The Metagame Since Explorer is proto-Pioneer, the early metagame can be defined by whats good in Pioneer
The good thing about that is it will fit in more decks because of the lack of Red
Like all good counterspells Memory Lapse goes one for one with a card and stops a thing happening
Oh, and dont forget earthbendings other synergies with lands that sacrifice themselves
The most obvious of these factors is the synergy of haste with Saproling Burst, which was known to some as "The Fix." That extra turn almost doubled the strength of the Burst and made it hit for the full 20 damage in only two turns, which would normally mean a kill on turn five, or turn four if backed up by a Blastoderm
Stealing something like an opponents commander or combo piece can absolutely shut down their game plan, though you have to be careful since it is an aggressively unfun strategy