Duskmourn for Pioneer

(as of September 4 spoilers)

We’re only a third of the way through spoiler season, but so far there are a few highlights with potential to see play in Pioneer, either in existing or new archetypes. Here are my top picks of cards I expect to see play, either in existing archetypes or new ones.

     1. The Verge Cycle

Entering untapped and having the condition for its second colour be easy to fulfil means these should be both Pioneer and Standard staples. These are already strictly better than the Checklands (Glacial Fortress etc.) which see light play, I’d say these are probably the best lands since the MID/VOW slowlands. Expect to see these a bit more in aggressive decks. The asymmetry is tilting though, since the RG one doesn’t cast Llanowar Elves on turn 1.

     2. The (new) Leylines

We still haven’t seen the green one yet, and Leyline of the Void is a reprint, so of the three we’ve seen so far, I think Leyline of Resonance has the most potential. It enables a turn 2 kill in Standard (with Cacophony Scamp and Monstrous Rage), and while Pioneer has Fatal Push to keep it in check, I’d expect to get cheesed out at least once an event. Leyline of Hope might feel like it has a home in the GW Coco Angels deck, but I don’t think that deck wants to dilute Coco hits, even for an effect as strong as Righteous Valkyrie’s.

     3. Split Up

Three mana wraths are exactly what control decks want. This isn’t a strict upgrade over Temporary Lockdown, and smart players will learn to play around it, but being able to get rid of anything you want for 3 mana is worth the tradeoff.

     4. The Wandering Rescuer

This card fits right into the Boros Convoke deck, offering both a way to protect your creatures for a turn while attacking for 6 the next. The only downside is it’s going to be extremely obvious you have this in hand if you’re not attacking, but you can just pretend to be playing around Split Up. On that note, you can even Flash this in to save your untapped creatures if your opponent chooses that mode (though you’ll lose the Rescuer herself in the process)

     5. Shardmage’s Rescue

Boros Heroic probably doesn’t need its own version of Snakeskin Veil, but there are cases where you’ll want Hexproof over protection from a colour. At worst, it’s another tool in the toolbox.

     6. The Overlord Cycle

(The red one deals 4 damage on entering and attacking.)

Expect to see these a lot for the next while. This Mythic cycle will dominate the top end of any deck they fit in, reminiscent of M11’s Titans that just barely missed the cutoff for Pioneer legality. Each of these offers an effect that’s about worth what you pay for on the Impending side, and after generating some value, as the ability suggests, all your opponent can do is hope to race you before the clock runs out and these continue to accrue value while dealing big chunks of damage by attacking.

This might be optimistic, but I think there’s even potential with cards like Teferi’s Time Twist and Flicker of Fate to not only save these from Enchantment removal, but cheat their Impending timer and get these swinging even sooner.

Note that Overlord of the Hauntwoods single-handedly enables full Domain for Leyline Binding for only 3 mana as well.

If you’re a person of true culture and enjoy playing Enigmatic Incarnation, these are also a spicy way to get a head start on the chain. We’re still missing the Black one, but the red one pods right into Atraxa.

     7. Pyroclasm

Younger players might not understand how impactful a 2 mana sweeper is, but anyone who’s played in the earlier days knows the pain of having their board swept while your opponent is still at a healthy 15 or so. Unless aggro gets some tools to combat this in the vein of Monstrous Rage, I expect this card to single-handedly slow down the format by a whole turn.

     8. Hedge Shredder

I don’t exactly know where this is going yet, but I know a combo engine when I see one. Pair it with Spelunking, the SNC fetches, and a self-mill outlet to do…something. Trust me, it’s got legs.

     9. Screaming Nemesis

Just after we got Sunspine Lynx, Screaming Nemesis shows up to let the life gain decks know who’s really in charge - you can even ram it into Atraxa to either trade with it, or counteract the first Lifelink trigger and stop subsequent ones (they’ll still gain 7 the first time, but this will also deal 7 to their face). If Rampaging Ferocidon is still in red sideboards, this fits neatly in its place.

     10. The Delirium package

Any set with both Delirium and Enchantment Creatures adds a ton of new tools for a solid GBx midrange deck. There isn’t any one particular card or interaction to highlight, but I see potential when combined with some of the yesteryear’s hits like Grim Flayer, Traverse the Ulvenwald, maybe even Whispers of Emrakul.

Overall this first wave of spoilers offers a lot both for and against aggro decks, while the presence of Enchantment Creatures and Delirium add to graveyard decks. Interestingly I don’t see much for Pioneer’s favourite feathered friend Arclight Phoenix yet, but that might be for the better, as any deck playing Treasure Cruise doesn’t need more help.