Pioneer: Updating Izzet Phoenix - Deck Tech and Sideboard Guide

Pioneer might not be one of the most popular formats nowadays, but ever since its official version came to Arena, it has been, without a question, one of the best formats online. So, today we decided to go over Pioneer's Izzet Phoenix, which I've been playing a lot to get to Mythic in Arena. We'll show you how this elegant strategy works and why it is a great pick.

The current version centers around two strategies to finish the game. The first one includes Arclight Phoenix, an integral part of this deck ever since it was first created. The idea is to put your Phoenixes in your graveyard to take advantage of their ability, which lets you return them to the battlefield at the beginning of combat if you cast three or more instant spells and/or sorceries.

Picklock Prankster and Artist's Talent are the main engines that make this entire strategy work. Prankster fills your graveyard easily and, thus, lets you put your Phoenixes exactly where they need to be. It also recycles resources.

As for Talent, it turns each spell you play into a way to loot. With it, you'll be able to control your strategy a bit better and won't have to worry so much about the Phoenixes in your hand. After all, Talent lets you swap them for another card and put them in play for combat on that same turn.

As you feed your graveyard by looting and casting spells, you'll also pave the way for Treasure Cruise, one of the strongest cards in this deck. It can often change the course of the match thanks to the card advantage it creates.

The cheap cantrips are a way to get to Cruise, but they also trigger Phoenix's ability and progress another very efficient game plan in this list.

Cutter is one of the best red cards in MTG nowadays. It is so remarkable it is the perfect choice for any spellslinger strategy, in fact. Izzet Phoenix's game plan doesn't only rely on the Phoenixes: you can also put multiple Cutters in play to easily mow down your opponent.

With Proft's Eidetic Memory in play, your Trample tokens will become huge as you draw cards. It's an extremely fast way to end the game.

The removals in this list might be a bit limited because it's an Izzet list, but they're efficient enough to deal with most threats in the format. They also cost the right amount of mana for this list and interact with Phoenix and Cutter.

Abrade and Torch the Tower are quite versatile. Lately, I've been preferring them to other options that some versions use precisely because they're so versatile.

As for the manlands, I prefer to mix it up a bit and use more options for different situations. Hall of Storm Giants is another late-game plan if all else goes wrong, whereas Bugbear can be useful before the game goes so far. It will fill your board and works really well with Cutter.

Why Play Izzet Phoenix in Pioneer

Izzet Phoenix has been one of the best decks in Pioneer for a long time, as it is very versatile and very intuitive to learn. Furthermore, its game style often attracts many types of players, and it is also one of the most reliable decks if you have just begun playing Pioneer on Arena or any other platform.

It has survived the test of time in this format and overcome many of its weaknesses with versatility.

Mulligan and Game Style

You can easily keep this hand. Two cantrips are more than enough to get a second land, and these removals will keep the game under control. However, in certain situations, this hand might be unnecessarily risky.

This hand is solid, but it is a bit slow, and you'll have to know exactly what to play and when to win with it. You can start with Bugbear to fit Spirebluff Canal on turn 2 and then play either Talent or Cutter.

The game could go quite differently depending on what you pick and the matchup. If you don't have removals, you'll be a bit vulnerable to threats, but if you don't have cantrips, you might feel tempted to play Prankster earlier than usual and lose an important land drop.

Most of the time, I'd put Talent in play and leave Cutter for the next opportunity. I'd also loot with Phoenix on turn 2, which could find our third land for us. If the match is going well, only use Prankster if you don't have anything else to use. Playing this deck with less than three lands is difficult, so be careful with what you pick.

This hand is quite solid. You can be aggressive early on with Cutter and then build your game plan bit by bit. It's definitely keepable.

This sideboard includes some cards that could easily be in the main deck. Depending on the meta, you can definitely swap them from the side deck to the main deck and vice versa. Brazen Borrower, for instance, is a versatile creature that can deal with multiple cards and put a lot of pressure on the opponent.

Annul is incredible right now because it deals with several popular cards, including potential graveyard hates. Negate, Dispel, and Spell Pierce are extra counters, so use them whenever necessary. Abrade and Brotherhood's End are versatile in similar ways, but Abrade is more important in the mirror.

I really enjoy Lithomantic Barrage because it deals with some very annoying cards pretty well, like The Wandering Emperor and Yorion, Sky Nomad. It also goes over counters and Ward. I've been facing many UWx decks lately, and I feel this card has been critical against them in some moments.

Unlicensed Hearse is also a bit unconventional in Phoenix lists but has become quite useful against graveyard lists and is quite surprising in the mirror.

Vs. Mono-Red Aggro

This matchup is quite complex. Your opponent is often faster and more aggressive, so they'll definitely force you to play defense. But that doesn't mean you can't win.

All you need to do is manage your life points well and get rid of their main threats while you set up your attack. With your cantrips, you can put pressure on them as well and defend yourself at the same time.

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Vs. Rakdos Midrange

This matchup is all about resources. Whoever hoards more resources wins. Your opponent will have to worry a lot more about your resources than you'll have to worry about theirs because Cori-Steel Cutter can be very problematic for Rakdos.

In game 1, go for solid hands and be bold and aggressive. Save your removals for problematic cards, like Graveyard Trespasser, Sheoldred the Apocalypse, and Unholy Annex. If you manage to put a decent amount of pressure on them and remove these threats from the board at the same time, you'll definitely get ahead of them.

In game 2, they should have more disruption and a lot of graveyard hate, but they'll play even more defensively, which could open some space for you to be greedy. For instance, you can try to get two Cutters in play, which will usually destroy your opponent.

You might still struggle with Leyline of the Void, but you can play around it, go over their hate, and win through the "value" race.

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Vs. Orzhov Greasefang

Orzhov Greasefang is the main version of the combo nowadays. I consider this matchup favorable to Phoenix. All you need to do is prevent them from playing their combo and put pressure on them as fast as possible.

Your sideboard will be critical in this matchup. In game 2, you'll need Cori-Steel Cutter to win more than any other card.

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Vs. Azorius Control

This matchup is complex. Your opponent plays many cards that exile yours and can control the board really well. As such, you'll struggle to deal damage to them, and they can also disrupt you considerably with counters.

Post-side, get all your counters and try to be fast, but don't forget you still need a backup plan to interact with your opponent if all else fails. Try to force them to play on their own turn and spend their mana as much as possible.

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Vs. Izzet Phoenix

The mirror is always interesting to watch, and, considering how popular Phoenix is, you must know how to play it. Playing first always puts you ahead in matchups like these, but if you know exactly how to play it, you can definitely catch up to your opponent.

In game 2, you'll need to make some critical changes to deal with their game plan and try to catch them off guard, if possible. Starting with Talent and Cutter is always great, but remember to analyze your opening hand well so you don't get too greedy.

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What do you think? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!