Brewing On a Budget

A Magic: The Gathering deckbuilding blog themed around building decks with the cash you have on hand, rather than taking out a second mortgage.

[brewingonabudget]

Turn five win. Every time

You wanna win turn five reliably? Well, just turn your opponents into goldfish, because that’s what this deck does. 

[brewingonabudget]

Alright, followers. I’ve run out of EDH decks on lineup. I’ve got two modern decks. Nothing for any other formats. I need your help to decide what decks to build in every format! I’ve currently got a list for Elemental Combo and Mono Green Stompy in modern, but only a very small selection of EDH decks left.

What generals, colors, and playstyles do you folks want to see for EDH? Is there a deck type you’ve been itching to see in modern or legacy? Let me know what you want, and I shall deliver!

[brewingonabudget]

orzhov-fun-police is a bad influence. Do not cut the basic land, you will get mana screwed and it will be all her fault. 

[brewingonabudget]

Thassa Aggro

Today, we have something departing from the grindy control decks that I’ve posted in the past. While this deck is tuned to duels, preferably with 30 life, it could be taken to a multiplayer brawl by replacing many of the less utility creatures with infect guys.

Thassa herself provides scry, evasion, and a surprisingly easy to turn on 5/5 indestructible body. Play fast and loose with your creatures, because it’s very easy to lose to yourself playing to slowly with a deck like this. Wraths are your enemy, so when you suspect one, holding up a counterspell is a useful tool. 

This deck totals at around 35 dollars TCG low, and has lots of room for improvements and customization.

As always, if you have any suggestions for improving the deck, questions about it or any of my other decks, or requests for more decks (I’m running out of lists to post!) let me know!

[trans-mouse]

New decklist is up, let me know what you nerds think.

[yahenni]

New deck is vicious! How’d you determine the ratio of creatures to bounce and counterspells?

[brewingonabudget]

*Sweats nervously* I copied it from an old Thassa infect list I played for a while. Which was, in turn, determined through hours of playtesting. (Followed by about five actual games with the deck)

[brewingonabudget]

Thassa Aggro

Today, we have something departing from the grindy control decks that I've posted in the past. While this deck is tuned to duels, preferably with 30 life, it could be taken to a multiplayer brawl by replacing many of the less utility creatures with infect guys.

Thassa herself provides scry, evasion, and a surprisingly easy to turn on 5/5 indestructible body. Play fast and loose with your creatures, because it's very easy to lose to yourself playing to slowly with a deck like this. Wraths are your enemy, so when you suspect one, holding up a counterspell is a useful tool. 

This deck totals at around 35 dollars TCG low, and has lots of room for improvements and customization.

As always, if you have any suggestions for improving the deck, questions about it or any of my other decks, or requests for more decks (I'm running out of lists to post!) let me know!

[brewingonabudget]

I would like to point out that I do not advocate "replacing" expensive cards with "budget alternatives." That is a surefire way to end up with a bad deck, because, surprise surprise, Birds of Paradise isn't the same as Deathrite Shaman. I advocate finding creative ways to lower the cost of your deck, (Buying damaged, searching for misspellings, etc.) and the use of less common strategies. 

Because you can't replace a snapcaster mage with Eternal Witness. They're not the same card, they don't serve the same purpose, and they're not on the same power level. 

[brewingonabudget]

Zeus's Sexual Appetites

Guess who’s back? For today, I’ve got a Keranos EDH control list focusing on playing the longest possible game of magic and eventually grinding out a victory. And if you don’t think that’s fun, just wait until my next list, when you’re going in for the kill as fast as possible with little creatures.

Keranos is a card advantage and removal engine, and when he’s supported by counterspells and removal, it’s very difficult for an opponent to gain the lead. The total cost for this deck comes in at just over fifty dollars.

As always, any suggestions you have for the list are welcome!

[thraximunday]

Arc Trail seems a little low-power for EDH no?

[brewingonabudget]

Y'know what arc trail kills? Nin, Azusa, Azami, Animar, Kaalia, the vast majority of mana dorks, Gaddok Teeg, Thalia, Hermit Druid (The best card in the format by a significant margin), Edric, Endrek Sahr, Talrand, Arcum Dagsson, and half the slivers in the format. 

That's just off the top of my head. So no, it's not low-power for EDH. It's a source of card advantage that kills many of the best generals, a lot of hate cards for this deck, and burns any mana dorks that the filthy green player has out. 

[brewingonabudget]

Zeus's Sexual Appetites

Guess who's back? For today, I've got a Keranos EDH control list focusing on playing the longest possible game of magic and eventually grinding out a victory. And if you don't think that's fun, just wait until my next list, when you're going in for the kill as fast as possible with little creatures.

Keranos is a card advantage and removal engine, and when he's supported by counterspells and removal, it's very difficult for an opponent to gain the lead. The total cost for this deck comes in at just over fifty dollars.

As always, any suggestions you have for the list are welcome!

[brewingonabudget]

What might be some good staples for Daxos edh

Daxos likes to put cool things on top of opponent's libraries, as well as making himself harder to block. Whispersilk cloak, rogues passage, and trailblazer's boots are all inexpensive ways to make your general difficult to block. Lapse of Certainty, Memory Lapse, and vanishment are all excellent ways to ensure something juicy is on top of their deck. Running general counterspells and removal will help daxos get through, as well as keeping you alive long enough to reap the benefits of your general. If you'd like to find some more cards to top deck your opponent's nice things, I'd suggest doing an advanced gatherer search with rules text of "put creature top libray" (though not actually in quotes.) I named three examples, but there are many cards in UW to control your opponent's top card.

[brewingonabudget]

What are some key cards you might recommend for a kresh the bloodbraided commander deck?

Kresh is a really neat commander. He offers a lot of flexibility in how he's built, so there aren't a lot of true staples. The ones that exist and are attainable on a tight budget include Dictate of Erebos, Mimic Vat, Sek'kuar Death Keeper, and any number of sacrifice outlets, such as Fallen Angel/Fallen Ideal, and Ashdods Altar. If you decide to build him as voltron, good ways to protect him include swiftfoot boots, champions helm, and darksteel plate. If you want to play more aggressive strategies, sprouting thrinax, broodmate dragon, and anything with devour are all excellent. I hope you found this helpful. I've never built Kresh, but it's a very fun deck, and is popular for a good reason. If anybody has anything to add, feel free to do so!

[brewingonabudget]

I'm building Mardu warriors/tokens, and I'd like some advice on it. I have Chiefs, Zurgo, Ankleshankers, Sorin, Butche rof the Horde and Herald of Anafenza, but I feel something's missing in it.

Take any advice I have on standard with a grain of salt. I don't play the format, and I have zero interest in doing so. My recommendation would be goblin rabblemaster, the best token card in the format. Without a full list, however, I can't really give you the most accurate advice.

[brewingonabudget]

Budget EDH Card of the day Moltensteel Dragon Price: 15-30 cents Immolating souleater, but way bigger and with flying. This card is a backbreaker, especially if you can give it doublestrike or lifelink. This card is one of the scarier Dragons out there. A 4 drop 4/4 with flying and firebreathing is cool, but let it breath your life and it gets even better!

[brewingonabudget]

Do you play commander

I do. Though I don't call it commander, I call it edh because I'm old and crotchity.

[brewingonabudget]

Just to let you know, I am glad to answer any and all questions regarding budget building for magic, to the best of my ability. So feel free to send me asks! I'm also glad to take suggestions on content you would like to see on this blog. (unless my ask box isn't working, in which case reblog this and call me an idiot and tell my dumb ass to get the ask box fixed.)

[brewingonabudget]

Budget EDH Card of the day Splinterfright Price: 15-30 cents Splinterfright has been a favorite of mine since I saw it in innistrad. I love playing with the graveyard in green, because I like the toolbox it offers me. Splinterfright is a beatstick with trample already attached, that grows itself. It makes the lhurgoyf look like a little kid. If you're putting creatures into your graveyard in green, Splinterfright will be an amazing addition to your deck. I know that I've never been disappointed by the power of this monstrosity.

[brewingonabudget]

Budget EDH Card of the day Splinterfright Price: 15-30 cents Splinterfright has been a favorite of mine since I saw it in innistrad. I love playing with the graveyard in green, because I like the toolbox it offers me. Splinterfright is a beatstick with trample already attached, that grows itself. It makes the lhurgoyf look like a little kid. If you're putting creatures into your graveyard in green, Splinterfright will be an amazing addition to your deck. I know that I've never been disappointed by the power of this monstrosity.

[brewingonabudget]

Budget EDH Card of the day. Thragtusk Price 40-90 cents. What was once a twenty dollar standard mainstay has fallen to fringe play in a few legacy decks and a lovely piece in EDH. Thragtusk provides a life buffer in case you're being attacked, a big body, and a replacement if it dies. Thragtusk is one of the best blink targets in the game, particularly for its cost. This is close to an autoinclude I. Green, and is a powerful creature no matter your budget.