how often do you use explore +5 / +0 and what are your results with it

[ksasaki]

In light of the new arena rules, I've been considering using explore +5 / 0 again if my hand really sucks (too bad we don't have search anymore )

IMO explore +5 / 0 is the weakest of all the actions because it has no economic benefit to the action (every other action either produces goods, converts goods to cards / vp or gives you a discount (develop) or an extra card (settle, explore +1 / +1) It's more of a hail mary and you are basically losing an economic turn to hopefully find something. I only use it on the very last turn when I don't have a meaningful 6 cost dev to play. I've seen turn one +6 / +1s but I feel like more often than not it backfires.

I don't have a hard statistic, but from my arena play last season, the people who used explore +5 / +0 before the last turn probably lost to me ~80-90% of the time. It's just not enough extra cards to justify losing card draw which is so crucial in the early game. That's why I always used search (feel like people underutilized search as well), because it gives you a specific card you are needing as well as the +1 card draw economic benefit +5 / +0 does not enjoy.

[BruceGee]

I will often use a +5 search in the last 2-3 turns of the game, if either
a) I have a bunch of cards in my hand but they're all garbage, and my opponent has a full hand so is likely to play a development or settle, or
b) I have a big military but no big mil worlds to play, or
c) I am one away from one of the awards like 3 rebel worlds or 3 uplifts or something.
I almost never play it until I have 9 or 10 cards on the table, though. You're right that it's not as good as the +1/+1 explore for most of the game -- that extra card is too important early on.

[Nog_eentje_dan]

I sometimes use it in a two player game on the first turn(s), when I have a bad hand. In that case I only use it combined with +1/+1. And when I don't have any better option.

Also when I have a lot of 'keep an extra card' - phase 1 bonuses, the +5/+0 might be prefered over +1/+1.

I do think +5/+0 is the least used action, but still has its place in the game.

[galehar]

Some of the cases where I'll consider doing an explore +5:

• I have strong military and I'm searching for a valuable world.
  On turn 1, if my hand is garbage. In 2P, I'll most likely combine it with +1,+1. I only do explore +1,+1 if I already have good cards in hand and I need some money to be able to play several of them.
  I have Research Labs or other keep 1 more card. In that case, explore +5 becomes awesome.
  I have a Mix and Match explore power and plenty of cards
  Anytime I have lots of cards but nothing valuable to play (usually last turn)

When you do an explore +5, keep an open mind. You're most likely searching for something specific, but if you don't find it, maybe you've found something else valuable. A garbage card you had in hand might suddenly becomes valuable combined with what you've just found.