IntroductionWizards have had their ups and downs in Pioneer. Their peak was when Ikoria: Lair of Behemoths came out, when Lurrus of the Dream-Den reshaped the format and put decks like Boros Burn (which often played the Soul-Scar Mage, Ghitu Lavarunner and Wizard's Lightning package) in the competitive spotlight. After Lurrus was banned, Wizards got a lot less popular and never recovered.Several Prowess variants replaced it: Mono Red, Gruul, and, the most successful today, Izzet. The basic game plan remained the same: use cheap spells and creatures that work together to take an opponent from 20 life to 0 as fast as possible.Wizards, however, gained new tools in 2026: Gandalf, Goblins' Bane and the newly released Stingcaster Mage. Those additions have prompted players to revisit the strategy, this time in a mono-red build.The DecklistMaindeckThese are the standard 1-drops in Red Aggro and Prowess.Soul-Scar Mage and Monastery Swiftspear will grow quickly as you play your cheap spells and apply pressure early on. Kumano Faces Kakkazan triggers Prowess and puts more pressure on the board over the following turns. It's a common card to side out because many matchups involve creatures that can block it effectively and it's often simply too slow.Pompous Battlemage is worth a try, but besides not being a Wizard, it seems to interact less with the main game plan than Kumano Faces Kakkazan, at least to me.Slickshot Show-Off complements the Prowess package and can easily take over games if you play the right sequence of spells with it. Remember that Plot lets you play it the following turn for free. This can give you room to cast, for example, three spells in the same turn and deal seven combat damage, on top of whatever your other cards deal.Stingcaster Mage is the new addition from Reality Fracture to this archetype. Besides being a Wizard, it essentially represents more gas and reach because of the many cheap spells you'll play in the midgame. It is also one of your most versatile cards after sideboarding.Gandalf, Goblins' Bane is similar to Questing Druid in Gruul Prowess lists. It gives you more resources as the game goes on, and you can play it out and leave it on the battlefield to get even more reach and create even more pressure.The Boltwave and Wizard's Lightning package is essentially the same as the famous Lava Spike and Lightning Bolt pair in this list. Burst Lightning and Monstrous Rage give you more ways to end the game.You'll also get extra value from your lands. Den of the Bugbear and Sokenzan, Crucible of Defiance put more bodies on the battlefield. Mutavault puts pressure as a 2/2 and also interacts with Wizard's Lightning and Gandalf. Ramunap Ruins is an overpriced Shock that, ideally, you won't need.SideboardOne of the main changes I tested was replacing Scorching Shot with Essence Burn to get an instant-speed removal spell for Sheoldred, the Apocalypse, Professor Dellian Fel, Badgermole Cub, and Greasefang, Okiba Boss. It's too versatile to pass on.Abrade is a flexible pick I like to have when Sacrifice and Greasefang are popular. The new Jund builds basically force us to play effective answers to Oni-Cult Anvil.Redcap Melee and Flowstone Infusion will mainly enter play in Red Aggro and Prowess mirrors. They can also come in other matchups when you have enough targets for Flowstone or, in Melee's case, when you need a 1-mana answer to Greasefang.Pyroclasm is great against go-wide Aggro decks such as Selesnya Company and Humans. In those matchups, as well as other Aggro matchups, you'll bring in Screaming Nemesis to stall combat, attack without being blocked, and punish life gain.Tormod's Crypt is your graveyard hate for matchups such as Greasefang and Izzet Phoenix. Soul-Guide Lantern is a good replacement for it, but I consider the zero-mana cost important for a proactive deck like Wizards.Sideboard GuideAbzan GreasefangINOUTIzzet ProwessINOUTGolgari MidrangeINOUTMono White HumansINOUTIzzet CreativityINOUTConclusionWhat do you think? Tells us your thoughts in our comment section below.Thank you for reading, and see you next time!
Reactions
0
0 Comments
Be the first to comment
Nothing here yet.