Have plenty of land, but never have to draw them. Oh, and its my favorite art in the last year, easy.
Nighthawk42
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
2 mana to cast and equip. If it activates once you've gotten your card cost back and if the opponent destroys it you've gotten your card and cost back. Speeds up mana plus gets it out of the way so you can draw other cards. Subtle but may be more responsible for the wins I got in pre-release than any other single card.
Donovan_Fabian
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
This is actually really good and a very pratical card, you could potentially get it out and onto a creature by turn 2, and if your playing with a lot of land fall then its no question. Attach to geopede, attack, find a land, geopede suddenly gets another benefit from both the land you played and the one you just got from your scope making your plated geopede a 5/5 with haste on turn 2 or 3. Nice! Attaching it to a card that already land tutors for you wouldn't hurt either come to think of it, or plays additional land (mul daya, sakura tribe scout, coiling oracle etc). Another great thing about the scope is it makes you not draw land, so you get your land with the scope and don't waste draws getting only more land to play, while being able to play that land right when you need it. I believe people call this deck thinning but in this case its more like it thins as you go. Imagine if your 1 explorer scope puts all your lands into play for the rest of the game, and you get your spells, creatures, and artifacts or what not everytime you draw a card.
MagicStick
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(5 votes)
and if you have this and adventuring gear on the same creature then you can set up some crazy boosting on said creature.
sir_dwar
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(12 votes)
notice the lack of the word "basic" before the word "land." You may commence rejoicing.
JaxsonBateman
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(2 votes)
A great card, and absolutely nothing wrong with it. The problem is finding room in a lot of convention decks for it.
Having said that, not only is it great, but it's a lot of fun too. I remember playing Planechase with it before and getting Goldmeadow (has a landfall ability that gives you three 0/1 goats, and a chaos which gives you another 0/1 goat), and then using goats for the next few turns with the scope equipped because my opponents had some pretty nasty defenses set up, but I still wanted the 'free' land. ^^ On that note, it could work well with Goblin Assault seeing as it makes a goblin every turn which is forced to attack, though it does mean you're going to have to pay 1 mana a turn (in most cases) to see if you can get a free land.
Xelopheris
★★★★☆ (4.4/5.0)(4 votes)
Great card. Keeps you from topdecking land, helps accel your deck, and you can landfall an extra time. In the rare cases where you topdeck 3 lands in a row, you will trigger a landfall on your first turn when you attack. Next turn, you will draw a land, then landfall another time when you attack. Turn a triple land topdeck into a huge attack.
Selez
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Equipment get rid of the risk of potential card advantage for your opponent that enchantments present. Unfortunately, they are often a far from aggressive or even cost-effective strategy, what with the equip cost adding to the CMC before it actually does anything.
This equipment is VERY cost-effective for all the card-advantage it can grant you. Only TWO mana for it's first effect?? And the cost you might have to pay more than once (the equip cost) is merely a marginal ONE?!?!? Holy crap!! This card will easily fit into a deck with aggressive creatures, as it'll maximize your draws, accelerate your turn three mana (if you're lucky) and, at worst (when you're not lucky), you'll get a peek at your next spell, which could help you decide which spells to play that turn to be most efficient with your mana and other resources (for those paying attention, I'm talking about an attack on turn three. Ordinarily, you won't have more than the two mana required for the scope on turn two, and so making decisions with your mana won't come into effect until the third turn).
Here's something to consider for standard: the scope will counteract Goblin Guide's downside, effectively narrowing it down to luck as to who will inherit the land boon.
Gaussgoat
★★★★☆ (4.6/5.0)(4 votes)
This is a great card that effectively allows you to mine through your deck. Combos incredibly well with the landfall mechanic in Zendikar.
4/5
mdakw576
★★★★☆ (4.5/5.0)(3 votes)
reminds me of a reverse goblin guide
Guntz1092
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
yay surprise landfalls!!
you might want to use cards like Sage Owl, Halimar Depths or even Serum Visions (or any other card with scry) beforehand to make it less of a surprise, if u know what I mean ; )
dudecow
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This is a good card and I love the art, but what's with the red dot in the middle of the lens?
PG13_2
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
This card works great with the Kor creatures in Zendikar. Put this on a Kor Duelist or an Armament Master and you get power along with the equipment ability
Khanbg
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I'm just curious what do multiple instances of Explorer's Scope either on a different creature or twice on the same do.If it's on multiple do you look at two cards if the first is a plains or look at two regardless if the first is a plain?If it's on the same stack,same question. Still very useful for any mana dependent deck,and I plan on using it even in my RoE deck.
Gilder_Bairn
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
it's fun (not useful, fun) to put it on Goblin guide. It makes the effect go both ways.
themlsna
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Perfect with Scroll Rack. Put lands from your hand on top of your library and get other stuff.
Ladon---
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Incredible synergy with Conundrum Sphinx, as pointed out by GodWhacker on his post on that page. You have this effect trigger first, and if it's a land put it into play, and if it's not at least you know which card it is and you can draw it without a problem with the Sphinx's ability.
There are plenty of other cards in blue for M11 that help with top-card manipulation, so while I haven't really used this before, I think I will start now :D
Magnor_Criol
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Excellent, excellent little piece of utility equipment.
Everyone below me has already said anything I could say, honestly. The potential for ramp this guy brings to ANY deck thanks to his colorlessness is awesome on its own. When you start thinking about his utility with cards that want to know the top card of the library (ex. Conundrum Sphinx, as mentioned below) or cards that care about being equipped this guy REALLY starts to shine bright.
dark_hero
★★★★☆ (4.7/5.0)(7 votes)
Somehow this seems flavorful with Ornithopter. Kind of like a reconnaissance plane.
Artscrafter
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
@Khanbg: If you trigger this effect from two scopes during the same combat step, you do the effect twice. If your first topdeck is a land, you can put it on the field and have a shot at your next topdeck. If that's also a land, you can put that one out too. If your first topdeck isn't a land, then that keeps being your topdeck (unless you can rearrange your topdeck at instant speed after the first trigger resolves) so you're stuck looking at that same card again.
mflanaga
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think this really shines with cards likeAugury Owl and Grand Architect, have a few cheap counters like Spell Pierce and Turn Aside, wait til turn three to drop your owl, then four for the architect, tap himself to both play AND equip the scope to the owl, then swing for two damage + 1 land with one mana open for a counter. Wishful but I know it's happened before!
lyle685
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I think this card would be great in the kuldotha rebirth deck i mean it would help them get another artifact to sac and help eat thier deck
SeiberTross
★★★★☆ (4.8/5.0)(3 votes)
Goblin Gavaleer turns this into a more broken Bonesplitter.
I really like this card, but I have two questions about it: 1: if I have this and Strata Scythe on a creature, attacked with it, and pulled a land with the scope, would the scythe get the +1/+1?
2: if I have 2 scopes attached to 2 creatures would they both go off at once or could i choose to use one scope's ability and if I get a land use the other's ability?
sincleanser
★★★☆☆ (3.0/5.0)(1 vote)
I love that idea dark_hero.
Mike-C
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
Add the ability to Memnite, all for 2 cmc. Kinda sick since it doesn't have the clause: attacks and isn't blocked, added. I'd have made this uncommon personally, but it's cool.
Chamale
★★★☆☆ (3.8/5.0)(2 votes)
@ Vulpixy: First, the ability triggers before blockers are declared or damage is dealt, so Strata Scythe would count the newly added land.
Secondly, attacking with two of these causes two abilities to trigger. You look at the top card of your library and you may put it into play if it's a land - then do it again. You can cast spells and activate abilities in between the two instances of the ability.
Momir randomly gives you a creature with CMC X, where X is how much mana you pay. Stonehewer automatically attaches a random equipment with CMC X or less to that creature. So it's possible to get this equipment out on turn one. If you do, you will most likely win, as every card in your library is basic land.
Last time I got this card, it was attached to a creature with haste. So by turn 3, playing one land per turn, and getting one per turn with this card, I was able to get X=6. I think I got one of the Invasion dragons. Needless to say, that was an easy victory
Pigfish99
★★★☆☆ (3.5/5.0)(2 votes)
this is an EXCELLENT mana ramp. great in most decks, godly in green decks. just make sure you have multiple copies.
Totema
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
I may consider slipping this into a few EDH decks. Getting lands out faster is always nice.
Buderus
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Manaramp in all colors? sign me up!
Dragonshoredreamz
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Ya, this scope is great! I don't mind having a few in any given artifact deck. They come in so handy.
Pun-Pun
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
So lets say if I had three of these activating at once. Would I look at the top card of my deck three times? Like, if there were three lands in a row, they would all plop onto the field. But, if there is just one creature on top, nothing happens at all. Would that be how it works?
This turns your attackers into pseudo-Oracle of Mul Dayas. Very underestimated card and very useful in decks that can tutor it up fairly easily. I've taken this card off of t2 stoneforge mystic many times in edh simply because ensuring I get my lands is super important in the early game, and by the time you get in the late game this keeps you drawing gas. Nobody destroys this card on sight like they do other more intrinsically powerful equipment like batterskull so it generally sticks around for a while.
I love this card <3
5/5
Petertracy
☆☆☆☆☆ (0.0/5.0)
Put this in a Melek deck. :)
MacBizzle
★★★★★ (5.0/5.0)(1 vote)
@Pun-Pun: Yes. That's exactly how this works. However, if the top card is a land, you get to see the next card below it (and play it if it is a land) and then a third time. The way most people are describing putting it to use makes this card seem pretty lackluster.
HOWEVER- and this is a big however- it *does* break the color pie. A lot of white creatures love to be equipped and blue has ways of attacking without being blocked- and who doesn't want to landramp in white and blue? Also, as has been mentioned, this serves as a way of getting out lands early and then filtering them from draw in the late game, which means that this would fall well on a cumulative mana curve.
Comments (42)
Having said that, not only is it great, but it's a lot of fun too. I remember playing Planechase with it before and getting Goldmeadow (has a landfall ability that gives you three 0/1 goats, and a chaos which gives you another 0/1 goat), and then using goats for the next few turns with the scope equipped because my opponents had some pretty nasty defenses set up, but I still wanted the 'free' land. ^^ On that note, it could work well with Goblin Assault seeing as it makes a goblin every turn which is forced to attack, though it does mean you're going to have to pay 1 mana a turn (in most cases) to see if you can get a free land.
This equipment is VERY cost-effective for all the card-advantage it can grant you. Only TWO mana for it's first effect?? And the cost you might have to pay more than once (the equip cost) is merely a marginal ONE?!?!? Holy crap!! This card will easily fit into a deck with aggressive creatures, as it'll maximize your draws, accelerate your turn three mana (if you're lucky) and, at worst (when you're not lucky), you'll get a peek at your next spell, which could help you decide which spells to play that turn to be most efficient with your mana and other resources (for those paying attention, I'm talking about an attack on turn three. Ordinarily, you won't have more than the two mana required for the scope on turn two, and so making decisions with your mana won't come into effect until the third turn).
Here's something to consider for standard: the scope will counteract Goblin Guide's downside, effectively narrowing it down to luck as to who will inherit the land boon.
4/5
you might want to use cards like Sage Owl, Halimar Depths or even Serum Visions (or any other card with scry) beforehand to make it less of a surprise, if u know what I mean ; )
Still very useful for any mana dependent deck,and I plan on using it even in my RoE deck.
There are plenty of other cards in blue for M11 that help with top-card manipulation, so while I haven't really used this before, I think I will start now :D
Everyone below me has already said anything I could say, honestly. The potential for ramp this guy brings to ANY deck thanks to his colorlessness is awesome on its own. When you start thinking about his utility with cards that want to know the top card of the library (ex. Conundrum Sphinx, as mentioned below) or cards that care about being equipped this guy REALLY starts to shine bright.
If your first topdeck is a land, you can put it on the field and have a shot at your next topdeck. If that's also a land, you can put that one out too.
If your first topdeck isn't a land, then that keeps being your topdeck (unless you can rearrange your topdeck at instant speed after the first trigger resolves) so you're stuck looking at that same card again.
This is quite good with Ornithopter and Signal Pest. And while I haven't tried this one yet, it seems horrifingly good with a Cloudpost/Glimmerpost deck. Maybe all the aformentioned, Lightningbolt + Galvanic Blast, & a group of Artisan Of Kozilek or Kuldotha Flamefiend.
1: if I have this and Strata Scythe on a creature, attacked with it, and pulled a land with the scope, would the scythe get the +1/+1?
2: if I have 2 scopes attached to 2 creatures would they both go off at once or could i choose to use one scope's ability and if I get a land use the other's ability?
Secondly, attacking with two of these causes two abilities to trigger. You look at the top card of your library and you may put it into play if it's a land - then do it again. You can cast spells and activate abilities in between the two instances of the ability.
Momir randomly gives you a creature with CMC X, where X is how much mana you pay. Stonehewer automatically attaches a random equipment with CMC X or less to that creature. So it's possible to get this equipment out on turn one. If you do, you will most likely win, as every card in your library is basic land.
Last time I got this card, it was attached to a creature with haste. So by turn 3, playing one land per turn, and getting one per turn with this card, I was able to get X=6. I think I got one of the Invasion dragons. Needless to say, that was an easy victory
I love this card <3
5/5
:)
Yes. That's exactly how this works. However, if the top card is a land, you get to see the next card below it (and play it if it is a land) and then a third time. The way most people are describing putting it to use makes this card seem pretty lackluster.
HOWEVER- and this is a big however- it *does* break the color pie. A lot of white creatures love to be equipped and blue has ways of attacking without being blocked- and who doesn't want to landramp in white and blue? Also, as has been mentioned, this serves as a way of getting out lands early and then filtering them from draw in the late game, which means that this would fall well on a cumulative mana curve.
While I question the efficiency of tutoring anything with Stoneforge Mystic that is not Batterskull, Umezawa's Jitte, Skullclamp, Lightning Greaves, or Swords of X+Y, this is still a solid card in any EDH deck that is not green. Even then it is a "meh" card.
Low CMC, low equip cost, mana acceleration, topdeck control.
Solid 4/5