Here we go again. I'm really excited to brew up a deck for this format. I started playing magic with Standard during the Theros/Ravnica era. I've memorized and brewed with every single block and set since then. Pioneer is the perfect call-back to someone like me. The power is there but it's not oppressive. The answers exist to every problem that I can find given this fairly large card pool. Such a beautiful format and I'm going to go all in with my favorite tribe: Abzan
I prefer Midrange because I like having early game interaction but not getting burned out in late game either. One of the flaws I see in most of the pioneer decks I see getting uploaded online is how they limit themselves on their curves (stopping at 3 or 4) or not REALLY utilizing the best possible cards in slot (likely due to when they started playing magic, so they might not be aware of how insane the cards were in the Theros/Ravnica blocks).
Anyways, Here's the deck idea: Abzan ETB Kings
I'll be updating this deck as necessary and when new sets drop, I'll include any great inclusions that look like they can really spice up the deck.
So here's the detailed breakdown for why every card is included in the deck. All cards were checked against meta decks on MTG Goldfish, as a point of reference:
Cataclysmic Gearhulk
- This was my guy back in the standard format he was in. Your opponents are over extending in any possible way? Windmill slam this guy down. Remember he can count as an artifact or a creature, so you can easily give yourself the advantage in most scenarios. Be careful not to over extend yourself unless you don't mind pushing walkers or creatures in the grave (sometimes Gisela is better there. Voice is sometimes better dead because of that hot ass token). He's a board wipe stapled to a creature. As a 2-of he's fine. More than that and you'll see him too often, but you'll likely not need to see him that often if opponents think they can trade 1-for-1 with you on resources.
Cavalier of Dawn
- One of the most underestimated of the Mythic knights from M20. First off, this guy has an ETB that happily gives your opponents a 3/3 artifact creature for likely a walker or win-con they had on the board. In a worst case scenario, you can toss him out targeting nothing. A 4/6 vigilant body is better than average. His real power is his synergy with The Eldest Reborn. If you've never looped Cav's of dawn, grabbing T.E.R. and slapping eldest reborn's down to go reanimate your cav (repeat until the loop gets broken) then you haven't seen what real, true power grinding looks like. Oh, you're worried about all those tokens they might get? You still have the Gearhulk to clean them up and Bile Blight in the sideboard if they REALLY bother you that much. This is a true mythic when you use him right. Bonus: He can get Leyline of the Void and your Gearhulk. Authority of the Consuls is a target as well, but less likely, same with Fall of the Thran (but, I mean, if crushing your opponent's will to live is the objective...Abzan will allow it).
The Eldest Reborn
- You're probably thinking "all these mythics and suddenly...AN UNCOMMON!". Fear not friends, this card is basically a tombstone for control players. Sac-ing, hand disruption, any creature and walker straight to the battlefield....this card is easily rare strong. The synergies between this card and Cavalier of Dawn are broken in my opinion. You're not going to get out-valued if you start that loop. Even in a worst case scenario, where you can't grab the Cav of dawn, grabbing your other mythics, walkers, or THEIR walkers is just....outrageous. If you think this card isn't doing enough to be in a goodstuff deck, please refer your dealer to my buddies; they're running low on drugs that potent.
The lands: I'm using all shocks and buddies for now. The 3 basic lands are for the popularity of Field of ruin and the occasional Assassin trophy.
Sideboard:
Leyline of the Void
- Doesn't matter what format, I think you have to have some kind of graveyard hate at all times. This is literally the best graveyard hate card in all of magic history. It REALLY hampers Phoenix and Nexus decks, both 2 very, VERY annoying decks. There are other graveyard decks running around, like Soulflayer. Bury them on turn 0. Bonus points: against blue control decks, they can't flip Search for Azcanta, and Dig through time and Treasure cruise cost full price. Yeah, they can 3-drop tefari bounce it, but that's a risk we need to take. I'm ok with blue mages paying 8 to dig 7 and grab 2. I'll allow that.
Lost Legacy
- This card might go up in numbers if Wizards keeps trying to ban cards that push control and combo into a better position within the meta. We don't have access to
Unmoored Ego
So this is the next best thing for us. Second sunrise, Nexus of fate, Ugin, Ulamog, Emrakul, Tefari, Elspeth....do you have a shortage of must hit targets? Could bring it in against Phoenix decks but I'm convinced Leyline of the void puts enough salt in their wounds.
Thoughtseize
- Best gatekeeper card in the format against control and combo. You don't need to worry about your life total against them. There's literally nothing stronger than thoughtseize and what it does. You could bring the card in against ramp as well. The only match-up I obviously don't recommend you bring it in against is aggro. Aggro is stupidly over represented in the current meta and it's why Fatal push and Thoughtseize swapped places. Never, ever play a black deck without this card in Pioneer.
