Pioneer has emerged as a dynamic and engaging constructed format within Magic: The Gathering, captivating players since its inception in October 2019. While its initial growth was hampered by global events, Pioneer has rebounded strongly, drawing increasing numbers of players to its unique blend of card pool and gameplay. Many enthusiasts are even hailing it as the “new Modern,” and the introduction of the Explorer format on MTG Arena has further fueled interest in this compelling constructed format.
Understanding the Basics of the Pioneer Magic The Gathering Format
Like other popular constructed formats in Magic: The Gathering, Pioneer matches are typically one-on-one encounters. Players construct decks from their personal collections, adhering to a minimum deck size of sixty cards. Strategic depth is added through the inclusion of an optional sideboard, containing up to fifteen cards, for post-game adjustments. Deck construction is governed by the “rule of four,” limiting players to a maximum of four copies of any single card (excluding basic lands). Matches are decided in a best-of-three game series, adding an element of adaptation and counter-strategy.
For those primarily playing on digital platforms, it’s important to note that while MTG Arena doesn’t currently host Pioneer directly, Explorer serves as its digital counterpart. Explorer is designed to mirror Pioneer’s card pool as older sets are gradually integrated into Arena. The eventual goal is for Explorer to evolve into full Pioneer on Arena, bridging the paper and digital experiences.
Pioneer Legal Sets: What Cards Can You Play?
The card legality for the Pioneer Magic The Gathering Format is clearly defined, encompassing all cards from expansion sets and core sets released from Return to Ravnica onwards. This starting point means that any card printed in primary Magic: The Gathering products from October 2012 to the present is potentially legal in Pioneer, offering a vast and diverse card pool.
However, like all constructed formats, Pioneer maintains a ban list to ensure format health and balance. This list restricts the use of specific cards from otherwise legal sets. As of December 4th, 2023, the following cards are banned in Pioneer:
| Pioneer Ban List |
|---|
| Balustrade Spy |
| Bloodstained Mire |
| Expressive Iteration |
| Felidar Guardian |
| Field Of The Dead |
| Flooded Strand |
| Geological Appraiser |
| Inverter Of Truth |
| Karn, The Great Creator |
The Distinctive Nature of the Pioneer Format
Pioneer occupies a unique space within Magic: The Gathering formats. While it’s a fast format where incredibly quick victories are theoretically possible, turn-four kills are not the format’s defining characteristic, unlike in formats like Modern. Instead, Pioneer is largely dominated by midrange strategies. Gameplay in Pioneer is often characterized by interactive matches where players engage in a strategic back-and-forth, vying for incremental advantages to secure victory.
For players familiar with Standard, Pioneer represents the closest step up in constructed play, aside from local game store formats like Pauper. Its accessibility makes it an ideal entry point for Standard players looking to broaden their horizons and experience a more expansive card pool.
While sharing similarities with Standard, Pioneer boasts a noticeable increase in deck power levels and strategic complexity. Combo decks, such as Abzan Amalia, Abzan Greasefang, and Lotus Field, are more prevalent and can initially seem challenging. However, these strategies are beatable with well-considered sideboarding and format knowledge.
Key Decks Shaping the Pioneer Metagame
The Pioneer format is characterized by a diverse and evolving metagame. Here are some of the key deck archetypes that currently define the format:
Rakdos Midrange
Rakdos Midrange embodies a classic strategy, employing hand disruption, efficient removal spells, and powerful creatures in black and red to gain a strategic advantage. This archetype is known for its adaptability and has the potential to compete against any deck in the format. Success with Rakdos Midrange hinges on the pilot’s deep understanding of the metagame and the ability to anticipate and disrupt opponent’s strategies effectively.
Boros Convoke
Boros Convoke is an aggressive deck that excels at quickly establishing a wide board presence. It utilizes efficient, low-cost creatures like Thraben Inspector to flood the battlefield and then leverages these creatures to maximize the convoke mechanic with cards like Knight-Errant of Eos and Venerated Loxodon. Imodane’s Recruiter is a critical card in this archetype, providing burst damage potential to close out games unexpectedly.
Azorius Control
For players who appreciate traditional control strategies reminiscent of Standard decks from the 2010s, Azorius Control is a compelling choice. This archetype aims to control the game by depleting the opponent’s resources through counterspells, planeswalkers, and board wipes. Card draw spells and potent late-game threats like Shark Typhoon allow Azorius Control to eventually take over and secure victory.
Mono White Humans
Pioneer is arguably the premier constructed format for tribal strategies, and Mono White Humans exemplifies this. This deck is known for being relatively straightforward to pilot, deploying aggressive creatures to quickly overwhelm opponents who stumble or lack early interaction. Adeline, Resplendent Cathar is the undisputed star of the deck, and its presence significantly impacts the deck’s overall performance in any given game.
Angels
Another prominent tribal archetype in Pioneer, Angels leverages the power of Collected Company to create explosive board states and generate synergistic advantages. Angels decks are particularly effective against aggressive strategies due to their inherent life-gain capabilities. The inclusion of Kayla’s Reconstruction has further enhanced the deck’s resilience and staying power in longer matches.
Abzan Greasefang
Abzan Greasefang represents a significant combo threat within the Pioneer metagame. While not a true “instant-win” combo, it generates overwhelming advantages. The core strategy involves using connive or Grisly Salvage to place Parhelion II, a powerful vehicle, into the graveyard. Then, Greasefang, Okiba Boss reanimates Parhelion II to attack, establishing a near-insurmountable board advantage.
Izzet Phoenix
Izzet Phoenix is a spell-heavy deck that thrives on removal, card draw, and conditional countermagic. Its primary win condition revolves around repeatedly returning Arclight Phoenix from the graveyard to the battlefield by casting a critical mass of instant and sorcery spells. Players who enjoy “machine-gun” style spellcasting will find Izzet Phoenix highly rewarding, though mastering its complex lines of play requires practice and strategic foresight.
Gruul Aggro
Gruul Aggro is an aggressive strategy that utilizes early mana acceleration, vehicles, and saga enchantments to attack opponents from multiple angles. Esika’s Chariot and Smuggler’s Copter are key cards in this archetype, providing both offensive pressure and card advantage. Reckless Stormseeker further emphasizes the deck’s aggressive nature, showcasing the power of the haste mechanic.
Abzan Amalia
Abzan Amalia is a recent addition to the Pioneer metagame, quickly proving its competitiveness. Its combo potential gained significant attention after winning a Pioneer Showcase Qualifier in December, leading some to speculate about its potential format dominance. The combo relies on Amalia Benavides Aguirre and Wildgrowth Walker on the battlefield, triggering an infinite loop by casting explore cards. This results in a board wipe followed by a massive, game-ending attack from a 20/20+ Amalia. Notably, Abzan Amalia also functions effectively as a standalone aggro deck, providing multiple paths to victory.
Explore the Pioneer Magic The Gathering Format
Pioneer offers a rich and engaging Magic: The Gathering experience, bridging the gap between Standard and older, more complex formats. With its diverse card pool, interactive gameplay, and evolving metagame, Pioneer presents a compelling format for both seasoned Magic veterans and players looking to expand beyond Standard. Dive into Pioneer and discover your new favorite way to play Magic!
