MTG Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
MTG Wiki
MTG Wiki
7,584
pages
in: Constructed formats

Changes: Pioneer

Back to page
Edit this Page
No edit summary
(43 intermediate revisions by 20 users not shown)
Line 3: Line 3:
 
| online = y
  
| online = y
 
}}
  
}}
−
'''Pioneer''' is a [[constructed]] [[format]] that allows [[expansion]] [[set]]s and [[Core Set|core sets]] from ''[[Return to Ravnica]]'' forward, save for the [[Banned and restricted cards/Timeline|Pioneer ban list]].<ref name="Announcing">{{DailyRef|news/announcing-pioneer-format-2019-10-21|Announcing the Pioneer Format|[[Blake Rasmussen]]|October 21, 2019}}</ref> It is [[legal]] for [[tabletop]] ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' and [[Magic Online]]. Since [[MTG Arena]] has its own [[Historic (format)|Historic format]], it doesn't support Pioneer.
+
'''Pioneer''' is a [[constructed]] [[format]] that allows [[expansion]] [[set]]s and [[Core Set|core sets]] from ''[[Return to Ravnica]]'' forward, save for the [[Banned and restricted cards/Timeline|Pioneer ban list]].<ref name="Announcing">{{DailyRef|news/announcing-pioneer-format-2019-10-21|Announcing the Pioneer Format|[[Blake Rasmussen]]|October 21, 2019}}</ref> It is [[legal]] for [[tabletop]] ''[[Magic: The Gathering]]'' and [[Magic Online]]. [[MTG Arena]] did not support Pioneer for the first few years of operation, but uses [[Explorer]] to bridge while the older cards are added.
   
 
==Description==
  
==Description==
−
The format was introduced on October 21, 2019, and will be officially codified on January 30, 2020, when it is featured on [[Grand Prix]] Brussels. [[StarCityGames]] soon after moved away from [[Legacy]] as an [[SCG Tour]] format, replacing it with Pioneer.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/dt9ny0/additional_transparency_regarding_the_2020_scg/|title=dditional Transparency Regarding the 2020 SCG Tour Update|author=[[Ben Bleiweiss]]|date=November 8, 2019|publisher=Reddit}}</ref>
 +
The format was introduced on October 21, 2019, and was officially codified on January 30, 2020, when it is featured on [[Grand Prix]] Brussels. [[StarCityGames]] soon after moved away from [[Legacy]] as an [[SCG Tour]] format, replacing it with Pioneer.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/dt9ny0/additional_transparency_regarding_the_2020_scg/|title=Additional Transparency Regarding the 2020 SCG Tour Update|author=[[Ben Bleiweiss]]|date=November 8, 2019|publisher=Reddit}}</ref>
   
  +
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 lead to the perception of Pioneer being a dead format.<ref>{{WebRef|url=https://articles.starcitygames.com/select/is-pioneer-a-dead-format/|title=Is Pioneer A Dead Format?|author=Fact or Fiction|date=July 21, 2021|publisher=Star City Games}}</ref>
⚫
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 land]]s and cards like <c>Relentless Rats</c>, a player's combined deck and sideboard may not contain more than four of any individual card.
  
   
  +
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.
⚫
==Set legality==
  
  +
⚫
Cards from all regular core sets and expansions since ''[[Return to Ravnica]]'' are legal.
  
  +
==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 land]]s and cards like <c>Rat Colony</c>, 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.
 
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
  
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
 
*''[[Return to Ravnica]]''
  
*''[[Return to Ravnica]]''
Line 44: Line 49:
 
*''[[Core Set 2020]]''
  
*''[[Core Set 2020]]''
 
*''[[Throne of Eldraine]]''
  
*''[[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]]''
 
}}
  
}}
   
−
==Banned List==
 +
===Banned List===
 
{{See also|Timeline of DCI bans and restrictions}}
  
{{See also|Timeline of DCI bans and restrictions}}
−
The original stated Pioneer plan was to run it on [[MTGO]] initially and ban “aggressively and off-cycle”, which meant basically whenever [[R&D]] felt like they had the justification, any day, any time. Since organizations were quickly committing to [[tabletop]] events, it was announced that banned list announcements/changes would be made on Mondays instead of at any time.<ref>{{TwitterRef|Mtgaaron|1120119768239919105|author=[[Aaron Forsythe]]|title=Our original stated Pioneer plan was to run it on MTGO initially.|date=October 31, 2019}}</ref>
 +
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.<ref>{{TwitterRef|Mtgaaron|1189995146978283520|author=[[Aaron Forsythe]]|title=Our original stated Pioneer plan was to run it on MTGO initially.|date=October 31, 2019}}</ref> This synced Pioneer with other constructed formats.
   
−
As of December 16th, 2019 the following cards are banned in Pioneer tournaments:
 +
As of June 7th, 2022, the following cards are banned in Pioneer tournaments:
   
 
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
  
{{columns-list|colwidth=15em|
  +
*<c>Balustrade Spy</c><ref name="February 2021">{{DailyRef|news/february-15-2021-banned-and-restricted-announcement|February 15, 2021 Banned and Restricted Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|February 15, 2021}}</ref>
 
*<c>Bloodstained Mire</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
  
*<c>Bloodstained Mire</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
  +
*<c>Expressive Iteration</c><ref name="June 2022">{{DailyRef|magic-digital/June-7-2022-banned-and-restricted-announcement|June 7, 2022 Banned and Restricted Announcement|[[Michael Majors]] and [[Ian Duke]]|June 7, 2022}}</ref>
 
*<c>Flooded Strand</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
  
*<c>Flooded Strand</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
 
*<c>Felidar Guardian</c><ref name="November 4, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/november-4-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|November 4, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|November 04, 2019}}</ref>
  
*<c>Felidar Guardian</c><ref name="November 4, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/november-4-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|November 4, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|November 04, 2019}}</ref>
 
*<c>Field of the Dead</c><ref name="December 2, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/december-2-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|December 2, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|December 02, 2019}}</ref>
  
*<c>Field of the Dead</c><ref name="December 2, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/december-2-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|December 2, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|December 02, 2019}}</ref>
  +
*<c>Inverter of Truth</c><ref name="BR20200808">{{DailyRef|news/august-8-2020-banned-and-restricted-announcement|August 3, 2020 Banned and Restricted Announcement|Ian Duke|August 3, 2020}}</ref>
  +
*<c>Kethis, the Hidden Hand</c><ref name="BR20200808"/>
 
*<c>Leyline of Abundance</c><ref name="November 4, 2019"/>
  
*<c>Leyline of Abundance</c><ref name="November 4, 2019"/>
  +
*<c>Lurrus of the Dream-Den</c><ref name="BR20220307">{{DailyRef|news/march-7-2022-banned-and-restricted-announcement|March 7, 2022 Banned and Restricted Announcement|[[Wizards of the Coast]]|March 7, 2022}}</ref>
 
*<c>Nexus of Fate</c><ref name="December 16, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/december-16-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|December 16, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|December 16, 2019}}</ref>
  
*<c>Nexus of Fate</c><ref name="December 16, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/december-16-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|December 16, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|December 16, 2019}}</ref>
⚫
*<c>Oath of Nissa</c><ref name="November 4, 2019"/>
  
 
*<c>Oko, Thief of Crowns</c><ref name="December 16, 2019"/>
  
*<c>Oko, Thief of Crowns</c><ref name="December 16, 2019"/>
 
*<c>Once Upon a Time</c><ref name="December 2, 2019"/>
  
*<c>Once Upon a Time</c><ref name="December 2, 2019"/>
 
*<c>Polluted Delta</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
  
*<c>Polluted Delta</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
 
*<c>Smuggler's Copter</c><ref name="December 2, 2019"/>
  
*<c>Smuggler's Copter</c><ref name="December 2, 2019"/>
  +
*<c>Teferi, Time Raveler</c><ref name="February 2021"/>
  +
*<c>Undercity Informer</c> <ref name="February 2021"/>
  +
*<c>Underworld Breach</c><ref name="BR20200808"/>
  +
*<c>Uro, Titan of Nature's Wrath</c> <ref name="February 2021"/>
 
*<c>Veil of Summer</c><ref name="November 11, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/november-11-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|November 11, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|November 11, 2019}}</ref>
  
*<c>Veil of Summer</c><ref name="November 11, 2019">{{DailyRef|news/november-11-2019-pioneer-banned-announcement|November 11, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement|[[Ian Duke]]|November 11, 2019}}</ref>
  +
*<c>Walking Ballista</c><ref name="BR20200808"/>
  +
*<c>Wilderness Reclamation</c><ref name="February 2021"/>
 
*<c>Windswept Heath</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
  
*<c>Windswept Heath</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
  ⚫
*<c>Winota, Joiner of Forces</c><ref name="June 2022"/>
 
*<c>Wooded Foothills</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
  
*<c>Wooded Foothills</c><ref name="Announcing"/>
 
}}
  
}}
Line 71: Line 98:
 
==References==
  
==References==
 
{{reflist}}
  
{{reflist}}
  +
  +
==See also==
  +
* [[Pioneer Masters]]
   
 
==External links==
  
==External links==

Revision as of 15:36, 7 June 2022

Pioneer
DCI Sanctioned
Paper {Tick}
Magic Online {Tick}
Magic Arena {Cross}
Rules
Type Constructed
Multiplayer {Cross}

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 did not support Pioneer for the first few years of operation, 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 is 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 lead 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.

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 June 7th, 2022, the following cards are banned in Pioneer tournaments:

References

  1. ↑ a b c d e f Blake Rasmussen (October 21, 2019). "Announcing the Pioneer Format". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  2. ↑ Ben Bleiweiss (November 8, 2019). "Additional Transparency Regarding the 2020 SCG Tour Update". Reddit.
  3. ↑ Fact or Fiction (July 21, 2021). "Is Pioneer A Dead Format?". Star City Games.
  4. ↑ Aaron Forsythe (October 31, 2019). "Our original stated Pioneer plan was to run it on MTGO initially.". Twitter.
  5. ↑ a b c d e Ian Duke (February 15, 2021). "February 15, 2021 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  6. ↑ a b Michael Majors and Ian Duke (June 7, 2022). "June 7, 2022 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  7. ↑ a b Ian Duke (November 04, 2019). "November 4, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  8. ↑ a b c Ian Duke (December 02, 2019). "December 2, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  9. ↑ a b c d Ian Duke (August 3, 2020). "August 3, 2020 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  10. ↑ Wizards of the Coast (March 7, 2022). "March 7, 2022 Banned and Restricted Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  11. ↑ a b Ian Duke (December 16, 2019). "December 16, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.
  12. ↑ Ian Duke (November 11, 2019). "November 11, 2019 Pioneer Banned Announcement". magicthegathering.com. Wizards of the Coast.

See also

External links

DCI
Sanctioned
Casual
Constructed
Limited/Draft
Multiplayer
Retired
Community content is available under CC BY-NC-SA 2.5 unless otherwise noted.
More Fandoms