IntroductionIn 2023, Modern players began combining Evoke with effects that return creatures from the graveyard to the battlefield when they die to reuse their ETBs and keep them on the board. This combination became known as "Scam" and ultimately led to Fury and Grief being banned in Modern. The Evoke mechanic also had to be redesigned, and WotC eventually changed how we use it.Warp theoretically came from this process. The idea was that exiling the creature instead of sacrificing it would prevent players from reusing it as easily. That's true for effects such as Not Dead After All, but then Ephemerate found Quantum Riddler, and this creature became a staple in Modern.Now there's a solid Blink shell in Pioneer: Daydream and Skycoach Conductor complement Essence Flux. While there are no equivalents to Fury or Grief in this format, Quantum Riddler is available, and the meta is aggressive enough that playing an Exalted Sunborn on the battlefield by turn 2 or 3 is often enough to hold off pressure.The DecklistMain DeckThe main game plan centers around getting Quantum Riddler and Exalted Sunborn onto the battlefield as early as possible. They are a 4/6 and 4/5 with Flying and also do other things, so they're simply too good to pass on. Riddler, in particular, refills your hand, while Sunborn is better positioned against Aggro decks.The first way to put one of these bombs onto the battlefield by turn 3 involves playing Momo, Friendly Flier and Watcher of the Spheres and discounting their costs by on the following turn. Both creatures interact with Blink effects, attack through the air, and put pressure on the opponent.The second way to cheat these cards into play is to "blink" them, pay for Warp, and turn them into new objects that don't have to be exiled at the end of the turn.Daydream is the only one that you can't use as protection, but it makes up for that with a power buff that can make a difference if you're racing against your opponent. Essence Flux only costs one mana, but it also doubles as protection against spot removals.Skycoach Conductor isn't the cheapest Blink effect around, but it adds another body to the battlefield, and you'll discount its cost with your creatures as well. You can also save the spell it prepares for later.As for interaction, alongside some cheap and versatile removals (Get Lost and Erode), you'll also find Clarion Conqueror, a creature you can cast on turn 2 if you follow with a Momo. It's well positioned in the meta, as it shuts down mana dorks, Planeswalkers, Tablet of Discovery, and other permanents.This list doesn't play many basic lands, but it does play a copy of Abandoned Air Temple, which helps you put pressure on longer games. It's a must considering this list doesn't play Empyrean Eagle. Instead, it went for a more "go wide" approach to create and take advantage of better synergies.SideboardMetropolis Reformer is great if your opponent can target you with a spell or play or a combo finisher. It's also very resilient against Aggro, and its life gain gives you a bit more room to breathe and stabilize.Rest in Peace will remain essential for as long as Greasefang, Okiba Boss and Arclight Phoenix remain strong in Pioneer. It can also be useful against some Lessons variants and against Golgari Ygra/Sacrifice.There is no way to interact with the stack in the main deck, so you'll have to add that part of your game plan from the sideboard with a full Dovin's Veto set, the best answer available against Control decks because it can't be countered.Seam Rip will deal with Prowess and can be useful if you need more answers to Sacrifice. If you run into Humans or Spirits on the ranked ladder, it's also an effective answer.Sideboard GuideAbzan GreasefangINOUTIzzet ProwessINOUTMono Red AggroINOUTIzzet LessonsINOUTGolgari MidrangeINOUTAzorius ControlINOUTIzzet PhoenixINOUTFinal WordsThat's all for today!If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!Thank you for reading!
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