Pioneer Tier List
The Gathering creates tier lists for the RCQ and RC formats differently than our other tier lists. While data analysis serves as the basis, competitive Magic: The Gathering player IslandGoSAMe uses that data to create more of a predictive, forward-looking tier list for the RC/Q formats rather than a metagame share analysis, backwards-looking tier list.
S Tier
A Tier
A Consistent Disruptive Midrange Deck: Rakdos Midrange runs cards with looser synergy, each strong on their own. It has returned with a more dedicated approach to disrupting the opposing hand and game plan with minimal bad topdecks compared to other midrange Pioneer decklists.
An Aggressive Explosive Prowess Deck: 16 Prowess/”Prowess” creatures all get a little extra size out of already efficient cheap spells. Monstrous Rage its ilk can’t burn a player directly, but translate to 5+ damage each for one of the fastest possible Pioneer kills. Burn Together(Callous Sell-Sword) with Heartfire Hero offers an explosive combo finish
An Aggressive Explosive Bodies Deck: Spread the aggro with as many “free” creatures as possible. Use Plotted creatures, sagas, and Burning-Tree Emissary to flood the board all at once, pulling as maximum damage out of Atarka’s Command and Reckless Bushwacker. Gruul is more resilient against lifegain and targeted removal than other aggressive builds.
B Tier
Midrange toolbox list that uses its namesake, Enigmatic Incarnation, to tutor powerful creature threats and answers to the board. The list saw a recent resurgence in popularity on the back of a boost from the Overlord cycle printed in Duskmourne. This cycle allows the enigmatic player to cast the overlord for its impending cost, then cheat a much higher CMC creature into play.
A Resilient Stompy Ramp Deck: The word “ramp” doesn’t really describe how much mana this deck can quickly make. Put permanents with green mana symbols onto the battlefield, some of which start the game in play and many of which attack, in devotion to Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx. Untap it, generate huge amounts of mana, draw, and deploy huge creatures.
A Consistent Tempo Aggro Spells Deck: Draw cards, discard cards, and kill creatures with low cost spells while filling the graveyard. Izzet Phoenix is packed full of cantrips and cheap interaction, delve spells to keep cards flowing, and recursive threats that count the number of spells played per turn. Phoenix can always dig up what it needs while applying pressure.
A spin on Selesnya death and taxes style lists, this is a disruptive creature deck. It uses taxing effects such as Thalia or Anointed Peacekeeper to slow opponents down, or exile effects such as Skyclave Apparition to remove threats. The deck often uses elves to ramp to a quick Collected Company on the opponent’s turn to interrupt their gameplan, then close out the game with beats.
C Tier
Description Coming Soon
A 5-Color Pure Midrange Guild Toolbox Deck- Niv-To-Light may look like a mess, but Bring to Light and an 80 card library means an answer for every deck and situation on this Pioneer Tier list. Niv Mizzet Reborn means as many of those cards as possible are exactly two colors, Omnath ends up being a free source of value in a 5-color deck, and Yorion adds consistency to an 80 card deck.
D Tier
A Controlling Kindred Tempo Deck: Flash Spirits plays the game on the opposing turn, granting all of its creatures flash and utilizing timely cheap counterspells. Spirits is all about timing, winning with virtual card advantage and ignoring as many cards as possible. Every creature flies and spells generate value over time, with limited removal once a permanent is in play.
A Consistent Pure Combo Deck: Search up, copy, and untap the namesake Lotus Field to generate absurd amounts of mana. As a true dedicated combo deck, Lotus Field requires a lot of moving pieces to tap Lotus Field many times in one turn and cast a massive threat or Emergent Ultimatum to win the game all at once, as early as turn three.
