Pioneer is a built format that allows expansion games and base sets to switch from Return to Ravnica, with the exception of Pioneer`s ban list. [1] It is legal for Tabletop Magic: The Gathering and Magic Online. MTG Arena did not support Pioneer during the first years of operation, but instead uses Explorer as a bridge while the old maps are added. The name „Modern“ refers to the modern setting of the Magic: The Gathering cards. This is often considered a simple reference to determine whether older maps are legal or not in Modern. Cards from all base sets and regular expansions since Return to Ravnica (including exclusives that only appeared in Welcome Deck 2016 and Welcome Deck 2017) are legal. I`ve heard that the drinking game is similar in Modern and Pioneer, which could be a good place to start. So far, the only ways cards are entered into Pioneer are through standard legal phrases published by Return to Ravnica. There were no complementary or Pioneer-specific products similar to Modern Horizons. It`s a more interesting exercise to think about what`s likely to be delayed or completely omitted from any Explorer reprint.
For example, Deathrite Shaman is legal in Pioneer, but doesn`t see much gameplay due to the lack of salvage lands. Is it a priority for reprinting? If we reach a critical mass of legendary passing effects, will it be added to the reprint list? Peace of mind isn`t on everyone`s radar, but what if a Can`t Stay Away combo deck is created with a new map from The Brothers` War? Standard has a decidedly small pool of cards to draw. This makes it much easier for WotC to balance power levels in the game. Annual turnover means continually investing money in maintaining a legal bridge. While all new cards affect the standard format, only a few change Modern. Explorer is a digital-only format available on MTG Arena that uses the same legality as Pioneer (but with an independent list of blocked cards). It acts as a temporary transition format, so MTG Arena can one day support Pioneer when all the cards are filled. Wizards of the Coast expects it to take „a few years,“ but could speed things up depending on demand. So it`s a superficial look at the format and what we can expect when Explorer goes live – and what we can expect in the coming months. Pioneer has great depth, with nearly 9,000 legal cards in the format, but it will take some time for these cards to be programmed into Arena. In the meantime, we can start laying the foundation for Pioneer`s success based on what we can guarantee it will be on the platform or is already being printed.
Modern and Pioneer are built formats that do not rotate. The regular sets introduced by Return to Ravnica are legal in Pioneer. This new format, introduced in 2019, does not include many cards that distort the performance level of modern decks. Last week, Wizards of the Coast announced changes to the formats currently available at Magic Arena with the introduction of „Explorer,“ „a non-rotating constructed format that uses all legal Pioneer table cards available on MTG Arena.“ From Return to Ravnica, all legal standards put in place up to the current Pioneer set are legal. If you haven`t read the announcement, the crucial point is this: since the advent of Arena, Wizards will introduce a non-rotating format of all standard and formerly standard legal cards, dating only from Ixalan. This format is originally called „Explorer“ and is bundled with maps relevant to Pioneer until it mirrors the Pioneer table format. Notably, they won`t intentionally program all of Pioneer`s cards into Arena – their reasoning is that Vintage doesn`t have „every 2/2 for two“ on Magic Online – but prioritizes cards played in Pioneer. I`m thinking about building a Pioneer deck and I`m curious to see if that would be legal in Modern. I know they have different metas, I`m not sure they use very different lists or prohibition phrases. Overall, the modern format allows cards from the eighth edition and Mirrodin forward, except for the additional sets (with the exception of Modern Horizons and Modern Horizons 2) and control decks.
„Offset cards in Time Spiral (even if they have never been reprinted in a modern frame), Planeswalker decks cards, and buy-a-box promos are considered legal in this format.“ Even if the cards don`t turn, the modern format is still evolving – sometimes very quickly. Modern Horizons 2 (2021), for example, introduced a plethora of new format maps. However, some players claim that it also has homogenized aspects of the game. Although at first glance it may seem that solving indomitable creativity will only give you random creatures or artifacts from your deck, if built correctly, you can make sure that it always brings into play the same powerful permanent elements when dissolved. A big difference between standard and modern MTG formats is the lack of rotation in Modern. While modern decks can be expensive, the lack of rotation means that decks can be played for many years. The exception is when an important card is locked – or the meta changes too much. This deck was updated by Kamigawa: Neon Dynasty: „Colossal Skyturtle has replaced Brazen Borrower as a two-mana interaction that you can also revive with your living ending.“ Read the full Andrea Mengucci deck update to learn how to build this deck. Magic: The Gathering Online. The quirky way to play Magic online is always a fantastic way to go, especially for formats that Magic Arena doesn`t offer.
Magic Online is also generally preferred by experienced gamers, as it mimics paper size almost one for one.
