Table of Contents
Pioneer meta can change from week to week, decks get pushed out, and new strategies flow in. It might be difficult to keep up with trends sometimes. This is why I will be making it much easier for you by making a ranking of the best decks for a given period! Let’s introduce the Pioneer Power Rankings. You can use this guide in conjunction with our Explorer Meta Tier Lists, and get some insight on the two similar formats as MTG Arena slowly makes its way towards Pioneer, or use it for your tabletop competitive play!
General Thoughts
The Regional Championship season has shaken up the metagame quite a bit. While coming in most people expected Mono Green Devotion and Rakdos Midrange to fully dominate, players started to experiment and innovate with decks like Rakdos Sacrifice, Azorius Lotus Field, Izzet Indomitable Creativity, or sleeved UP Arclight Phoenix up again. It turns out that the meta is way more open than one would initially think.
This Power Ranking still takes into account decks that have been mainstays for a long time but there are some decks that have managed to squeeze into an otherwise predictable meta.
Meta Matchup Matrix
pioneer
07 Jun 2022 - 04 Dec 2023
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Powered by 
win
rate
rate
vs
rakdos midrange
vs
Mono Green Devotion
vs
azorius control
vs
izzet phoenix
vs
mono white humans
vs
abzan greasefang
vs
Lotus Field Combo
vs
rakdos sacrifice
vs
creativity
vs
gruul aggro
vs
mono red aggro
vs
5c enigmatic incarnation
vs
azorius spirits
vs
boros convoke
vs
angels
vs
mono blue spirits
vs
bant spirits
vs
lotus field control
vs
omnath to light
-
42.6%
1485 matches
52.6%
882 matches
57.0%
646 matches
54.1%
909 matches
47.9%
746 matches
51.1%
548 matches
37.1%
461 matches
58.4%
601 matches
37.1%
463 matches
60.8%
265 matches
31.6%
418 matches
55.1%
334 matches
46.4%
373 matches
47.0%
164 matches
57.0%
200 matches
57.4%
141 matches
50.6%
170 matches
36.8%
163 matches
57.4%
1485 matches
-
50.8%
547 matches
48.8%
447 matches
40.1%
639 matches
55.2%
504 matches
53.5%
376 matches
58.3%
384 matches
60.6%
376 matches
58.3%
362 matches
54.5%
167 matches
54.4%
270 matches
34.0%
250 matches
50.8%
181 matches
56.9%
116 matches
35.3%
153 matches
43.3%
104 matches
39.8%
113 matches
59.0%
100 matches
47.4%
882 matches
49.2%
547 matches
-
56.4%
312 matches
42.7%
335 matches
45.7%
339 matches
40.2%
224 matches
47.7%
195 matches
63.1%
217 matches
56.1%
180 matches
50.0%
118 matches
66.7%
114 matches
50.7%
136 matches
65.5%
116 matches
72.0%
82 matches
51.6%
62 matches
61.4%
70 matches
40.7%
59 matches
68.2%
66 matches
43.0%
646 matches
51.2%
447 matches
43.6%
312 matches
-
43.6%
344 matches
48.8%
205 matches
23.5%
187 matches
61.3%
173 matches
41.3%
92 matches
57.4%
169 matches
45.9%
122 matches
46.7%
107 matches
60.2%
88 matches
44.2%
120 matches
35.8%
67 matches
64.2%
67 matches
57.5%
73 matches
59.1%
66 matches
51.0%
49 matches
45.9%
909 matches
59.9%
639 matches
57.3%
335 matches
56.4%
344 matches
-
45.3%
309 matches
67.7%
229 matches
33.0%
194 matches
55.1%
198 matches
31.7%
205 matches
61.4%
101 matches
60.6%
155 matches
58.7%
143 matches
41.9%
136 matches
30.2%
86 matches
53.7%
82 matches
49.1%
57 matches
52.9%
68 matches
42.6%
61 matches
52.1%
746 matches
44.8%
504 matches
54.3%
339 matches
51.2%
205 matches
54.7%
309 matches
-
55.8%
190 matches
57.3%
185 matches
43.5%
216 matches
45.0%
149 matches
49.5%
97 matches
54.3%
138 matches
23.7%
139 matches
61.6%
112 matches
45.8%
59 matches
27.4%
73 matches
26.9%
52 matches
50.8%
65 matches
52.2%
46 matches
48.9%
548 matches
46.5%
376 matches
59.8%
224 matches
76.5%
187 matches
32.3%
229 matches
44.2%
190 matches
-
49.3%
150 matches
57.3%
171 matches
45.2%
155 matches
45.1%
71 matches
81.4%
86 matches
38.6%
88 matches
42.9%
91 matches
68.1%
47 matches
24.5%
53 matches
37.8%
37 matches
65.0%
40 matches
76.6%
47 matches
62.9%
461 matches
41.7%
384 matches
52.3%
195 matches
38.7%
173 matches
67.0%
194 matches
42.7%
185 matches
50.7%
150 matches
-
46.7%
122 matches
63.2%
114 matches
73.6%
72 matches
26.9%
108 matches
54.0%
139 matches
56.9%
102 matches
56.3%
48 matches
50.0%
24 matches
60.0%
30 matches
43.3%
60 matches
53.1%
49 matches
41.6%
601 matches
39.4%
376 matches
36.9%
217 matches
58.7%
92 matches
44.9%
198 matches
56.5%
216 matches
42.7%
171 matches
53.3%
122 matches
-
62.4%
101 matches
37.2%
43 matches
54.5%
121 matches
49.0%
104 matches
53.3%
90 matches
58.1%
43 matches
45.2%
31 matches
56.3%
32 matches
57.6%
33 matches
45.8%
48 matches
62.9%
463 matches
41.7%
362 matches
43.9%
180 matches
42.6%
169 matches
68.3%
205 matches
55.0%
149 matches
54.8%
155 matches
36.8%
114 matches
37.6%
101 matches
-
64.1%
39 matches
36.5%
85 matches
49.2%
65 matches
38.9%
72 matches
36.7%
49 matches
53.1%
32 matches
54.5%
44 matches
44.4%
36 matches
36.0%
25 matches
39.2%
265 matches
45.5%
167 matches
50.0%
118 matches
54.1%
122 matches
38.6%
101 matches
50.5%
97 matches
54.9%
71 matches
26.4%
72 matches
62.8%
43 matches
35.9%
39 matches
-
53.8%
39 matches
60.0%
45 matches
57.1%
35 matches
29.0%
31 matches
53.3%
30 matches
56.3%
32 matches
47.1%
17 matches
33.3%
12 matches
68.4%
418 matches
45.6%
270 matches
33.3%
114 matches
53.3%
107 matches
39.4%
155 matches
45.7%
138 matches
18.6%
86 matches
73.1%
108 matches
45.5%
121 matches
63.5%
85 matches
46.2%
39 matches
-
31.3%
83 matches
47.8%
69 matches
45.2%
31 matches
29.2%
24 matches
47.8%
23 matches
12.5%
32 matches
32.1%
28 matches
44.9%
334 matches
66.0%
250 matches
49.3%
136 matches
39.8%
88 matches
41.3%
143 matches
76.3%
139 matches
61.4%
88 matches
46.0%
139 matches
51.0%
104 matches
50.8%
65 matches
40.0%
45 matches
68.7%
83 matches
-
39.2%
74 matches
60.0%
20 matches
73.3%
15 matches
38.1%
21 matches
40.9%
44 matches
81.3%
32 matches
53.6%
373 matches
49.2%
181 matches
34.5%
116 matches
55.8%
120 matches
58.1%
136 matches
38.4%
112 matches
57.1%
91 matches
43.1%
102 matches
46.7%
90 matches
61.1%
72 matches
42.9%
35 matches
52.2%
69 matches
60.8%
74 matches
-
15.8%
19 matches
57.9%
19 matches
75.0%
8 matches
47.2%
53 matches
58.6%
29 matches
53.0%
164 matches
43.1%
116 matches
28.0%
82 matches
64.2%
67 matches
69.8%
86 matches
54.2%
59 matches
31.9%
47 matches
43.8%
48 matches
41.9%
43 matches
63.3%
49 matches
71.0%
31 matches
54.8%
31 matches
40.0%
20 matches
84.2%
19 matches
-
66.7%
15 matches
38.5%
13 matches
0.0%
19 matches
23.1%
13 matches
43.0%
200 matches
64.7%
153 matches
48.4%
62 matches
35.8%
67 matches
46.3%
82 matches
72.6%
73 matches
75.5%
53 matches
50.0%
24 matches
54.8%
31 matches
46.9%
32 matches
46.7%
30 matches
70.8%
24 matches
26.7%
15 matches
42.1%
19 matches
33.3%
15 matches
-
55.0%
20 matches
57.1%
7 matches
100.0%
11 matches
42.6%
141 matches
56.7%
104 matches
38.6%
70 matches
42.5%
73 matches
50.9%
57 matches
73.1%
52 matches
62.2%
37 matches
40.0%
30 matches
43.8%
32 matches
45.5%
44 matches
43.8%
32 matches
52.2%
23 matches
61.9%
21 matches
25.0%
8 matches
61.5%
13 matches
45.0%
20 matches
-
57.1%
7 matches
60.0%
5 matches
49.4%
170 matches
60.2%
113 matches
59.3%
59 matches
40.9%
66 matches
47.1%
68 matches
49.2%
65 matches
35.0%
40 matches
56.7%
60 matches
42.4%
33 matches
55.6%
36 matches
52.9%
17 matches
87.5%
32 matches
59.1%
44 matches
52.8%
53 matches
100.0%
19 matches
42.9%
7 matches
42.9%
7 matches
-
70.8%
24 matches
63.2%
163 matches
41.0%
100 matches
31.8%
66 matches
49.0%
49 matches
57.4%
61 matches
47.8%
46 matches
23.4%
47 matches
46.9%
49 matches
54.2%
48 matches
64.0%
25 matches
66.7%
12 matches
67.9%
28 matches
18.8%
32 matches
41.4%
29 matches
76.9%
13 matches
0.0%
11 matches
40.0%
5 matches
29.2%
24 matches
-
vs
rakdos midrange
vs
Mono Green Devotion
vs
azorius control
vs
izzet phoenix
vs
mono white humans
vs
abzan greasefang
vs
Lotus Field Combo
vs
rakdos sacrifice
vs
creativity
vs
gruul aggro
vs
mono red aggro
vs
5c enigmatic incarnation
vs
azorius spirits
vs
boros convoke
vs
angels
vs
mono blue spirits
vs
bant spirits
vs
lotus field control
vs
omnath to light
#10: Azorius Control
Azorius Control
by Skura
Pioneer
best of 3
7 mythic
42 rare
4 uncommon
7 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Planeswalkers (7)
Instants (17)
Lands (27)
60 Cards
$341.8
Sideboard
15 Cards
$66.21
While players still try to work out whether it’s better to go 60 cards with Kaheera, the Orphanguard or 80 with Yorion, Sky Nomad, the deck’s gameplan stays the same. You want to play a counterspell on each key spell, play a sweeper like Supreme Verdict if the opponent has over-extended, and close with a big planeswalker, namely Teferi, Hero of Dominaria.
You shouldn’t underestimate this deck’s capabilities of turning the corner. The Wandering Emperor in conjunction with Shark Typhoon and Hall of Storm Giants can change the tide in a heartbeat.
Azorius Control hadn’t really been a player in the meta game before the Regional Championship season but in the hands of the most skilled players it did find a lot of success with multiple top 8s and top 16s at the RC level.
As long as players keep underestimating the strategy, it will post results.
#9: Izzet Phoenix
Izzet Phoenix
by Skura
Pioneer
best of 3
5 mythic
22 rare
13 uncommon
20 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Instants (21)
Sorceries (12)
Lands (19)
60 Cards
$227.72
Sideboard
15 Cards
$21.17
Like a true phoenix from the ashes, Arclight Phoenix has come back into the mainstream after it completely disappeared post-Expressive Iteration ban. Izzet players switched Indomitable Creativity for a more midrange/control approach but recent tournaments show that you can still win with the recursive Birds.
Players have identified that graveyard hate is arguably at its lowest and so Phoenixes can be returned with no big issue most of the time and Treasure Cruise is frequently Ancestral Recall.
There are still conversations about the secondary threat in the deck. Thing in the Ice and Ledger Shredder have been the most popular choices but there are also versions with Demilich popping up.
The lack of graveyard hate will keep the deck on the wave and since that is the case currently – #9 goes to Izzet Phoenix.
#8: Boros Convoke
Boros Convoke
by Skura
Pioneer
best of 3
1 mythic
29 rare
21 uncommon
9 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Companion
Creatures (34)
Sorceries (4)
Enchantments (2)
Lands (20)
60 Cards
$241.92
Sideboard
15 Cards
$50.55
One of the most explosive break-out decks of recent weeks. Boros Convoke has been compared to Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis but how true is that?
In practice, the deck is just a very strong and linear aggro deck that can be compared to Affinity or Dredge in older formats. It’s nowhere close to the actual Hogaak’s power but it does not mean it’s not strong. It took down Regional Championship Athens and is certainly a force to be reckoned with.
Despite the fact that players are on the fence whether to play Burning-Tree Emissary or not, the other 70ish cards are going to overlap and so will your strategy against them.
I wouldn’t be surprised to see the deck climb the ranking ladder but for now – #8.
#7: Lotus Field Combo
Lotus Field Combo
by Skura
Pioneer
best of 3
4 mythic
26 rare
13 uncommon
13 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Planeswalkers (1)
Creatures (9)
Sorceries (21)
Enchantments (1)
Lands (22)
60 Cards
$325.08
Sideboard
15 Cards
$74.13
At #7 is Lotus Field Combo. The deck that requires a very skilled pilot to have success – and in skilled hands it indeed succeeds. However, between the proficiency required and the presence of decks like Mono White Aggro with Thalia, Guardian of Thraben it might be a bit of an uphill battle sometimes.
The biggest selling point of the deck is that it cannot be interacted with via traditional means. Lotus Field cannot be discarded, the deck is immune to removal and is able to play through countermagic. If the opponent is unable to win by turn four or five, Lotus Field will win. On top of that, it makes all the interactive decks draw blanks like Fatal Push or Supreme Verdict while it draws only live cards.
The lack of popularity holds it back from being higher for now. #7 Lotus Field.
#6: Mono White Humans
Mono White Humans
by Skura
Pioneer
best of 3
1 mythic
28 rare
17 uncommon
14 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Creatures (32)
Instants (2)
Enchantments (4)
Lands (22)
60 Cards
$162.16
Sideboard
15 Cards
$67.85
The most popular and aggressive strategy right now. It combines cheap creatures with the overall redundancy of the cards in it to create a deadly combination. Few decks can actually keep up with a plethora of one- and two-drops being thrown at them.
It does include disruptive elements like Thalia, Guardian of Thraben, Brave the Elements, Ossification, or Brutal Cathar to still be able to somehow meaningfully interact.
Thanks to it being just a single colour strategy, it’s relatively cheaper than a lot of other decks and thanks to its linear plan it’s relatively easier than most. Both of those factors make it a great introductory deck.
At #6 – Mono White Humans.
#5: Izzet Creativity
Izzet Creativity
by Skura
Pioneer
best of 3
6 mythic
26 rare
3 uncommon
25 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Instants (26)
Sorceries (4)
Enchantments (4)
Lands (24)
60 Cards
$315.34
Sideboard
15 Cards
$41.23
There are multiple version of Indomitable Creativity decks in the format that include Xenagos, God of Revels and Worldspine Wurm, Atraxa, Grand Unifier, or Torrential Gearhulk. Even though they play out differently, they are usually lumped together, since individually they’d make up a minuscule portion of the metagame.
Still, Izzet strategies that employ some kind of combo or combo-esque finish do succeed in the format. They are the premier combo control strategies that players love due to being both interactive and being able to close games in a pinch, especially with the Xenagos Wurm version.
This strategy went from unplayed to the absolute best to, now, the middle of the pack. Very solid choice for all the Izzet mages.
#4: Rakdos Sacrifice
Rakdos Sacrifice
by Skura
Pioneer
best of 3
6 mythic
27 rare
20 uncommon
7 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Companion
Creatures (15)
Artifacts (4)
Enchantments (4)
Lands (22)
60 Cards
$323.92
Sideboard
15 Cards
$102.11
Picked up despite not having been that popular in the past months. Players identified that it can give Rakdos Midrange a hard time while having excellent matchups against aggressive decks and a proper linear plan altogether.
While Fatal Push, Fable of the Mirror-Breaker, and Thoughtseize overlap between it and Rakdos Midrange, they couldn’t play out more differently than they do. Here, you’re trying to combine certain cards together to make them more powerful and create synergies such as Witch's Oven and Cauldron Familiar, Unlucky Witness and Deadly Dispute, or Mayhem Devil to any of the previous two.
This deck is a great way to play the best red and black cards but attack from a completely different angle.
At #4 – Rakdos Sacrifice.
#3: Azorius Spirits
Azorius Spirits
by Skura
Pioneer
best of 3
0 mythic
40 rare
14 uncommon
6 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Creatures (25)
Enchantments (4)
Lands (22)
60 Cards
$217.64
Sideboard
15 Cards
$86.15
I didn’t see that coming but Azorius Spirits has come back in full force at #3!
Between a very fast clock, evasion enabling it to attack despite blockers, interaction on the stack, and a powerful white sideboard, it becomes a super powerful choice in the metagame. Thanks to its relative simplicity, you can easily pick it up and terrorise your local tournament. However, there is still a learning curve, especially for those last 10%-20% that you can squeeze out of the deck.
#2: Rakdos Midrange
Rakdos Midrange
by Skura
Pioneer
best of 3
10 mythic
40 rare
6 uncommon
4 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Planeswalkers (1)
Creatures (14)
Artifacts (2)
Enchantments (4)
Lands (25)
60 Cards
$731.6
Sideboard
15 Cards
$40.51
A well known menace that has been dominating the format for a long time. Despite the deck consistently showing that it’s a true 50/50 deck by having its win rate literally fluctuate between 49% and 51%, it’s hands down the most represented strategy at any tourney you might participate in.
Players gravitate to this strategy due to its inherent power, prevalent interaction and solid threats.
We are at a point in which the deck is played a bit less and less with each high level tournament I see, going from the previous 25%+ representation to below 20%. It is not impossible to see it decline to the third or fourth best deck in the format.
For now though, #2 goes to Rakdos Midrange.
#1: Mono Green Devotion
Mono Green Devotion
by Skura
Pioneer
best of 3
5 mythic
30 rare
8 uncommon
17 common
0
1
2
3
4
5
6+
Creatures (19)
Sorceries (4)
Lands (21)
60 Cards
$354.88
Sideboard
15 Cards
$42.65
Rakdos is great at doing well, Mono Green is great at spiking tournaments.
Mono Green Devotion is an interesting blend between a stompy strategy, a combo deck, and ramp. The way the games play out will depend heavily on the draw and the interaction presented by the opponent. While most games are relatively scripted, those tough spots are super difficult to navigate through properly, mainly due to Karn, the Great Creator and the plethora of options it presents you with.
It has a ton of raw power and can steamroll most opponents who cannot clock it and/or are unable to get rid of that dreaded turn-one mana Elf.
And the best deck in the format at #1 goes to… Mono Green Devotion!
Conclusion
Overall, the hero of this installment of the Pioneer Power Rankings – Mono Green Devotion!
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Skura
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