Here are 10 archetypes that cost in the hundreds and have top 8'ed a tournament(s) of at least 6 rounds in the last 6 months. I'm not including budget versions of archetypes with shock lands or something; only optimal deck lists.
They span from $159-$971, using TCGPlayer prices. I've used the biggest finish if there have been multiple placings. For simplicity's sake, I'm only including the main deck, unless the sideboard needs comment. Some can be made even cheaper with fetch land switches that have no impact.
Manaless Dredge: $159 (Force of Will in sideboard, but with recent printings, it isn't necessary or maybe even optimal. Would still cost three figures anyway)
Burn: $175
Mono Reanimator: $461
Mono Storm: $529
Depths Reanimator: $663
Pox: $682 (Pretty sure the sideboard is just a flex)
Goblins: $793
Infect Shoal: $888 (If you replace Misty Rainforest with Flooded Strand, which is the same in the deck)
Mono Delver: $929
Death & Taxes: $971
Quite a few archetypes with tournament finishes just missed the cut, like Merfolk, Slivers, Mono Nivmagus, Soldier Stompy, Mono Pteramander, and Spiral Tide
I think that you could build a budget version of imperial painter without City of traitors that is still very playable for under 1k. I've not done the math, but I'd be willing to throw up a proposed list at some point
Some amazingly cool decks there.
Neat but this doesn't factor in the cost of a plane ticket to find the nearest Legacy event.
I'm only barely joking here. It's a few hour drive for a monthly event with maybe 20 people.
Lol, nothing says "affordable" like 'a thousand bucks.'
Well a tier 1 modern deck is generally going to be around or just under 1k so it seems like a decent starting point
Also for funzies I threw this list into a cart on TCG and I think it's perfectly viable. Total came out to $650 so honestly you can get a couple of City of traitors probably beat for 160 each and keep it under 1k and improve your deck even more.
Budget Imperial Painter:
Maindeck (60)
3 Goblin Welder
1 Goblin Cratermaker
2 Goblin Engineer
4 Painter's Servant
1 Phyrexian Revoker
4 Imperial Recruiter
1 Magus of the Moon
2 Simian Spirit Guide
3 Karn, the Great Creator
4 Pyroblast
2 Red Elemental Blast
3 Lotus Petal
3 Grindstone
3 Smuggler's Copter
1 Ensnaring Bridge
3 Blood Moon
4 Ancient Tomb
3 Great Furnace
13 Mountain
Sideboard (15)
1 Faerie Macabre
3 Lightning Bolt
2 Tormod's Crypt
1 Grindstone
1 Pithing Needle
1 Relic of Progenitus
3 Thorn of Amethyst
1 Ensnaring Bridge
1 Mycosynth Lattice
1 Great Furnace
Eldrazi and Affinity should be buildable for sub-$1000 if you don't run City of Traitors.
Crystal Vein is a mediocre replacement though.
In my experience most people will only play legacy with a tuned tier one or close to tier one deck even in 3 or 4 round weeknight events. The exceptions to this rule like myself are already running brews or budget decks.
If we're talking about bigger events, outside of dnt which other deck under £1k would you honestly suggest to your modern friends?
All Spells Primer under construction: https://docs.google.com/document/d/e...Tl7utWpLo0/pub
PM me if you want to contribute!
I played a super budget storm deck, and then manaless dredge when I was new to the format and enjoyed it a lot even if I didn't win a whole lot. It enabled me to also get a lot of insight into what the format was about, what the major archetypes are, what cards make it more interesting than other formats etc... This was pretty valuable in informing me about whether I wanted to invest in the format and what I might like to play long-term.
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