So we’re at the end of this year with this piece on Pioneer Masters, slated to release in the fourth quarter of 2024. Alas, the Year of the Jedi will end; much like Luke Skywalker once said in a lost, forgotten, but underrated Star Wars film.
In a galaxy far, far away, though, this is not. Rather, Magic: the Gathering spans potentially millions of universes, hence the multiverse. It is a trying time for the planeswalkers, after battling Phyrexians to death and awaiting another Eldrazi onslaught, we come to this bit of news that quite possibly turns those hulking beasts into little kittens with big eyeballs.
What’s the news? Oh, nothing too crazy: we’re getting a complete set of Pioneer MTG cards released.
What Is Pioneer and Why Are We Getting a Whole Set Release?
Because Wizards of the Coast is cool like that.
Now, we don’t necessarily have to go into too much detail on what Pioneer is, as many of you MTG players may already know, given your monumental skill levels. But for those needing a refresher, here’s the scoop:
Pioneer is one of the many constructed formats within MTG, allowing expansion sets and core sets from as far back as Return to Ravnica. So, in a nutshell… Not all of the possible cards in the MTG catalog — like Legacy or Historic; but definitely not just a few of the recent sets of this past year like Standard. And Pioneer Masters is definitely not as slim as Limited.
Hence, you get some wiggle room and flexibility about what cards you get to work with in building decks — without being inundated with the slew of insanity that exists in the entirety of the Magic: The Gathering universe. Although many players love that freakish sandbox (I’m one of them).
This Will Be Interesting, Because It Will Be the First Time We Get a Set Dedicated to Pioneer
We saw it many times with Commander. And we’ve had quite a few with Modern Masters. In fact, we’re going to be seeing the third set release for Modern Masters this year. Like those sets, we’re going to be seeing classic Pioneer reprints. Obviously, it’s not dramatic enough, and you shouldn’t expect any new cards for Pioneer Masters in particular, but that’s okay.
Because there’s a slight twist or caveat to this last set releasing in the fourth quarter of 2024.
You’re looking at the first time a set like this will only be released on MTG Arena!
Say what? Who? How? Why?
I’m not complaining, mind you. I play Arena plenty. But the last time I heard anything about something remotely associated with what Pioneer was, it was called “Explorer” on that platform.
We’ve had quite a few anthologies on MTG arena dedicated to that, but to hear that this will be an actual set release, essentially billed as “new cards” to draft and obtain packs, kind of ruffles my feathers, but in a good way. I mean, think about it:
It sounds like these reprints for Pioneer Masters will basically be legal in…. Standard? Only for Arena?
Correct me if I’m wrong, people. Just want to be sure I’m in the right framework here. I might be missing it, though, in the sense that this card ‘reprints’ will only be just that, but strictly for Explorer — yet reprints were never exempt from being included in the current Standard format as they’re, well, reprints. Right?
I will, however, let you be the judge of that.
So What Does Pioneer Masters Mean for Arena?
We shall see. Hey, Wizards: let me know if I’m in your wheelhouse, or did I just swing and miss?
What do you guys think? Will Deathrite Shaman fling with some outlaws of Thunder Junction in Standard? Will we see Teferi Time Raveler bump shoulders with Teferi Akosa of Zhalfir?
My God, I’m getting goosebumps just thinking about it.
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