In this article you’ll find all four Pioneer Challenger decks 2022 and their decklists. We’ll also talk about each of the decks and explain what they’re trying to do. We’ll also point out which are the most valuable cards in each deck, so you’ll know which deck has the best value. At the end, we’ll also answer the question “Which Pioneer Challenger deck 2022 is the best one?”
So, as we have a lot to talk about, we better get right to it!
Dimir Control
Dimir control is your typical… well, control deck. The deck is mostly filled with removal spells, counterspells. This means that with this deck, you’ll try to counter every threat that your opponent plays. If anything slips by, it gets hit by a removal spell. You also have some card advantage spells, such as Dig Through Time, with which you make sure that you wouldn’t run out of cards.
Winning the game isn’t a priority, but an eventuality. The main goal is to disable your opponent’s plan, then start to chip in with Murderous Rider or Torrential Gearhulk. Of course, Shark Typhoon can also get the job done.
Dimir Control – Decklist
| Creatures (4) 2 Murderous Rider 2 Torrential Gearhulk Instants (25) 4 Consider 4 Fatal Push 4 Censor 2 Drown in the Loch 2 Heartless Act 2 Negate 1 Mystical Dispute 3 Sinister Sabotage 3 Dig Through Time Sorceries (2) 2 Extinction Event Planeswalkers (2) 2 Narset, Parter of Veils Enchantment (1) 1 Shark Typhoon | Lands (26) 4 Temple of Deceit 2 Drowned Catacomb 1 Watery Grave 4 Field of Ruin 7 Island 8 Swamp Sideboard (15) 2 Cling to Dust 3 Duress 2 Test of Talents 2 Cry of the Carnarium 2 Go Blank 2 Mystical Dispute 2 Languish |
Valuable Cards in Dimir Control
- Drowned Catacomb (2x)
- Fatal Push (4x)
- Shark Typhoon (1x)
- Torrential Gearhulk (2x)
- Watery Grave (1x)
Gruul Stompy
Grull Stompy is great for players who like smashing opponents with big creatures. The creatures in this deck aren’t that expensive, as the mana curve stops at five, but they are all very efficient for their costs.
Lovestruck Beast is your three mana 5/5, and it also doubles as a spell, as does Bonecrusher Giant. Questing Beast has a ton of text, and it’s all good. On top of the curve is Glorybringer, which is both a creature and a removal spell.
You’ll get to deploy your creatures quickly with the help of two same cards with different names: Elvish Mystic and Llanowar Elves. Hopefully, that will be enough to outpace your opponents.
| Creatures (26) 4 Elvish Mystic 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Scavenging Ooze 4 Bonecrusher Giant 4 Glorybringer 2 Questing Beast 4 Lovestruck Beast Instants (4) 4 Mizzium Mortars Sorceries (3) 3 Abrade Planeswalkers (2) 2 Chandra, Torch of Defiance | Lands (25) 4 Karplusan Forest 1 Stomping Ground 4 Rockfall Vale 7 Mountain 9 Forest Sideboard (15) 4 Flame-Blessed Bolt 3 Rending Volley 1 Abrade 4 Cindervines 3 Shifting Ceratops |
Valuable Cards in Gruul Stompy
- Chandra, Torch of Defiance (1x)
- Questing Beast (2x)
- Stomping Ground (1x)
Orzhov Humans
This deck presents the classic White strategy of using a ton of cheap creatures to overwhelm the opponent. Added to that strategy is a tribal component. All creatures in the deck are Humans, which benefit from the key card in the deck, Thalia’s Lieutenant. Another, albeit weaker payoff is also Rally the Ranks.
So, if you enjoy traditional White decks, you’ll like Orzhov Humans as well. The deck also has a clear upgrade path into mono White Humans. If you decide to go that way, you might be able to trade away some dual lands for cards that you need.
| Creatures (30) 4 Bloodsoaked Champion 4 Dauntless Bodyguard 2 Giant Killer 4 Thraben Inspector 4 Kitesail Freebooter 4 Luminarch Aspirant 4 Thalia’s Lieutenant 4 Thalia, Guardian of Thraben Instants (2) 2 Dire Tactics Sorceries (2) 2 Bloodchief’s Thirst Enchatments (4) 4 Rally the Ranks | Lands (22) 4 Caves of Koilos 4 Concealed Courtyard 1 Godless Shrine 2 Mutavault 4 Unclaimed Territory 4 Secluded Courtyard 3 Plains Sideboard (15) 3 Duress 1 Giant Killer 3 Portable Hole 2 Containment Priest 2 Sungold Sentinel 4 Sunset Revelry |
Valuable Cards in Orzhov Humans
- Mutavault (2x)
- Godless Shrine (1x)
Izzet Phoenix
Izzet Phoenix is named after a key card in the deck, Arclight Phoenix. It’s a shame that there are only two of them in the deck. Nevertheless, that was probably necessary to keep the price of the deck on par with the other three.
The deck plays out a bit like a combo deck. You’re digging through your deck, in order to find the cards you need, and to power up Crackling Drake and Thing in the Ice, and to get Phoenix from your graveyard into play.
One interesting to note here is that the deck contains two copies of a banned card, Expressive Iteration. Wizards make the final decisions on cards included way before product actually gets printed. So when they put this decklist together, Iteration was still legal. Wizards made clear that you can play with this deck in Pioneer – as long as you don’t change any card in the deck. If you do, then Iterations will have to leave your deck.
| Creatures (8) 2 Thing in the Ice 2 Arclight Phoenix 4 Crackling Drake Instants (18) 4 Consider 2 Fiery Impulse 2 Flame-Blessed Bolt 3 Lightning Axe 3 Izzet Charm 4 Opt Sorceries (13) 4 Chart a Course 2 Expressive Iteration 3 Pieces of the Puzzle 4 Treasure Cruise | Lands (21) 2 Sulfur Falls 4 Temple of Epiphany 4 Shivan Reef 1 Steam Vents 6 Island 4 Mountain Sideboard (15) 1 Invasive Surgery 3 Abrade 2 Lava Coil 4 Mystical Dispute 3 Narset, Parter of Veils 2 Sweltering Suns |
Valuable Cards in Izzet Phoenix
- Arclight Phoenix (2x)
- Steam Vents (1x)
- Sulfur Falls (2x)
- Thing in the Ice (2x)
Which Pioneer Challenger Deck 2022 is the Best to Buy?
Well, as usually with question to such question is, it depends. There isn’t one specific deck that would be the best buy for all types of players. That’s why we’ll rank decks based on various criteria, starting with most valuable cards.
Most Valuable Cards
If you’re looking for valuable cards, the two best decks are Izzet Phoenix and Dimir Control. Both have various sought-after cards, as you’ve seen in the previous sections. They are followed by Gruul Stompy, which also holds its own. At the end of the list you’d find Orzhov Humans, which simply don’t have many cards that would be worth a lot.
Best to Play
If you’re looking for which deck would feel best to you for play, here are which deck fits with which play style:
- Dimir Control: control
- Gruul Stompy: go-big aggro
- Orzhov Humans: go-wide aggro
- Izzet Phoenix: combo
However, if you’re looking for the best one based on a win-rate in a random Pioneer tournament, that’s a bit harder to day for sure. Usually with these precon decks, a lot would depend on consistency, and Izzet Phoenix looks like the most consistent one, due to the amount of cheap card draw it has.
Easiest to Upgrade
Izzet Phoenix is a viable deck in Pioneer. The deck is quite easy to upgrade, as you need just a couple of Phoenixes, and you’re good to go. Another option is Orzhov Humans. You can remove the Black color and go for a mono White deck, which will benefit from Brave the Elements. Such deck is also a competitive one in Pioneer.
Conclusion
Anyway, that’s all for today. Let us know which Pioneer Challenger deck 2022 is your favorite in the comment below. If you’re looking for more news about MTG products, you can find all upcoming MTG sets here.
Until next time, have fun, a win a lot of games of Pioneer!