Pioneer made a name for itself when it joined the competitive Magic format roster in late 2019. Years of powerful cards made for fun, dynamic gameplay. Old Standard decks that had been collecting dust on players’ shelves suddenly had their time in the spotlight again. Weekly bans made the format constantly interesting until it began to settle into its new identity. But then, something happened.

A global pandemic. Local game stores had difficulty keeping their doors open, and player counts drastically reduced. Many events were unable to fire, even after mask mandates were lifted. A brand-new format, still finding its place in the world of Magic, had failed to pull in enough players to continue to thrive under such conditions. 

Things started to look more hopeful in 2023 and 2024. Two RCQ seasons brought more players to the format, and more excitement. Gameplay constantly felt interesting. The 2024 RCQ had over 1600 players with dozens upon dozens of unique decks. It was the best time to be a competitive Magic player.

Then, 2025 happened. No RCQs for Pioneer were announced 2026 began. No RCQs have been announced as of yet. Many local game stores have stopped supporting the format entirely. The MTGO challenges have significantly fewer players than other formats, and many content creators have begun to shift to Modern, Standard, or even Premodern. Even side events for Pioneer at large tournaments such as SCG CONs have been discontinued. Despite the release of Pioneer Masters on Arena, the format still sees less play than Standard and Brawl.

Something has to change. The format needs recognition again. 

The biggest reason people aren’t playing Pioneer is lack of support. I propose that the organized play team announces a Pioneer RCQ season immediately following rotation in Q1 2027. Standard players who have just experienced a loss of 6 powerful sets will have a place to keep playing their favorite cards.

Pioneer is special, and it always will be. It exists as a special place where Modern players can play their long-forgotten staples of yesteryear, and Standard players can play their favorite cards after they rotate out. Our format doesn’t have to be “dead” as so many have proposed it is. We just need the support of our format’s founder, and we implore you to take action.

If you sign the petition, consider buying a T-shirt to wear to tournaments. Link here: https://bringbackpioneer.creator-spring.com/listing/save-pioneer-petition-t-shirt

All proceeds go toward promoting this petition.