I saw an abzan list claiming to be budget, but it was really just pretty lackluster. I'll try my best to build an Abzan under 100 dollars, and we might just be shocked with how far it can go. It will be a fairly aggressive deck, with creatures that hit hard, hit fast, and don't die very well.
Creatures:
1:
Bloodsoaked Chamion: A dangerous, aggressive, and recurring threat, this guy is a must have for a so-called "aggro" deck, like Abzan has been called in the past (despite playing six drops and running 26 lands). This deck runs only 24, but still wants to hit early and often while scaling upwards into our larger threats.
Warden of the First Tree
: Literally the best 1 drop in standard right now without question in my mind. This guy gets big fast, being the only creature I know of right now that can consistently swing for three without much help on turn 2. Actually, in a slightly more aggressive R/G/x deck, this guy could combine with a few of the hasty threats from Khans block and be absolutely nasty with Monastery Swiftspear, but thats another day. 3/3's swinging on turn 2 that demand an answer immediately are an epic win in aggro.
2 drops:
Rakshasa Deathdealer
: Still great, still a mana sink, still affordable. Like bloodsoaked champ, he doesn't take kindly to dying. And he hits ridiculously hard for a two drop. On turn 4 he actually can out-muscle a rhino in combat, how crazy is that?
Heir of the Wilds: Although we don't always trigger ferocious, this card is good enough without it. Doesn't get chumped by tokens, yet swings through a big beast or trades with it=good aggro two drop. Since we're budget, the better option in
Den Protector
isn't really an option as I see it right now.
Anafenza, the Foremost: This almost feels like a gimme at this point, because she remains the only budget friendly (kind of) three drop that is even remotely competitive in these colors that we want in aggro. Other options include
Citadel Castellan
and actually
Catacomb Sifter
, which looks like a decent body and gives the 1/1 to add value.
Graveblade Marauder
looks interesting, and very good in aggressive decks as well. It has a body for control, as a 1/4 deathtouch is pretty much a nightmare to attack into. Basically, three drop (on a budget) is a very wide open race.
Abzan Ascendancy
: Value is back in style, and sticking this with a bunch of creatures on board guarantees you get a bigger team or an army of spirits to finish the fight!
4:
Siege Rhino: I'm pretty sure this doesn't need explaining.
Sorin, Solemn Visitor: 1 of trying to be a budget topper, we'll see if we have room for him when its all said and done.
5:???? real aggro decks don't use five drops! Let alone 6 drops! Wingmate Roc would almost indisputably top this slot in our colors though, as that guy (for ~$3 per card) provides insanely good pressure and value for the mid-late game as you're trying to put the nail in the opposition's coffin. Maybe a 2 of at most here, though.
Spells:
We're at least 24-28 creatures here so we'll be light on spells. But...
[[Abzan Charm]: The value and price are too good to ignore. We want the power this amazing charm has to offer, and we need it now.
Murderous Cut: Just a very good killing spell, and can be had for ridiculously cheap as well.
Dromoka's Command: Ridiculously awesome card, and ridiculously cheap as well.
Valorous Stance
: Blows up rhinos, and saves our rhinos from destruction.
You can see the final edits and results of the decklist below, but this final version I've settled on ticks in at just below 100 dollars (98) as of 10/4/15. This is a solid, power packed aggro deck to run in standard and it costs less than 100 dollars. The areas we mainly shorted on were the manabase, but this deck is basically what abzan is trying to do right now. Sure, we're missing out on value creatures such as
Den Protector
, Deathmist Raptor, Hangarback Walker, and possibly Drana, Liberator of Malakir, but we still have compact threats that synergize well with one another and yet are great at pressuring the opponent on their own by being aggressively costed.
Have fun with this if you decide to run it. Just remember any funds spent on upgrading should primarily go towards fetches, Shambling Vents and Canopy Vistas.
