Seekers' Squire is one of those cards players keep asking about. Here is, in plain words, what its official text says, the rulings published by Wizards of the Coast, and the combos players actually run.
Official card text
When this creature enters, it explores. (Reveal the top card of your library. Put that card into your hand if it's a land. Otherwise, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature, then put the card back or put it into your graveyard.)
Complete guide
Seekers' Squire is a versatile Human Scout that helps smooth out your early game by digging for lands or growing into a bigger threat. This low-cost creature utilizes the explore mechanic, ensuring you either draw a card or improve your board state while filtering your deck.
What it does
When Seekers' Squire enters the battlefield, its triggered ability causes it to explore. You reveal the top card of your library; if it is a land, it goes straight to your hand. If it is a nonland card, Seekers' Squire receives a +1/+1 counter, and you get to decide whether that card stays on top of your library or goes to your graveyard.
How it resolves step by step
Once the 'enters' trigger resolves, you reveal the top card. If it's a land, you simply add it to your hand. If it's not a land, the creature immediately gets a +1/+1 counter. Once you see the card, your opponents cannot react to stop the counter from being placed. Finally, you choose the card's destination. If your library is empty when this resolves, the Squire still gets a +1/+1 counter even though no card was revealed.
Common Mistakes
A common misconception is that the creature must be on the battlefield for the effect to happen. If Seekers' Squire is destroyed in response to its trigger, it still explores! You still reveal the card and get to draw it if it's a land or surveil it to the graveyard if it's not, though no +1/+1 counter can be placed on a creature that is no longer there.
When to play it
Seekers' Squire is an excellent turn-two play. It helps you hit your third land drop or provides a 2/3 body to block aggressive attackers. It is also a great way to fuel your graveyard for later interactions by intentionally discarding nonland cards you reveal.
Interaction examples
Ornithopter of ParadiseYou cast Seekers' Squire. Upon entering, you reveal the top card of your library: Ornithopter of Paradise. Since this is a nonland card, Seekers' Squire becomes a 2/3 creature with a +1/+1 counter. You then choose whether to leave the Ornithopter on top to draw next turn or put it into your graveyard.
Blood ArtistYou have Blood Artist on the battlefield and cast Seekers' Squire. Your opponent casts a spell to destroy the Squire in response to its 'enters' trigger. The Squire dies, triggering Blood Artist. Then, the explore trigger resolves. Even though the Squire is dead, you reveal your top card. If it is a land, you put it in your hand. If not, you may still choose to move the card to your graveyard, though the Squire is not there to receive a counter.
Guide written with AI from the official text and rulings. Official English text prevails.
How it works : Seekers' Squire
Original English text — Wizards of the Coast / Scryfall
- #1· Wizards of the Coast
If an ability instructs a creature to explore, its controller reveals the top card of their library. If it's a land card, they'll put it into their hand. Otherwise, they'll put a +1/+1 counter on that creature, then choose to either leave that card on top of their library or put it into their graveyard.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #2· Wizards of the Coast
Once an ability that causes a creature to explore begins to resolve, no player may take any other actions until it's done. Notably, opponents can't try to remove the exploring creature after you reveal a nonland card but before it receives a counter.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #3· Wizards of the Coast
If no card is revealed, most likely because that player's library is empty, the exploring creature receives a +1/+1 counter.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #4· Wizards of the Coast
If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to explore but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still explores. If you reveal a nonland card this way, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on anything, but you may put the revealed card into your graveyard. Effects that trigger "whenever a creature explores" trigger as appropriate.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #5· Wizards of the Coast
Some spells or abilities might cause a creature to explore multiple times in a row. If you reveal a nonland card when a creature explores and leave it on top of your library, then the creature explores again immediately afterwards, you'll reveal the same card again.
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #6· Wizards of the Coast
In some unusual cases, noncreature permanents may explore. For example, if the creature card returned by Defossilize is somehow not a creature once it's on the battlefield, it can still explore. You'll take all the same actions, and you may end up putting a +1/+1 counter on the permanent. (Note that some effects target a creature, and those effects would still require a legal target to have it explore.)
No other card is named in this ruling.
- #7· Wizards of the Coast
If a resolving spell or ability instructs a specific creature to explore but that creature has left the battlefield, the creature still explores. If you reveal a nonland card this way, you won't put a +1/+1 counter on anything, but you may put the revealed card into your graveyard. Effects that trigger "whenever a creature you control explores" trigger if appropriate.
No other card is named in this ruling.
Legal formats
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Meta decks with Seekers' Squire
No archived Top 8 deck with this card yet.