Built on a budget challenge. 40 cents or less for the 99, up to $1 on the commander. Yes 5 color budget.
Thinking these big baddies are going to be difficult to remove vs. similarly restricted decks without premium removal.
We'll see!
September 2021 Deck Changes
Out
Time Wipe - quality board wipe but non-essential
Reconnaissance Mission - requires combat damage - big dragons don't always get through
Dragon Mage - requires combat damage, value too conditional
Mordant Dragon - requires combat damage, value too conditional
Dragon's Fire - not impactful enough in EDH
Krosan Grip - just on the bubble
Oblation - this card is almost great - wish it was draw one card
Rakdos Charm - too conditional
Resculpt - just not good enough
In
Blood Pact - card advantage upgrade
Disdainful Stroke - powerful budget counterspell
Earthquake - one sided board wipe
Amareth, the Lustrous - card advantage on a dragon!
Atarka, World Render - likely now the best dragon in the deck
Boros Signet - premium ramp
Gruul Signet - premium ramp
Prairie Stream - likely comes in tapped, but budget dual land
Roiling Regrowth - quality ramp/fixing
Utter End - just under premium removal
November 2021 Deck Changes
In
Mortality Spear - will always have to pay 4 for this, but flexibility to remove anything on a budget is worth it
Oblation - does a fine chaos warp impression on a budget
Arcane Denial - so happy this dropped to 40 cents on the latest reprint - one of my fave counters
Azorius Signet - same here - premium budget ramp
Rakdos Signet - same
Path of Ancestry - realized this card should have been in the deck the whole time - tapped command tower
Temple of Mystery - if the deck is going to have a ton of tapped lands to be able to play 5 colors on a budget - may as well be the good scry lands
Temple of Malice - same
Temple of Enlightenment - same
Cleansing Nova - realized single combat didn't read how i thought it did so needed a new wipe. think this is the best one on a budget
Klauth's Will - the third, and potentially best, version of the X one sided wipe in this deck
Rakdos Charm - realize i didn't have a way to deal with graveyards
Out
Chemister's Insight - too clunky, never happy to see it
Darkmoss Bridge - fitting 5 more basics into the deck, these artifact lands are easy first cuts
Darkwater Catacombs - never happy to see the filter lands, want more basics
Drossforge Bridge - same
Rustvale Bridge - same
Shadowblood Ridge - same
Skycloud Expanse - same
Sungrass Prairie - same
Tanglepool Bridge - same
Villainous Wealth - while i love the card in theory - just need so much mana available to make it worth it
Single Combat - realize this card sucks
Make a Stand - arcane denial is an upgrade
Beanstalk Giant - getting better ramp
Roiling Regrowth - getting better ramp
Disdainful Stroke - think this card is too narrow - doesn't protect from spot removal
Boros Guildgate - adding the temples
Dimir Guildgate - adding the temples
December 2021 Deck Changes
In
Ornithopter of Paradise - been enjoying using this 2 cmc any color flying mana dork in other decks
Out
Harrow - cutting ramp down to 2 cmc
January 2022 Deck Changes
In
Behold the Multiverse - instant speed, foretell ability, one blue pip - great budget or non budget draw option
Crackling Doom - powerful effect, instant speed, reasonable cmc, my only hesitation is the 3 different color pips. ill try it out
Obsidian Charmaw - think this card is sneaky good. if its cost is reduced, i can double spell or hold up mana. etb blow up a problematic land - im into it. another dragon toolbox to add to the swarm
Scourge of Valkas - i think this card looks better than it is. it is a mini terror of the peaks... except realistically how many dragons am i likely to have at once before people start killing them? 2? 3? still - provides dragon synergy at 40 cent budget. dont love the 3 red pips, but thats what jodah is for i guess.
Out
Ambition's Cost - ive soured on these 4 cmc sorcery speed spells. takes up the whole turn.
Harmonize - see above
Earthquake - i have two better versions of this effect, both at instant speed
Mortality Spear - in my head i was comparing this to utter end, but that exiles which is very relevant. 4 cmc single target removal just isn't very good
January 2022 Deck Changes Part II
I'm wondering if I can cut all of my 'bad' taplands left in the deck. 10 of them. And replace them with all basics. Speeds up the deck a ton. Will i still be able to hit my colors? I'll leave in tri lands, scry lands. My ramp fixes me pretty decently. Let's see if it works.
1x Dismal Backwater (ZNC)
1x Evolving Wilds
1x Golgari Guildgate (KHC)
1x Gruul Guildgate (ZNC)
1x Scoured Barrens
1x Selesnya Guildgate
1x Simic Guildgate
1x Terramorphic Expanse
1x Tranquil Cove
1x Witherbloom Campus (STX)
January 2022 Deck Changes Part III
In
Timeless Dragon - lots of flexibility on this little guy
Temple of Malady - i cut a bunch of tap lands from the deck for efficiency - but when these scry lands drop below .40 cents i think they are worth it. scrying in a budget deck on a land is pretty darn powerful - plus the two colors. cut a swamp for it.
Temple of Triumph - see above. cut a mountain
Out
Oblation - this deck isn't a great fit for it, i never want to sac one of my own dudes
February 2022 Deck Changes
In
Resculpt - misevaluated this, think its great
Crib Swap - quality single pip creature removal
Temple of Abandon - dropped under .40 cents, pull a forest
Make a Stand - previously cut - but during my last game i realized how good rootborn defenses was when protecting these dragons - which people really want to board wipe
Out
Commander's Sphere - just not good enough
Crackling Doom - too hard to cast
Warstorm Surge - i need to cast like 6 dragons after this to make it worth it. which seems unrealistic
May 2022 Deck Changes
In
Izzet Signet - dropped below 40 cents, hurray! i'll take all the 2 cmc ramp i can in here
Rogues' Gallery - potentially 3 mana, draw 5 dragons?
Of One Mind - with jodah and a dragon out, a very common board state, this is one mana draw 2.
Out
Colossal Majesty - i never like seeing this card. its hard to justify spending 3 cmc to maybe draw 1 next turn. id rather pay 3 to draw 2 now. garruks uprising is better in multiple ways.
Crib Swap - cuttable removal
Rakdos Charm - generally good but potentially a dead card. cuttable.
May 2022 Deck Changes Part II
In
Arcane Sanctum - dropped below 40 cents, this deck loves the trilands
card:Seaside Citadel (NCC) - see above
Temple of Silence - dropped below 40 cents. as of now ill take all the temples i can get in here. scryng is real value off a land
Orzhov Signet - dropped below 40 cents. similarly jamming all the cheap signets i can in here.
Unbreakable Formation - i think this is the best version of this effect. hold up protection if i need it or an alpha strike
Kyodai, Soul of Kamigawa - i remember seeing this card spoiled and thought it was a shame because it would be great in this deck. somehow it is 25 cents!? flash protection dragon. yes please!
Frontier Siege - i think this card is good? its hard to say. both options are very viable in the deck. my dragons are mana intensive. and at the moment all my creatures are flying - though i do think i am about to add some landlocked dragons from baldurs gate. ill try it out anyway and see how it does
Out
Magmaquake - i think im about to add some non-flying dragons from baldur's gate. also klauths will is better, and X wipes are not efficient
Make a Stand - i prefer unbreakable formation
Obsidian Charmaw - destroying a nonbasic land is too narrow and not impactful enough. only i play the scary lands in my plagroup, haha
Prairie Stream - have decided the 'battle' cycle isn't a good fit for this deck
Harbinger of the Hunt - on the bubble dragon. have a lot of good new options from baldur's gate, so his cut was inevitable. ultimately - it is just not a mana efficient card
June 2022 Deck Changes
In
Ganax, Astral Hunter - makes all my dragons including himself etb with a treasure
Lozhan, Dragons' Legacy - mini terror of the peaks, perfect for the deck
Thrakkus the Butcher - i just wish he flew, think its my only non flyer
Carnelian Orb of Dragonkind - haste to dragons on cast
Jade Orb of Dragonkind - hexproof to dragons on cast
Infernal Grasp - efficient removal dropped below .40
Baleful Mastery - efficient removal dropped below .40
Temple of Deceit - pulling a swamp for it
Sapphire Dragon - bad negate stapled to a bad dragon. which means.. this is good!?
Young Red Dragon - fixing / half ramp at 2 cmc into a bad dragon at 4 cmc. i think this is good?
Out
Blood Pact - not super impactful draw
Flameblast Dragon - mana intensive ability
Frontier Siege - i think this is good, as mentioned last month. but just dont think i have a slot for it
Hoard-Smelter Dragon - mana intensive ability
Icefall Regent - not really removal cause they can kill him
Opportunistic Dragon - see above
Rogues' Gallery - dead draw if my graveyard isnt set up
Rootborn Defenses - sapphire dragon replaces this
Ornithopter of Paradise - hitting a critical mass of ramp - and this thing dies
July 2022 Deck Changes
In
Mythos of Nethroi - beast within if I have the right mana, worst case its a murder
Khalni Ambush
- budget mdfc. lots of big boys to fight.
Out
Young Red Dragon - not essential, was trying it out
Also cutting my 9 temples. I am pulling all 9 of my tapped temple scry lands for basics. lets see if fixing becomes an issue? trying to speed up the deck
July 2022 Deck Changes Part II
In
Shadowblood Ridge
Skycloud Expanse
Sungrass Prairie
Darkwater Catacombs
Pulling out basics for these - fixing troubles after cutting my temples. The 5th one coming in an order
September 2022 Deck Changes
In
Mossfire Valley - i used to be down on these lands, but coming in untapped and fixing is pretty nice actually
Sandsteppe Citadel - yay, hit budget status, on the way in, these trilands are key to fix in jodah
Nomad Outpost - ""
Yavimaya Coast - so pumped this came online - i play the pain lands in my most expensive decks, i love them. hopefully a few more drop to 40 cents
Tear Asunder - love this flexible removal.
Syphon Mind - i think this is good enough? big swing at a 4 player table
Out
Unbreakable Formation - ultimately these white 3 cmc indestructible spells aren't quite good enough. difference between 3 and 2 mana is so big here
Cleansing Nova - running less board wipes in gneeral, bit of a boring card, spot removal is more fun
October 2022 Deck Changes
In
Caves of Koilos - hit the budget mark, joins yavimaya coast as just one of the best lands in the deck now. pulling a swamp
Scaled Nurturer - trying this out. triggers some of my dragon synergy and is
Sprite Dragon - trying this out, nice to have a dragon with a lower cmc. haste. and believe it or not - i have 40+ noncreature spells in here. its my 20 dragons and thats it. so he deceptively can get big pretty fast
Out
Baleful Mastery - i have a ton of removal options in this deck given its 5 color. and already have a critical mass that is more flexible
Infernal Grasp - ""
October 2022 Deck Changes
In
Blackblade Reforged - how many legends do i have.... 11 plus my commander. good finisher? especially with my flyers. plus its a fun card
Out
Khalni Ambush
- i have too many tapped lands as it is to get my fixing here, can't afford another one, added a forest instead
Mythos of Nethroi - just too color intensive for the good mode
November 2022 Deck Changes
In
Battlefield Forge - so happy these pain lands are now budget. cutting a plains for it
Llanowar Wastes - Padding a land to all my decks this month. plus "" above
Talisman of Hierarchy - more 2 cmc fixing ramp, helps me cast jodah early
Tyrant of Kher Ridges - mini version of Foe-Razer Regent which has been pretty impactful whenever ive played it
Out
Scaled Nurturer - if this fixed me, i'd keep it. but if i have the green to cast it on turn 2, i liekly cant cast jodah on 3 anyway
Sprite Dragon - just not impactful enough
Cultivate - doesnt help me ramp to jodah
January 2023 Deck Changes
In
Swiftfoot Boots - do i want this? i have a bunch of big fatties in here that probably are worth suiting up. protect big mana investment
Talisman of Unity - i'm reaching critical mass here of like 15+ 2 cmc rocks. have to figure out when to draw the line
Dimir Signet - ""
Austere Command - i think i want this? likely best budget boardwipe? good cause i can kill all tiny creatures too
Out
Sapphire Dragon - bad protection spell, bad dragon
Jade Orb of Dragonkind - 3 cmc rock when i have so many color fixing 2 cmc ones just think isnt that good. doesnt help me ramp into jodah either
Carnelian Orb of Dragonkind - ""
Utter End - think I have soured on this card, 4 cmc is just too much
May 2023 Deck Changes
In
Dragonmaster Outcast - low cmc dragon generator
Reality Shift - great removal and the thing cant chump block my flyers
Out
Amareth, the Lustrous - good card but the deck is getting tighter
Tyrant of Kher Ridges - unremarkable dragon, cuttable
September 2023 Deck Changes
In
Up the Beanstalk - wow this is perfect card advantage for this deck
Arcane Signet - now budget, amazing
Fellwar Stone - ""
Generous Gift - amazing now budget removal
Out
Syphon Mind - 4 cmc sorcery speed
Foe-Razer Regent - good but dragon army is getting tight
Timeless Dragon - ""
Gruul Signet - running out of ramp room here
January 2024 Deck Changes
In
Savage Lands - think this is now the tenth and final triple land to make the deck, pulling a forest
Swords to Plowshares - the best removal, now budget
Kenrith's Transformation - seems great for budget? if i can find the space? especially useful to Elk someone's flying blocker
Blood Pact - need more draw. full stop
Plus adding an island
Out
Forest
Mountain
Fires of Yavimaya - may replace with Rising of the Day
Talisman of Resilience - too much ramp in this deck, least useful colors
Golgari Signet - ""
May 2024 Deck Changes
In
Quick Study - efficient card draw
Bovine Intervention - flexibile removal
Rockfall Vale - one of the best lands in the deck now budget
Out
Mountain
Reality Shift - prefer flexibility of bovine
Austere Command - board wipes are boring - let someone else run them
June 2024 Deck Changes
In
Sakura-Tribe Elder - now budget, hurray!
Out
Putrefy - too much single target removal here
July 2024 Deck Changes
In
Brainsurge - love this new one
Broodmate Tyrant - big brother to broodmate dragon
Shivan Reef - one of the best lands in the deck now budget
Collective Resistance - try this one out
Out
Despark - decks getting tight, i like the removal but need space
Mortify - ""
Fact or Fiction - just too much cmc in 2024
Island
August 2024 Deck Changes
In
Diresight - upgraded read the bones, yes please!
Path to Exile - now budget
Chaos Warp - hurray premium budget removal
Out
Behold the Multiverse - good card but cuttable at 4 cmc
Bovine Intervention - like the card but removal is tight even on a budget with 5 colors
Resculpt - 4/4 whacks me pretty good
October 2024 Deck Changes
In
Adarkar Wastes - slam dunk budget now one of best lands in the deck
Spire of Industry - play a ton of rocks here - becomes super valuable if online
Explore - getting flooded lately - going down a land. trying this out but could replace it for a future dragon or draw spell or something
Out
Forest x 2
Island
October 2024 Deck Changes Part II
In
Waterlogged Grove - now budget, one of the best lands in the deck
Out
swamp
November 2024 Deck Changes
In
Stroke of Midnight - love it at budget
Out
Explore - meh!
February 2025 Deck Changes
In
Fiery Islet = now budget one of the best lands in the deck
Shimmer Dragon - now budget try it out
Out
Tear Asunder - 4 cmc just ain't it
Mountain
March 2025 Deck Changes
In
Territorial Aetherkite - think this is worth running? comes down and does a mini one sided board wipe - cleans up little creatures. plus has haste. lets see how it feels when it drops
Out
deck:Talisman of Curiosity - cuttable on the bubble ramp
April 2025 Deck Changes
In
Whirlwing Stormbrood - casting my dragons at instant speed seems good
Out
Shimmer Dragon - just never as good as i want it to be
May 2025 Deck Changes
In
Dragonologist - cantrips and protection? seems good
Protector of the Wastes - i think this is powerful?
Out
Talisman of Hierarchy - down to 12 ramp now?
Talisman of Unity - ""
August 2025 Deck Changes
In
Dragonfire Blade - i think this is going to be good? 1 to cast 1 to equip to jodah? and i have many multicolor dragons in here
Scavenger Regent - slam dunk here
Out
Blood Pact - solid but on the bubble
Chart a Course - not always swinging
August 2025 Deck Changes Part II
In
Karplusan Forest - upgrading the mana base to more untapped lands
Brushland
Sunscorched Divide
Viridescent Bog
Desolate Mire
Overflowing Basin
Island
Mountain
Plains
Swamp
Out
1x Sandsteppe Citadel (DMC)
1x Savage Lands (CMM)
1x Seaside Citadel (NCC)
1x Arcane Sanctum (NCC)
1x Crumbling Necropolis
1x Frontier Bivouac
1x Jungle Shrine
1x Mystic Monastery
1x Nomad Outpost (DMC)
1x Opulent Palace
August 2025 Deck Changes Part III
In
Emergency Eject - flex removal
Night's Whisper - my fave spell now budget
Golgari Signet - figure all the signets should be in here especially removing the trilands
Gruul Signet - ""
Selesnya Signet - ""
Out
Rampant Growth - signets better here i think
1x Sakura-Tribe Elder (M3C) - ""
1x Fertile Ground - ""
1x Territorial Aetherkite (DRC) - nonbo with a few little guys
1x Protector of the Wastes (TDC) - too much cmc
