Explorer

Basic Info

• Type: Action
• Cost: 5
• Effect: You may reveal a Province from your hand. If you do, gain a Gold into your hand. Otherwise gain a Silver into your hand.

Rating

Seaside's treasure-gainer. Reveal Province → Gold to hand; else Silver to hand. Defining trait: instant in-hand gain, immediately spendable.

Pre-Province: effectively "$5 → Silver to hand". Weaker than Artisan ($6, gain to hand). Post-Province: explosive economy via Gold-to-hand.

Tier B- pre-Province, A post-Province. Late-game scaler. Terminal.

How to Play

Early: $5 buy lower priority (Smithy / Council Room / Witch better).

Mid: After 1 Province, buy Explorer. Reveal Province → Gold → Province loop.

End: Explorer + Province = $8 → Province chains.

Effect Mechanics

1. Reveal Province on play.
2. Reveal = Gold to hand.
3. No reveal = Silver to hand.
4. Gained treasure usable in same Buy phase.

Key Combos

Explorer + Province: Gold-to-hand → instant Province.

Explorer + King's Court: KC + Explorer = 3 Golds/Silvers.

Explorer + Throne Room: TR + Explorer = 2 gains.

Explorer + Village: Terminal split.

Explorer + Fishing Village: Duration + Explorer.

Explorer + Smithy/Council Room: Draw to find Province + Explorer.

Explorer + Chapel: Thinning + economy.

Synergies

• King's Court: Triple Gold gain.
• Throne Room: Doubles.
• Village / Fishing Village: Terminal split.
• Smithy / Council Room: Draw amp.
• Chapel: Thinning.
• Masquerade: Thin + draw.
• Lighthouse: Defense + econ.
• Duke: $5 frequency.
• Artisan (Conquest): $5 hand-gain.
• Council Room: Council + Explorer = draw + econ.

Counters & Bad Matchups

• Early-overbuy: Pre-Province = Silver only.
• Pure BM: Silver/Gold buyable directly.
• Short games: Engine forms too late.
• Heavy attacks (Torturer): Disrupt play.
• $5 slot competition: Smithy / Council / Witch outclass.
• No-Province scenarios: Silver only.

Advanced Tips

"Explorer timing": Early prefer Smithy / Council / Witch. Mid post-1-Province add Explorer.

"Explorer + Province combo": Reveal → Gold → $6 + treasures = $8 → Province. Province race accelerator.

KC + Explorer: KC + Explorer 3x = 3 Golds (with Province) or 3 Silvers. Explosive economy.

3-pile-out: Explorer 10 + 2 piles.

"Explorer vs Gold": Gold (Base, $6, +$3) vs Explorer ($5, Province → Gold-to-hand / Silver-to-hand). Pre-Province = weaker than Gold. Post-Province = equal/better.

Duke strategy: Explorer + Duchy → Gold-to-hand econ.

Explorer mirror: Province race. First Province grabber dominates.

Explorer cap: 2-3 copies sufficient. Don't crowd Province buys.

VP value: 0 VP plain Action. Don't overbuy late.