The StarCityGames.com Open Series in Phoenix played host to hundreds of players trying to hoist a variety of trophies. On the Legacy side, Chris Higashi took a fringe archetype and gave it a fresh coat of paint. By tweaking the Explorer Rock deck—or "Nic Fit" as it is known in some circles—that players like Caleb Durward have used in the past, Higashi catapulted himself right into the Top 8!
The namesake, oddball card here is Veteran Explorer. This relatively unplayed Weatherlight card allows the deck to accelerate its mana at lightning speed. Because most Legacy decks are built to run on only a couple lands, they can't take advantage of the extra mana—but this deck certainly can! Running Green Sun's Zenith; a pair of Titans; and even Garruk, Primal Hunter, Higashi's deck has plenty of powerful, expensive ammo.
If the opponent's deck can take advantage of the extra mana, that's where the grindy Rock part of this deck comes in. Cabal Therapy serves double duty here, both picking apart the opponent's hand of any powerful spells while simultaneously providing a sacrifice outlet. If an opponent manages to land a threat, a variety of removal spells—including the catch all Maelstrom Pulse—can easily get those off the table.
To round out the deck, Higashi has a variety of utility spells and efficient creatures like Eternal Witness... and is that a single Recurring Nightmare poking out of the main deck too?
Chris Higashi's Explorer Rock
Legacy – StarCityGames.com Open Series Phoenix