MTG Keyword Rules — Comprehensive Rules Glossary

Certain spells and abilities instruct a permanent to explore. To do so, that permanent’s controller reveals the top card of their library. If a land card is revealed this way, that player puts that card into their hand. Otherwise, that player puts a +1/+1 counter on the exploring permanent and may put the revealed card into their graveyard.

A permanent “explores” after the process described in rule 701.44a is complete, even if some or all of those actions were impossible.

If a permanent is no longer on the battlefield as an effect instructs it to explore, its last known information is used to determine which object explored and who controlled it.

If multiple permanents are instructed to explore at the same time, the first player in APNAP order who controls (or, in the case of a permanent no longer on the battlefield, last controlled; see rule 701.44c) one or more of those permanents chooses one of them and it explores. Then this process is repeated for each remaining instruction to explore.