Pioneer
| Pioneer | |
|---|---|
| DCI Sanctioned | |
| Paper |
 |
| Magic Online |
|
| Magic Arena |
 |
| Rules | |
| Type | Constructed |
| Multiplayer |
|
Pioneer is a constructed format that allows expansion sets and core sets from Return to Ravnica forward, save for the Pioneer ban list.[1] It is legal for tabletop Magic: The Gathering and Magic Online. MTG Arena does not support Pioneer yet, but uses Explorer to bridge while the older cards are added.
Description
The format was introduced on October 21, 2019, and was officially codified on January 30, 2020, when it was featured on Grand Prix Brussels. StarCityGames soon after moved away from Legacy as an SCG Tour format, replacing it with Pioneer.[2]
However, the COVID-19 outbreak severely hampered the format's ability to grow and amass a following. The pandemic meant that paper tournaments were out of the question, and with it most of its purpose for being. Those playing online would either lean towards Modern or Legacy, with their existing player base and occasional supplemental products, while MTG Arena was not prepared to absorb twenty sets of cards at short notice. Official tournament support used Historic as a secondary Constructed format, due to it being available immediately, and so more resources were allocated to managing it. This led to the perception of Pioneer being a dead format.[3]
The post-MPL organized play promises Pioneer in the system, and as the first Regional tour format. While Arena's Historic format spun off into its own format and identity, Explorer was introduced as the real bridge that would be true-to-paper and will eventually become Pioneer.
Deck construction
All the regular rules for constructed formats apply. Decks must contain a minimum of sixty cards. There is no maximum deck size; however, you must be able to shuffle your deck with no assistance. Like other constructed formats, a sideboard of at most fifteen cards can be used. With the exception of basic lands and cards like Rat Colony, a player's combined deck and sideboard may not contain more than four of any individual card.
Set legality
Cards from all regular core sets and expansions since Return to Ravnica (including exclusives that only appeared in Welcome Deck 2016 and Welcome Deck 2017) are legal.
- 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
- Welcome Deck 2016
- Shadows over Innistrad
- 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
- 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
- Murders at Karlov Manor
Banned List
- See also: Timeline of DCI bans and restrictions.
The original stated Pioneer plan was to run it on MTGO and ban “aggressively and off-cycle”, which meant whenever R&D felt like they had the justification: any day, any time. But, since organizations were quickly committing to tabletop events, it was announced that banned list announcements/changes would be made only on Mondays.[4] This synced Pioneer with other constructed formats.
As of December 4th, 2023, the following cards are banned in Pioneer tournaments:
- Balustrade Spy[5]
- Bloodstained Mire[1]
- Expressive Iteration[6]
- Felidar Guardian[7]
- Field of the Dead[8]
- Flooded Strand[1]
- Geological Appraiser[9]
- Inverter of Truth[10]
- Karn, the Great Creator[9]
- Kethis, the Hidden Hand[10]
- Leyline of Abundance[7]
- Lurrus of the Dream-Den[11]
- Nexus of Fate[12]
- Oko, Thief of Crowns[12]
- Once Upon a Time[8]
- Polluted Delta[1]
- Teferi, Time Raveler[5]
- Undercity Informer [5]
- Underworld Breach[10]
- Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath [5]
- Veil of Summer[13]
- Walking Ballista[10]
- Wilderness Reclamation[5]
- Windswept Heath[1]
- Winota, Joiner of Forces[6]
- Wooded Foothills[1]
References
- ↑ a b c d e f Blake Rasmussen (October 21, 2019). "Announcing the Pioneer Format"
- ↑ Ben Bleiweiss (November 8, 2019). "Additional Transparency Regarding the 2020 SCG Tour Update". Reddit.
- ↑ Fact or Fiction (July 21, 2021). "Is Pioneer A Dead Format?". Star City Games.
- ↑ Aaron Forsythe (October 31, 2019). "Our original stated Pioneer plan was to run it on MTGO initially.". Twitter.
- ↑ a b c d e Ian Duke (February 15, 2021). "February 15, 2021 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Michael Majors and Ian Duke (June 7, 2022). "June 7, 2022 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Ian Duke (November 04, 2019). "November 4, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Ian Duke (December 02, 2019). "December 2, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Dan Musser (December 4, 2023). "December 4, 2023 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b c d Ian Duke (August 3, 2020). "August 3, 2020 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 7, 2022). "March 7, 2022 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ a b Ian Duke (December 16, 2019). "December 16, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
- ↑ Ian Duke (November 11, 2019). "November 11, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
See also
External links
- Michael Majors (October 24, 2019). "Blazing a Trail into Pioneer". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.