I just went to my first pioneer tournament but I've been playing it for a while. I have a huge love for the ur phoenix archetype. Started playing it in modern all the way to when it was banned, and even a bit after that unsuccessfully.

In pioneer I have tried the stock lists, I have brewed my own. Here are my thoughts on certain cards. I'd love to hear what you think and get your take on my favorite archetype.

Creatures:

First off, [[thing in the ice]] is the best and the worst card in the deck. If he resolves and I have the (instant) spells to flip him, he wins the game almost every time. When he hits 2 counters and gets pushed/returned to hand, he is a huge waste of time.

[[young pyromancer]] is a much easier 2 drop threat. He constantly puts out value, but doesn't often win the game on his own. He is a chump block king and buys us a ton of time to put out phoenixes.

[[brazen borrower]] is fine. I seem to send him on an adventure then never cast him again because my mana is tied up cantripping/filtering. But I like him enough to always keep at least one in my main deck.

[[crackling drake]] often seems bad when I'm dropping him turn 4. He will drop as a 3/4 or a 4/4. But if I untap with him, it isn't uncommon to see him get to double digits. I have gotten one as high as 20 damage which was awesome.

[[bonecrusher giant]] is insane in certain matchups as a destroy target creature and get a 4/3 for 5 mana. And other times he is downright terrible. I keep them in my sideboard because my lgs has a couple decks that are mostly x/2s and the value he provides really gives the advantage I those matchups.

[[arclight phoenix]] is a given. Everyone knows this card is bonkers. You get 2 or 3 hastey 3/2 fliers for 0 mana.

[[Bedlam reveler]] is not worth it. He is bad vs gravehate. He is almost never card advantage. Plus we have treasure cruise which is much better for this deck.

[[baral chief of compliance]] he is actually pretty cool in the deck. He gets minor synergy with izzet charm. If you untap with baral, you can go ham with your looting spells because they all cost 1 mana instead of 2. This allows you to easily cast 3 spells turn 3. That being said, he isn't great but he is really fun to play.

Spells:

[[wild slash]] I hate this card, save yourself 5 bucks and just buy shocks. But I hate shock too. I have completely cut this card from my deck. I haven't found it useful in any matchup, but I also haven't seen a green deck with dorks at my LGS.

[[lightning axe]] this card is pretty good but I don't like discarding cards for it. Sometimes you get to toss a phoenix, but most of the time I find myself throwing out lands. It seems to be necessary because creatures can get pretty big in this format.

[[rapid hybridization]] I really think this should get more consideration. There have been plenty of times where I need to kill an x/6 or a master of the waves, etc. The frog we give them is blocked/flipped by thing, chumped by young pyro tokens, and wiped away by anger of the gods.

[[Finale of promise]] personally, it is my favorite card in the deck. My turn 4 often consists of finale x = 2 hitting izzet charm and chart a course. This allows massive card filtering, sets up an easy treasure cruise next turn, and brings back phoenixes on its own.

[they royal scions]] they have been very good for me as a 1 of. They make thing/drake trample through chump blockers and filter card as you need to. I haven't ultimate them yet, because people need to attack them before I do so. A treasure cruise into royal scion ult is definitely game ending.

And finally, for the love of God, Wotc, can you please print a blue scryish cantrip in the upcoming sets that isn't opt.