My Pioneer Watch List
Ross Merriam lays out the four cards on his personal Pioneer watch list and explains why all four are threats, not answers.
AuthorRoss Merriam
Ross Merriam has been a fixture on the SCG Tour since 2012 and is one of its most decorated players with over twenty top 8s. He currently serves as the beardliest member of Team BCW and a content creator for StarCityGames.com, focusing on the Modern format as well as Magic fundamentals and theory designed to help you elevate your game.
7 Habits Of Highly Successful Sideboarding
Go beyond the sideboarding guide! Ross Merriam dives into the “why” and “how” behind sideboarding theory.
Did Monday’s B&R Announcement Fix Pioneer?
Ari Lax, Sam Black, and Shaheen Soorani give their takes on this week’s Pioneer bannings!
Rethinking Collected Company In Pioneer
Collected Company is a potent card, but old-school Bant Company isn’t cutting it in Pioneer. Ross Merriam explains why and offers alternatives!
Pioneer Showdown
Corey Baumeister and Ross Merriam battle in Pioneer, and when all seems lost, a special guest tags in!
Why Mono-Black Aggro Is The Best Smuggler’s Copter Deck In Pioneer
Smuggler’s Copter decks are taking over Pioneer, and Mono-Black Aggro rules them all! Ross Merriam breaks down why the Invitational-winning deck is so good and provides an extensive sideboarding guide.
Establishing The Green Triumvirate In Pioneer
Green decks got hit with the first and second banning waves in Pioneer. Is that enough to stop them? Hardly, says Ross Merriam! He highlights the three key builds, their strengths and weaknesses, and how to fight them ahead of the Season Two Invitational!
Introducing Izzet Ensoul: The Most Underrated Deck In Pioneer
Pioneer is a fresh format, full of new and old strategies, competing to establish dominance, and Ross Merriam thinks he may have found the next great deck!
Nykthos, Shrine To Nyx And Devotion Decks In Pioneer
Is it time for one-color-heavy Devotion decks to make a comeback with Pioneer? Ross Merriam thinks so, and he has brews in four colors! (Sorry, white. Maybe next year…)
The Five Pillars Of New Modern
It only took six months for Modern to turn upside down! Ross Merriam redefines the pillars of the format ahead of SCG Atlanta, picking out five core interactions and highlighting a onetime pillar’s downfall.
The Cardinal Rule Of Modern Deck Selection
Ross Merriam swung for Modern’s fences at the last two Opens, but he struck out instead. What happened? He breaks down how things went wrong and lays out the unwritten rule of deck selection you must not break at SCG Regionals!
The Many Flavors Of Urza In Modern
With Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis out of Modern, Urza, Lord High Artificer is ruling the format! But what’s the best way to build around him? Ross Merriam highlights the three key Urza decks to know ahead of SCG Indianapolis!
The 5 Most Overrated Cards In Throne Of Eldraine
Ross Merriam is pulling the emergency brake on the Throne of Eldraine hype train as he lays out his most overrated cards. Which one gets the dreaded Aurelia’s Fury comparison at the very end?
Irencrag Pyromancer Is The Perfect Izzet Build-Around
Izzet fans, take heart! Ross Merriam thinks Standard has its perfect build-around card in Irencrag Pyromancer, and he’s ready to cast cantrips and take names at SCG Philadelphia!