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 ma... (see all)
Posted By:
Selez
(1/5/2010 7:12:24 PM)
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 ; )
Posted By:
Guntz1092
(2/27/2010 7:24:22 PM)
This is a good card and I love the art, but what's with the red dot in the middle of the lens?
Posted By:
dudecow
(4/4/2010 8:58:59 AM)
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
Posted By:
PG13_2
(4/19/2010 9:31:52 PM)
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.
Posted By:
Khanbg
(4/23/2010 11:45:24 PM)
it's fun (not useful, fun) to put it on Goblin guide. It makes the effect go both ways.
Posted By:
Gilder_Bairn
(6/2/2010 6:05:00 PM)
Perfect with Scroll Rack. Put lands from your hand on top of your library and get other stuff.
Posted By:
themlsna
(6/7/2010 1:28:46 PM)
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
Posted By:
Ladon---
(7/16/2010 6:18:02 AM)
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.
Posted By:
Magnor_Criol
(12/21/2010 1:19:03 AM)
@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.
Posted By:
Artscrafter
(2/11/2011 9:38:08 AM)