MTG Salvation

Pioneer Format Information

Pioneer is a constructed, non-rotating format consisting of all sets from Return to Ravnica forward including Core Sets, but not including any supplemental products (i.e. Modern Horizons, Battlebond, etc. are all NOT legal).

Pioneer deck construction rules reflect the standard deck construction rules of most competitive formats:

• Minimum deck size is 60 cards, but must be small enough to be shuffled without assistance in a reasonable and timely manner
• No more than 4 of any card is permitted unless it is a basic land or otherwise ignores this rule (i.e. Persistent Petitioners, Rat Colony, Seven Dwarves)
• Sideboards may be up to 15 cards, but are optional

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Legal Sets:

• Return to Ravnica
• Gatecrash
• Dragon's Maze
• Magic 2014
• Theros
• Born of the Gods
• Journey into Nyx
• Magic 2015
• Khans of Tarkir
• Fate Reforged
• Dragons of Tarkir
• Magic Origins
• Battle for Zendikar
• Oath of the Gatewatch
• Shadows Over Innistrad
• Eldritch Moon
• Kaladesh
• Aether Revolt
• Amonkhet
• Hour of Devastation
• Ixalan
• Rivals of Ixalan
• Dominaria
• Core Set 2019
• Guilds of Ravnica
• Ravnica Allegiance
• War of the Spark
• Core Set 2020
• Throne of Eldraine
• Theros: Beyond Death
• Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths
• Core Set 2021

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Banned List (18 cards)

• Bloodstained Mire
• Felidar Guardian
• Field of the Dead
• Flooded Strand
• Inverter of Truth
• Kethis, the Hidden Hand
• Leyline of Abundance
• Nexus of Fate
• Oath of Nissa
• Oko, Thief of Crowns
• Once Upon a Time
• Polluted Delta
• Smuggler's Copter
• Underworld Breach
• Veil of Summer
• Walking Ballista
• Windswept Heath
• Wooded Foothills

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Banned List History

Banned: 10/21/2019 Announcement

• Bloodstained Mire
• Flooded Strand
• Polluted Delta
• Windswept Heath
• Wooded Foothills

Banned: 11/04/2019 Announcement

• Felidar Guardian
• Leyline of Abundance
• Oath of Nissa

Banned: 11/11/2019 Announcement

• Veil of Summer

Banned: 11/18/2019 Announcement

• No changes

Banned: 11/25/2019 Announcement

• No changes

Banned: 12/02/2019 Announcement

• Field of the Dead
• Once Upon a Time
• Smuggler's Copter

Banned: 12/09/2019 Announcement

• No changes

Banned: 12/16/2019 Announcement

• Nexus of Fate
• Oko, Thief of Crowns

Banned: 12/23/2019

• No annoucement

Banned: 12/30/2019

• No annoucement

Banned: 1/06/2020 Announcement

• No changes

Banned: 1/13/2020 Announcement

• No changes

Banned: 3/09/2020 Announcement

• No changes

Banned: 08/03/2020 Announcement

• Inverter of Truth
• Kethis, the Hidden Hand
• Underworld Breach
• Walking Ballista

Added November 4th, 2019 banned announcement:

• Felidar Guardian
• Leyline of Abundance
• Oath of Nissa

Added November 11th, 2019 banned announcement:

• Veil of Summer

Added November 18th, 2019 banned announcement:

• No changes

Added November 25th, 2019 banned announcement:

• No changes

Added December 2nd, 2019 banned announcement:

• Field of the Dead
• Once Upon a Time
• Smuggler's Copter

Added December 9th, 2019 banned announcement:

• No changes

Added December 16th, 2019 banned announcement:

• Nexus of Fate
• Oko, Thief of Crowns

Added December 23rd and 30th, 2019 banned announcements:

• No announcements

Added January 6th, 2020 banned announcements:

• No changes

*Note: This is the last weekly Pioneer announcement.

Added January 13th, 2020 banned announcements:

• No changes

*Note: Wizards acknowledged the Walking Ballista + Heliod, Sun-Crowned combo, and is going to let it see a few tournaments before responding.

Added March 9th, 2020 banned announcements:

• No changes

*Note: Wizards again acknowledged Heliod Ballista, but also Dimir Inverter, and Lotus Breach decks. Citing middling win rates, keeping an eye, but no changes at this time.

Added August 3rd, 2020 banned announcements:

• Inverter of Truth
• Kethis, the Hidden Hand
• Underworld Breach
• Walking Ballista