Best Upgrades for All Pioneer Challenger Decks

If you’re a Pioneer player, or thinking about getting into the format, then you’ll be happy to hear that Wizards of the Coast is releasing Challenger Decks for Pioneer! We talked about them here, and looked at each of the 4 decklists, but now it’s time to talk about upgrades! Each of the decks are not at full power, so here’s the best upgrades for each Pioneer challenger Deck.

UW Spirits

Here’s the list for the UW Spirits deck. This list has some protection inclusions in Spell Pierce Spell Pierce Counter target noncreature spell unless its controller pays {2}. , Brazen Borrower Brazen Borrower Flash
Flying
This creature can block only creatures with flying. , and Lofty Denial Lofty Denial Counter target spell unless its controller pays {1}. If you control a creature with flying, counter that spell unless its controller pays {4} instead. . These inclusions are honestly fine. If you want to stick with these card choices, the best upgrades here in the mana base.

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Hallowed Fountain Hallowed Fountain ({T}: Add {W} or {U}.)
As this land enters, you may pay 2 life. If you don't, it enters tapped. and Hengegate Pathway Hengegate Pathway {T}: Add {W}. . For sideboard changes, I’d recommend picking up a few Rest in Peace Rest in Peace When this enchantment enters, exile all graveyards.
If a card or token would be put into a graveyard from anywhere, exile it instead. , removing the Remorseful Cleric Remorseful Cleric Flying
Sacrifice this creature: Exile target player's graveyard. , and add a couple more Selfless Spirit Selfless Spirit Flying
Sacrifice this creature: Creatures you control gain indestructible until end of turn. .

Lotus Field Combo

The Lotus Field Combo deck list is actually pretty darn spot on. Once again, the biggest upgrades are going to be in the mana base. A lot of the other decision points are really what you want to pull from your sideboard to win. Truthfully, the cards in the challenger deck are common choices among top contending lists, so I wouldn’t change much here.

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I’d mostly look to pick up Botanical Sanctum Botanical Sanctum This land enters tapped unless you control two or fewer other lands.
{T}: Add {G} or {U}. and Barkchannel Pathway Barkchannel Pathway {T}: Add {G}. in place of some of the basic lands.

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Mono Red Burn

This version of the Mono Red Burn list is honestly just fine. To upgrade to this deck would require adding white, and some other very important pieces in addition to lands.

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One of the best burn spells ever created is Boros Charm Boros Charm Choose one —
• Boros Charm deals 4 damage to target player or planeswalker.
• Permanents you control gain indestructible until end of turn.
• Target creature gains double strike until end of turn. . The difference between 3 and 4 damage might not seem like a lot, but it really helps. Eidolon of the Great Revel Eidolon of the Great Revel Whenever a player casts a spell with mana value 3 or less, this creature deals 2 damage to that player. punishes our opponents for playing cheaper spells, and while we’ll take damage for ours, our damage is usually going up stairs, so we can out race the damage. We’re going to be cutting the Bonecrusher Giant Bonecrusher Giant Whenever this creature becomes the target of a spell, this creature deals 2 damage to that spell's controller. s to be able to play Lurrus of the Dream-Den Lurrus of the Dream-Den Companion — Each permanent card in your starting deck has mana value 2 or less. (If this card is your chosen companion, you may put it into your hand from outside the game for {3} as a sorcery.)
Lifelink
Once during each of your turns, you may cast a permanent spell with mana value 2 or less from your graveyard. . Lurrus gives us a little bit more reach into the late game if the game goes a little longer than we want. Obviously with the addition of these cards we need to add some Red and White dual lands in Sacred Foundry Sacred Foundry ({T}: Add {R} or {W}.)
As this land enters, you may pay 2 life. If you don't, it enters tapped. and Inspiring Vantage Inspiring Vantage This land enters tapped unless you control two or fewer other lands.
{T}: Add {R} or {W}. .

For the sideboard, we get access to cards like Rip Apart Rip Apart Choose one —
• Rip Apart deals 3 damage to target creature or planeswalker.
• Destroy target artifact or enchantment. , Wear // Tear, or Chained to the Rocks Chained to the Rocks Enchant Mountain you control
When this Aura enters, exile target creature an opponent controls until this Aura leaves the battlefield. (That creature returns under its owner's control.) . All of these are very worthwhile inclusions.

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BW Auras

This decklist is pretty close to optimal. The biggest thing yet again is updating the lands to include more duals.

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Land upgrades are Godless Shrine and Brightclimb Pathway, and to round out the sideboard, you’ll want to swap the Duress Duress Target opponent reveals their hand. You choose a noncreature, nonland card from it. That player discards that card. with more Thoughtseize Thoughtseize Target player reveals their hand. You choose a nonland card from it. That player discards that card. You lose 2 life. .

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These decks all come out on October 15th, so if you’re looking to pick up some of these decks, you have plenty of time to stock up on these upgrades and get ready for Store Championships!