Benthic Explorers
~$0.15 TCGplayer
Blue. Creature — Merfolk Scout
Alliances #24a · Illustrated by Greg Simanson
Alliances #24a · Illustrated by Greg SimansonWhat is Benthic Explorers worth?
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TCGplayer market prices in USD, updated October 14, 2026. Each price is for one printing and one finish.
Oracle text
, Untap a tapped land an opponent controls: Add one mana of any type that land could produce.
2/4
The rising oceans brought new lakes—and new terrors—to Terisiare. The Explorers found their ancient enemies spawning everywhere.
Format legality
All 2 printings of Benthic Explorers
| Printing | Rarity | Non-foil | Cardmarket (EUR) | My collection |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 Alliances all #24a· 1996common· Cardmarket €0.14 | common | $0.15 | €0.14 | |
 Alliances all #24b· 1996common· Cardmarket €0.16 | common | $0.15 | €0.16 |
Prices are TCGplayer market prices in USD for each printing and finish, via Scryfall. They are a guide, not an appraisal.
Where to buy Benthic Explorers
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Card details
- First printed
- 1996
- Printings
- 2
- Mana value
- 4
- EDHREC rank
- #28,168 on EDHREC (Commander popularity)
- Artist
- Greg Simanson
What the codes mean
The small print at the bottom of the Alliances card (#24a).
Printed before collector numbers, which started with Exodus in 1998. The bottom shows only the artist credit ("Illus.") and the copyright. Set symbols were all black before Exodus, and core sets before Sixth Edition have none.
How to read a Magic card: every part and code, on real cards.
Rulings (6)
2004-10-04
This ability is not targeted any more.
2009-10-01
Untapping a tapped land an opponent controls is part of the cost of Benthic Explorers's ability. If no opponent controls a tapped land, the ability can't be activated.
2009-10-01
Benthic Explorers doesn't care about any restrictions or riders an opponent's land (such as Ancient Ziggurat or Hall of the Bandit Lord) puts on the mana it produces. It just cares about types of mana.
2009-10-01
The types of mana are white, blue, black, red, green, and colorless.
2009-10-01
When determining what types of mana an opponent's land could produce, take into account any applicable replacement effects that would apply to that land's mana abilities (such as Contamination's effect, for example). If there is more than one, consider them in any possible order.
2009-10-01
Benthic Explorers checks the effects of all mana-producing abilities of the land untapped to pay its cost, but it doesn't check the costs of those abilities. For example, Vivid Crag has the ability "
, Remove a charge counter from Vivid Crag: Add one mana of any color." If you untap a tapped Vivid Crag an opponent controls while paying for Benthic Explorers's ability, you can add one mana of any color. It doesn't matter whether that Vivid Crag has a charge counter on it.
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