Pioneer Masters

Pioneer Masters is a digital-only reprint set that was released on Magic: The Gathering Arena on December 10, 2024. 
==Set details==
Pioneer Masters combines cards from all the sets legal in Pioneer, pulling them together into a single set for both Limited and Constructed play. It is designed to “fill out those remaining archetype gaps” that are not currently in Explorer, while also “being a fun experience on its own”. It brings many cards to MTG Arena for the first time as Wizards of the Coast works towards their goal of parity with competitive Pioneer in tabletop. It was designed as a draftable set featuring 398 cards (278 in the main set , and 120 on the bonus sheets).
Besides in Explorer, the cards of this set are also legal in Timeless, Historic, and Brawl.
===Bonus sheet===
Similar to Shadows over Innistrad Remastered, Pioneer Masters features a bonus sheet. It also features a similar draft structure, with each two weeks featuring a different subset of the cards available for Limited events.
===History===
The set was originally planned for release at the end of 2020 but was pushed back to 2021 for more playtesting. In July 2021, it was put on hold.
It was stated that Wizards of the Coast's schedule didn't have room to focus on growing a unique identity for the Historic format while fully supporting Pioneer at the same time. Some steps toward Pioneer were expected to come as part of Historic's growth, but they paused work toward Pioneer Masters sets.
In August 2021, the release of Jumpstart: Historic Horizons included a selection of cards with digital only mechanics. This addition to the historic format, alongside the December 2021 release of Alchemy: Innistrad whose cards were added to Historic, meant MTG Arena lost its only “true to tabletop” non-rotating format. As the introduction of Pioneer also had been put on hold, the negative feedback forced Wizards of the Coast to quickly announce that they would be searching for an alternative. Although people asked for the return of Pioneer or Pioneer light, Wizards seemed to search for another format. This made the eventual release of Pioneer Masters even more unlikely. 
However, when Explorer was introduced as a format in April 2022, this turned out to be exactly what the people had been asking for a Constructed, non-rotating, “true-to-tabletop” format using all the Pioneer-legal cards available on MTG Arena, with a path towards becoming Pioneer. On Weekly MTG it was stated that Pioneer Masters was still a possibility but wasn't on the schedule for the immediate future. They also said that priorities could shift and that it was more likely to happen if Explorer would take off.
At Gen Con 2023, it was announced that “Tournament Pioneer” would be available on MTG Arena “by the end of 2024”. To facilitate this, the full Khans of Tarkir set would be released in fall 2023, followed by Pioneer Masters at the end of 2024. The set will be designed to fill out the remaining tournament archetypes while also being a fun experience on its own. The December 2024 release date was confirmed at the 2024 Announcement Day.
In October 2024, it was said that once Pioneer Masters was released, Explorer would be renamed to Pioneer on MTG Arena.
==Mechanics==
The Pioneer sets yet to be released on Arena in any form comprised Return to Ravnica block, Theros block, Fate Reforged, Dragons of Tarkir, Magic Origins, Battle for Zendikar block, Magic 2014 and Magic 2015. The mechanics were derived from this selection, though not all were represented as no cards of the mechanic have seen play.
Mechanics that had representation already on Arena included Converge, Devoid, Support, Landfall, Dash, Exploit, Rebound, Formidable, Manifest, Prowess, Delve, Ferocious, Devotion, Heroic, Bestow, Extort, Scavenge, Evolve, Overload, and Battalion.
Mechanics that were new to Arena included Surge, Awaken, Renown, Monstrosity, Fuse, Detain, Cipher, and Bloodrush.
Additional mechanics from other released sets included Afterlife, Adventure, Delirium, Double-faced cards, Exert, Convoke, Embalm, Kicker, Roles, Undergrowth, Ferocious, and Blood.
==Changes in rarity==
Rarity shifts are the major tool R&D has to make significant Limited adjustments for remastered sets. There are cards that have to be included in the set for Constructed reasons that aren't very functional in Limited. Sideboard cards were upshifted to uncommon to make them less present in the set and less likely to flood the late picks in a pack. Meanwhile, Zendikar Rising MDFCs were moved to common to function as a "smoothing mechanic". Two rares were noted to have been appropriate to shift to common.
Note: Sets released exclusively on Magic: The Gathering Arena do not change the legality of cards in Pauper. Cards printed at common for the first time in Pioneer Masters are not legal for play in tabletop - and Magic Online Pauper. 
===Rare to Mythic===
*<c>Assemble the Legion</c>
===Common to Uncommon===
*<c>Aqueous Form</c>
*<c>Aspect of Hydra</c>
*<c>Crypt Incursion</c>
*<c>Hopeful Eidolon</c>
*<c>Triplicate Spirits</c>
*<c>Ubul Sar Gatekeepers</c>
*<c>Zephyr Winder</c>
===Mythic to Rare===
*<c>Ashen Rider</c>
*<c>Chromanticore</c>
*<c>Crush of Tentacles</c>
*<c>Linvala, the Preserver</c>
*<c>Master of Waves</c>
*<c>Medomai the Ageless</c>
*<c>Scourge of Valkas</c>
*<c>Starfield of Nyx</c>
===Rare to Uncommon===
===Uncommon to Common===
===Rare to Common===
*<c>Hero of Iroas</c>
*<c>Dreadbore</c>
==Cycles==
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	 	
Dragonlords 	 	 	 	 	 	
Dragonlords 	Five mythic legendary allied-colored elder dragons from Dragons of Tarkir. 	Five mythic legendary allied-colored elder dragons from Dragons of Tarkir. 	Five mythic legendary allied-colored elder dragons from Dragons of Tarkir. 	Five mythic legendary allied-colored elder dragons from Dragons of Tarkir. 	Five mythic legendary allied-colored elder dragons from Dragons of Tarkir. 	
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mythic Enemy-colored Spells 	 	 	 	 	 	
Mythic Enemy-colored Spells 	Five mythic legendary enemy-colored spells. 	Five mythic legendary enemy-colored spells. 	Five mythic legendary enemy-colored spells. 	Five mythic legendary enemy-colored spells. 	Five mythic legendary enemy-colored spells. 	
Enemy colored creature lands	 	 	 	 	 	
Enemy colored creature lands	Five enemy-color rare lands that can turn into creatures until end of turn, from Battle for Zendikar block. 	Five enemy-color rare lands that can turn into creatures until end of turn, from Battle for Zendikar block. 	Five enemy-color rare lands that can turn into creatures until end of turn, from Battle for Zendikar block. 	Five enemy-color rare lands that can turn into creatures until end of turn, from Battle for Zendikar block. 	Five enemy-color rare lands that can turn into creatures until end of turn, from Battle for Zendikar block. 	
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gate Spells 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gate Spells 	Five uncommon spells that care about Gates from across the Ravnica blocks. 	Five uncommon spells that care about Gates from across the Ravnica blocks. 	Five uncommon spells that care about Gates from across the Ravnica blocks. 	Five uncommon spells that care about Gates from across the Ravnica blocks. 	Five uncommon spells that care about Gates from across the Ravnica blocks. 	
Bestowers 	 	 	 	 	 	
Bestowers 	Five common enchantment creatures with Bestow from Theros block. 	Five common enchantment creatures with Bestow from Theros block. 	Five common enchantment creatures with Bestow from Theros block. 	Five common enchantment creatures with Bestow from Theros block. 	Five common enchantment creatures with Bestow from Theros block. 	
Double-Faced Lands 	 	 	 	 	 	
Double-Faced Lands 	 	 	 	 	 	
Double-Faced Lands 	 	 	 	 	 	
Double-Faced Lands 	 	 	 	 	 	
Double-Faced Lands 	Five uncommon and five common modal double-faced cards from Zendikar Rising each with a tapland on the back side. The commons are all downshifted, and one of the uncommons is downshifted from rare.	Five uncommon and five common modal double-faced cards from Zendikar Rising each with a tapland on the back side. The commons are all downshifted, and one of the uncommons is downshifted from rare.	Five uncommon and five common modal double-faced cards from Zendikar Rising each with a tapland on the back side. The commons are all downshifted, and one of the uncommons is downshifted from rare.	Five uncommon and five common modal double-faced cards from Zendikar Rising each with a tapland on the back side. The commons are all downshifted, and one of the uncommons is downshifted from rare.	Five uncommon and five common modal double-faced cards from Zendikar Rising each with a tapland on the back side. The commons are all downshifted, and one of the uncommons is downshifted from rare.	Five uncommon and five common modal double-faced cards from Zendikar Rising each with a tapland on the back side. The commons are all downshifted, and one of the uncommons is downshifted from rare.
Double-Faced Lands 	 	 	 	 	 	
Cycle name 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Rare gold cards 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Rare gold cards 	Ten rare multicolored spells. 	Ten rare multicolored spells. 	Ten rare multicolored spells. 	Ten rare multicolored spells. 	Ten rare multicolored spells. 	Ten rare multicolored spells. 	Ten rare multicolored spells. 	Ten rare multicolored spells. 	Ten rare multicolored spells. 	Ten rare multicolored spells.
Uncommon gold cards	<c>Thunderclap Wyvern</c> 	<c>Tomebound Lich</c> 	<c>Swift Warkite</c> 	<c>Ghor-Clan Rampager</c> 	<c>Unflinching Courage</c> 	<c>Cartel Aristocrat</c> 	<c>Stormchaser Mage</c> 	<c>Catacomb Sifter</c> 	<c>Tenth District Legionnaire</c> 	<c>Urban Evolution</c>
Uncommon gold cards	Each of these uncommon multicolor spells are of payoffs and general power.	Each of these uncommon multicolor spells are of payoffs and general power.	Each of these uncommon multicolor spells are of payoffs and general power.	Each of these uncommon multicolor spells are of payoffs and general power.	Each of these uncommon multicolor spells are of payoffs and general power.	Each of these uncommon multicolor spells are of payoffs and general power.	Each of these uncommon multicolor spells are of payoffs and general power.	Each of these uncommon multicolor spells are of payoffs and general power.	Each of these uncommon multicolor spells are of payoffs and general power.	Each of these uncommon multicolor spells are of payoffs and general power.
Common gold cards 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Common gold cards 	Each of these common multicolor spells serve as the draft signpost. 	Each of these common multicolor spells serve as the draft signpost. 	Each of these common multicolor spells serve as the draft signpost. 	Each of these common multicolor spells serve as the draft signpost. 	Each of these common multicolor spells serve as the draft signpost. 	Each of these common multicolor spells serve as the draft signpost. 	Each of these common multicolor spells serve as the draft signpost. 	Each of these common multicolor spells serve as the draft signpost. 	Each of these common multicolor spells serve as the draft signpost. 	Each of these common multicolor spells serve as the draft signpost.
Gates 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	 	
Gates 	The ten common nonbasic Gates, reprinted from Return to Ravnica block. 	The ten common nonbasic Gates, reprinted from Return to Ravnica block. 	The ten common nonbasic Gates, reprinted from Return to Ravnica block. 	The ten common nonbasic Gates, reprinted from Return to Ravnica block. 	The ten common nonbasic Gates, reprinted from Return to Ravnica block. 	The ten common nonbasic Gates, reprinted from Return to Ravnica block. 	The ten common nonbasic Gates, reprinted from Return to Ravnica block. 	The ten common nonbasic Gates, reprinted from Return to Ravnica block. 	The ten common nonbasic Gates, reprinted from Return to Ravnica block. 	The ten common nonbasic Gates, reprinted from Return to Ravnica block.
==Cards with new art==
==Trivia==
*The art for is mirrored from .
==References==
Category:Magic Arena sets