Pioneer has emerged as a beloved format within Magic: The Gathering, bridging the gap between the rotating Standard format and the expansive Modern format. For players looking to dive into a non-rotating format that offers a vast card pool without the sometimes prohibitive cost of entry of Modern, Pioneer presents an ideal landscape. A key element to grasping Pioneer is understanding Pioneer Legal Sets. This article will explore what defines Pioneer legality, the range of sets you can draw from, and how this shapes the format.
Bloodtithe Harvester by Lucas Graciano
Defining Pioneer Legal Sets: Return to Ravnica and Beyond
Pioneer is categorized as an eternal format, which immediately tells us that it is non-rotating. This means that unlike Standard, your cards will remain legal for play within the format indefinitely, barring any additions to the banlist. Pioneer’s card pool is defined by its starting point: all cards from premier sets released since Return to Ravnica in 2012 are legal.
To clarify, “premier sets” are those designed for Standard legality upon release. This distinction is important because it excludes supplemental sets like Jumpstart, Modern Horizons, and Commander preconstructed decks from Pioneer legality unless a card within those sets was originally printed in a premier set legal in Pioneer.
The Pioneer card pool offers a diverse and powerful range of strategies. It encompasses years of card design and mechanics, creating a unique play environment distinct from both Standard and Modern. The format encourages creativity and deckbuilding innovation while offering a robust and competitive scene.
Pioneer-Legal Sets: A Comprehensive List
To provide a clear picture of the available card pool, here’s a table listing all pioneer legal sets in chronological order:
| Pioneer-Legal Sets | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Return To Ravnica | Gatecrash | Dragon’s Maze | Magic 2014 | Theros |
| Born of the Gods | Journey into Nyx | Magic 2015 | Khans of Tarkir | Fate Reforged |
| Dragons of Tarkir | Magic Origins | Battle for Zendikar | Oath of the Gatewatch | Shadows over Innistrad |
| Welcome Deck 2016 | Eldritch Moon | Kaladesh | Aether Revolt | Welcome Deck 2017 |
| Amonkhet | Hour of Devastation | Ixalan | Rivals of Ixalan | Dominaria |
| Core Set 2019 | Guilds of Ravnica | Ravnica Allegiance | War of the Spark | Core Set 2020 |
| Throne of Eldraine | Theros: Beyond Death | Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths | Core Set 2021 | Zendikar Rising |
| Kaldheim | Strixhaven: School of Mages | Dungeons & Dragons: Adventures in the Forgotten Realms | Innistrad: Midnight Hunt | Innistrad: Crimson Vow |
| Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty | Streets of New Capenna | Dominaria United | The Brothers’ War | Phyrexia: All Will Be One |
| March of the Machine | March of the Machine: The Aftermath | Wilds of Eldraine | The Lost Caverns of Ixalan |
It’s also crucial to remember that special “bonus sheets” like Mystical Archive from Strixhaven or Multiverse Legends from March of the Machine are not inherently legal in Pioneer. Only cards from these sheets that were already Pioneer-legal from their original printing are permitted.
Navigating the Pioneer Banlist
Like all eternal formats, Pioneer maintains a banlist to ensure a healthy and balanced play environment. While the card pool is vast, the Pioneer banlist is relatively concise, especially when compared to formats like Modern.
Many cards were banned in the early days of Pioneer to preemptively address potential format-warping strategies. Notably, fetch lands like Bloodstained Mire and Flooded Strand are banned. This decision was made to give Pioneer a distinct identity separate from Modern, impacting mana bases and slowing down certain strategies.
Here is the current Pioneer banlist:
| Pioneer Banlist | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balustrade Spy | Bloodstained Mire | Expressive Iteration | Felidar Guardian | Field of the Dead |
| Flooded Strand | Inverter of Truth | Kethis, the Hidden Hand | Leyline of Abundance | Lurrus of the Dream-Den |
| Nexus of Fate | Oko, Thief of Crowns | Once Upon a Time | Polluted Delta | Smuggler’s Copter |
| Teferi, Time Raveler | Undercity Informer | Underworld Breach | Uro, Titan of Nature’s Wrath | Veil of Summer |
| Walking Ballista | Wilderness Reclamation | Windswept Heath | Winota, Joiner of Forces | Wooded Foothills |
It’s important to stay updated on the banlist as it can change. However, the relatively stable nature of the Pioneer banlist suggests a well-managed format.
Getting Started with Pioneer: Exploring Pioneer Legal Sets
The best approach to entering the Pioneer format is to discover a deck archetype that resonates with your play style. Due to the extensive range of pioneer legal sets, the format supports a wide spectrum of strategies. Whether you prefer aggressive strategies, control decks, combo finishes, or midrange battles, Pioneer likely has a competitive and enjoyable deck for you.
Wizards of the Coast offers preconstructed Challenger Decks for Pioneer, which are excellent starting points for new players. These decks are built around meta-relevant strategies and provide a solid foundation that can be upgraded over time to reach full competitive power. They offer a cost-effective and accessible entry point to start playing with pioneer legal sets.
Where to Play Pioneer with Pioneer Legal Sets
Pioneer’s popularity means there are numerous avenues for playing. The most traditional method is playing with physical cards at your local game store. Many stores host regular Pioneer events, fostering a local community for the format. If in-person play isn’t feasible, Spelltable is a fantastic platform for webcam-based play, allowing you to use your physical pioneer legal sets collection remotely.
For digital play, Magic: The Gathering Online (MTGO) offers full Pioneer support. While requiring a collection built through digital purchases or trading, MTGO often features more affordable prices for staples compared to paper Magic. Card rental services on MTGO further reduce the financial barrier to entry.
Magic: The Gathering Arena also provides access to Pioneer through its Explorer format. While not yet fully Pioneer due to missing cards, Explorer is designed as a pathway to full Pioneer on Arena. The format already shares a highly similar metagame with Pioneer, making it a great option for Arena players looking to engage with the card pool of pioneer legal sets.
Conclusion: Pioneer – A Format Defined by its Legal Sets
Pioneer stands out as an engaging and accessible eternal format in Magic: The Gathering. Its defined card pool, drawn from pioneer legal sets starting with Return to Ravnica, creates a balanced and dynamic environment for deckbuilding and gameplay. Whether you are a seasoned player or new to eternal formats, exploring the world of Pioneer legal sets offers a rewarding and expansive Magic experience.
