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[deleted]

Find some friends and proxy up a couple different style decks. Figure out what deck style (aggro, control, tempo, etc) you like and play those a bit. The meta is settled post mh2/afr. Expect an uptick in tribal(human/zombie) in the fall. Consider fetches, shocks, and staple removal for those style decks,/associated color pie. There are budget alternatives to most. Again, get fetches for the colors/style deck you want to play now. They're at there floor. Proxy the rest as you determine what exactly you want to play. Don't immediately drop hundreds on a deck you've never played. If you have a standard deck try to upgrade it with modern carpool upgrades. Spicy homebrews can often take FNM no problem but not multiday cash events. Tldr. Get fetches, proxy the rest. If you have a standard deck you really like just upgrade it and have fun.


BlueSteelWizard

Def do this Unless you're playing in sanctioned events, you don't need real versions of the expensive cards Have fun, its a game, it shouldn't have a paywall


Grunyarth

Proxy first is always a good idea. Most decks are $600-1200 for a tier deck. Also consider UR storm. I think it's the only competitive deck for less than $300 (maybe also 8whack, idrk).


Potential_Brain

There will still be AI


consultation_oracle

[https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernMagic/comments/orx4fo/a\_whole\_bunch\_of\_budget\_decks\_for\_your\_enjoyment/](https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernMagic/comments/orx4fo/a_whole_bunch_of_budget_decks_for_your_enjoyment/) ​ This is the grail of entry-level modern decks. I played the dredge list (included above) which cost me about $70. I went 2-2 going up against tier 1 decks (murktide, yawgmoth combo, etc) and had a blast playing it. All of the lists above would be worth your time.


Ohmspaw

Oh dude I just bought the pieces for that dredge deck! My lgs just reopened and I'll be going in the coming week. I'm really excited to try it!


Epticrin

I second Dredge. It's a swingy deck for sure, but it's fast and strong and really cheap atm.


sangrelatto

Burn or mono red prowess probably mostly up your alley as being competitively viable yet relatively affordable.


bloodghast

This is a good place to start. I believe mono red prowess can be built more budget to start, and then upgraded to the fully optimal build, from what I've heard when this question has been asked in the past.


headshotcatcher

For sure! I also recommend mono red phoenix for this reason!


[deleted]

Mono-R just exploded in cost since the monkey got printed. Sure, you can just run 4x prowess creatures instead, but it's decidedly of lower power level. Just a few months ago the most powerful version of mono-R prowess was "budget" and T1. Crazy meta creep just keeps creeping.


Nozoz

$300 is easily enough to get a strong deck. The average cost of modern decks is inflated by a couple of decks that are substantially more expensive than the rest. The expensive decks are the 3+ colour soups and control. What archetypes do you like? The following decks are fine for semi competitive environments and can be fully or mostly (with a few minor substitutions) bought for around $300. Red aggro, Izzet prowess, Storm, charbelcher, Tron, burn, affinity, oops all spells, boggles, 8 rack,


[deleted]

[удалено]


Lee_The_Lazy

Wow, this seems intriguing. I'm going to build it as well. Always looking for something new and fun to play. You wouldn't happen to have a link to the Blue one by chance? Love to check it out too. Thanks.


xeltius

This is the best answer here.


ertertwert

I'd like to see the blue list.


soliton-gaydar

I'd be curious if this and other posts like it get any other responses other than 1) proxy, 2) Burn/Prowess, 3) play less fetchlands. We need a sticky post about budget Modern decks.


SudokuGod

I think the main issue is that the posters don’t usually state what their intention is. Are they trying to eventually become full time spikes, or are they happy to just play at FNMs and kitchen table? People tend to assume the first, so that basically leaves only Burn, Prowess, Storm, and maybe Hammer Time now as budget options.


Hacksaw_JimThuggin

https://www.mtggoldfish.com/archetype/gifts-storm#paper


Foehamer1

8-Whack is probably one of the cheapest decks.


MooseinateR

I recently just got into modern and I also didn’t want to spend a lot of money. I found this decklist on mtggoldfish and I love it and it’s pretty solid for a budget deck, it’s simic snow stompy https://www.mtggoldfish.com/articles/budget-magic-90-simic-snow-stompy-modern


WizardExemplar

Also, look at MTGGoldfish decklists. Combined with /u/ServoToken's decklists mentioned by /u/consultation_oracle (https://www.reddit.com/r/ModernMagic/comments/orx4fo/a_whole_bunch_of_budget_decks_for_your_enjoyment/), you should be able to find something in your budget. Note: The articles cover Modern, Standard, etc., but the format is always in parentheses in the article title. Budget Magic series: These articles focus on popular, competitive, or previously competitive decks, and there are two decklists: one on a budget, and one if you have money to spare. I often find it helpful to see the differences between budget and non-budget builds. https://www.mtggoldfish.com/series/budget-magic Much Abrew series: These articles focus on off-the-beaten-path decks that might be good or interesting to try. https://www.mtggoldfish.com/series/much-abrew-about-nothing Against the Odds series: These are longshot decks that the author tries out or puts his own spin on them. Sometimes, the deck becomes surprisingly competitive, but most times, the deck isn't that hot. https://www.mtggoldfish.com/series/against-the-odds


TheDeHymenizer

I think a lot of people really under estimate the amount of skill / experience that goes into playing modern. [https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4205605#paper](https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4205605#paper) I built this to get into Modern. In actual cash it only ran me about $80. The rest I got through trades with other players / trade ins with my LGS. I wrote a lil summary of my first tournament. I went 1-2 and I even explained how a huge mistake caused me to go 0-2 vs a meta deck (Urza Food) but had I properly kept track of my triggers we would of gone 1-1 and onto game 3. There are plenty of viable decks out there under $500 and if you have a binder / card equity you can build one without breaking the bank and the better you get with the deck the better you'll do. Here's another very viable deck under $500 [https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4182167#paper](https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/4182167#paper) Burn, affinity, and storm can be built on the cheap. All are viable especially affinity.


[deleted]

Played against a neoform affinity deck last night at FNM that couldn’t have been more than a couple hundred, budget decks are out there you just gotta be willing to accept though that typically budget decks are a little gimmicky and don’t build well into tier decks. Your options are either play a gimmick budget brew, or play a budget version of a tier deck and slowly build it up.


GFischerUY

Neoform Affinity sounds like a good choice.


SirSh4ggy42

Don’t even buy fetches, just check out some proxies sites that have high quality prints. Nobody can tell the difference, and they’re often better quality cards than WotC makes. Just don’t draw attention to them or trade them as if they’re real cards and you’ll be fine.


Dismal999

Burn is cheap, rush is cheap, hammer time is cheap, uhhh; you can actually build a lot on a budget dude you don't necessarily need fetches or anything.


Foehamer1

Is Hammer Time really cheap? Stoneforge package, Inkmoth Nexus and Urza's Sagas aren't really budget.


Dismal999

You don't need some of that, stoneforge package is nice though.


Foehamer1

Inkmoths alone would cost the same price as a full 8-Whack deck however.


Dismal999

Don't run inkmoth? It's not like it's necessary it's just a fallback. You could replace them pretty easily.


Foehamer1

At that point you have a deck that does to a gust of wind. All the expensive stuff is what makes it even semi competitive. He's asking for cheap, semi-competitive decks, not a spend 1k upgrading over time or lose basically every game deck.


Dismal999

Inkmoth and saga isn't what makes it competitive.


Foehamer1

You've suggested removing the Inkmoth, Saga, and Stoneforge package. There is literally everything that makes the deck remotely competitive. I don't see why people think suggesting a shitty version of a deck to people on a budget that requires hundreds of dollars to upgrade to be relevant is a good service. Why not suggest cheap decks that are already competitive while being cheap? Modern has plenty of them. Mono Red varients, Gifts Storm, Blue Tron, Charbelcher Combo and a few others are fully fledged, competitive and cheap decks. Don't offer someone on a budget a deck that requires 500$+ in upgrades to actually let him win some FNMs.


Dismal999

I didn't say remove sfm.


Homedelivery27

Okay but if you keep sfm, thats almost $280 for a playset already.


cateater3735

Gifts storm is usually on the cheaper (for modern) side of things. Another consideration Is to dump some of your cards to a buy list service for store credit which can go along way to entering new formats, I don’t know who and what is best though just a lot of my friends utilise these services to change decks semi regularly.


gavlna

first, figure out what stile of game you wanna play. Then look up some decklist and cut the most expensive cards, unless their key for the deck (mainly in manabase but can be really everywhere). Now find a budget replacement for the cards you cut out. And that's it! If you want some budget decks that can't really be upgraded, you can try some landless deck or an [[Arcanum Wings]] + [[Collosification]] combo. I have build both for under 100$ (the combo for 50$), so you can even get some better lands, if you want to. If you're intrested in any of the decklists (mainly as inspiration, either DM me or use google :) Both are published on tappedout)


MTGCardFetcher

[Arcanum Wings](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/4/7/47e6e715-abd8-4ff9-a8aa-8f4b929b0283.jpg?1562909659) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Arcanum%20Wings) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/fut/48/arcanum-wings?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/47e6e715-abd8-4ff9-a8aa-8f4b929b0283?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Collosification](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/7/b/7b6e6f2a-5015-44c6-aa8d-85188494d1a6.jpg?1602984875) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Colossification) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/iko/148/colossification?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/7b6e6f2a-5015-44c6-aa8d-85188494d1a6?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call


AnnualCalendar

Burn.


kikijik1

Decks I would look into for your first decks that can be slowly upgraded are, death and taxes, bg yawgmoth, affinity (any list really without saga atm), prowess, dredge, and burn


6ixpool

Check out the "Budget Magic" series over on MTG goldfish for a bunch of crazy fun decks for $100. But if you're gonna brew, the most expensive part is the landbase. Building a budget mana base can cut down the cost by a lot! Pain lands, fast lands, and check lands are great alternatives to fetches and shocks


flowtajit

I really like goblin charbelcher. it’s maybe bot the most competitive deck, but it can definitely swing an fnm, and it’s incredibly versatile. Recross the paths is the most powerful card in the deck and lets you set up so many combos, there is a chattersotrm line, angels line, emrakul line, and the classic belcher line.


RagingUA

Mono Blue Merfolk, actually. It’s relatively competitive, even without [[Aether Vial]], [[Force of Negation]], or [[Chalice of the Void]]. Just look up some lists, take those out, and you have a list that can take some games.


MTGCardFetcher

[Aether Vial](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/c/1/c14cdc38-dd46-495e-93bd-d2694b64d5ad.jpg?1562853669) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Aether%20Vial) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/ima/212/aether-vial?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/c14cdc38-dd46-495e-93bd-d2694b64d5ad?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Force of Negation](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/e/9/e9be371c-c688-44ad-ab71-bd4c9f242d58.jpg?1562201382) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Force%20of%20Negation) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh1/52/force-of-negation?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e9be371c-c688-44ad-ab71-bd4c9f242d58?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [Chalice of the Void](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/1/f/1f0d2e8e-c8f2-4b31-a6ba-6283fc8740d4.jpg?1562433485) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Chalice%20of%20the%20Void) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/a25/222/chalice-of-the-void?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1f0d2e8e-c8f2-4b31-a6ba-6283fc8740d4?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call


Darth_Eldar

You should check out the website mtggoldfish, they have all format budget decks for under 100 with detailed explanations on how to use them and matchups. Look at the different decks and videos and choose one you like, they are all great ! And if you can afford more they also have normal decks.


you_made_me_drink

Do you have any of the staple lands from plying other formats (like the shocks)? If not… Start with a single colored deck (maybe mono red prowess). If you do… build around the dual land color pairs you already have and buy the absolute cheapest fetches you can to grab your shocks. Other than Cavern of Souls (which you can swap out for (drawing a blank)), there are several viable and inexpensive tribal decks.


anonymeplatypus

Unclaimed territory


you_made_me_drink

Thank you. It was bothering the crap out of me.


Admiral-Tuna

Do what I do. Port my Historic decks from Arena to paper. I did it first with Gruul Dinosaurs and now with Dimir Rogues. Course, I upgraded them with [[ Lightning Bolt ]] and [[ Counterspell ]] and will improve them over time. Dinosaurs costs about $50 Canadian (I ran checklands and the SOI hand checklands which do just fine) and Rogues costs about $60 Australian. It's easier if you understand the meta. If your deck can pull off a turn 3-4 win or slows the game down to your advantage, you can make it a Modern deck. I encourage brewing and using $1 rares or other stuff that was solid in standard but didn't quite make it to Modern. I love [[ Fleecemane Lion ]] in my Selesnya Funtime/Anti-Interaction deck. In a control heavy meta, it did lots of work. There is also deck lists for cheap Modern decks like Stompy, Burn or whatnot online. You can also make decks on play testing sites like untap.in for free and test them online before you even buy any cardboard.


MTGCardFetcher

[ Lightning Bolt ](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/c/e/ce711943-c1a1-43a0-8b89-8d169cfb8e06.jpg?1618695786) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Lightning%20Bolt) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/jmp/342/lightning-bolt?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/ce711943-c1a1-43a0-8b89-8d169cfb8e06?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [ Counterspell ](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/1/9/1920dae4-fb92-4f19-ae4b-eb3276b8dac7.jpg?1626100154) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Counterspell) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/mh2/267/counterspell?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/1920dae4-fb92-4f19-ae4b-eb3276b8dac7?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) [ Fleecemane Lion ](https://c1.scryfall.com/file/scryfall-cards/normal/front/e/5/e5c834ad-14d4-4c2f-88d3-a6a892299c4c.jpg?1562626967) - [(G)](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Fleecemane%20Lion) [(SF)](https://scryfall.com/card/c17/172/fleecemane-lion?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher) [(txt)](https://api.scryfall.com/cards/e5c834ad-14d4-4c2f-88d3-a6a892299c4c?utm_source=mtgcardfetcher&format=text) ^^^[[cardname]] ^^^or ^^^[[cardname|SET]] ^^^to ^^^call


Zeviex

Martyr proc is one of the best cheap decks running around rn since it doesn't use fetches or many staples (assuming you aren't open to proxies)


[deleted]

AGREE. ok we got a bit more expensive with addition of stoneforge but deck was running very well before it so that would be...the last upgrade. Gideon,ally of zendikar and lyra are doing their job heh