Pioneer Dredge

Pioneer* BUG (Sultai) Dredge

Palpopsi

Creature (28)

• 3x Cauldron Familiar
• 4x Emry, Lurker of the Loch
• 2x Haunted Dead
• 4x Merfolk Secretkeeper
• 4x Prized Amalgam
• 4x Satyr Wayfinder
• 3x Scrapheap Scrounger
• 4x Stitcher's Supplier

Land (20)

• 1x Blooming Marsh
• 2x Geier Reach Sanitarium
• 2x Island
• 4x Mana Confluence
• 3x Overgrown Tomb
• 4x Swamp
• 4x Watery Grave

Artifact (8)

• 4x Desecrated Tomb
• 4x Witch's Oven

Sorcery (4)

• 4x Creeping Chill

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Sideboard

Instant (3)

• 2x Back to Nature
• 1x Dimir Charm

Sorcery (2)

• 2x Thoughtseize

Planeswalker (2)

• 2x Ashiok, Dream Render

Artifact (4)

• 3x Damping Sphere
• 1x Tormod's Crypt

Creature (4)

• 1x Bontu the Glorified
• 3x Deathrite Shaman

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About

Based on the modern dredge list and a useful description of another pioneer list from the Masters of Modern podcast(At around 56 minutes, but the whole podcast is worth a listen), this version aims to replicate the a resilient version of the modern dredge deck. Without the namesake mechanic this deck should more accurately be dubbed something like "Cat Tomb" based on the artifacts that give the deck the core of their repeated trigger mechanics.

Not sure what the final variant of this deck will look like but I would expect there is some refinement to go especially with respect to the different numbers of copies for each engine piece

Deck concepts / engines

• Prized Amalgam + Creeping Chill Two of the free cards that we generate from the self mill mechanics, amalgam is triggered by Cauldron Familiar and Scrapheap Scrounger . Previously this list included Narcomoeba, but in order to increase the number of other effects that can put cards into the graveyard it has been cut, as by comparison it gave less value. If this was modern dredge it would absolutely be worth the spot but as this format doesn't have the repeatability of the dredge mechanic and only self mill it doesn't seem as worth it when other cards produce more value
• Cauldron Familiar + Witch's Oven + Emry, Lurker of the Loch is a recursion and long term value package that requires very little mana but can generate lifegain and damage through blockers while gumming up the board and generating returns from the graveyard triggers
• Desecrated Tomb used to gum up the battlefield with annoying fliers, triggered by basically everything and can be retrieved using Emry, Lurker of the Loch

Other Options / Flex spots / Considered Cards

• Corpse Churn / Necrotic Wound / Mausoleum Secrets : instants with less focus on the core strategy although may prove useful
• Ashiok, Dream Render : might be worth main deck inclusion, although for sure worth at least sideboard inclusion
• Satyr Wayfinder /Green releavant cards : Deck may be able to accommodate more colors with a bit of tinkering.
• Tome Scour : played in some modern variants of dredge, Will probably not be used over Merfolk Secretkeeper
• Smuggler's Copter : with a lot of 1 attack creatures, being able to fix your draw can be useful. I do expect this would be an easy card to put on the ban list however, as it was a terror in standard and without a wide range of interactions in pioneer it may be too effective in other aggressive decks
• Perpetual Timepiece : in a slower variant, another artifact to pull back with Emry that also consistently sources self mill and can be used to prevent decking ourselves could be useful. Feels like it could be more of a two copy sideboard card if anything

Sideboard Guide

• Ashiok, Dream Render / Tormod's Crypt / Deathrite Shaman : bring in for specific graveyard match-ups, or against control decks. Gives you an angle to attack opposing graveyards with
• Bontu the Glorified : bring in against decks where a single attacker/ clock is needed and the loop engine wont get the job done
• Damping Sphere : Shuts down devotion decks by turning of nykthos, secondary effect can be useful against phoenix/storm like decks
• Dimir Charm /Thoughtsieze : Attack Strategies that rely on sorcery speed finishers, apply pressure in certain match-ups by blowing out key creatures (such as Young Pyromancer )
• Back to Nature : Blow out the aura decks on an attack, remove Rest in Piece or opposing Leyline of the Void

As always let me know if you give this deck a try, what you think, and if you have any recommendations please comment them

Date added	4 years
Last updated	4 years
Legality	This deck is Pioneer legal.
Rarity (main - side)	4 - 3 Mythic Rares 25 - 3 Rares 14 - 9 Uncommons 11 - 0 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	2.23
Tokens	Bat 1/1 B, Food, Spirit 1/1 W
Folders	Pioneer