In the fast-evolving landscape of the Pioneer format, finding the right sideboard options can make or break a competitive Magic: The Gathering deck. One card that has been gaining attention for its effectiveness and versatility is Unlicensed Hearse. This unassuming two-mana Vehicle offers potent graveyard hate, critical in a meta filled with decks relying on graveyard interactions for their key strategies.
Beyond just exiling cards from the graveyard, Unlicensed Hearse transforms into a formidable creature, adding both offensive and defensive capabilities to its wielder’s arsenal. Let’s explore why Unlicensed Hearse stands out as an essential sideboard card, providing consistent value and adaptability across various matchups in Pioneer.
1. Effective Graveyard Hate
Unlicensed Hearse excels at disrupting graveyard strategies, which are prevalent in Pioneer. Decks like Izzet Phoenix, Rakdos Arcanist, and other graveyard-centric strategies rely heavily on their graveyard to generate value. Unlicensed Hearse can efficiently exile cards from any graveyard, hindering these decks significantly.
2. Versatility
Unlike some graveyard hate cards that only target specific types of cards (e.g., creature cards), Unlicensed Hearse can exile any two cards from a graveyard. This versatility allows it to disrupt a wider range of strategies, including decks that use non-creature spells from the graveyard.
3. Utility as a Creature
As a Vehicle, Unlicensed Hearse can become a powerful creature. With the crew cost of 2, it can easily be turned into a substantial attacker or blocker, scaling in power and toughness as it exiles more cards. This dual functionality makes it a valuable asset in both offensive and defensive scenarios.
4. Minimal Investment
Unlicensed Hearse requires a relatively low mana investment (2 mana) for its initial deployment and provides continuous value throughout the game. This low cost makes it easy to fit into various sideboard plans without significantly impacting the mana curve or overall strategy.
5. Resilience
Many graveyard hate cards are one-time use, like Tormod’s Crypt or Soul-Guide Lantern, which get sacrificed after use. In contrast, Unlicensed Hearse remains on the battlefield, providing ongoing disruption as long as it’s in play. This makes it more resilient to single-use removal and provides sustained pressure on graveyard-reliant decks.
6. Synergy with Aggressive Strategies
Unlicensed Hearse fits well into aggressive strategies that want to maintain pressure on the opponent while also having an answer to graveyard threats. It can exile problematic cards early in the game and then transition into an aggressive threat itself, complementing the game plan of aggressive decks.
7. Non-Linear Utility
While primarily graveyard hate, Unlicensed Hearse’s ability to turn into a creature means it doesn’t become a dead card in matchups where graveyard strategies aren’t as prominent. It can always be crewed and utilized as a creature, maintaining its utility across various matchups.
Conclusion
Unlicensed Hearse is an excellent sideboard card in the Pioneer format due to its effective graveyard disruption, versatility, low mana cost, resilience, and ability to fit into aggressive strategies. Its ongoing value and adaptability make it a powerful tool against a range of decks, ensuring it remains relevant and impactful throughout the game.