Ready to jump into the world of competitive Magic: The Gathering Pioneer format? The Pioneer Challenger Decks 2022 are here to provide you with the perfect entry point. Available from November 4, 2022, these preconstructed decks are designed to be “ready-to-battle” right out of the box, offering everything a player needs to start their Pioneer journey.
Each Pioneer Challenger Deck is meticulously assembled to be not only playable but also competitive at a local game store level. Inside each box, you’ll find:
- A complete, tournament-legal 60-card deck, built for Pioneer format.
- A 15-card sideboard, offering strategic options for different matchups.
- 5 double-sided tokens and 6 double-faced helper cards to enhance gameplay.
- A sturdy deck box, capable of holding 75 sleeved Magic cards, keeping your new deck protected.
With four distinct Pioneer Challenger Decks to choose from, players can select a strategy that matches their playstyle. These decks are released worldwide in English, German, French, and Japanese, ensuring accessibility for a broad player base. Below, we delve into each of the four Pioneer Challenger Decks 2022, exploring their themes and key components.
Izzet Phoenix: Rise from the Ashes
Izzet Phoenix Deck Box
Alt text: Izzet Phoenix Pioneer Challenger Deck 2022 box art featuring Arclight Phoenix, highlighting the blue and red color scheme.
The Izzet Phoenix Pioneer Challenger Deck is all about spellcasting prowess and explosive comebacks. This blue-red deck focuses on controlling the early game with efficient spells, setting the stage for a mid-to-late game surge powered by creatures that synergize with a high spell count. The deck’s namesake, Arclight Phoenix, embodies this strategy, rising from the graveyard when you cast multiple spells in a turn.
Izzet Phoenix Deck Strategy
The core strategy revolves around casting a flurry of instants and sorceries to control the board, draw cards, and ultimately, unleash your threats. Cards like Chart a Course and Treasure Cruise provide card advantage, fueling your spell-heavy game plan. Crackling Drake and Thing in the Ice act as formidable creatures that become more powerful as you cast spells. Arclight Phoenix is the star, providing recurring threats that can quickly overwhelm opponents.
Key Cards in Izzet Phoenix Pioneer Challenger Deck:
- Arclight Phoenix: The iconic mythic rare that epitomizes the deck’s strategy. Its ability to return from the graveyard makes it a resilient threat.
- Crackling Drake: A powerful creature that grows with the number of instants and sorceries in your graveyard, providing a substantial aerial threat.
- Thing in the Ice: A transformative creature that clears the board upon flipping, paving the way for your phoenixes and drakes to attack.
- Chart a Course & Treasure Cruise: Efficient card draw spells that ensure you maintain momentum and find the spells you need.
- Lightning Axe & Fiery Impulse: Removal spells to control early threats and pave the way for your game plan.
Izzet Phoenix Tokens:
- Treasure Tokens: For mana acceleration and fixing.
- Clue Tokens: For card draw advantage.
Dimir Control: Masterful Manipulation
Dimir Control Deck Box
Alt text: Dimir Control Pioneer Challenger Deck 2022 box art featuring a shadowy figure, representing the blue and black control theme.
For players who enjoy strategic gameplay and outmaneuvering opponents, the Dimir Control Pioneer Challenger Deck is an excellent choice. This blue-black deck is designed to disrupt and control the opponent’s game plan, answering threats at every turn and eventually closing out the game with powerful finishers.
Dimir Control Deck Strategy
Dimir Control excels at playing reactively, using counterspells, removal, and discard to dismantle the opponent’s strategy. The deck aims to survive the early game, disrupt key threats, and then take over in the mid-to-late game. Cards like Fatal Push and Heartless Act handle early creatures, while counterspells like Censor and Sinister Sabotage protect against more significant threats. Torrential Gearhulk serves as a powerful finisher, allowing you to replay your instants for maximum value.
Key Cards in Dimir Control Pioneer Challenger Deck:
- Torrential Gearhulk: A game-ending threat that also provides immense value by flashing back instants from your graveyard.
- Fatal Push & Heartless Act: Efficient removal spells to keep the board clear of early threats.
- Censor & Sinister Sabotage: Counterspells to disrupt opponent’s key plays and maintain control.
- Dig Through Time: A powerful delve spell for card selection, ensuring you find the right answers at the right time.
- Narset, Parter of Veils: A planeswalker that provides card advantage and disrupts opponent’s draw strategies.
Dimir Control Tokens:
- Shark Tokens: Generated by Shark Typhoon, providing flying threats and board presence.
Gruul Stompy: Unleash the Beast Within
Gruul Stompy Deck Box
Alt text: Gruul Stompy Pioneer Challenger Deck 2022 box art featuring a powerful beast, representing the red and green aggressive strategy.
If you prefer a more direct and aggressive approach, the Gruul Stompy Pioneer Challenger Deck is built for you. This red-green deck is all about overwhelming opponents with massive threats early in the game. Utilizing mana acceleration and powerful creatures, Gruul Stompy aims to end games quickly and decisively.
Gruul Stompy Deck Strategy
Gruul Stompy focuses on mana ramp using creatures like Llanowar Elves and Elvish Mystic to accelerate into powerful mid-range threats ahead of schedule. Cards like Glorybringer and Questing Beast are game-ending creatures that pressure opponents relentlessly. Bonecrusher Giant acts as both removal and a threat, providing versatility. The deck aims to apply early pressure and close out games before opponents can stabilize.
Key Cards in Gruul Stompy Pioneer Challenger Deck:
- Glorybringer: A formidable dragon that provides both a strong flying threat and removal with its exert ability.
- Questing Beast: A mythic rare creature that is difficult to block and provides significant offensive and defensive capabilities.
- Bonecrusher Giant: A versatile card that functions as both a creature and a removal spell, offering flexibility in various game situations.
- Llanowar Elves & Elvish Mystic: Mana dorks that accelerate your game plan, allowing for early deployment of threats.
- Lovestruck Beast: An efficient and aggressive creature that contributes to early board presence and pressure.
Gruul Stompy Tokens:
- Human Tokens: Generated by Lovestruck Beast, providing additional board presence.
Orzhov Humans: Strength in Numbers
Orzhov Humans Deck Box
Alt text: Orzhov Humans Pioneer Challenger Deck 2022 box art featuring a human army, representing the white and black human tribal synergy.
For players who appreciate synergy and overwhelming opponents with coordinated attacks, the Orzhov Humans Pioneer Challenger Deck provides a compelling strategy. This white-black deck focuses on creating a wide board of human creatures and buffing them with anthem effects to achieve victory through sheer numbers and coordinated attacks.
Orzhov Humans Deck Strategy
Orzhov Humans aims to flood the board with efficient human creatures, leveraging tribal synergies to maximize their effectiveness. Cards like Thalia’s Lieutenant and Rally the Ranks provide anthem effects, boosting the power and toughness of your human army. Thalia, Guardian of Thraben disrupts noncreature spells, while Kitesail Freebooter offers hand disruption. The deck excels at aggressive starts and overwhelming opponents with a wide and resilient board.
Key Cards in Orzhov Humans Pioneer Challenger Deck:
- Thalia’s Lieutenant: A key human synergy card that grows in power as you play more humans, and buffs other humans entering the battlefield.
- Rally the Ranks: An enchantment that provides a continuous anthem effect, boosting all your human creatures.
- Thalia, Guardian of Thraben: A disruptive creature that taxes noncreature spells, slowing down opponents.
- Luminarch Aspirant: A creature that buffs another creature each turn, providing consistent growth and pressure.
- Bloodsoaked Champion: A resilient and aggressive one-drop creature that can return from the graveyard repeatedly.
Orzhov Humans Tokens:
- Human Tokens: Representing the army of human creatures.
- Clue Tokens: For occasional card draw utility.
The Pioneer Challenger Decks 2022 are an ideal way for new and returning players to dive into the Pioneer format. Each deck offers a distinct and competitive strategy, providing a solid foundation for players looking to explore the Pioneer landscape. Pick up your Pioneer Challenger Decks starting November 4, 2022, at your local game store, online retailers like Amazon, and wherever Magic: The Gathering products are sold. Get ready to challenge your opponents and make your mark in Pioneer!
