Yes, you can afford Legacy! 10 sub-$1000 decks to top 8 a 6+ rounder in last 6 months

[Scott]

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: (http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=29454&iddeck=246110) $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: (http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=29594&iddeck=247930) $175
Mono :b: Reanimator: (http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=29489&iddeck=246460) $461
Mono :r: Storm: (http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=30456&iddeck=258330) $529
Depths Reanimator: (http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=30036&iddeck=253581) $663
Pox: (http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=30503&iddeck=258801) $682 (Pretty sure the sideboard is just a flex)
Goblins: (http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=30832&iddeck=262361) $793
Infect Shoal: (http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=30264&iddeck=256131) $888 (If you replace Misty Rainforest with Flooded Strand, which is the same in the deck)
Mono :u: Delver: (http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=30593&iddeck=259770) $929
Death & Taxes: (http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=30351&iddeck=256977) $971

Quite a few archetypes with tournament finishes just missed the cut, like Merfolk, Slivers, Mono :u: Nivmagus, Soldier Stompy, Mono :u: Pteramander, and Spiral Tide

[Megadeus]

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

[jmlima]

Some amazingly cool decks there.

[Phoenix Ignition]

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.

[FourDogsinaHorseSuit]

Lol, nothing says "affordable" like 'a thousand bucks.'

[Megadeus]

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

[FourDogsinaHorseSuit]

If 650 is so adorable does that mean if I PM you my address you'll cut me a check?

[colo]

Crystal Vein is another budget replacement option for City of Traitors to look at, imho.

[Megadeus]

If 650 is so adorable does that mean if I PM you my address you'll cut me a check?

I'm not sure what you expect. Everything to be handed to you for free? Hobbies cost money. Don't like it, go find a cheaper hobby. Relatively speaking 650 is cheap for this format. And as the argument has always been you can spend 650 one time and have a deck that will always be legal or you can spend 300 for a standard deck and then spend an extra 150 each set release or so to keep up with standard which quickly surpasses what you would spend on legacy. Also cards not losing value and blah blah blah. If you have nothing to contribute then why are you even posting?

[H]

If 650 is so adorable does that mean if I PM you my address you'll cut me a check?

https://i.imgur.com/NPpojY3.gif

[Smuggo]

Nice list. Format feels really open right now so I hope more folks will look at this and see that they too can afford to play the format.

[FourDogsinaHorseSuit]

I'm not sure what you expect. Everything to be handed to you for free? Hobbies cost money. Don't like it, go find a cheaper hobby. Relatively speaking 650 is cheap for this format. And as the argument has always been you can spend 650 one time and have a deck that will always be legal or you can spend 300 for a standard deck and then spend an extra 150 each set release or so to keep up with standard which quickly surpasses what you would spend on legacy. Also cards not losing value and blah blah blah. If you have nothing to contribute then why are you even posting?
Sir, this is an Arby's drive-through.

[Lemon]

If 650 is so adorable does that mean if I PM you my address you'll cut me a check?

I just want to point out that this is $12/wk for 1 year. That's fairly affordable compared to say woodworking where you need $1000+ in tools.

[FourDogsinaHorseSuit]

I just want to point out that this is $12/wk for 1 year. That's fairly affordable compared to say woodworking where you need $1000+ in tools.

OK, so just cut me a check for 12 bucks a week for a year.

[Smuggo]

I just want to point out that this is $12/wk for 1 year. That's fairly affordable compared to say woodworking where you need $1000+ in tools.

While I broadly support your argument I'd like to point out that woodworking tools and skills allow you to make actual useful things so this probably isn't the best comparison to very expensive card game.

[LOLWut]

Sir, this is an Arby's drive-through.

Sir, this is a budget deck thread, not a gibsmedat thread.

[Whoshim]

While I broadly support your argument I'd like to point out that woodworking tools and skills allow you to make actual useful things so this probably isn't the best comparison to very expensive card game.

If you do woodworking as a hobby, then the fact that useful things come from it is a by-product. Hobbies are non-essential things that people spend money on. a $1000 buy-in for a hobby is not that expensive, comparatively. The big difference is that it is an up-front cost. People whose hobbies are music may drop that much cash over a year on road trips, concerts, and paraphernalia. With Legacy, you can't play until you have a deck, so it seems a bit steeper.

Hobbies like miniature painting, model railroads, golf, etc., are all at least as expensive.

Cheap hobbies would be something like chess, rummy, dominoes, or trick-taking games. Those are enjoyable games, and if you have a good group of friends that like playing them, you can have a lot of fun for a small amount of cash.

Watching tons of Netflix is a relatively low-cost hobby, but it still comes to ~$2 a week plus the cost of the TV.

It really just depends on a person's financial situation and priorities, but most hobbies are going to end up costing a bit of money over time.

[Megadeus]

I bet you could build a Bayou-less GB Depths deck for under 1k. Obviously 1k isn't exactly "budget", but relatively speaking for this particular card game and this format especially it's pretty reasonable especially if you're coming from modern or even standard where if you are a somewhat established player you may already have that much invested in cardboard.

[Scott]

Thanks for the Imperial Painter list, Megadeus; I hadn't realized that it could be built for so little.

Your point about buying beat-up cards is a good one. The numbers use TCGplayer average prices; you can certainly get the cheapest available and lightly played cards and build the decks for a lot cheaper than the number in the OP.

[Matsu]

Here is the Cheap Depths list:

https://i.imgur.com/1LP0c52.png

I think you can easily remove:
Mana Confluence x2 -> Blooming marsh
IoK x2 -> Duress
Sphere in the Side could be removed
to reduce the cost, also Lotus Petal and ESG are relatively cheap at the moment.

@scott:

Maybe we should have a Primer for cheap decks.
Also in your goblins deck you can easily remove Cavern of Souls for Mountains. It will probably not have a big impact on your game and it saves 300$.

[jmlima]

...
Mono :b: Reanimator: (http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=29489&iddeck=246460) $461
Mono :r: Storm: (http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=30456&iddeck=258330) $529
Depths Reanimator: (http://www.tcdecks.net/deck.php?id=30036&iddeck=253581) $663
...

Am I right in thinking that the decks above are very much meta dependant and than in a wide open field might very well stumble easily?

[Captain Hammer]

Eldrazi and Affinity should be buildable for sub-$1000 if you don't run City of Traitors.

[aedemiel]

Eldrazi and Affinity should be buildable for sub-$1000 if you don't run City of Traitors.
Crystal Vein is a mediocre replacement though.

[kinda]

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?

[Megadeus]

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?
It is true that most people are cowards and won't try interesting things

[jmlima]

It is true that most people are cowards and won't try interesting things

Think in legacy it's more that you can spend a lot of money on an 'interesting thing' or a lot of money on a good thing.

[Ronald Deuce]

If we're talking about bigger events, outside of dnt which other deck under £1k would you honestly suggest to your modern friends?

Burn.

[Matsu]

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?

I playing a tuned tier 3 (at the moment) NicFit deck, still having great fun playing it :)

[Smuggo]

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?

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.

[kinda]

Burn.

What did your friends do to you?

@smuggo/matsu you guys are the exceptions though.