The sideboard is an essential part of competitive Magic: the Gathering decks, allowing you to adjust your deck to better handle specific matchups, whether Standard, Pioneer, Modern, etc. In any specific deck archetype in the format, I’ll give you some general advice on sideboarding in Pioneer. I would love to have all kinds of good cards for all the matchups, but the 13-card slot would not suffice.

• Understand Your Deck’s Weaknesses:
  • Identify the weaknesses of your main deck. What types of decks or strategies give you trouble? Sideboarding is an opportunity to shore up these weaknesses.
• Include Hate Cards:
  • Your sideboard should include cards that are effective against common strategies in the format. For example, if aggressive creature decks are prevalent, you might want cards that can handle creatures efficiently.
• Consider Combo Hate:
  • If there are combo decks in the format, include cards in your sideboard that can disrupt or slow down those combos.
• Artifact and Enchantment Removal:
  • Cards that can deal with problematic artifacts or enchantments are valuable in the sideboard. This can be crucial against decks that rely on powerful artifacts or enchantments.
• Graveyard Hate:
  • If graveyard-based strategies are prevalent, consider including cards that can exile or disrupt graveyard interactions.
• Anti-Control Cards:
  • Against control decks, you might want cards that generate card advantage or can counter/control their spells more effectively.
• Evaluate Each Matchup:
  • Have a plan for each common matchup in the format. Know which cards to bring in and which to take out. This often involves removing cards that are less effective in a particular matchup and bringing in more impactful cards.
• Maintain a Balanced Sideboard:
  • Avoid overloading your sideboard with too many situational cards. Having a well-balanced sideboard allows you to adapt to a variety of matchups.
• Test Your Sideboard:
  • Playtesting is crucial for refining your sideboard plan. It helps you understand which cards are most effective in certain matchups and whether adjustments are needed.
• Stay Informed:
  • The metagame can evolve, so regularly check for updates on the Pioneer metagame. This will help you adjust your sideboard to be well-positioned against the decks you’re likely to face.

Remember, the effectiveness of a sideboard plan can depend on the specific metagame you’re playing in. If possible, consult with experienced players, check tournament results particularly, tournament reports, and adapt your sideboard based on the shifting dynamics of the Pioneer format.