A budget-friendly Modern Assault Formation-style Defenders themed prototype for Arcades, the Strategist.
Now before you get all BANT out of shape, try to think about it from the Defender's point of view - no one asked them what they wanted to be before you cast them. Let your creatures choose for themselves what they are. Because deep down, that cute little defender might really be a BAMF.
Given Arcades, the Strategist is Legendary, running Time of Need helps ensure he hits the battlefield and also gives us a chance to tutor up Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive to make all Defenders unblockable or, if needed, can serve up a sideboarded Shalai, Voice of Plenty or Sigarda, Host of Herons.
I've tried to include as many Flying creatures and can-trips as possible, along with a solid package of mana-dorks to smooth out the mana-base and keep the Defenders coming once Arcades hits.
Slaughter the Strong and Beast Within are both high synergy removal spells to help give the deck some added teeth.
Muddle the Mixture not only helps fizzle opponents removal attempts, it can also be used to pull a Tetsuko Umezawa, Fugitive or Time of Need in a pinch.
NOTE: I happened to have a good number of semi-decent lands lying around I wasn't using, so the land base is a little nicer than strict budget. Additionally, my sideboard has a few fairly expensive cards right now. A decent chunk of the price tag could be cut by swapping some of said "nicer" lands and sideboard for whatever fits your budget.
