Budget Decks/New Player's Guide

paralistalon

I'm making this as a response to recent complaints that new players can't compete against whales who spent a ton on their decks. I've set about making common/uncommon-only decks and testing them to see if they can be competitive. I'm building these decks from my own collection using the common and uncommon filter. I figure I have most of the commons and uncommons that have already been released, so if I missed anything, it's because I just haven't opened it yet.

Before I start, you need to realize that the starting 5 planeswalkers are outdated. The V2 planeswalkers, which cost 250 crystals each, and the dual-colored planeswalkers, which cost 550 crystals each (except for Kiora), are what you need to be saving for if you want to increase your win-rate.

My first deck is Budget Koth:

Creatures (6)
Volcanic Rambler
Breakneck Rider
Village Messenger
Pilgrim's Eye
Reckless Bushwhacker
Lashweed Lurker

Spells (4)
Sure Strike
Scour from Existence
Inner Struggle
Demolish

I usually feel that 6 creatures is too much, but I couldn't find anything else worth putting in. I literally couldn't find one support in the common/uncommon range that I felt was really worth including. And after I played this deck a couple of times, I didn't mind having so many creatures since Koth's abilities are very creature-centric. Pilgrim's Eye made the cut because it's Koth, and he needs red, so I probably wouldn't put him in any other deck. Volcanic Rambler has been an all-star in every red deck since the game was released. Make sure you play these two creatures first because there's a chance they will start a cascade that will pay for themselves and the rest of your hand.

The other thing that's important is that you have a lot of ways to destroy your opponent's creatures. Their creatures are going to be bigger and badder than yours, so you need ways to take them down. You'll notice I included Scour from Existence and Lashweed Lurker in this deck, both colorless cards. I think these will be auto-includes for all of my budget decks. Scour is a little expensive, but it destroys anything no matter how big. You'll be happy you have one when Olivia comes down on the other side of the board. Lashweed Lurker is my pick for underrated MVP of the set- it has the same function as Harbinger of Tides (temporarily get rid of a creature and get a threat of your own), but you can get rid of a creature even if they have a full hand. Make sure you save these guys fully charged in your hand for when you need them and don't waste that ability!

Sure Strike is also a great spell that is here solely to kill enemy creatures. Don't cast it JUST to do 3 more damage. If the opponent plays a creature with defender or reach- and there are quite a few of them out there- use Sure Strike to kill them in combat so you can save Scour and Inner Struggle for things you NEED to kill to avoid losing the match. Koth's 2nd ability and Breakneck Rider's ability also give your creatures Berserker, save Sure Strike for those times too.

I have stopped playing Demolish in my better decks because I really don't need it to win. But in a deck that's not as strong, you might lose on the spot to a Thopter Spy Network or Hixus. Think of it as insurance. And if you do get to cast it, you can often get a lucky mana cascade out of it.

Alternative Strategies:
I thought of a couple of other directions you could go with this deck. If you have Neglected Heirloom, you could try to do a werewolf deck. You could also go goblin-heavy with Goblin Piledriver, Boggart Brute, and Lavastep Rider and Uncaged Fury, although I think you really need Zada, Hedron Grinder and Goblin Dark-Dwellers (both rares) to make such a deck shine.

Next, I present Budget Gideon Battle-Forged:

Creatures (5)
Serene Steward
Consul's Lieutenant
War Oracle
Lone Rider
Blessed Spirits

Spells (2)
Smite the Monstrous
Scour from Existence

Supports (3)
True-Faith Censer
Knightly Valor
Silver Strike

People are already aware of this type of deck, but it's worth it to point out. The basic plan is to control the game with a large first striker with vigilance, and there are multiple ways to set this up. It's really easy to flip Lone Rider and to beef up your first creature with Serene Steward.

In closing, I know a new player probably won't have a lot of these specific cards, but hopefully they can find appropriate substitutes. Feel free to share other budget decks ideas, especially if you've tested them and found them to be successful. I'm looking forward to trying out a Platinum Nodes event with 5 decks without a single rare or mythic in them and letting you guys know how I did!

Reaganstorme

These would be good additions to the Building on a Budget thread in the Strategy forum.

Mainloop25

I was doing decently well with a Chandra deck that had first strikers, call of the full moon and brawler's plate. Right now I have mercurial Geists with cheap red /color less spells to buff it. It's good for early story mode for sure.

hawkyh1

sarkhan does well with

spells
turn against
altars reap
uncaged fury
grotesque mutation

creatures
fleshbag marauder
akoum stonewaker(not so good with the update)
mockery of nature

support
graf harvest
blighted fen.

encircling fissure is good for white decks.

HH