Hours into the streamer event hosted by Wizards of the Coast, a distinct feeling emerged: “Pioneer Masters” felt tailor-made, a digital bridge to a personally significant era of Magic: The Gathering. For players deeply invested in the Pioneer format, this release is more than just a digital set; it’s a nostalgic journey back to a formative period of Magic.
Magic: The Gathering has a knack for revisiting and reimagining past successes, but “Pioneer Masters” strikes a particularly resonant chord by encapsulating a uniquely personal and transformative time in the game’s history. For many, this era, roughly between 2013’s “Dragon’s Maze” and “Theros” blocks, represents a sweet spot where iconic cards like Master of Waves and Nightveil Specters defined strategies, and budget-friendly heroic decks could surprisingly dominate local tournaments. This was a period of dynamic shifts and creative deck-building, elements that “Pioneer Masters” expertly revives.
Dragonlord Atarka MTG Arena Pioneer Masters
The designers behind “Pioneer Masters,” released on Tuesday on the digital MTG Arena platform, clearly share this fondness for the era. However, they haven’t simply replicated the past; they’ve enhanced it with fresh perspectives and design choices. The set thoughtfully augments draft archetypes. For instance, archetypes are boosted with synergies between cards like Wingsteed Rider, Rimrock Knight, and Ardenvale Tactician. Furthermore, “Pioneer Masters” cleverly integrates Converge cards alongside enablers such as Courier’s Briefcase, creating nuanced and powerful card interactions within the Pioneer format. The inclusion of cards like Opal Lake Gatekeepers and Guild Summit caters to players who enjoy ambitious multicolor strategies and even those daring enough to explore unconventional win conditions like Maze’s End.
This reimagining of the Pioneer card pool in “Pioneer Masters” also elevates the overall power level of the format on MTG Arena. Dreadbore, previously a rare card, is now a common removal spell, albeit a premium one, making efficient removal more accessible in drafts. The shift of numerous rares to uncommon rarity, such as Anax and Cymede, significantly boosts the potential of certain draft archetypes. A Red-White aggro draft deck, powered by these changes, achieved the maximum seven wins, highlighting the set’s aggressive potential. While Red-White aggro and White-Green Hexproof/Auras strategies are expected to be dominant forces in the draft environment, “Pioneer Masters” still allows for delightful surprises, as demonstrated by unexpected wins with a Chromanticore/Ashen Rider strategy.
Ultimately, “Pioneer Masters” successfully bridges the gap, bringing MTG Arena closer in line with the paper-based Pioneer format that inspires it. It refines the work started by previous digital releases like “Shadows Over Innistrad Remastered,” offering a more complete Pioneer experience digitally. While its draft format’s longevity remains to be seen, “Pioneer Masters” undeniably provides a rich and engaging experience, allowing players to immerse themselves in a beloved era of Magic that reignited many current obsessions with the game.
In contrast to “Pioneer Masters,” the “Foundations” set presents a different challenge. Released during the holiday season, this expansive set, encompassing both digital and physical formats, aims to attract both competitive tournament players and newcomers to Magic: The Gathering.
“Foundations” finds greater success in appealing to the competitive segment. It introduces a wealth of both older and new cards into the competitive landscape, designed to underpin strategies for the foreseeable future. Unlike standard set releases, “Foundations” cards are evergreen in nature, meaning they do not rotate out of Standard play, ensuring their long-term impact on the game. As a draft format, “Foundations” also stands out as a strong, fundamental set, reminiscent of Core sets like 2015’s “Magic Origins.” While perhaps not as immediately captivating as this year’s “Duskmourn,” it offers a more robust and less restrictive drafting experience compared to sets like “Bloomburrow.”
However, “Foundations,” even in its most accessible products, can be perplexing for those new to Magic. The “Beginner Box,” designed as an entry point, was tested with a family member who, despite being an experienced gamer, found the initial guided match frustrating and felt overwhelmed by the invitation to explore the eight “Jumpstart” mini-decks included.
Compounding the issue, the “Beginner Box” booklet contained inaccurate instructions. Contrary to typical gameplay, the introductory decks are not intended to be shuffled; instead, cards are drawn in a specific sequence. However, the cards are arranged in the opposite order to what is intended if the decks are placed face-down as instructed. To achieve the intended gameplay, the decks had to be played face-up, which inadvertently granted a significant advantage to one player. Therefore, the “Beginner Box” is not recommended as an effective teaching tool. MTG Arena itself offers superior tutorials that are freely accessible.
The “Starter Collection,” aimed at players who have grasped the fundamental rules of Magic, was tested with a player returning to the game after a hiatus since the 1990s. Intrigued by the extensive collection of new cards, this product proved to be a more effective starting point. A White-Black deck was constructed from the collection’s contents, while the returning player built and refined a Red-Green monsters deck across multiple games. Although lacking a comprehensive guide, the Starter Collection serves as a reasonable entry point for players re-engaging with Magic.
