How to Brew Successfully in a New Format

Throne of Eldraine, Episode 5: A Brewer's Guide to Pioneer

 

Well that was unexpected.  The birth of a new format is a strange and wonderful thing. “Brewer’s paradise” is a phrase that gets thrown around often, and if that doesn’t apply to times like these, when does it ever apply? For a brewing podcast like ours, a completely unexplored format must be a dream come true.

 

The truth is that successful brewing is actually quite difficult when a metagame is completely undefined. We cannot attack a meta from unexpected angles if we ourselves have no idea what to expect.

 

So what should we expect from Pioneer? How do we build decks in this exciting new format? Fear not, you Faithless Brewers, we have you covered!

 

In this special bonus episode, we take a deep dive into the Pioneer card pool. We unpack the mana bases, removal options, the most powerful cards and strategies, and the decks you will need to be prepared for on Day 1 -- everything you need to get brewing and start battling in the queues!

 

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Decklists for this episode can be viewed at FaithlessBrewing.com

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Timestamps

 

2:38 What is Pioneer?

 

5:18 Initial reactions + unpacking the B&R philosophy

 

11:15 Getting to know the card pool: Pioneer and Modern, compared

 

17:00 Understanding Pioneer mana bases: lands and ramp options

 

32:11 Cards that used to be banned in Standard and Modern

 

45:42 Understanding interactive tools in Pioneer: removal, sweepers, counterspells, and hand disruption

 

1:02:16 Understanding the Day 1 metagame: the most powerful strategies in the format

 

1:22 Summary: The Rules of Engagement for Day 1 of Pioneer