Izzet Phoenix Revival with Thing in the Ice for Pioneer

Arclight Phoenix benefits from spells being cast that allow it to return from the graveyard. Cards like Opt, Consider, and Chart a Course help to filter and draw cards, enabling the player to quickly fill their graveyard with spells cast. Treasure Cruise provides a way to draw three cards for a low cost if there are enough cards in the graveyard, fueling the ability to return Arclight Phoenix and providing more spells to trigger its return.

Thing in the Ice serves as a defensive tool that can clear the board by flipping and transforming into a powerful creature. The spells Lightning Axe, Lightning Strike, and Fiery Impulse are cheap removal spells that can help keep the board clear while also providing spells to trigger Thing in the Ice's ability. Once flipped, Crackling Drake can benefit from the spells cast, becoming a strong flying threat.

Crackling Drake's power and toughness rely on the number of instant and sorcery cards in your graveyard. Thirst for Knowledge allows you to draw three cards and discard one, which can help fill the graveyard with spells while also providing card advantage. Chart a Course can also help to draw cards while potentially filling the graveyard, making Crackling Drake a larger threat.

These lands enable a smooth mana base for a blue-red spellslinger deck. They come into play untapped under the right conditions, ensuring that you can cast your spells on time. This consistency allows the deck to function optimally, maximizing the effectiveness of spells and creatures that rely on having the right colors of mana available.

Lightning Axe provides a way to get rid of opposing threats while also filling the graveyard with one additional card for Arclight Phoenix or Crackling Drake. This synergy allows for a tempo playstyle where removing threats with Lightning Axe clears the way for Thing in the Ice to flip and become a large threat, while also enabling Crackling Drake to be a powerful attacker.