%
• Mythic pack: 10%

You can enter the Decathlon events as many times as you want, but you can only get one decathlon token from each event. You also need to get three different tokens to be able to enter the finals so make plans to play other events if you want to get your hands on some of those sweet finals prizes.

Best Explorer Decks

The most obvious place to start for this event would be the meta tier list that was just updated! That should give you a good idea of what the best decks are, and generally speaking, those are the ones I would lean towards.

That being said, if you want some suggestions on what you may want to use and why, I’ll provide a few if you’re on the fence!

The Best Deck

Mono Blue Spirits

by MTG Arena Zone

Buy on TCGplayer $115.48

Buy on Card Kingdom $183.63

Explorer

best of 3

0 mythic

25 rare

15 uncommon

20 common

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

Generate hand save deck (mtgo/arena) copy to clipboard (arena) Visual view Copy URL

Creatures (24)

4

Mausoleum Wanderer

$23.96

4

Spectral Sailor

$1.40

4

Ascendant Spirit

$3.96

4

Rattlechains

$1.40

4

Supreme Phantom

$2.76

4

Shacklegeist

$1.40

Instants (9)

3

Slip Out the Back

$7.47

2

Lofty Denial

$0.50

4

Geistlight Snare

$1.96

Enchantments (4)

4

Curious Obsession

$15.96

Lands (23)

18

Snow-Covered Island

$32.22

1

Otawara, Soaring City

$17.99

4

Faceless Haven

$1.96

60 Cards
$112.94

Sideboard

1

Cerulean Drake

$0.35

1

Brazen Borrower

$11.99

1

Dive Down

$0.25

2

Unsubstantiate

$0.70

2

Aether Gust

$1.38

3

Mystical Dispute

$3.87

3

Unlicensed Hearse

$50.97

2

Witness Protection

$1.18

15 Cards
$70.69

If you just want the pure best deck, it has to be Mono Blue Spirits. The deck has everything you want between speed and interactivity, so it’s deservedly the best deck.

The Best Aggro Deck

Mono White Humans

by DoggertQBones

Buy on TCGplayer $227.22

Buy on Card Kingdom $257.97

Explorer

best of 3

0 mythic

32 rare

14 uncommon

14 common

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

Generate hand save deck (mtgo/arena) copy to clipboard (arena) Visual view Copy URL

Creatures (34)

4

Dauntless Bodyguard

$2.36

4

Recruitment Officer

$1.96

4

Hopeful Initiate

$19.96

4

Luminarch Aspirant

$1.56

4

Thalia’s Lieutenant

$9.96

4

Thalia, Guardian of Thraben

$7.16

2

Extraction Specialist

$3.98

4

Brutal Cathar

$27.96

4

Adeline, Resplendent Cathar

$55.96

Instants (4)

4

Brave the Elements

$7.96

Lands (22)

14

Plains

$3.50

4

Mutavault

$39.96

1

Castle Ardenvale

$0.99

2

Shefet Dunes

$1.38

1

Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire

$7.99

60 Cards
$192.64

Sideboard

1

Archon of Emeria

$3.49

1

Archon of Absolution

$0.39

1

Destroy Evil

$0.29

3

Lay Down Arms

$0.75

3

Portable Hole

$4.47

2

Rest in Peace

$15.98

4

Wedding Announcement

$39.96

15 Cards
$65.33

If you’re in the market for some quick games and not too many tough decisions, Mono White Humans is an excellent choice.

The Best Anti-Meta Deck

Selesnya Angels

by DoggertQBones

Buy on TCGplayer $574.15

Buy on Card Kingdom $683.29

Explorer

best of 3

5 mythic

43 rare

8 uncommon

4 common

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

Generate hand save deck (mtgo/arena) copy to clipboard (arena) Visual view Copy URL

Creatures (25)

4

Youthful Valkyrie

$39.96

4

Bishop of Wings

$21.96

4

Giada, Font of Hope

$13.96

4

Resplendent Angel

$171.96

4

Righteous Valkyrie

$23.96

1

Resplendent Marshal

$1.49

4

Skyclave Apparition

$11.16

Instants (4)

4

Collected Company

$67.96

Sorceries (3)

3

Kayla’s Reconstruction

$1.47

Artifacts (4)

4

Portable Hole

$5.96

Lands (24)

4

Plains

$1.00

4

Brushland

$7.96

4

Branchloft Pathway

$15.96

1

Cave of the Frost Dragon

$1.49

3

Overgrown Farmland

$17.97

4

Temple Garden

$59.96

2

Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx

$85.98

1

Boseiju, Who Endures

$39.99

1

Eiganjo, Seat of the Empire

$7.99

60 Cards
$598.14

Sideboard

1

Vivien Reid

$2.49

2

Brutal Cathar

$13.98

2

Reidane, God of the Worthy

$1.38

2

Archon of Absolution

$0.78

2

Heroic Intervention

$37.98

2

Destroy Evil

$0.58

2

Shapers’ Sanctuary

$11.98

2

Rest in Peace

$15.98

15 Cards
$85.15

Explorer is extremely fair right now with most decks having a pretty big emphasis on creatures, two elements that Angels can take advantage of!

The Wildcard

4C Keruga Fires

by DoggertQBones

Buy on TCGplayer $585.27

Buy on Card Kingdom $615.55

Explorer

best of 3

10 mythic

44 rare

0 uncommon

6 common

0

1

2

3

4

5

6+

Generate hand save deck (mtgo/arena) copy to clipboard (arena) Visual view Copy URL

Companion

1

Keruga, the Macrosage

$0.35

Creatures (16)

4

Bonecrusher Giant

$1.40

1

Anointed Peacekeeper

$0.69

1

Reidane, God of the Worthy

$0.69

4

Omnath, Locus of Creation

$51.96

3

Cavalier of Flame

$20.97

3

Kenrith, the Returned King

$23.97

Enchantments (16)

4

Temporary Lockdown

$7.16

4

Fable of the Mirror-Breaker

$111.96

4

Fires of Invention

$1.40

4

Leyline Binding

$47.96

Lands (28)

1

Forest

$0.25

1

Island

$0.25

1

Mountain

$0.25

2

Plains

$0.50

1

Swamp

$0.25

4

Fabled Passage

$23.96

1

Ketria Triome

$17.99

1

Temple Garden

$14.99

1

Steam Vents

$21.99

3

Raugrin Triome

$38.97

2

Stomping Ground

$29.98

2

Jetmir’s Garden

$18.98

2

Sacred Foundry

$37.98

2

Hallowed Fountain

$23.98

2

Raffine’s Tower

$23.98

1

Ziatora’s Proving Ground

$7.99

1

Otawara, Soaring City

$17.99

60 Cards
$548.44

Sideboard

1

Anointed Peacekeeper

$0.69

1

Skyclave Apparition

$2.79

1

Reidane, God of the Worthy

$0.69

1

Keruga, the Macrosage

$0.35

4

Mystical Dispute

$5.16

3

Supreme Verdict

$13.47

4

Leyline of the Void

$43.96

15 Cards
$67.11

While I don’t believe this deck is Tier 1, it has been performing quite well as of late and may be better positioned than most give it credit for. If you’re looking for something different, this might be it!

7 Win Decklists

We will also be posting some original 7 Win decklists from the community as usual as the event progresses. You can share them via our Deck Builder or Twitter!