Viable Budget Decks in the Modern Format
Modern forum
Posted on Feb. 17, 2015, 9:38 p.m. by maxami868
What do you think are the best budget decks ($100 or less) that can be played in modern?
Budget Naya/Gruul zoo, Burn, and RDW. Aggressive strategies in general tend to be rather cheap.
February 17, 2015 9:40 p.m.
Soul sisters is decent.
So is a cheaper version of infect without hierarchs and stuff. But im not really a modern expert, so don't quote me on it.
February 17, 2015 9:41 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #5
U Tron is reasonable.
But seriously, if you don't have the money for it, don't play Modern. You won't have a whole lot of fun.
February 17, 2015 9:42 p.m.
Reason i didn't suggest burn is because of Goblin Guide . Any burn deck that wants to be competitive needs a playset which is just under 80 dollars. Plus all the shock lands and fetch lands.
February 17, 2015 9:43 p.m.
How about infect? Other than Noble Hierarch, it doesn't seem too expensive.
February 17, 2015 9:47 p.m.
GlistenerAgent says... #8
Fetchlands are important, and Spellskite is a 3-4 of.
I'd advise Tron or Mono-Red Burn. They're more competitive on a budget.
February 17, 2015 9:49 p.m.
Mono green infect is awful. The deck needs fetches and shocks + hierarchs are pretty necessary
February 17, 2015 9:49 p.m.
Even mono-red burn needs its parts like Goblin Guide and Eidolon of the Great Revel. Modern is really not a format to enter if you have a small budget unless you want to lose to every deck out there.
Budget Modern is more along the cost of $200 or so to make the decks mentioned above, such as Burn, 
Tron, and Infect.
February 17, 2015 10:01 p.m.
SoggyGecko says... #11
Burn is actually quite expensive, but cheaper than most modern decks, at about $400. U Tron is a pretty cheap deck, usually under $200. I think you can do Hatebears or Bogles for decent prices, like at $350-$500. But I can't think of a good modern deck that's under $100. I sadly don't think it's possible..
February 17, 2015 10:08 p.m.
Ohthenoises says... #12
Here is a budget U tron list: Springboard Into Modern Budget U Tron
February 17, 2015 10:12 p.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #13
Mono red burn doesn't need shocks or fetches and guides aren't quite 20 a piece so I think playsets are closer to $70. However, like someone else mentioned earlier, Modern isn't very budget friendly, especially when we're talking viable decks. A better budget would probably be 2-300 dollars, which gives you a little wiggle room in terms of certain playsets you need.
February 17, 2015 10:12 p.m.
Depends on what viable means? If you mean fnm viable, you can build soul sisters, infect, burn, stompy, and some other decks for under 100 dollars. However you still will have trouble winning an fnm, those decks may get you to top 8 but will fold against anyone who plays a teir 1 deck.
February 17, 2015 10:54 p.m.
im pleased with how the modern b/w token event deck has worked for me. you can pick one up for about 55 bucks then add in what you want to
February 17, 2015 11:48 p.m.
Dalektable says... #16
B/W Tokens, as stated above, is rather good. It's skill intensive and rewards good play, and can be built rather cheap with help from the event deck. It's my first modern deck I am building on paper and its sweet. Some other things mentioned, like GW Hatebears, is good as well.
February 18, 2015 12:05 a.m.
WovenNebula says... #18
Like Dalektable has said B/W tokens is probably your best start. Here is an article where a player takes his event deck and makes adjustments with his winnings.
February 18, 2015 1:21 a.m.
Femme_Fatale says... #19
Less than $100? Good luck. $300-600 should be modern budget goal.
February 18, 2015 1:47 a.m.
JexInfinite says... #20
You can't get a playable Soul Sisters deck for under $200.
You also can't play modern well for less than $300.
February 18, 2015 2:02 a.m.
I like the idea of starting with the event deck. It costs 55 and with the 45 dollars you have left you can make some decent additions.
February 18, 2015 2:48 a.m.
In this thread: people suggest decks they don't play can be built on a budget. People who actually play those decks point out why that's not true.
On topic:
Simic miracle grow is fun. You run Delver of Secrets Flip, Quirion Dryad and counter spells. The dryad grows.
Izzet delver is doable. Sure it's not tier 1 but it's totally not bad.
Rakdos kiln fiend is possible. It's basically Kiln Fiend and red pump spells, of which there are a fair few, along with burn spells. Splash black sometimes for an infect win.
Mono black midrange. Vampire Nighthawk, Gatekeeper of Malakir, Geralf's Messenger, kill spells.
Azorius tempo and fliers. Judge's Familiar and efficient 2 mana fliers with counter spells.
February 18, 2015 4:55 a.m.
Honestly. I wouldn't take a tier 1 deck and bastardise it into a $100 deck. Often those decks are only desugned to work when you have access to all those powerful things. However if you build your own tier 2 and learn it inside and out, you can have a good time because you're more aware f what the deck needs.
February 18, 2015 4:58 a.m.
JexInfinite says... #25
Making a black devotion deck could probably work. There are a lot of good and cheap cards, like the ones Chief suggested.
If you owned it in Theros block standard, it wouldn't be a bad idea to upgrade it for modern.
February 18, 2015 5:44 a.m.
Living end yo. That deck is very strong and is pretty cheap.
February 18, 2015 4:34 p.m.
Barry_McKawkinner says... #27
u could do what im doing and pick out a deck and get cheap not as good replacement for the expensive stuff.like duress instead of thougtsize.
February 18, 2015 5:34 p.m.
Living end is very expensive. It doesn't run half as well without fulminator mage.
I would heavily urge people to NOT try and mimic a tier 1 deck but replace expensive cards with cheap ones. BG/x without goyf, for example, is woefully slow. Without goyf and liliana it loses all its attrition engines. Without goyf, liliana, and thoughtseize you lose all your effective attrition and high tempo interaction. It just doesn't work. Most high tier decks are built to work with certain cards. BG needs a 2 mana win condition. Without it the deck sucks. Sure you can play casually and even attempt fnm but there's no way it'll hld up against a skilled player.
February 18, 2015 7:09 p.m.
Barry_McKawkinner says... #29
it all depends on how good the competition is at the card shops u go to.i used my friends standard deck and got 3rd in a modern tournament. u cant really do what i sugjested with tarmagoyf and liliana but the deck im maken it works.im usen knight of new alara instead of wilt leaf liege and inquisition instead of thoughtsize till i can get the cards i need .im also using more shocks and deltas and foothills till i can get marsh flats and catacombs.
February 18, 2015 8:42 p.m.
Enduring Ideal, it's probably the most competetive deck there is but there is one thing it is. It's FUN that's the point of the game, to have fun.
February 21, 2015 9:42 a.m.
ThisIsBullshit says... #32
If he's looking for stuff to bring to tournaments, then the point is not to have fun, but to play a good deck that can win, and fun takes a back seat to that.
February 21, 2015 10:17 a.m.
WovenNebula says... #33
☭ Communist Gnarlids | 4x First at FNM for $50 ☭ Playtest
Modern*
SCORE: 29 | 0 COMMENTS | 2645 VIEWSHere is a deck that is very budget friendly and can do well at local shops.
February 21, 2015 10:46 a.m.
scottemery says... #34
First and foremost, see if anyone in your playgroup has any of the more expensive cards in a certain archetype and if you're close enough with them ask if you can borrow it/them for certain tournaments. If so purchase the rest of the deck using non-mainstream and cheap sites. I'd also highly recommend swap and sale pages on Facebook.
In terms of decks I'd say go for Mono-red Burn if you want a cheap, solid deck. Building on the modern event deck isnt a bad idea either.
xlaleclx says... #2
Burn
February 17, 2015 9:40 p.m.