While it’s been overshadowed by other news, we’re still technically in the post-release period for Pioneer Masters right now. In fact, the third of its Limited Bonus Sheets just rotated in yesterday. It’s understandable that hype has cooled fairly quickly on this one, it being an Arena-exclusive set. That said, Wizards isn’t letting the fire die out just yet. This weekend, Arena Open: Pioneer Masters will be held on the client. This is a major Limited event based on the titular set, and it offers a substantial cash prize for all worthy challengers.
Arena Open: Pioneer Masters Is This Weekend!
Arena Open: Pioneer Masters is a full-on, two-day competitive event for Magic’s digital client. It will run across this coming weekend, the 11th and 12th of January. To enter, you must be 18 or over. You also need to pay an entry fee of 25,000 Gold, or 5,000 Gems. This is roughly $25 in real money, though typically exact bundles of 5,000 Gems are unavailable for purchase.
Day one (Saturday 11th) will be a Sealed Pioneer Masters event. You can play either Best-of-One or Best-of-Three. You need seven wins for the former, and four for the latter, to win an invitation to day two. There are also Gem rewards on offer, and an Iroas, God of Victory art sleeve for all participants. It’s also worth noting that the recently launched Devotion Bonus Sheet will be in play for the duration of this event.
Day two (Sunday 12th) will be Pioneer Masters Draft, consisting of two drafts in total. Claim three or more wins in the first and you’ll win an invite to the second. From here, landing two or more wins in the second draft will get you the good stuff. Real-money prizes, ranging from $500 for two wins to $2,000 for four wins, are available. Nabbing two or more wins will also get you a weekend invite to the February Qualifier event, which can put you on the path to the Pro Tour.
The structure for this event is fairly complex, so be sure to check out this official article for the full information. Ultimately, though, it’s just a great excuse to play some high-level Magic for some fantastic prizes. If you haven’t played as much Pioneer Masters as you would’ve liked, this could be a great opportunity to correct that.
