Hello all and welcome to this weeks Budget Brews! Winning is nice, but it isn't our main goal here at Budget Brews, instead we just try and have some fun! We tackle a few different ways to build here at Budget Brews, we either look at trying to make the more competitive decks cheaper on the wallet, or we just come up with something new that's easy on the wallet!
This week I'm going to look at a deck that I've been playing on MTGO (that's right, I've made the move!) It's a budget deck that can take your opponent by storm and win on turn three. It's true it doesn't happen that often and it's one of those “all-in” strategies where if you don't win in the first few turns, you're probably not going to win at all.
It's really not the type of deck I'm used to playing but it's definitely a breath of fresh air after playing control and combo strategies for as long as I can remember, and yet it still does have that combo feel to it. “Noob combo” by one of my salty opponent's when I beat them in a league match remarked. It's not going to be winning any large events, and I've been having problems doing anything great in modo league matches, it may just take your local gaming store by storm and give you a Friday Night Magic win.
Warning: This deck may bring out the salt in opponent's on both MTGO and in your LGS.
There's nothing really new to the deck, and you may have run across something like it before if you've been playing for awhile, but for the newer players who haven't seen something as amazing as this before may I present...
All told the deck is about $150CAN ($105 US) if you buy it through WizardTower.com.
If that's a bit too pricey, your money cards in the deck are Monastery Swiftspear in the main deck, and then Young Pyromancer in the sideboard, and those can be replaced. In games where I've brought in Akroan Crusader it's felt very strong and could almost warrant a spot in the main deck if you don't want to play the Swiftspears.
Unfortunately, the most expensive card in the deck is probably Gitaxian Probe, but it's a free spell that draws us another card to go ahead and cast us another spell. You have to play the card, end of story.
The deck list I found didn't originally play Manamorphose either, but it fills the same roll as Gitaxian Probe in the deck. It's essentially a free cantrip that makes your knuckle-heads bigger to lay on the pain. The deck loses gas, very quickly and I think some draw cards are very needed.
Kiln Fiend is the real heart and soul of the deck. It could be said it's casting cost is “too expensive” for the deck, but if you're able to untap with it on the board it usually ends the game by itself. It and Temur Battle Rage are outstanding, but in some of the match ups I've played it gets boarded out in favour of Young Pyromancer so I can go wide.
How can we make the deck better? I'm really not sure if there's room for improvement with a deck like this except maybe splashing black for discard, removal, and something like Tainted Strike to really bring home the bacon and end the game even sooner. It makes me want to buy some Blood Crypts online so I can play the card.
Ground Rift could be something to include as well, a storm mechanic card that will shut down all of your opponent's blockers. Gerry Thompson played a deck very much like this at Pro-Tour Return to Ravnica.
You could also put Apostle's Blessing as a four-of instead of three, like I have it. It's essentially a one drop and it helps you force in damage. Don't misplay - like I have - and play this after you play all of your instants/sorceries on the creature you plan on forcing through.
I remember when I was first putting Ascendancy Combo together I ran into one of the local college kids playing and was floored by the 10 minute 2-0 win he got over me.
The deck is fun to play, and can give you plenty of time between matches to hang with your friends or watch some of the matches, grab a drink, or a bite to eat. You'll have plenty of time in between rounds to take a nap if you really wanted to!
Thanks for joining me while I untap the multiverse, and I look forward to brewing up something for next week!
Have an idea for something you'd like me to brew up? Give me a shout in the comments! You can also follow me on Twitter, @maibuddha, Reddit /u/maibuddha, or you can join my Facebook group!
