Thought this might be reasonable to post here (cross posted in Sultai Delirium thread). I lean a little closer to midrange but this has a lot of CA+removal. So far it's just an idea. I need to pick up a couple Azcanta's to make it a reality. Basically though, I've been playing with Tracker's Instincts a lot in Legacy lately alongside Jace VP and the two combo amazingly well, so I wanted to try taking that sort of shell to Modern. It's a very natural BUG build. I think TI has been overlooked in favor of Collected Company which requires a few more creatures. TI generates similar levels of value (albeit a little slower) but it also requires a lower creature count, and more importantly fuels GY spells. This makes delve+TI very synergistic, which puts you firmly into BUG territory.
Then I got to thinking about this a little more and thought it might be cool to add Azcanta. It also fuels delve if you can get a window to cast it, TI pushes the flip, and the back side both helps a deck be greedy on mana, and digs into even more CA. Most decks I've seen have tried to pair with Snapcaster, but Snapcaster generally wants a higher spell count than Jace does. So I have fewer flashback targets in here, but that's ok because you'll fill your GY with some between TI+Thought Scour+Azcanta. The odds are about 80% to hit on either TI or Azcanta uses, and then Grim Flayer can also come in and give you some triggers. There's also some excellent top deck control going on between Courser, Azcanta, Flayer, and Jace. Finally, you round things out with a few 5 drops that end the game.
So here's the list right now, it's currently 61 to make the numbers work, but I think 61 is better than 60 in this case between the dig and the fact that the 61st card is a land, which you need to make the colors work. It simply improves your chances of hitting anything relevant off either TI or Azcanta and the mana to cast those things.
Has any one thought about a more Plainswalker, Super Friends build?
Here is something I just threw together. I think it is 66 cards. But I'm just spit balling here to see what might be good.
Has any one thought about a more Plainswalker, Super Friends build?
Here is something I just threw together. I think it is 66 cards. But I'm just spit balling here to see what might be good.
Much of the power you'll get from a superfriends build like this is playing your 3 mana walkers on turn 2. I'd try to add in some Birds of Paradise to make that as consistent as possible.
Oath of Nissa would probably be better in this build than Opt. It allows you to search deeper for your walkers, smooths your mana or can search for a land in a pinch.
Without trying to change your shell too much, I might try something like this:
Haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but I'm sure it's great content we could all use, from the BUG master himself so I figured I'd post it here. As I watch, I might try to call out important lines of play and timestamp them below. In the meantime, enjoy!
Haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but I'm sure it's great content we could all use, from the BUG master himself so I figured I'd post it here. As I watch, I might try to call out important lines of play and timestamp them below. In the meantime, enjoy!
I just watched it and enjoyed the video. But one thing I watched him keep doing, is bringing in Ashiok in almost every match, and never used Bitterblossom.
I think I might try this list but making that switch.
Yeah, I'm disappointed we never got to see Bitterblossom take over a game. I've had so many games where this card just completely wrecks when you drop it on turn 2. I've even slammed it against Burn (not really advisable, but sometimes you just gotta do what you gotta do) and have won the race.
Between Bitterblossom, Jace, Goyf and Search, his build has access to a great selection of 2-drops to follow up discard. I'm really interested in testing nearly the exact 75.
I've been playing something pretty similar to the GFab list for a couple weeks now, I'll likely just switch to it entirely, I really liked how it played out on stream. One thing I will note though is that the D&T matchup is nearly an autolose.
I have a very similar take on Gfabs' list that rely's more on the Gumag Angler/Tasigur/Thought scour plan. It functions a lot like GDS but better equipped to handle attrition battles (6 Liliana's) and managing it's life total while loosing some speed and efficiency. That delve creature package makes Sultai go bigger than other GBx decks while being more reliable with card filter and less lands. Mana creatures are good, but so many decks can just ignore them since they are so quick or deal with them efficiently that I don't think they are mandatory for a Midrange deck anymore. I also replaced the usual Snapcaster Mages that is played in every blue deck by some Eternal Witness as they can bring back the important cards such as fatties or planeswalkers while the Snapcaster's could only target cantrips, discard and removal which doesn't feel powerful enough. Scabenging ooze has also not made the cut for me since that card is very matchup dependant and even in the matchups it shines, the 20-21 mana base just can't bring the maximum potential out of the card. Here's the list I've been testing recently :
I'm also playing something based on Gfab's list. I used that as a starting point and then made a few changes. Been playing this build for about a week and a half.
After playing it a bit, I'm finding that Ashiok could go, as could the Scarab God and Kalitas. I wouldn't mind cutting those for another Delve creature like a Hooting Mandrills or perhaps a Rancor, another Bitterblossom, and another Jace, CC. Though the lifegain from Kalitas has come in handy a couple of times. I think I might like swapping the numbers on Angler/Tasigur too.
In the SB I wouldn't mind seeing an Engineered Explosives turn into another Pulse, and Relic should probably be a second Spellbomb. A surgical could be nice too, but I'm not sure what it would be coming in over.
I will say, that Bitterblossom into Jace, into triggers to fuel Goyf/Delve/Azcanta gets real broken real fast.
Played my above list a bit now with the updates. It's working pretty well, though 2 Jace CC is feeling a bit high so I think I've got one more slot to change. I'm considering a Garruk Relentless given that 3 damage is well positioned in the meta again lately.
Slaughter Pact has been my MVP
Edit: Changed my SB a bit too, here's the current list
A bit of backstory first: Ever since I saw Gerard Fabiano's masterpiece of a BUG build back in 2015, I've been addicted to playing BUG midrange/control. With a sad, but hopeful heart, I sold my beloved deck (fully pimped with GURU lands) to fund a business last year, and have been itching to get back into modern ever since. However, my previous list runs a minimum of $1500, and I don't have the cash to buy-in all at once. Which left me in a bit of a dilemma, because everybody knows you "can't play BGx without Tarmogoyf and Liliana of the Veil." So to this I say: challenge accepted.
To be clear, the goal of this deck is to springboard me back into the format while I slowly build the pieces I need, but don't have the immediate budget for, mainly Tarmogoyf, Liliana of the Veil, Misty Rainforest, Verdant Catacombs and Snapcaster Mage. I'd also like to offer an upgrade path to other potential BUG players, knowing that the majority of Magic players don't have a spare $1500 to drop on a deck all at once, but may still want to play a BGx midrange deck because it fits their play style. Taking down a GP or SCG event isn't what we're going for here, but mainly to be reasonably competitive at the FNM level.
With a target budget of ~$500 to start (slightly over), here's what I came up with, and would love everyone's collective feedback. Because $500 isn't quite "budget" I didn't think it belonged in the Budget Forum, but if the mods think this doesn't belong here, that's totally fine with me!
Jace, Vryn's Prodigy/Jace, Telepath Unbound: This is our budget version of Snapcaster Mage, and in many cases, ends up being better than Snap. I usually ran 2-3 in my previous list, because he plays so well with Liliana of the Veil and ends up being a 2 mana walker a large percent of the time. Combined with our discard, we can get Jace to flip pretty easily if we take our opponent's removal. Once we get Jace going, he's also more mana efficient at flashing back spells than Snapcaster Mage, but that's our tradeoff for losing the ability to attack with him.
Tireless Tracker: I have to admit, I was never really sold on this guy when he was released and didn't bother testing him. However, that changed when I went searching for budget midrange cards, and I couldn't be more impressed with this guy. Courser of Kruphix was the first card I tested in this spot, but growing my opponents Tarmogoyfs out of Gurmag Angler range wasn't a fun thought, and he didn't close games fast enough. Tracker on the other hand can get out of control very quickly and draws us cards while we do it.
Jace, Architect of Thought: This is the biggest flex spot in the list currently, and the one I'd be most likely to swap with something else. I like that he locks down Lingering Souls and draws us cards, but he may prove too slow in many matchups, and may be sideboard material.
And speaking of the sideboard, it's a bit of a work in progress until I get back to my old LGS. I've basically given up on the Tron matchup, because beating them was hard enough, even with discard into Goyf. Cards like Baloth and Thragtusk would generally be Kitchen Finks, but again, budget. They do have the upside of getting around Eidelon triggers in the Burn matchup at least. Also, I save my counters for the board, because I've always felt they were more powerful for us in specific matchups, allowing us to disrupt our opponent from multiple angles. But as mainboard options go, Spell Snare and Mana Leak never cut it.
Once I do start slowing upgrading the deck, Liliana of the Veil seems like the first upgrade to increase the power level of the deck. Combined with Jace, she offers us a level of control over the board that we just can't replace without her. Next would be the appropriate fetches and manlands, and lastly, Goyfs + Snaps. Again, would love some thoughts/card suggestions, and the obligatory "don't play BGx without Goyf and Liliana of the Veil" posts from those who didn't read this mess
Running baby jace over snaps makes ancestral recall a lot more appealing, maybe over fact or fiction jace. Its not as versatile, but its easier on mana and 3 cards in a chunk is nice. Just a thought.
A bit of backstory first: Ever since I saw Gerard Fabiano's masterpiece of a BUG build back in 2015, I've been addicted to playing BUG midrange/control. With a sad, but hopeful heart, I sold my beloved deck (fully pimped with GURU lands) to fund a business last year, and have been itching to get back into modern ever since. However, my previous list runs a minimum of $1500, and I don't have the cash to buy-in all at once. Which left me in a bit of a dilemma, because everybody knows you "can't play BGx without Tarmogoyf and Liliana of the Veil." So to this I say: challenge accepted.
To be clear, the goal of this deck is to springboard me back into the format while I slowly build the pieces I need, but don't have the immediate budget for, mainly Tarmogoyf, Liliana of the Veil, Misty Rainforest, Verdant Catacombs and Snapcaster Mage. I'd also like to offer an upgrade path to other potential BUG players, knowing that the majority of Magic players don't have a spare $1500 to drop on a deck all at once, but may still want to play a BGx midrange deck because it fits their play style. Taking down a GP or SCG event isn't what we're going for here, but mainly to be reasonably competitive at the FNM level.
With a target budget of ~$500 to start (slightly over), here's what I came up with, and would love everyone's collective feedback. Because $500 isn't quite "budget" I didn't think it belonged in the Budget Forum, but if the mods think this doesn't belong here, that's totally fine with me!
Jace, Vryn's Prodigy/Jace, Telepath Unbound: This is our budget version of Snapcaster Mage, and in many cases, ends up being better than Snap. I usually ran 2-3 in my previous list, because he plays so well with Liliana of the Veil and ends up being a 2 mana walker a large percent of the time. Combined with our discard, we can get Jace to flip pretty easily if we take our opponent's removal. Once we get Jace going, he's also more mana efficient at flashing back spells than Snapcaster Mage, but that's our tradeoff for losing the ability to attack with him.
Gurmag Angler/Tasigur, the Golden Fang: These are our budget Goyfs, which require a bit of setup, mainly in the form of Thought Scour. With only a single set of Polluted Delta to start, our likelihood of casting them on turn 2 decreases, but it's not impossible. Plus, they're both "Push-Proof" which is something Goyf can't say. They do compete with Jace VP for the yard, but so far it hasn't been that big of an issue. With more testing, 4 may prove too many though.
Tireless Tracker: I have to admit, I was never really sold on this guy when he was released and didn't bother testing him. However, that changed when I went searching for budget midrange cards, and I couldn't be more impressed with this guy. Courser of Kruphix was the first card I tested in this spot, but growing my opponents Tarmogoyfs out of Gurmag Angler range wasn't a fun thought, and he didn't close games fast enough. Tracker on the other hand can get out of control very quickly and draws us cards while we do it.
Jace, Architect of Thought: This is the biggest flex spot in the list currently, and the one I'd be most likely to swap with something else. I like that he locks down Lingering Souls and draws us cards, but he may prove too slow in many matchups, and may be sideboard material.
And speaking of the sideboard, it's a bit of a work in progress until I get back to my old LGS. I've basically given up on the Tron matchup, because beating them was hard enough, even with discard into Goyf. Cards like Baloth and Thragtusk would generally be Kitchen Finks, but again, budget. They do have the upside of getting around Eidelon triggers in the Burn matchup at least. Also, I save my counters for the board, because I've always felt they were more powerful for us in specific matchups, allowing us to disrupt our opponent from multiple angles. But as mainboard options go, Spell Snare and Mana Leak never cut it.
Once I do start slowing upgrading the deck, Liliana of the Veil seems like the first upgrade to increase the power level of the deck. Combined with Jace, she offers us a level of control over the board that we just can't replace without her. Next would be the appropriate fetches and manlands, and lastly, Goyfs + Snaps. Again, would love some thoughts/card suggestions, and the obligatory "don't play BGx without Goyf and Liliana of the Veil" posts from those who didn't read this mess
Quick swaps I would do is :
-1 Jace architect of thought
+1 Nissa Worldwaker
That Nissa impacts the board the turn it comes it, threatens ultimate next turn and uses the GY to generate advantage. Just a grest card for cheap!
Card filter is enormous in Midrange decks, that's the advantage that will get you to find what you need in certain matchups. Plus it's more 1 CMC cantrips to fuel your Delve creatures
Replacing the 4 Tarmogoyfs you'll eventually buy by 4 Grim Flayer is totally acceptable imo. Keep the Delve creatures as well since they aynergize well with Goyf.
-1 Darkslick shores -1 Blooming marsh
+1 Island +1 Twilight Mire
8 fastlands is too much, try replacing 2 of them by 1 basic and 1 filter land. Sultai decks are hard on mana so a nice filter land helps a lot.
-1 Abrupt decay
+1 Dismember
Without liliana of the veil, big creatures will be a pain to deal with. I would add 1 Dismember main board to help with that.
Made some pretty significant changes to the list above, based on combining some of your suggestions with some Redditors as well. The biggest changes were fitting in some Misty Rainforest and Grim Flayer and hardly increasing the budget. Overall, it feels like it's in much better shape.
Hey folks, I've been brewing with Sultai for a bit after buying into the BGx Midrange core, to which I added parts of my UB Fae deck. I saw Fabiano's video and loved it, but I'm personally torn between two directions for this deck. It's the choice between going all out on Grim Flayer or playing Delve threats. The delve creatures are the more resilient threats, but I feel like Grim Flayer is less clunky in terms of GY use and more low to the ground. I also prefer more Snapcasters over Baby Jace. What do you guys think of this list?
So what do people think of the manabase? I've seen two directions you can go with it. Save life with fastlands or be more interactive with Field of Ruins. Field is really good in the current metagame, but so is not taking 7 damage a game from land.
Hey folks, I've been brewing with Sultai for a bit after buying into the BGx Midrange core, to which I added parts of my UB Fae deck. I saw Fabiano's video and loved it, but I'm personally torn between two directions for this deck. It's the choice between going all out on Grim Flayer or playing Delve threats. The delve creatures are the more resilient threats, but I feel like Grim Flayer is less clunky in terms of GY use and more low to the ground. I also prefer more Snapcasters over Baby Jace. What do you guys think of this list?
I'm not a fan of flayer, if you want some trample power I would use a Rancor instead. I also find that he's often too small to trigger consistently.
I want a manabase that is as consistent as possible and allows me to cast my spells on time. The more pain-free, the better. For me, Field of Ruins isn’t where I want to be in a 3 color deck. Straight BG can easily accommodate it, but I wouldn’t run the risk, because our color requirements are too strict.
Then I got to thinking about this a little more and thought it might be cool to add Azcanta. It also fuels delve if you can get a window to cast it, TI pushes the flip, and the back side both helps a deck be greedy on mana, and digs into even more CA. Most decks I've seen have tried to pair with Snapcaster, but Snapcaster generally wants a higher spell count than Jace does. So I have fewer flashback targets in here, but that's ok because you'll fill your GY with some between TI+Thought Scour+Azcanta. The odds are about 80% to hit on either TI or Azcanta uses, and then Grim Flayer can also come in and give you some triggers. There's also some excellent top deck control going on between Courser, Azcanta, Flayer, and Jace. Finally, you round things out with a few 5 drops that end the game.
So here's the list right now, it's currently 61 to make the numbers work, but I think 61 is better than 60 in this case between the dig and the fact that the 61st card is a land, which you need to make the colors work. It simply improves your chances of hitting anything relevant off either TI or Azcanta and the mana to cast those things.
4 Verdant Catacombs
2 Misty Rainforest
2 Polluted Delta
2 Overgrown Tomb
2 Watery Grave
1 Breeding Pool
1 Forest
1 Island
1 Swamp
3 Blooming Marsh
1 Darkslick Shores
1 Dryad Arbor
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Inquisition of Kozilek
3 Thought Scour
2 Thoughtseize
1 Murderous Cut
2 Abrupt Decay
1 Collective Brutality
1 Liliana, the Last Hope
1 Liliana of the Veil
1 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Search for Azcanta
1 Rancor
4 Tracker's Instincts
2 Walking Ballista
4 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
4 Grim Flayer
1 Courser of Kruphix
2 Fulminator Mage
1 Eternal Witness
1 Shriekmaw
1 Ishkanah, Grafwidow
1 The Scarab God
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
1 Gurmag Angler
Yes, but I'm finding it's better to go TI or Azcanta and to not mix the two.
Here is something I just threw together. I think it is 66 cards. But I'm just spit balling here to see what might be good.
2 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
3 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
1 Nissa, Vastwood Seer
3 Liliana of the Veil
1 Liliana, the Last Hope
2 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
2 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
1 Nissa, Steward of Elements
1 Maelstrom Pulse
3 Thoughtseize
2 Abrupt Decay
4 Fatal Push
2 Go for the Throat
2 Countersquall
3 Opt
2 Mana leak
22 lands
Oath of Nissa would probably be better in this build than Opt. It allows you to search deeper for your walkers, smooths your mana or can search for a land in a pinch.
Without trying to change your shell too much, I might try something like this:
4 Birds of Paradise
3 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
//Planeswalkers (12)
2 Liliana of the Veil
2 Liliana, the Last Hope
2 Kiora, the Crashing Wave
2 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
1 Ob Nixilis Reignited
1 Vraska the Unseen
2 Garruk Wildspeaker
2 Abrupt Decay
4 Fatal Push
1 Go for the Throat
1 Dismember
//Sorceries (6)
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
1 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Thoughtseize
3 Oath of Nissa
2 Doubling Season
22 Lands
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=WRDyMlB-_y8
Haven't had a chance to watch it yet, but I'm sure it's great content we could all use, from the BUG master himself so I figured I'd post it here. As I watch, I might try to call out important lines of play and timestamp them below. In the meantime, enjoy!
Here's the list he runs for reference:
3 Blooming Marsh
1 Breeding Pool
3 Darkslick Shores
1 Forest
1 Island
3 Misty Rainforest
1 Overgrown Tomb
2 Polluted Delta
1 Swamp
2 Verdant Catacombs
2 Watery Grave
//Sorcery
4 Serum Visions
3 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Thoughtseize
2 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Thought Scour
3 Fatal Push
2 Abrupt Decay
//Creature
2 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
2 Snapcaster Mage
2 Scavenging Ooze
4 Tarmogoyf
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
2 Gurmag Angler
//Enchantment + Tribal
2 Search for Azcanta
1 Bitterblossom
//Planeswalker
2 Liliana of the Veil
2 Liliana, the Last Hope
//Artifact
2 Engineered Explosives
3 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Dispel
1 Surgical Extraction
2 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Disdainful Stroke
1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
2 Fulminator Mage
2 Thragtusk
I just watched it and enjoyed the video. But one thing I watched him keep doing, is bringing in Ashiok in almost every match, and never used Bitterblossom.
I think I might try this list but making that switch.
Between Bitterblossom, Jace, Goyf and Search, his build has access to a great selection of 2-drops to follow up discard. I'm really interested in testing nearly the exact 75.
Land (21)
2x Blooming Marsh
1x Breeding Pool
2x Darkslick Shores
1x Forest
1x Island
3x Misty Rainforest
1x Overgrown Tomb
3x Polluted Delta
2x Swamp
3x Verdant Catacombs
2x Watery Grave
Artifact (1)
1x Engineered Explosives
Creature (11)
2x Eternal Witness
2x Gurmag Angler
1x Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
4x Tarmogoyf
2x Tasigur, the Golden Fang
Sorcery (11)
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
1x Maelstrom Pulse
4x Serum Visions
2x Thoughtseize
Instant (10)
2x Abrupt Decay
4x Fatal Push
4x Thought Scour
Planeswalker (6)
4x Liliana of the Veil
2x Liliana, the Last Hope
Sideboard (15)
3x Ceremonious Rejection
2x Collective Brutality
1x Damnation
1x Flaying Tendrils
2x Fulminator Mage
1x Golgari Charm
1x Kitchen Finks
2x Nihil Spellbomb
2x Stubborn Denial
BGW - Abzan
Legacy
BG - BG Lands
4 Polluted Delta
3 Verdant Catacombs
1 Misty Rainforest
2 Watery Grave
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Breeding Pool
4 Darkslick Shores
2 Blooming Marsh
1 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Forest
1 Swamp
1 Island
Creatures 12
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
1 The Scarab God
2 Gurmag Angler
1 Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
1 Jace, Cunning Castaway
2 Liliana of the Veil
2 Liliana, the Last Hope
Spells 20
1 Slaughter Pact
2 Opt
2 Fatal Push
2 Thought Scour
2 Serum Visions
2 Thoughtseize
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Abrupt Decay
1 Bitterblossom
2 Search for Azcanta
1 Collective Brutality
1 Maelstrom Pulse
2 Engineered Explosives
3 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Dispel
1 Duress
1 Grafdigger's Cage
1 Nihil Spellbomb
2 Pithing Needle
1 Relic of Progenitus
1 Jace, Architect of Thought
After playing it a bit, I'm finding that Ashiok could go, as could the Scarab God and Kalitas. I wouldn't mind cutting those for another Delve creature like a Hooting Mandrills or perhaps a Rancor, another Bitterblossom, and another Jace, CC. Though the lifegain from Kalitas has come in handy a couple of times. I think I might like swapping the numbers on Angler/Tasigur too.
In the SB I wouldn't mind seeing an Engineered Explosives turn into another Pulse, and Relic should probably be a second Spellbomb. A surgical could be nice too, but I'm not sure what it would be coming in over.
I will say, that Bitterblossom into Jace, into triggers to fuel Goyf/Delve/Azcanta gets real broken real fast.
Slaughter Pact has been my MVP
Edit: Changed my SB a bit too, here's the current list
4 Polluted Delta
3 Verdant Catacombs
1 Misty Rainforest
2 Watery Grave
1 Overgrown Tomb
1 Breeding Pool
4 Darkslick Shores
2 Blooming Marsh
1 Creeping Tar Pit
1 Forest
1 Swamp
1 Island
Creatures 11
4 Tarmogoyf
2 Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
1 Scavenging Ooze
1 Tasigur, the Golden Fang
1 Hooting Mandrills
2 Gurmag Angler
1 Jace, Cunning Castaway
2 Liliana of the Veil
2 Liliana, the Last Hope
1 Garruk Relentless
Spells 21
2 Slaughter Pact
2 Opt
2 Fatal Push
2 Thought Scour
2 Serum Visions
2 Thoughtseize
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Abrupt Decay
1 Bitterblossom
2 Search for Azcanta
1 Collective Brutality
1 Maelstrom Pulse
1 Engineered Explosives
3 Ceremonious Rejection
2 Dispel
1 Duress
1 Surgical Extraction
2 Nihil Spellbomb
1 Pithing Needle
2 Collective Brutality
1 Maelstrom Pulse
To be clear, the goal of this deck is to springboard me back into the format while I slowly build the pieces I need, but don't have the immediate budget for, mainly Tarmogoyf, Liliana of the Veil, Misty Rainforest, Verdant Catacombs and Snapcaster Mage. I'd also like to offer an upgrade path to other potential BUG players, knowing that the majority of Magic players don't have a spare $1500 to drop on a deck all at once, but may still want to play a BGx midrange deck because it fits their play style. Taking down a GP or SCG event isn't what we're going for here, but mainly to be reasonably competitive at the FNM level.
With a target budget of ~$500 to start (slightly over), here's what I came up with, and would love everyone's collective feedback. Because $500 isn't quite "budget" I didn't think it belonged in the Budget Forum, but if the mods think this doesn't belong here, that's totally fine with me!
3x Polluted Delta
3x Misty Rainforest
2x Blooming Marsh
2x Darkslick Shores
1x Breeding Pool
2x Overgrown Tomb
1x Watery Grave
1x Forest
1x Island
2x Swamp
2x Lumbering Falls
2x Hissing Quagmire
Planeswalker (3)
1x Jace, Architect of Thought
1x Liliana, the Last Hope
1x Ashiok, Nightmare Weaver
2x Grim Flayer
1x Gurmag Angler
4x Jace, Vryn's Prodigy
3x Scavenging Ooze
1x Tasigur, the Golden Fang
3x Tireless Tracker
Instant (10)
3x Abrupt Decay
4x Fatal Push
1x Dismember
2x Thought Scour
Sorcery (11)
3x Inquisition of Kozilek
2x Maelstrom Pulse
3x Thoughtseize
3x Serum Visions
3x Disdainful Stroke
1x Dispel
2x Flaying Tendrils
2x Natural State
3x Negate
2x Nihil Spellbomb
2x Obstinate Baloth
Jace, Vryn's Prodigy/Jace, Telepath Unbound: This is our budget version of Snapcaster Mage, and in many cases, ends up being better than Snap. I usually ran 2-3 in my previous list, because he plays so well with Liliana of the Veil and ends up being a 2 mana walker a large percent of the time. Combined with our discard, we can get Jace to flip pretty easily if we take our opponent's removal. Once we get Jace going, he's also more mana efficient at flashing back spells than Snapcaster Mage, but that's our tradeoff for losing the ability to attack with him.
Tireless Tracker: I have to admit, I was never really sold on this guy when he was released and didn't bother testing him. However, that changed when I went searching for budget midrange cards, and I couldn't be more impressed with this guy. Courser of Kruphix was the first card I tested in this spot, but growing my opponents Tarmogoyfs out of Gurmag Angler range wasn't a fun thought, and he didn't close games fast enough. Tracker on the other hand can get out of control very quickly and draws us cards while we do it.
Jace, Architect of Thought: This is the biggest flex spot in the list currently, and the one I'd be most likely to swap with something else. I like that he locks down Lingering Souls and draws us cards, but he may prove too slow in many matchups, and may be sideboard material.
And speaking of the sideboard, it's a bit of a work in progress until I get back to my old LGS. I've basically given up on the Tron matchup, because beating them was hard enough, even with discard into Goyf. Cards like Baloth and Thragtusk would generally be Kitchen Finks, but again, budget. They do have the upside of getting around Eidelon triggers in the Burn matchup at least. Also, I save my counters for the board, because I've always felt they were more powerful for us in specific matchups, allowing us to disrupt our opponent from multiple angles. But as mainboard options go, Spell Snare and Mana Leak never cut it.
Once I do start slowing upgrading the deck, Liliana of the Veil seems like the first upgrade to increase the power level of the deck. Combined with Jace, she offers us a level of control over the board that we just can't replace without her. Next would be the appropriate fetches and manlands, and lastly, Goyfs + Snaps. Again, would love some thoughts/card suggestions, and the obligatory "don't play BGx without Goyf and Liliana of the Veil" posts from those who didn't read this mess
Quick swaps I would do is :
-1 Jace architect of thought
+1 Nissa Worldwaker
That Nissa impacts the board the turn it comes it, threatens ultimate next turn and uses the GY to generate advantage. Just a grest card for cheap!
-2 JVP, -1 Fatal push, -1 Tireless tracker
+4 Serum vision
Card filter is enormous in Midrange decks, that's the advantage that will get you to find what you need in certain matchups. Plus it's more 1 CMC cantrips to fuel your Delve creatures
Replacing the 4 Tarmogoyfs you'll eventually buy by 4 Grim Flayer is totally acceptable imo. Keep the Delve creatures as well since they aynergize well with Goyf.
-1 Darkslick shores -1 Blooming marsh
+1 Island +1 Twilight Mire
8 fastlands is too much, try replacing 2 of them by 1 basic and 1 filter land. Sultai decks are hard on mana so a nice filter land helps a lot.
-1 Abrupt decay
+1 Dismember
Without liliana of the veil, big creatures will be a pain to deal with. I would add 1 Dismember main board to help with that.
Otherwise, the list looks awesome!
BGW - Abzan
Legacy
BG - BG Lands
The list I currently have is as follows:
1x Breeding Pool
1x Creeping Tar Pit
4x Darkslick Shores
2x Forest
1x Island
2x Overgrown Tomb
4x Polluted Delta
1x Swamp
4x Verdant Catacombs
1x Watery Grave
Planeswalker (4)
3x Liliana of the Veil
1x Liliana, the Last Hope
Creature (13)
1x Grim Flayer
1x Gurmag Angler
2x Scavenging Ooze
3x Snapcaster Mage
4x Tarmogoyf
2x Tasigur, the Golden Fang
2x Abrupt Decay
2x Countersquall
4x Fatal Push
1x Go for the Throat
4x Thought Scour
Enchantment (2)
2x Search for Azcanta Flip
Sorcery (7)
4x Inquisition of Kozilek
1x Maelstrom Pulse
2x Thoughtseize
2x Bitterblossom
3x Ceremonious Rejection
2x Collective Brutality
1x Damnation
1x Disdainful Stroke
1x Flaying Tendrils
1x Go for the Throat
2x Spell Pierce
2x Surgical Extraction
I'm not a fan of flayer, if you want some trample power I would use a Rancor instead. I also find that he's often too small to trigger consistently.