Energy Colors in Pioneer
Pioneer Deck Help forum
Posted on March 3, 2021, 4:20 p.m. by I_Want_To_PlayAllTheDecks
The kaladesh block was when I first really got into magic and I would like to make a deck themed around energy for it. My problem is that I don't know what colors to play. I was thinking for sure blue and green because Rogue Refiner is the best energy card in the game based of it being banned in standard. Green is also great because it gives Attune with Aether and Bristling Hydra But then I'm not sure whether my third color should be black or red. Red gives access to damage based sweepers like Flame Sweep and removal like Harnessed Lightning , but black gives thoughtsieze and good removal like Fatal Push and Assassin's Trophy . I'm not sure where to go here so any color help or suggestions would be much appreciated.
TriusMalarky says... #3
One of the biggest advantages of energy, or more specifically the Attune with Aether and Aether Hub package, is that you have 8 cards that help you get all your colors.
You can go heavy on and splash and for the more powerful interaction.
You can also use cards like Gilded Goose , or Sylvan Scrying to get Hub, or Sylvan Caryatid for more fixing.
You also get Fabled Passage .
Technically, you only really need 14 red and 14 black sources to be able to run any single red or single black cards(unless they're both red and black). Aether Hub plus Attune would be about 5 in my math, you get Fabled Passage for 4 more, plus 1-2 each Mountain and Swamp. That'd be about 10. Then, it's not hard to run 2 triomes(the RUG and BUG ones), then some splash duals.
That'd already get you to about 19 lands total and about 14 green and 14 blue. Add one island, one forest, and 3 green blue duals, and you have a 24 land perfect manabase for 4 colors. Only downside is you have 6 taplands, but 4 of those are only tapped in the first 3 turns of the game, and all of them get you 3-4 of your colors.
I say, you can run Lightning, Path, Seize and another red card and be perfectly fine to add Refiner, Hydra and more, and it won't cost you much at all. Disclaimer is that it is only possible due to the fact that you're running Aether Hub, Pioneer can't support 4 colors normally.
March 3, 2021 4:52 p.m.
Hardhitta7 says... #4
If you’re choosing between black and red I would pick red because of Whirler Virtuoso . It was a house in standard. Harnessed Lightning is good as well.
March 3, 2021 5:01 p.m.
I_Want_To_PlayAllTheDecks says... #5
Thank you all for the quick suggestions. I do like the idea of splashing both red and black(thanks for the manabase ideas @TriusMalarky), but I'd have to then decide what kind of deck style to play. I could go more midrange with the hydra and rogue refiner, or more aggro with cards like Voltaic Brawler . I'll try making a prototype decklist and post it here when ready.
March 3, 2021 7:47 p.m.
I_Want_To_PlayAllTheDecks says... #6
Thats the list and any suggestions would be really appreciated. I'm not sure about the sideboard or Hydroid Krasis or Channeler Initiate
March 3, 2021 8:18 p.m.
I_Want_To_PlayAllTheDecks says... #7
maybe Nissa, Steward of Elements could be good.
March 3, 2021 8:19 p.m.
I_Want_To_PlayAllTheDecks says... #8
I kinda feel like there is actually so little price to play for playing black that I might cut most of the black cards out of the maindeck to make way for some walkers for extra reach but im not sure.
March 3, 2021 9:48 p.m.
Hardhitta7 says... #9
I believe the deck played Chandra, Torch of Defiance in standard? Am I remembering that correctly?
March 3, 2021 10:06 p.m.
You could always build something akin to the standard aetherworks marvel decks from before it was banned in standard, that poop out eldrazi. I think that the decks were temur.
March 4, 2021 7:49 a.m.
I_Want_To_PlayAllTheDecks says... #11
Ojallday, I feel like that deck is too easy to interact with - I mean there is a reason why its not banned. could try to cook something up I guess thou.
March 4, 2021 7:59 a.m.
Be careful judging the strength of a Pioneer card based on one that was banned in Standard.
Some of the power cards we have access to, like Thoughtseize and Murderous Rider weren't around when Rogue Refiner was in Standard.
Omniscience_is_life says... #2
Maybe a kind of Temur Adventure-ish shell with a few energy cards like Rogue Refiner etc.?,
March 3, 2021 4:42 p.m.