Games Haven Monthly $1K Series 2019
14th Dec 2019
Games Haven Paya Lebar
It's the end of the year and what better way to close the year and welcome in the new one than with Magic's newest official format - Pioneer! 38 rugged pioneers braved the (eternal and neverending) rain to try and win our usual treasure chest of cash in the new format. With Wizards moving and shaking the format every week or two with banlist updates by using the world's playerbase as their prime data-generating source, what would this iteration of Pioneer bring? Here's our humble little data sample among the millions.
We'll immediately address the elk in the room - Oko, Thief of Crowns. Not content to dominate Standard until Wizards literally yeeted him out of the format, Oko is proving to be a major headache in Pioneer as well. As with in Standard, T2 Oko puts the player so far ahead that it all but dooms the opponent to play catchup for a significant portion of the game, if not the entire game. The much higher number of 1-drop mana accelerants in the format also all-but-guarantees a T2 Oko as well, a grim prospect and a clear sign of a format-warper. In the context of the current metagame, there are only 2 playable, maindeckable clean answers to T2 Oko, and those are Thoughtseize and Spell Pierce. Those are not good numbers and neither card is an automatic 4-of to begin with, which increases Oko's stock even more.
Will Oko finally be hammered out of Pioneer as he was in Standard? Well, the good news is that we have less than 24 hours before we find out. The bad news is that we might have to add 7 days to that. Either way, it'd be a Christmas Miracle.
The truly good news is that the strength of Oko has not yet dampened enthusiasm for the new format, and we see new strategies take shape every week, both in response to and independently of the banlist updates. For example, even with the Leyline of Abundance ban, we have seen Mono-Green Stompy shift faster than their mana acceleration and now we have a still-fearsome package that churns out monsters like no tomorrow. 6 power on board on Turn 2 is a common sight, and Ghaltas on T4 might be rare but very much in the realm of possibility. Add Surraks into the mix and you might find yourself a bloody footprint in the ground before you know it. The deck is straightforward, but its raw combat power demands that you respect it on the ground. As a bonus, here is some endorsement from the man, the myth, the legend himself, Kelvin Chew:
"Lovestruck Beast is secretly the best creature in Pioneer."
Well, the context of the statement is that his Lovestruck Beast (in a different deck) single-handedly mauled and mangled 7 spirits on its own, but the point is solid. Lovestruck Beast represents the best of the current Mono-Green builds - the creatures are competitively undercosted and have relevant, combat changing abilities. If any of them have drawbacks, like Lovestruck Beast does, the deck is built in such a way that they aren't really drawbacks for majority of the time.
Perhaps as a response to fears that Pioneer would become Midrange: the Gathering, UW Control is looking to assert itself in the nascent Pioneer metagame as the best of the available control variants. Not caring about looking cute with a black or red splash, UW Control is like its Azorius namesake - rigid, unbending and supremely confident in the laws it itself sets down. And in most cases, it does in fact have the Supreme Verdict (get it? get it?). UW Control has found that despite their lack of notorious control all-stars from other formats such as Force of Will, Force of Negation or Cryptic Command, what they have left is sufficient for the format. In the absence of Jace, the Mind Sculptor, Pioneer's version is helmed by none other than Teferi, Hero of Wakanda. Dominaria. Same same lah.
Both Teferis are powerful and extremely relevant in Pioneer for exactly the same reasons they were in their times in Standard. Both generate immediate card advantage with card draw, and also provide virtual card advantage by bouncing troublesome permanents. Three-feri's static ability also ensures that the deck's opponents play according to the UW player's timing and not their own, which is something that can outright cripple some decks from the get-go (cough cough Nexus cough cough). Te-five-ri is a win condition by himself, and the fact that savvy players are cognizant of this already drastically changes how they play, usually to the control player's benefit. Back up both Teferis with a robust tempo-and-counter package and the deck is a solid addition to Pioneer's ranks. It also has the benefit of not being broken enough to warrant any bans (yet).
Izzet Phoenix was our next-most represented deck, and it takes full advantage of the fact that Treasure Cruise is not banned yet. The deck opts for pure, indiscriminate draw power to cycle through 53 cards to find Arclight Phoenixes, and this means that sometimes the deck loses to itself when variance gives its pilot the cold shoulder (have you seen 4 Phoenixes in the bottom third of the deck before?). To mitigate this somewhat, maindeck Things in the Ice are played, although this means that improper sequencing sometimes can trip up an inexperienced pilot. Also, Thing in the Ice has such a long and telegraphed setup time (by Pioneer standards), that it is a very real possibility that before it can awaken, it becomes Elk in the Ice instead.
Mono-Red Aggro was omnipresent as it always is, although the strength of Mono-Green (which is superior on-board) might have hurt its showing somewhat. And Food tokens, those things are brutal. It's almost like eating food actually gains you life in real life or something. Because of this, the unsung hero of the deck is secretly Soul-Scar Mage, who helps cut down all them T2 Steel Leaf Champions down to size and make them fair trades. Mono Red advocating fair magic, who would have thought this day would come?
We also had pepperings of some other archetypes to round out the tables, as one might expect. A bunch of Ensoul Artifact decks twittered around the tables with dangerous-looking scissors, we had a bold attempt of folding Rally the Ancestors and Cauldron Familiar together into a surprise Aristocrats deck and a surprising number of Temur Good Stuff (which if you think about it is just Mono-Green Stompy with extra steps and royal blood).
Shoutouts to the players who played their favourite decks from Standards past (with Pioneer cardpool updates!) as well as their favourite memes, like Mono-Black Devotion, RG Pummeler, Soulflayer, and Mardu Vehicles. Nexus might have been in that sentence as well, but this writer isn't quite sure that it's anyone's favourite meme.
But moving on, at the end of the day, the one who was crowned was none other than the Master Pioneer himself, Kelvin Chew! Do ask him all about his new MVP Lovestruck Beast, if (when) Oko gets banned soon we'll need to look for other cards to spearhead decks.
Top 8 Decklists
1st Place - Kelvin Chew
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Bant Oko Company
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Oko obviously.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Selfless Spirit, as I played against 2 UW Control decks.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Whiffing on Collected Company.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Turning my Clue into a 3/3 Elk.
Theros spoilers have begun! What is your greatest hope for Theros: Beyond Death?
N/A
Ashiok, Elspeth and Oko - whose card would you ban, borrow and buy?
Please don't ban Oko.
Bant Company - Main Deck
4x Botanical Sanctum
3x Breeding Pool
1x Forest
2x Glacial Fortress
4x Hallowed Fountain
4x Sunpetal Grove
4x Temple Garden
4x Deputy of Detention
4x Elvish Mystic
1x Gilded Goose
3x Llanowar Elves
4x Lovestruck Beast // Heart's Desire
4x Selfless Spirit
4x Spell Queller
4x Tireless Tracker
2x Brazen Borrower // Petty Theft
4x Collected Company
4x Oko, Thief of Crowns
Sideboard
3x Baffling End
2x Aether Gust
2x Disdainful Stroke
2x Dovin's Veto
1x Mystical Dispute
1x Vivien, Arkbow Ranger
2x Knight of Autumn
2x Scavenging Ooze
2nd Place - Faizal "FBro" Rosmaruddin
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Simic Devotion
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Oko. Oko is not ok in Pioneer.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Wicked Wolf. There are a lot of creature decks and Wicked Wolf eats them.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Counting devotion.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
T2 Oko.
Theros spoilers have begun! What is your greatest hope for Theros: Beyond Death?
Not to have any bans in Standard.
Ashiok, Elspeth and Oko - whose card would you ban, borrow and buy?
Ban: Oko
Buy: None
Borrow: Oko, Elsepth and Ashiok
Simic Devotion - Main Deck
4x Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx
8x Forest
4x Breeding Pool
4x Botanical Sanctum
2x Yavimaya Coast
1x Castle Garenbrig
3x Llanowar Elves
3x Elvish Mystic
4x Gilded Goose
2x Scavenging Ooze
4x Jadelight Ranger
4x Wicked Wolf
4x Hydroid Krasis
3x Walking Ballista
2x Heart of Kiran
4x Oko, Thief of Crowns
4x Nissa, Who Shakes the World
Sideboard
2x Lifecrafter's Bestiary
2x Aethersphere Harvester
2x Reclamation Sage
4x Negate
2x Aether Gust
3x Lovestruck Beast // Heart's Desire
Top 4 - Yip Zheng Feng
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
UW Spirits
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Curious Obsession. Also Mausoleum Wanderer, the ETB triggered ability allowed me to
hit in through blockers with reach a lot of times.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Settle the Wreckage, opponent didn't expect it.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Land flooding and wrong decisions.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Nil.
Theros spoilers have begun! What is your greatest hope for Theros: Beyond Death?
Revive Mono White Weenies with more anthem effects.
Ashiok, Elspeth and Oko - whose card would you ban, borrow and buy?
Ashiok - ban
Elsepth - buy
Oko - borrow (no money buy)
UW Spirits – Main Deck
4x Glacial Fortress
4x Hallowed Fountain
1x Unclaimed Territory
7x Island
3x Plains
2x Port Town
4x Mausoleum Wanderer
4x Spectral Sailor
2x Brazen Borrower // Petty Theft
4x Rattlechains
4x Supreme Phantom
4x Selfless Spirit
4x Spell Queller
4x Empyrean Eagle
3x Spell Pierce
4x Curious Obsession
2x Teferi, Time Raveler
Sideboard
1x Rest in Peace
2x Remorseful Cleric
2x Declaration in Stone
2x Deafening Silence
2x Pithing Needle
2x Disdainful Stroke
3x Mystical Dispute
1x Settle the Wreckage
Top 4 - Joseph Tan
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Oko Stompy
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Oko... of course.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Steel Leaf Champion. Hard to deal with its clock.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Deck is quite dependent on mana dorks for the explosive starts.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Nexus is back!
Theros spoilers have begun! What is your greatest hope for Theros: Beyond Death?
Nykthos reprint!
Ashiok, Elspeth and Oko - whose card would you ban, borrow and buy?
Don't ban Oko please! Don't care about the rest.
Simic Midrange - Main Deck
4x Breeding Pool
4x Yavimaya Coast
4x Botanical Sanctum
3x Hashep Oasis
6x Forest
4x Elvish Mystic
3x Llanowar Elves
4x Gilded Goose
4x Steel Leaf Champion
4x Lovestruck Beast // Heart's Desire
4x Wicked Wolf
2x Rhonas the Indomitable
2x Ghalta, Primal Hunger
1x Yorvo, Lord of Garenbrig
1x Questing Beast
4x Stubborn Denial
2x Heart of Kiran
4x Oko, Thief of Crowns
Sideboard
2x Scavenging Ooze
3x Aether Gust
1x Heroic Intervention
2x Sleep
2x Thrashing Brontodon
2x Spell Pierce
2x Disdainful Stroke
1x Negate
Top 8 - Derrick Koh
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Simic Ensoul
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Metallic Rebuke.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Metallic Rebuke.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Against Sultai Food hard to beat Wicked Wolf.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Nexus of fate deck, for its very interesting play.
Theros spoilers have begun! What is your greatest hope for Theros: Beyond Death?
Something to kill the cats deck.
Ashiok, Elspeth and Oko - whose card would you ban, borrow and buy?
Ban - none
Buy - Oko
Borrow - Ashiok
Simic Ensoul - Main Deck
4x Darksteel Citadel
4x Yavimaya Coast
4x Botanical Sanctum
2x Forest
2x Mutavault
4x Breeding Pool
4x Ornithopter
4x Stonecoil Serpent
4x Gingerbrute
4x Skilled Reanimator
4x Gilded Goose
2x Metallic Rebuke
4x Ensoul Artifact
4x Springleaf Drum
4x Ghostfire Blade
2x Heart of Kiran
4x Oko, Thief of Crowns
Sideboard
3x Aether Gust
3x Stubborn Denial
2x Display of Dominance
2x Return to Nature
2x Aethersphere Harvester
3x Mystical Dispute
Top 8 - Tee Han Yong
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Mono Red Aggro
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Eidolon of the Great Revel.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Wizard's Lightning, because I drew all 4 against my Nexus opponent.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Couldn't reach land 2 and 3 when I made greedy keeps. (18 land deck)
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Every mono-red deck [I saw] switched to the Experimental Frenzy build, while I just replaced the 4 Copters with 4 Viashino Pyromancers.
Theros spoilers have begun! What is your greatest hope for Theros: Beyond Death?
Hope it's a good set to PACK WAR!
Ashiok, Elspeth and Oko - whose card would you ban, borrow and buy?
Ban OKO
Borrow Elspeth
Buy Ashiok
Mono-Red Aggro - Main Deck
13x Mountain
4x Ramunap Ruins
1x Castle Embereth
4x Bomat Courier
4x Monastery Swiftspear
4x Ghitu Lavarunner
4x Soul-Scar Mage
4x Viashino Pyromancer
3x Eidolon of the Great Revel
3x Hazoret the Fervent
4x Wild Slash
4x Wizard's Lightning
4x Light up the Stage
4x Lightning Strike
Sideboard
4x Lava Coil
2x Smash to Smithereens
4x Searing Blood
2x Goblin Chainwhirler
3x Rampaging Ferocidon
Top 8 - Tay Wenkai
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Izzet Phoenix
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Thing in the Ice. Clear field and go face.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Shock. Clear those mana dorks.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Keeping one land hands.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Nexus deck not having Fog.
Theros spoilers have begun! What is your greatest hope for Theros: Beyond Death?
I dunno.
Ashiok, Elspeth and Oko - whose card would you ban, borrow and buy?
Ban Oko. Maybe buy the other two.
Izzet Phoenix - Main Deck
4x Steam Vents
4x Spirebluff Canal
4x Shivan reef
2x Sulfur Falls
4x Island
2x Mountain
4x Arclight Phoenix
4x Thing in the Ice // Awoken Horror
2x Merchant of the Vale // Haggle
4x Chart a Course
3x Strategic Planning
4x Shock
4x Fiery Temper
3x Lightning Axe
4x Treasure Cruise
4x Opt
4x Izzet Charm
Sideboard
4x Brazen Borrower // Petty Theft
1x Fry
1x Abrade
2x The Royal Scions
1x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1x Ral, Izzet Viceroy
2x Anger of the Gods
3x Mystical Dispute
Top 8 - Randy Yeoh
Top 8 Profile
What deck did you play today?
Mono Red Prowess
What would you say was the best card in your deck, and why?
Soul-Scar Mage. Good for combat tricks.
What card in your deck would you say performed unexpectedly well today, and why?
Mizzium Tank, best replacement for Smuggler's Copter.
What were some of the challenges you faced while piloting this deck?
Not drawing creatures.
Any interesting plays you made or witnessed today at the $1K Series?
Nope.
Theros spoilers have begun! What is your greatest hope for Theros: Beyond Death?
Make mono-red great again!
Ashiok, Elspeth and Oko - whose card would you ban, borrow and buy?
Ban Oko coz cancer.
Mono-Red Prowess - Main Deck
16x Mountain
1x Castle Embereth
1x Ramunap Ruins
4x Soul-Scar Mage
4x Monastery Swiftspear
2x Blistercoil Weird
3x Runaway Steam-Kin
2x Bedlam Reveler
4x Shock
4x Wild Slash
4x Light up the Stage
4x Crash Through
4x Warlord's Fury
4x Expedite
1x Funale of Promise
2x Risk Factor
Sideboard
3x Goblin Chainwhirler
1x Chandra, Torch of Defiance
1x Experimental Frenzy
3x Abrade
1x Rending Volley
1x Hazoret the Fervent
1x Mizzium Tank
1x Roast
1x Redcap Melee
2x Lava Coil
