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Pioneer is a relatively new constructed format forMagic: The Gatheringthat was launched in October of 2019. Unfortunately, the onset of the COVID pandemic resulted in this format taking off very slowly. At the time of its release, there weren’t many alternatives to playing Pioneer in paper, so the format’s growth and player base were greatly stunted.
Thankfully, the world has returned to normal life for the most part, and that means more players are picking up Pioneer with each passing week. Some have even called it the “new modern”. Furthermore, the introduction of the Explorer format to Arena has garnered even more interest in this burgeoning constructed mode.
Pioneer Basics
Like most other constructed formats, Pioneer consists ofone-on-one games where you build a minimum of sixty card deckswith the option of includinga sideboard of up to fifteen cards. You are limited toa maximum of four copies of a single card to your deckand matches are played out in abest-of-three series.
Arena doesn’t have Pioneer just yet, however it will soon enough. For the time being, Explorer serves as Arena’s Pioneer format as older card sets are slowly introduced to the Arena card pool. Once all of the older sets are released on Arena, Explorer will officially become Pioneer.
What Cards Are Legal?
Pioneer legal cards include all cards released in expansion sets and core setsfrom Return to Ravnica onward. In other words, all cards printed in primary products since October 2012. Like all constructed formats, Pioneer does havea ban listthat prevents the play of certain cards from these sets. Below is a table with all banned cards as of December 4th, 2023.
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Why Is Pioneer Different?
This is a fast format whereturn-four kills are possible.However, they’re rather rare in comparison to a format like Modern. In fact,the best decks in Pioneer are much more midrange-oriented. As a whole, Pioneer features a lot ofback-and-forth interactionbetween players as each of you attempts to leverage small advantages toward a victory.
Pioneer isthe closest constructed format to Standardthat you’ll find (aside from Pauper if a local game store happens to have it). Consequently, players only familiar with Standard have no better place to dip their toes in than this format.
While Pioneer is similar to Standard, there is a notable increase in the power level of many decks. Combo decks in particular (Abzan Amalia, Abzan Greasefang, and Lotus Field) may prove a nuisance at first, but they are indeed beatable with the right sideboarding techniques.
Key Decks In Pioneer
Rakdos Midrange
This is your typical Rakdos Midrange deck that useshand disruption, removal, and the best creatures in both colorsto outmaneuver the opponent. Rakdos Midrange hasa chance against any other deck in the format, but playing it welldoes require the pilot to understand what other decks are trying to do. It’s difficult to properly stop the opponent unless you understand their strategy.
Boros Convoke
This is an aggro deck thatgoes wide really fastusing a ton of efficient one-mana creatures like Thraben Inspector. It then uses those creatures toabuse the convoke mechanic with Knight-Errant of Eos and Venerated Loxodon. However, the truly key card here isImodane’s Recruiterwhich allows you to finish opponents seemingly out of nowhere thanks to its enter-the-battlefield trigger.
Players who likeold-fashioned control strategiescirca Standard in the decade of 2010 will greatly enjoy this brew.Azorius Control wants towhittle away all of your opponent’s resources using counterspells, planeswalkers, and sweepersbefore finally taking over the game thanks to draw spells and late-game win conditions like Shark Typhoon.
Mono White Humans
Pioneer is arguablythe best-constructed format to play single creature-type or typal decksin at the moment.
This is one of theeasier decks to pilotin the format, and its aggressive creatures can quickly end a game against any opponent who stumbles.Adeline, Resplendent Catharis the all-star of this deck, and hands where you don’t draw her will unfortunately feel much weaker than those where you do.
Angels
Another single creature-type deck, Angels makes use of the well-known cardCollected Companyto cheat somecheeky synergiesout early.
Players whodislike losing to aggressive decks need to look no further than Angelsas this build contains a lot of incidental life-gain effects. The addition ofKayla’s Reconstructionto this deck has given it some much-needed staying power.
Abzan Greasefang
Thebig bad combo deckof the metagame. This isn’t a true combo deck as enacting its combo doesn’t win you the game on the spot, however, it pretty much might as well.
The idea here is touse a connive trigger or Grisly Salvage to place a Parhelion II in your graveyard. Then, youreanimate the vehicle the next turn with Greasefang, Okiba Boss, attack, and create a nearly unbeatable advantage.
Izzet Phoenix
Chock full of removal, draw spells, and conditional counterspells,Izzet Phoenix wins byrepeatedly returning copies of Arclight Phoenix from your graveyard to the battlefield.
Players whoenjoy casting instant and sorcery spells machine gun stylewill absolutely love this deck. It does have somerather confusing lines of play at timesthough, so be sure you know what you’re signing up for.
Gruul Aggro
This is an aggro deck that makes use ofearly mana ramp, vehicles, and saga enchantmentsto attack from many different angles.
Esika’s Chariot and Smuggler’s Copterare the stars of the show in this deck, butReckless Stormseekeralso makes quite a display of just how powerful the haste keyword can be.
Abzan Amalia
Thenewest combo deckto enter the metagame. Abzan Amalia has quickly proven its power afterwinning the Pioneer Showcase Qualifier in December. Some fear thatit may take over the format. The combo involves havingAmalia Benavides Aguirre and Wildgrowth Walker on the battlefield, then triggering an infinite loop by casting another card that explores.
The result:a board wipe that clears the way for a lethal 20-power attack from Amalia. The reason this deck is so feared is that it plays fine as an aggro deck without the combo as well, providing multiple avenues to victory.
