Not sure if this was discussed here before, but on reddit about 2 months ago, there was an interesting post about $5 Modern decks, some which were semi-competitive especially when you tuned them up with more expensive cards such as fetches and duals.
So what are your thoughts on these decks? Anybody else have any ideas on budget-friendly decks that could get a new Modern player started (bonus points if they are competitive or almost competitive especially if a few cards are added)?
It's also a good idea for a competition with friends to see what's the best decks you can build under $5, $20, $50, $100.
I think the only deck on that list that might be marginally competitive is the mono G infect.
The cheapest actual competitive decks in the format are souls sisters, mono U tron and maybe burn, now that lava spikes and rift bolts aren't a million dollars each.
Soul sisters, mono U tron, elves, burn, all seem playable and pretty cheap. Gifts ungiven also isn't too terrible if you drop the liliana's and replace thoughtsieize with kozilek.
I honestly think the best way to make a budget deck that is competitive is to take a real deck and skimp out on some cards. For example, with Jund, you don't need Thoughtseizes, Inquisition and Duress should work. Yeah, maybe they aren't the same, but they work. Someone just saved themselves $280. The issue is, not every deck can do that, and you have to assess where it is possible. Pull Pods out of Pod? Yeah that doesn't really work. In fact, Pod is so tightly devised that it's hard to pull something out. Maybe Hierarchs if they play them for another mana dork, but you can't replace Kiki or Kitchen Finks.
Midrange or aggro decks are usually the easiest to work with on budgets. A deck like Burn can skimp on running additional colours and simply play Mountains. You can add Deathrites or Bobs at a later time, but this deck is okay being mono red. UWR Midrange loves its Cryptics, but you can play some other counterspell instead. Does it make the deck worse? You bet it does. Does it save you a ton of money? You bet it does.
Here are a list of decks I think you can budget fairly well and work from there:
Tron (but not UW because it needs most of the core to function)
Burn (aka mono red and no fetches)
Gruul Aggro (aka no fetches)
Affinity (aka no manlands)
Storm / Twin (aka no fetches)
Oh, and to the above poster: as much as I like Puresteel Paladin Storm, it's not competitive nor is it anywhere near it. I've played it before, because I enjoy stupid combo decks as much as the next person. I can even post a list from Cockatrice that I've used. But the fact of the matter is, the deck is inconsistent and won't be more than just a fun deck. Maybe you take it to FNM, maybe you top your FNM, but nobody is ever taking that to a GP. It's just not consistent. It sure as hell is fun to blow out your opponent on something like turn 2 or 3 with Paradise Mantle and Grapeshot.
Oh, and to the above poster: as much as I like Puresteel Paladin Storm, it's not competitive nor is it anywhere near it. I've played it before, because I enjoy stupid combo decks as much as the next person. I can even post a list from Cockatrice that I've used. But the fact of the matter is, the deck is inconsistent and won't be more than just a fun deck. Maybe you take it to FNM, maybe you top your FNM, but nobody is ever taking that to a GP. It's just not consistent. It sure as hell is fun to blow out your opponent on something like turn 2 or 3 with Paradise Mantle and Grapeshot.
It's plenty consistent, it's just soft to removal. That can be sided for relatively effectively.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
Slowly breaking.
Any more of this, and Team Troll will be more than just a name.
I honestly think the best way to make a budget deck that is competitive is to take a real deck and skimp out on some cards. For example, with Jund, you don't need Thoughtseizes, Inquisition and Duress should work. Yeah, maybe they aren't the same, but they work.
They actually arguably work better than Thoughtseize anyway. Like, if you fetch into a shock and Thoughtseize someone turn 1, you just knocked away a quarter of your life total, which is a pretty hefty thing compared to taking only 3 if you Inquisition them instead. The amount of life you lose to yourself only increases with additional fetches/shocks, Bob triggers, etc. There comes a point where you're simply hurting yourself too much, and Inquisition instead of Thoughtseize is an excellent way to cut down on that problem a bit.
The real problem with trying to make a budget Jund deck is that you simply can't replicate the raw efficiency its expensive cards provide. Budget Goyf alternatives just aren't the same, and there are no replacements for Bob or Liliana. You can make a decent B/G/x midrange deck on a budget, but it'll bear little resemblance to "Jund" as it's generally conceptualized in the format.
That's why I didn't list Jund. I know you can't replace Jund. The whole idea of Jund is to play the best cards and have the best raw power. There is no replacement for Bob in those colours, and Goyf replacements aren't quite as good. Liliana is also hard to replace. You could put a kill spell, it's only part, you could put a discard, it's only part. She's probably too hard to replace as well. $200 + $320 = more than people are willing to spend on their budget, and that's without the $600 for Goyfs.
Here are a list of decks I think you can budget fairly well and work from there:
Tron (but not UW because it needs most of the core to function)
Burn (aka mono red and no fetches)
Gruul Aggro (aka no fetches)
Affinity (aka no manlands)
Storm / Twin (aka no fetches)
The manlands are not the expensive part of affinity, they will come to 70 at most for the full 8. It's mox and Ravager, which are now 40 and 30 each. They are also difficult to budget around, because they give the deck alot of consistency.
Combo cards are Puresteel Paladin, Retract, Spoils of the Vault and all 6 of the free equipments.
Money cards are Mox Opals and Cavern of Souls.
Mox Opal in particular is insanely expensive. Everyone's expecting it to break with the new legend rule, and as such is rapidly approaching the $40 mark.
That's $160 a playset. I feel if you're willing to get the Opals, you might as well just build Affinity (all of its other staples have received MM reprints at rare).
Whenever anyone asks me about budget Modern decks, I always mention the "big three". That is, Burn, Soul Sisters, and Mono-U Tron. Each can be built for $100-$150 (less than a playset of Mox Opals), each are considered Competitive decks (at least by MTGS), and each have had a lot of practice and modification.
Living End is a pretty dirt cheap AND tournament competitive deck. The only expensive cards are Fulminator Mage and your lands, which can be quite flexible since it runs so many landcycling cards.
Burn is really good in pretty much any format so long as there is enough good burn spells.
Im running soul sisters but havnt had the opportunity to run it in many tournaments yet.
Last Modern event I used it in I went 2-2.
I'm an avid Sisters player and have been since before extended died.
But let me tell you. It's a bad deck. It really is. It puts up results, but only because so many people can afford to play it.
That being said... It's the best budget deck there is. Decked out, it's less than 100, savvy shoppers can do it for under 50 (no marsh flats and mistveil plains, etc.).
If you want a budget deck, look no further. Just don't be disappointed when that $700 jund deck stomps you.
THIS 100X!!! If you don't agree with this then there is no amount of logic that will ever convince you that good, non-oppressive, combos should be allowed. If you don't agree with it then just don't play this game, and you certainly shouldn't feel entitled to make any comment on ban lists ever.
mono black infect is my budget deck of choice. only money cards are the manlands, inquisitions, and the optional Urborg tomb of yawgmoth.
How is MBI? I was pretty close to building it, as all I really needed to get was a set of Inquisition of Kozilek. I was afraid to play it since Melira, Sylvok Outcast is everywhere thanks to Pod.
Though I imagine that a lot of decks just roll over to Phyrexian Crusader. I'm surprised the deck isn't more popular.
So what are your thoughts on these decks? Anybody else have any ideas on budget-friendly decks that could get a new Modern player started (bonus points if they are competitive or almost competitive especially if a few cards are added)?
I just built Soul Sisters and Mono-White Death & Taxes. Was able to trade for most of the cards, and the rest cost me about $50. Which wasn't that painful, considering how expensive Modern can be.
I just finished my Polymorph Tokens deck. Don't know how it fares, but the expensive cards were dual lands and Sorin. I hope to try it out against other decks soon. My R/G aggro is also pretty cheap. I got Goblin Guide and Rancor when they were low and I got the Stomping Grounds for free. (1 in a pack, 2 for birthday and 1 in a trade.) The fact that RTR reprinted shocks was a HUGE helping hand for me, and for many others as well.
MonoBLue Tron is really cheap and insanely powerful for how little it costs.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
In case I didn't tell you, I don't care about your opinion I just want your facts. And not the facts that make you seem smart. I want the ones that are actual facts.
Cockatrice username: Blackcat77
To post a comment, please login or register a new account.
http://www.reddit.com/r/magicTCG/comments/1b6enh/a_list_of_the_modern_decks_under_5_from_the_whats/
The decks were done using TCGPlayer Low prices.
So what are your thoughts on these decks? Anybody else have any ideas on budget-friendly decks that could get a new Modern player started (bonus points if they are competitive or almost competitive especially if a few cards are added)?
It's also a good idea for a competition with friends to see what's the best decks you can build under $5, $20, $50, $100.
The cheapest actual competitive decks in the format are souls sisters, mono U tron and maybe burn, now that lava spikes and rift bolts aren't a million dollars each.
Im running soul sisters but havnt had the opportunity to run it in many tournaments yet.
Last Modern event I used it in I went 2-2.
-Anonymous
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=472528
Any more of this, and Team Troll will be more than just a name.
I know where you post.
Midrange or aggro decks are usually the easiest to work with on budgets. A deck like Burn can skimp on running additional colours and simply play Mountains. You can add Deathrites or Bobs at a later time, but this deck is okay being mono red. UWR Midrange loves its Cryptics, but you can play some other counterspell instead. Does it make the deck worse? You bet it does. Does it save you a ton of money? You bet it does.
Here are a list of decks I think you can budget fairly well and work from there:
Tron (but not UW because it needs most of the core to function)
Burn (aka mono red and no fetches)
Gruul Aggro (aka no fetches)
Affinity (aka no manlands)
Storm / Twin (aka no fetches)
Oh, and to the above poster: as much as I like Puresteel Paladin Storm, it's not competitive nor is it anywhere near it. I've played it before, because I enjoy stupid combo decks as much as the next person. I can even post a list from Cockatrice that I've used. But the fact of the matter is, the deck is inconsistent and won't be more than just a fun deck. Maybe you take it to FNM, maybe you top your FNM, but nobody is ever taking that to a GP. It's just not consistent. It sure as hell is fun to blow out your opponent on something like turn 2 or 3 with Paradise Mantle and Grapeshot.
Grixis Death's Shadow, Jund, UW Tron, Jeskai Control, Storm, Counters Company, Eldrazi Tron, Affinity, Living End, Infect, Merfolk, Dredge, Ad Nauseam, Amulet, Bogles, Eldrazi Tron, Mono U Tron, Lantern, Mardu Pyromancer
It's plenty consistent, it's just soft to removal. That can be sided for relatively effectively.
Any more of this, and Team Troll will be more than just a name.
I know where you post.
They actually arguably work better than Thoughtseize anyway. Like, if you fetch into a shock and Thoughtseize someone turn 1, you just knocked away a quarter of your life total, which is a pretty hefty thing compared to taking only 3 if you Inquisition them instead. The amount of life you lose to yourself only increases with additional fetches/shocks, Bob triggers, etc. There comes a point where you're simply hurting yourself too much, and Inquisition instead of Thoughtseize is an excellent way to cut down on that problem a bit.
The real problem with trying to make a budget Jund deck is that you simply can't replicate the raw efficiency its expensive cards provide. Budget Goyf alternatives just aren't the same, and there are no replacements for Bob or Liliana. You can make a decent B/G/x midrange deck on a budget, but it'll bear little resemblance to "Jund" as it's generally conceptualized in the format.
Grixis Death's Shadow, Jund, UW Tron, Jeskai Control, Storm, Counters Company, Eldrazi Tron, Affinity, Living End, Infect, Merfolk, Dredge, Ad Nauseam, Amulet, Bogles, Eldrazi Tron, Mono U Tron, Lantern, Mardu Pyromancer
The manlands are not the expensive part of affinity, they will come to 70 at most for the full 8. It's mox and Ravager, which are now 40 and 30 each. They are also difficult to budget around, because they give the deck alot of consistency.
what are the main cards on it?
thanks to DNC of Heroes of the Plane Studios for the coolest sig
vintage-WBdark timesBW
legacy-BGRJund-51/60BGR
RBBob Sligh 48/60BR
GRone land belcherRG
URBTES-54/60URB
Fun deck-BBBBKobolds stormBBBB
Combo cards are Puresteel Paladin, Retract, Spoils of the Vault and all 6 of the free equipments.
Money cards are Mox Opals and Cavern of Souls.
Any more of this, and Team Troll will be more than just a name.
I know where you post.
Mox Opal in particular is insanely expensive. Everyone's expecting it to break with the new legend rule, and as such is rapidly approaching the $40 mark.
That's $160 a playset. I feel if you're willing to get the Opals, you might as well just build Affinity (all of its other staples have received MM reprints at rare).
Whenever anyone asks me about budget Modern decks, I always mention the "big three". That is, Burn, Soul Sisters, and Mono-U Tron. Each can be built for $100-$150 (less than a playset of Mox Opals), each are considered Competitive decks (at least by MTGS), and each have had a lot of practice and modification.
GX Tron XG
UR Phoenix RU
GG Freyalise High Tide GG
UR Parun Counterspells RU
BB Yawgmoth Token Storm BB
WB Pestilence BW
Cavern's havn't gone up... but Mox Opals have definitley gone up.
Standard:
RUGDeadeye Combo/Midrange
UGRWBDefender Combo
Modern:
GardgaGeddon
I'm an avid Sisters player and have been since before extended died.
But let me tell you. It's a bad deck. It really is. It puts up results, but only because so many people can afford to play it.
That being said... It's the best budget deck there is. Decked out, it's less than 100, savvy shoppers can do it for under 50 (no marsh flats and mistveil plains, etc.).
If you want a budget deck, look no further. Just don't be disappointed when that $700 jund deck stomps you.
U tron is also very competitive and budget friendly but you HAVE to practice with it. It will win you games if you're good. Otherwise it's really bad.
Currently playing:
GCasual 8-post
R Casual Land Destruction
UBRWG Legacy Dredge
WGB Modern Melira Pod
RUG EDH
How is MBI? I was pretty close to building it, as all I really needed to get was a set of Inquisition of Kozilek. I was afraid to play it since Melira, Sylvok Outcast is everywhere thanks to Pod.
Though I imagine that a lot of decks just roll over to Phyrexian Crusader. I'm surprised the deck isn't more popular.
I just built Soul Sisters and Mono-White Death & Taxes. Was able to trade for most of the cards, and the rest cost me about $50. Which wasn't that painful, considering how expensive Modern can be.
RGGruul Aggro
WSoul Sisters
WBTokens
BUGRRestore Balance
BMono-Black Infect
EDH:
RGWMayael, the Anima
GWURoon of the Hidden Realm
BDrana, Kalastria Bloodchief
Cockatrice username: Blackcat77