Pioneer is here!

Sure, we can be unhappy about it not being on MTG Arena and the overall implementation, but the reality is that building in new formats is perhaps one of the most fun things that Magic has to offer. I did a brew off against Todd Anderson on stream last week and aside from being a total blast I left with two major thoughts on the format: Thoughtseize is perhaps the most important card, and planeswalkers are still really good!

We know how good Teferi, Time Raveler and Narset, Parter of Veils are, but they get joined by a trio of extremely powerful planeswalkers. Elspeth, Sun's Champion is one of the best control finishers ever printed, providing a complete stopgap against creature decks as well as Wrath potential, while a pair of Jaces give us a boatload of card advantage and board control.

Backing that all up with quality discard and mass removal and we've got a hell of a Pioneer deck!

Time Stamps:

Match 1 - 00:09:14

Match 2 - 00:33:53

Match 3 - 01:03:20

Match 4 - 01:25:28

Match 5 - 01:41:54

Esper Planeswalkers | Pioneer | Jim Davis

• Creatures (3)
• 3 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy

• Planeswalkers (14)
• 2 Elspeth, Sun's Champion
• 2 Teferi, Hero of Dominaria
• 3 Jace, Architect of Thought
• 3 Narset, Parter of Veils
• 4 Teferi, Time Raveler

• Instants (6)
• 1 Cast Down
• 2 Hero's Downfall
• 3 Fatal Push

• Sorceries (9)
• 2 Thought Erasure
• 3 Supreme Verdict
• 4 Thoughtseize

• Enchantments (2)
• 2 Oath of Kaya

• Lands (26)
• 1 Swamp
• 3 Drowned Catacomb
• 3 Interplanar Beacon
• 3 Isolated Chapel
• 4 Glacial Fortress
• 4 Godless Shrine
• 4 Hallowed Fountain
• 4 Watery Grave

• Sideboard (15)
• 1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
• 1 Dragonlord Silumgar
• 1 Kaya, Orzhov Usurper
• 2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
• 1 Dovin's Veto
• 2 Authority of the Consuls
• 2 Rest in Peace
• 2 Noxious Grasp
• 1 Oath of Kaya
• 2 Mystical Dispute

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While many of these cards have seen play in control decks in the past, this deck plays out a little more like Jund than traditional Blue control. We're a sorcery speed tap out deck, looking to disrupt early with discard and then start slamming planeswalkers until the cows come home.

While the deck moves into the mid game very well, we do take a lot of damage from Thoughtseize and our lands making the extra life gain from Interplanar Beacon and Oath of Kaya very important. It's possible we want to lower the curve a little bit for some more one and two-mana interaction, but overall the list feels very good.

If you love control decks or are looking to port your Standard deck into Pioneer, Esper Planeswalkers is a great place to start!