Explorer: 5 Decks with Phyrexia: All Will be One

Explorer is the future Pioneer in Magic Arena and with the arrival of ONE, the format gained new additions that promise to rock the Metagame. You can check out my full review for Explorer by clicking here.

In this article, I will present five updated competitive decks with Phyrexia: All Will Be One for Explorer in Magic Arena.

Kuldotha Anvil

Rakdos Anvil was a well-played deck in Standard that saw some light in Explorer, but it was always overshadowed by its better and stronger cousin, Rakdos Sacrifice.

However, ONE brought a card that could put this version of Rakdos in the Explorer spotlight. Gleeful Demolition is a spell which closely resembles Kuldotha Rebirth, a Pauper staple from Scars of Mirrodin.

The difference here is that Gleeful Demolition can be used as artifact removal, but the synergy this card generates with Oni-Cult Anvil is why this deck is here.

The list features multiple sources of blood tokens and other sacrifice synergies to make this deck incredibly fast. The idea is to fill the board with 1/1 creatures and ping the opponent with the anvil while putting threats like Bloodtithe Harvester and Gixian Infiltrator, while also managing to end the game quickly with The Meathook Massacre, which works great on this list.

There are other cards that can easily be incorporated into the deck, like Goblin Blast-Runner, which also has great synergy, or a more Burn-oriented build with Monastery Swiftspear.

Dimir Rogues

Dimir Rogues was one of the most played decks in Standard back then, and in Explorer, it's always a hard matchup to deal with. The deck is basically a Tempo list which imposes threats on the board while emptying the opponent's library through Mill.

The list has efficient answers to just about everything the format has and can dominate the game quickly with cards like Soaring Thought-Thief, Ruin Crab, and Thieves-Guild Enforcer.

In ONE, it received Jace, the Perfected Mind, the compleated and final version of one of the most famous Planeswalkers in the game. In addition to filling the opponent's graveyard, Jace can maintain the deck's gas in the early turns, greatly accelerating the Rogues' game, in addition to protecting himself - and his ultimate can be an alternative wincondition.

Another card ONE brought to the deck is Sheoldred’s Edict, one of the best uncommons in the new set.

Gruul Boat

Affectionately known as Hot Wheels, RG Boat or Gruul Vehicles is a deck that became very popular in Explorer and has a simple but consistent strategy.

It is a midrange that can adopt a very aggressive stance and seeks to put Skysovereign, Consul Flagship or Esika's Chariot on the board as soon as possible.

For this, the deck has several dorks, in addition to Reckless Stormseeker, who interacts very well with vehicles, allowing them to attack in the same turn they enter the battlefield.

A new mana base upgrade has arrived with Copperline Gorge, as well as the addition of Migloz, Maze Crusher and Lukka, Bound to Ruin. Migloz fits very well into the deck, serving as an enchantment or artifact removal, as well as being a threat on its own. Lukka, in turn, is a card which has been appearing on the sideboards and that can accelerate the curve, populating the board with 3/3 tokens while also being an alternative finisher.

Toxic Ivy

Venerated Rotpriest got plenty of attention when it was revealed in ONE. A creature that can put a poison counter on your opponent every time a creature you control is targeted by a spell is pretty handy.

This deck abuses Rotpriest's ability with Ivy, Gleeful Spellthief, creating a true poison machine gun who can end the game in just a few turns.

The list also features cards to protect your creatures and secure the game plan, like Skrelv, Defector Mite and Tamiyo's Safekeeping. It's a fun and interesting deck.

Atraxa's Creativity

Izzet Creativity was the champion deck of the Pro Tour Philadelphia in 2023. Its strategy is to use Indomitable Creativity on a token you control to bring one or more creatures from your library onto the battlefield for free.

Usually, the deck has very few creature cards, these being always giant threats that either win the game or generate absurd value. The version I present here features one of the most impactful cards ONE has released in the game, Atraxa, Grand Unifier: a creature who, at first glance, would only be relevant in Commander, but which, since its launch, has been impacting every single competitive format.

The simple fact of being a 7/7 creature with flying, vigilance, deathtouch and lifelink is enough to understand why it is the wincondition of the deck, but if that is not enough, its ability ends any discussion. Definitely a powerful creature which fits very well into this strategy.

Phyrexia: All Will Be One is here to stay in Explorer and has impacted the format in many ways, enabling new stances and strategies in new and old decks. The format itself continues to progress, receiving important additions through the Anthologies and getting closer to the original Pioneer.

Another finished article, I hope you liked it. Leave your questions and suggestions in the comments, and I'll try to answer them all.