With a slew of unbans announced not long ago in Modern and a handful of large Standard events taking place, Pioneer has gotten a lot less attention recently. However, the format is going through an interesting development, thanks to the rise of an innovative archetype.
The deck in question is none other than Simic Neoform. Neoform decks have existed in Pioneer for a while but have rarely made much noise at all. Over the last three days, though, a unique take on the deck has made the finals of two different Magic Online Pioneer Challenges, while making top four of a Challenge as well.
This deck is everywhere. Recent changes to the archetype seem to have solidified it as a force to be reckoned with. It’s time we give the deck the respect it deserves.
Main Strategy
- Mana Value: 2U
- Rarity: Mythic Rare
- Stats: 5/5
- Card Type: Creature- Eye
- MTG Sets: Duskmourn
- Card Text: As an additional cost to cast this spell, exile six cards from your graveyard. Flying.
At the beginning of each opponent’s upkeep, Manifest Dread. (Look at the top two cards of your library. Put one onto the battlefield face down as a 2/2 creature and the other into your graveyard. Turn it face up any time for its mana cost if it’s a creature card.)
The main goal behind the Simic Neoform deck is a bit different than you might expect. In the past, we’ve seen players try to use Neoform to put enormous haymakers into play, such as Atraxa, Grand Unifier. That is not the case here.
Instead, Neoform is used to convert one of your two-drop creatures into Abhorrent Oculus. Abhorrent Oculus isn’t quite the devastating monster that Atraxa is, but it’s fully capable of taking over the game all the same.
One major benefit to structuring your deck this way is that the “combo” is much easier to set up. Augur of Bolas, Fallaji Archaeologist, and Thundertrap Trainer are all simple cards to play on turn two that dig for Neoform in the process.
Your opponent does have a window to kill your small creatures before you can Neoform them away, but this is still a poor exchange for your opponent. This is because you are now ahead in the resource battle, so long as you hit a noncreature spell off your two-drop.
Once you successfully land one of these two-mana plays and cast Neoform, your opponent will have to contend with Abhorrent Oculus. As a 5/5 flier, this card hits hard and is rather difficult to get off the board. Every turn cycle, you get to Manifest Dread, which quickly takes over the game in its own right.
What’s even more impressive about Abhorrent Oculus as a win condition is that it is easily castable in grindy games, especially if you find Fallaji Archaeologist. As such, you’re free to run four of them, and drawing a copy is not a huge issue.
Recent Improvements
- Mana Value: U
- Rarity: Common
- Card Type: Instant
- MTG Sets: Shadows over Innistrad, Jumpstart, Innistrad Remastered
- Card Text: Exile target creature you control, then return that card to the battlefield under its owner’s control. If it’s a Spirit, put a +1/+1 counter on it.
Part of the reason this deck has been on an absolute tear is that a number of improvements have been made to make this deck’s gameplan more resilient. Previous iterations of this deck featured a high density of cantrips. This makes sense as a starting point. Cantrips are fine cards to hit off of your two-drops, and they help you fuel your graveyard to cast Abhorrent Oculus. So, what’s the problem?
Well, by filling your flex slots with cantrips, you leave yourself a bit vulnerable in matchups where the opponent can answer Abhorrent Oculus. Fatal Push with Revolt enabled, Lightning Axe, Leyline Binding, and Vanishing Verse are all popular removal spells that can get rid of Oculus at instant speed.
Where this version of the archetype takes a step forward is with the presence of lots of protection spells. Essence Flux in particular is amazing. Blinking out Oculus in response to removal is totally fine, but you also have the luxury of exiling one of your two-drops to dig even further for Neoform when applicable.
Stubborn Denial is another nice inclusion. It shines brightest in combo matchups, helping you race fast draws from Lotus Field decks and more. Lastly, there’s Tyvar’s Stand. Tyvar’s Stand lets you navigate past Supreme Verdict easily.
All these protection spells conveniently can be played for one mana. So, casting a two-drop on turn two, then casting Neoform with protection backup on turn three is a line of play available that most decks just won’t be able to beat.
Of course, in the case of Tyvar’s Stand, you’re welcome to invest extra mana and use it as a pump spell. Getting past Demons like Archfiend of the Dross can be essential, and Tyvar’s Stand delivers.
Tools Against Everything
- Mana Value: R
- Rarity: Uncommon
- Stats: 1/2
- Card Type: Creature- Human Monk
- MTG Sets: Khans of Tarkir, Iconic Masters, Time Spiral Remastered, Double Masters 2022, The Brother’s War
- Card Text: Haste. Prowess (Whenever you cast a noncreature spell, this creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn.)
Overall, this deck’s speed combined with its resiliency makes it an incredible choice in Pioneer right now. The reality is, the deck has game against pretty much anything your opponent could throw your way.
Versus midrange decks, Abhorrent Oculus will rule the battlefield so long as you can land it through discard spells. Versus ramp shells and Niv to Light, you can often set up a turn where you have multiple protection spells to back up your Neoform. After all, these decks don’t tend to pressure your life total too much.
Rakdos Prowess has a shot to run you over with a good Monstrous Rage draw, considering you don’t play much removal. Even here, though, Abhorrent Oculus spits out blockers every turn for your opponent to contend with. A single Fading Hope can buy you the time needed to take over the board and turn the corner.
Even uncounterable removal spells such as Lithomantic Barrage don’t work in the face of Essence Flux or Tyvar’s Stand. As things currently stand, cards like Slaughter Games or Unmoored Ego seem like the best tools to try to cheese the matchup. Naming Abhorrent Oculus before your opponent can land one of them will sometimes end the game before it begins.
There’s still room for additional exploration in the Simic Neoform shell, and we expect this deck to expand its format presence in the coming weeks. Make sure you’re prepared, or you’ll be in for a bad time.