Deciding On A Deck

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Nearly three years ago, Rich Stein started the Modern Hero article series. The premise of the project was to buy the Modern Event Deck (March of the Multitudes), at $75 MSRP, and improve it over the course of several months. Rich spent $10 per week on entry fees for tournaments, as well as $10 per week on new cards, and slowly developed the list from a bizarre budget brew to—well, a playable Modern deck. For reference, here is the before and after:

March of the Multitudes Event Deck

Creatures (5) 2 Soul Warden 3 Tidehollow Sculler Spells (31) 1 Elspeth, Knight-Errant 3 Honor of the Pure 2 Inquisition of Kozilek 4 Intangible Virtue 4 Lingering Souls 3 Path to Exile 4 Raise the Alarm 2 Shrine of Loyal Legions 4 Spectral Procession 1 Sword of Feast and Famine 3 Zealous Persecution

Lands (24) 4 Caves of Koilos 2 City of Brass 4 Isolated Chapel 5 Plains 4 Swamp 1 Vault of the Archangel 4 Windbrisk Heights Sideboard (15) 2 Burrenton Forge-Tender 2 Dismember 3 Duress 2 Ghost Quarter 3 Kataki, War's Wage 3 Relic of Progenitus

Rich built that deck into this:

Modern Hero GP Worcester-Boston

Creatures (3) 1 Hero of Bladehold 2 Tidehollow Sculler Spells (34) 2 Honor of the Pure 2 Inquisition of Kozilek 4 Intangible Virtue 4 Lingering Souls 2 Dismember 3 Path to Exile 4 Raise the Alarm 2 Sorin, Lord of Innistrad 4 Spectral Procession 4 Thoughtseize 3 Zealous Persecution

Lands (23) 4 Caves of Koilos 2 Godless Shrine 4 Isolated Chapel 5 Plains 4 Swamp 4 Windbrisk Heights Sideboard (15) 2 Disenchant 2 Duress 2 Kor Firewalker 3 Rest in Peace 3 Stony Silence 3 Suppression Field

The final deck had a better mana base, disruption suite (thanks to Thoughtseize), and all around set of threats thanks to replacing stuff like Soul Warden and Shrine of Loyal Legions with Sorin, Lord of Innistrad and Hero of Bladehold. The series demonstrated that you could play Magic on a budget and over time improve both your play skill and the contents of the deck—with a little bit of effort and a little bit of cash.

After three years, I’ve decided to take up the mantle and start a new Modern Hero series. This time though, we don’t have a Modern Event deck, so we’ll have to start how most budget players start—by throwing together a list. Instead of making the executive decision about what deck to begin with, I’ve decided to take a vote. But before I unveil some budget lists to begin with, I want to go through some of the fine print.

• We’re starting with a $150 investment. I’m aware that this is double the price of the Modern Event Deck but to put things in perspective, it’s still less than the cost of two Tarmogoyfs. Magic is an expensive game and though money doesn’t necessarily buy power, there is certainly a correlation. In order to compete with Death’s Shadow ($1500),  Bant Eldrazi ($800), and Eldrazi Tron ($700) we’re going to need a reasonable initial investment.
• Though I’ll have a paper version of the deck and use the pricing on paper Magic cards, I’ll be recording some videos on MTGO. Even with all of it’s flaws, MTGO recordings are still the best way to witness a deck in action.
• I will put $12 every week toward weekly events. Though this is a $2 increase from the previous Modern Hero iteration, it reflects the cost of entering a Modern League (12 Tix).
• I will put $20 every week toward improving the deck, plus any winnings from weekly events.
• I am ending Modern Hero with Grand Pris Las Vegas on June 17th, playing the final iteration of the deck then.

So help me start from a list:

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Budget Storm

Creatures (8) 4 Baral, Chief of Compliance 4 Goblin Electromancer Spells (34) 4 Desperate Ritual 1 Empty the Warrens 4 Gifts Ungiven 2 Grapeshot 4 Manamorphose 2 Merchant Scroll 2 Past in Flames 4 Pyretic Ritual 3 Remand 4 Serum Visions 4 Sleight of Hand

Lands (18) 5 Island 3 Mountain 4 Shivan Reef 4 Spirebluff Canal 2 Steam Vents Sideboard (15) 2 Anger of the Gods 2 Counterflux 3 Dispel 1 Echoing Truth 2 Empty the Warrens 3 Lightning Bolt 2 Shattering Spree

Budget Elves

Creatures (35) 3 Dwynen’s Elite 4 Elvish Archdruid 4 Elvish Mystic 4 Elvish Visionary 2 Ezuri, Renegade Leader 4 Heritage Druid 4 Llanowar Elves 4 Nettle Sentinel 1 Reclamation Sage 4 Shaman of the Pack 1 Sylvan Messenger Spells (7) 3 Chord of Calling 4 Collected Company

Lands (18) 4 Blooming Marsh 9 Forest 4 Llanowar Wastes 1 Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx Sideboard (15) 2 Choke 4 Essence Warden 2 Evolutionary Leap 2 Fracturing Gust 1 Krosan Grip 2 Lead the Stampede 1 Reclamation Sage 1 Scavenging Ooze

Budget Burn

Creatures (13) 4 Goblin Guide 1 Grim Lavamancer 4 Monastery Swiftspear 4 Spark Elemental Spells (29) 2 Flames of the Blood Hand 4 Lava Spike 4 Lightning Bolt 3 Magma Jet 4 Rift Bolt 4 Searing Blaze 4 Shard Volley 4 Skullcrack

Lands (18) 18 Mountain Sideboard (15) 2 Searing Blood 3 Smash to Smithereens 4 Exquisite Firecraft 2 Flames of the Blood Hand 4 Leyline of Punishment

Budget Skred Red

(0)

Creatures
4 Eternal Scourge
3 Stormbreath Dragon
Spells
2 Chandra, Pyromaster
4 Koth of the Hammer
3 Anger of the Gods
3 Blood Moon
4 Lightning Bolt
2 Magma Jet
4 Mind Stone
4 Relic of Progenitus
4 Skred
Lands
23 Snow-Covered Mountain
Sideboard
1 Anger of the Gods
4 Dragon’s Claw
3 Pithing Needle
2 Pyrite Spellbomb
3 Ratchet Bomb
2 Shatterstorm[/d]

So it’s up to you folks, though, seriously, please don’t make me play Burn. I’ll be back next week with a report on how week one goes.

In terms of Magic, Shawn Massak is a Modern enthusiast, with a penchant for tier two decks, counterspells, and pre Eighth Edition frames. In terms of life, Shawn lives in Brighton, MA where he works as an employment coordinator for people with disabilities, plays guitar in an indie-pop band, and spends his free time reading comics, complaining about pro-wrestling, and wishing his apartment allowed dogs as pets.