How do we Fix Pioneer?

Summary

In this discussion video, Doomwake examines the current state of the Pioneer format in Magic: The Gathering, focusing on recent ban list announcements and their impact on the metagame. He reviews the bans of K the Great Creator and Geological Appraiser, the unbanning of Smuggler's Copter, and the rise of Ratos Vampires and Amalia combo decks. Doomwake expresses concerns about the dominance of a few decks and suggests potential bans to increase metagame diversity, including Saurin, Wild Growth Walker, and Treasure Cruise, to foster a healthier and more varied Pioneer environment.

Takeaways

• 🚀 Pioneer format has faced challenges, but there's optimism for improvements.
• 🗓️ A look back at the December 2023 ban list reveals significant changes with K the Great Creator and Geological Appraiser banned, and Smuggler's Copter unbanned.
• 🔮 The ban on K the Great Creator was due to its broad range facilitating complex combos and suppressing other cards.
• 🚫 Geological Appraiser's ban was a response to its turn three combo potential, deemed unhealthy for Pioneer.
• 🛬 Smuggler's Copter's unbanning was met with mixed reactions but has since become a part of the metagame without major disruptions.
• 🏆 The March 11th announcement followed a Pro Tour win by Chainfire Ball and Seth Manfield, highlighting the impact of recent sets on the format.
• 📈 The May 13th announcement noted a continued health in Pioneer, with a rise in Modern Black Waste Knot decks utilizing The Punisher.
• 🔄 June 24th saw no changes to the format, but a close watch on the evolving Amalia combo deck for its negative play experience.
• 📊 Current metagame analysis shows Ratos Vampires, ABS Amalia, and Phoenix as dominant, occupying over 62% of the metagame.
• 🔍 The video suggests potential bans or restrictions on Saurin, Wild Growth Walker, and Treasure Cruise to diversify the metagame and address the dominance of certain decks.

Q & A

What was the main topic of Doomwake's discussion video?

The main topic was the state and health of the Pioneer format in Magic: The Gathering, including a discussion on recent ban list announcements and the current metagame snapshot.

Which cards were banned in the December 2023 ban list announcement?

In the December 2023 ban list announcement, 'Karn Liberated' and 'Geological Appraiser' were banned, while 'Smuggler's Copter' was unbanned.

What was the reasoning behind banning 'Karn Liberated' according to the script?

The script mentions that 'Karn Liberated' was banned because its broad range could facilitate convoluted infinite combos, making the format less approachable with little to no opportunity cost.

How did the unbanning of 'Smuggler's Copter' affect the Pioneer metagame?

According to the script, 'Smuggler's Copter' has been a relatively decent part of the metagame without having a warping effect, being adopted in various aggro decks.

What significant event occurred after the March 11th banned and restricted announcement?

After the March 11th announcement, the Pro Tour happened, which was won by 'Channel Fireball' and Seth Manfield piloting 'Ratos Vampires', marking a significant impact on the metagame.

What was the outcome of the May 13th ban list announcement regarding the health of Pioneer?

The May 13th announcement stated that Pioneer remained in a healthy state, with a diverse metagame and the breakout 'Ratos Vampires' deck continuing to be a significant part of it.

What was the percentage of the metagame share for 'Ratos Vampires' as of the recording date in the script?

As of the recording date, 'Ratos Vampires' had a metagame share of 27.8%.

What decks were dominating the Pioneer metagame according to the script?

The script states that 'Ratos Vampires', 'ABS Amalia', and 'Phoenix' were dominating the metagame, with a combined share of over 62%.

What are the three cards that the script suggests banning to increase metagame diversity?

The script suggests banning 'Saurin, Imperious Blood Lord', 'Wild Growth Walker', and 'Treasure Cruise' to increase metagame diversity.

What is the script's opinion on the current state of the 'Phoenix' deck in Pioneer?

The script suggests that while 'Phoenix' has a strong presence, it offers a lot of interaction points and is not as problematic as other decks like 'Ratos Vampires' or 'Amalia'.

What is the script's view on the impact of 'Ratos Vampires' and 'Amalia' on the Pioneer format?

The script views 'Ratos Vampires' and 'Amalia' as problematic due to their ability to end games quickly and put pressure on the format to force early and frequent interactions.