My goal is to make a Commander deck of each color combination (except the 4-color ones) where every card costs less than $1. The sideboard is $1-$2, the maybeboard has alternatives and upgrades. At some point I'll figure out custom categories that don't fudge the main deck list.
Alesha is certainly among the most popular Mardu commanders, so this deck list is probably nothing new, but I had a LOT of fun playtesting it. Her flexibility allows several strategies like ETB triggers, aristocrats, combo, Vampire/Pirate/Goblin/Zombie/Human tribal, and more. Her simple casting cost also makes her easy to play earlier and more consistently than generals like Queen Marchesa. Aside from price restriction, another goal with this deck is to give multiple options to victory, so as not to be completely hosed. Suggestions are welcome and encouraged!
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Carrion Feeder, Cartel Aristocrat and Dimir House Guard are free sacrifice outlets you can combo with Cruel Celebrant, Zulaport Cutthroat, or Bastion of Remembrance to drain life from opponents. Judith, the Scourge Diva can take care of players, as well as problematic planeswalkers and creatures. Another unique sacrifice card is Fallen Ideal. You can put it on Alesha to give her evasion and pump her for commander damage, or turn any other creature into a free sacrifice outlet. Unlike other auras, if the creature gets removed, it goes back to your hand for another go. Other sacrifice abilities in the deck have a cost, but provide card draw and direct damage.
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You can also utilize quirky rules interactions with the aforementioned sacrifice outlets. When Fiend Hunter enters the battlefield, its first ability goes on the stack. When that happens, sacrifice it, then the second ability goes on the stack, which gets resolved first. Since it didn't exile anything first, nothing returns, then you can exile a creature without fear of it returning. And of course, with Alesha, you just bring it back from the dead and do it again! Faceless Butcher can also remove a creature, Leonin Relic-Warder deals with artifacts/enchantments, and Tidehollow Sculler lets you remove any card from an opponent's hand. (More recent cards like Fairgrounds Warden have re-worded this effect to one ability instead of two, which fixes the loophole).
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Creatures that do something on entering the battlefield and/or dying are especially good here. Gonti, Lord of Luxury, Disciple of Bolas, and Mentor of the Meek provide card advantage, Kor Cartographer and Liliana's Shade get lands, Gray Merchant of Asphodel drains opponents for a big chunk of life, Mogg War Marshal, Pia and Kiran Nalaar, Ponyback Brigade, and Siege-Gang Commander bring friends, and Felidar Guardian lets you get any one of those effects again.
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If you need to go wide, the aforementioned cards help develop an army. Mardu Ascendancy adds to it, while Behind the Scenes and Break Through the Line provide evasion. Alesha is better the more combat steps you have, but unfortunately those cards tend to be pricey. Response / Resurgence is not half bad, though. Archetype of Finality combined with Archetype of Courage make attacking and blocking much nastier.
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Discarding is not a strong theme in this deck, but with Alesha, discarding low-power creatures is hardly a drawback, and at least there's Glint-Horn Buccaneer to soften life totals while you discard cards. Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner can dump creatures in the graveyard, provide evasion for your army, and keep drawing gas. Gate to the Afterlife provides additional value for our nontoken creatures dying. Key to the City is an excellent card, allowing Alesha to attack freely and potentially recur a creature that was discarded, and you can pay to replace the card.
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On that note, Heartwarming Redemption is an all-star in this deck. This deck has lots of creatures, so you can often put several in the graveyard, draw through your deck, and gain a little life in the process. Faithless Looting, Thrill of Possibility, and Cathartic Reunion are also worth running.
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For protection, there are some decent budget options. Cliffside Rescuer has good synergy, guarding Alesha and allowing her to attack safely. General's Enforcer grants her indestructible as well as Subira, Judith, Pia, and Kiran. Nahiri's Machinations grants indestructible to any creature, but only during combat. Protector of the Crown is thankfully a 2-power creature that introduces the monarch and soaks up any damage to you.
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Spot removal is mostly handled with the aforementioned shenanigans, so the rest of removal is in the form of sweepers. There is Magus of the Disk which you can combo with Village Bell-Ringer to fire off right away, if need be, and with Alesha you can just keep using it over and over. Dusk / Dawn can take care of most threats and keep our army safe (except for Alesha, but that's a price we're willing to pay). Mythos of Snapdax can do the opposite: wipe out everything except Alesha, then slowly bring your army back. Martyr's Bond is another way to deal with (mostly) creatures, but in a proper aristocrats build, it can take care of anything.
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Now for some other fun utilities. Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim is a sacrifice outlet and a strong removal ability that can be tough to achieve in this deck, but it's nice to have nonetheless. Grenzo, Dungeon Warden can often sneak a creature card from the bottom of our library directly onto the battlefield. This has a narrow but very effective use against spells like Terminus. Reveillark is the only creature with more than 2 power, but the ability to bring back any 2 of our other creatures is worth running. Though there aren't many instants or sorceries in this deck, Wildfire Eternal makes them a lot better when they're free. The ability triggers during the declare blockers step, which comes after the declare attackers step when this would be on the battlefield, if you were to reanimate it through Alesha's ability.
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Crypt Champion can be a fun card for the whole party. It lets every player recur a creature, but that also means you get another creature onto the battlefield, and this deck has plenty to choose from. You can even reanimate it for the effect and let it die again for some aristocrats value.
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Dagger Caster with Archetype of Finality? Mean.
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Virtus the Veiled isn't as lethal as Master of Cruelties, but he does a good impression and is well within budget. Tree of Perdition can also cripple an opponent. Throw in Axis of Mortality for fun fun fun.
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Strionic Resonator with Alesha means you'll have to pay her cost again, but getting two triggers in one attack is worth it.
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Selfless Spirit with Alesha makes it very tough for your stuff to ever die.
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Seize the Day is a hilarious card to combo with Ink-Treader Nephilim, Mirrorwing Dragon, Precursor Golem, Radiate, or Zada, Hedron Grinder. Soooo much combat!
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Archangel's Light is not great, but it's probably at its best in a 100-card deck that likes to fill its graveyard, and at least it's a budget reset-button of sorts.
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Sure, Archangel of Strife gives your opponents an advantage, too, but that's when you play Citywide Bust or Fell the Mighty...or both!
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Brutal Hordechief has too much power, but the ability to dictate combat and still punish the opponent is a nice bonus for going wide.
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Outlaws' Merriment doesn't do anything the turn you play it, but getting free creatures every turn afterward seems pretty good, and they all have haste.
