Tiny Leader on a tiny budget!
Our playgroup enjoys doing creative events with some kind of limitations to encourage new/unusual deck builds. This restriction is Tiny Leaders and a total budget of $20 (TCG Market Price). These decks will be played in group formats - contrary to how Tiny Leaders is usually a 1v1 format. This influenced many card choices.
-Let's talk strategy-
Commander
I chose Alesha because of the value she provides to our graveyard and because of her color identity. She can also do a decent job as a voltron commander, but obviously we are going for the value and synergy she creates with creatures in our graveyards.
Goal
Our goal is to get Alesha out and continuously add value to our board from the grave. Being that this will be used in a group format, I tried to build a deck that can handle any situation given the restrictions. Even though I was worried about the deck being a jack-of-all-trades and a master of none, it does not play out that way at all. The only time we may feel like we lose value is if we have to play a War Priest of Thune with no targets on the board, but this is an unlikely scenario. Group games are also very political, so the deck is not meant to rub too hard in the wrong way. No one wants to get hated off the table.
-Card Choices-
Land
Three colors is tough on a budget, but some of the demand is alleviated by using Alesha's ability. See below for reasons behind each choice:
Boros Garrison, Orzhov Basilica,
Rakdos Carnarium
: Bounce lands are a love/hate thing. In most cases here they do two big things for us:
- Provide the colors we need while still allowing us to hit our land drops every turn
- Allow us to discard during cleanup step at end of turn two (to feed Alesha on turn 4)
Command Tower: No description needed. Include in every multi-color commander deck.
Evolving Wilds, Terramorphic Expanse: Budget turn 1 mana fixing
Mountain, Plains, Swamp: Our old, reliable lands
Nomad Outpost: Great turn 1 play
Rogue's Passage: Strong utility that I include in all my commander decks. In this case it can protect Alesha (or any other attacker) from blockers while obviously providing direct damage.
Vault of the Archangel: Might be my favorite utility land. Had to work the budget to get his land in here. Provides great protection for Alesha and her targets. Pairs well with
Archetype of Courage
.
Card Draw
Though most of the time I find myself with a full hand as we just continue to play from our grave, it never hurts to add great draw spells to a deck.
Cathartic Reunion: Very strong synergy with Alesha. Get those creatures in the grave and draw more cards!
Faithless Looting: See above. Also, turn 1 bonus.
Mentor of the Meek: Every creature we cast (except Alesha) and token we make can net us a card
Presence
Grenzo, Dungeon Warden: Reanimate with Alesha. No need to put counters on it. Every creature in our deck will have 2 or less power.
Mardu Ascendancy: Doesn't trigger with Alesha's reanimation targets - only declared attackers, but I still love how out of control this can get.
Mogg War Marshal: More tokens. In and out.
Sacrifice Outlets
If someone tries to steal/remove one of your creatures we might as well sacrifice it to some benefit. Also, we will want to sacrifice some by our own hand so that we can reanimate them to abuse their ETB triggers.
Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim: Deathtouch is nice. So is gaining life, and so is removal. Utility!
Goblin Bombardment: Instant gratification. Can be the final damage to polish off an opponent.
Yahenni, Undying Partisan: Free sac outlets are awesome. This creature is just awesome as well.
Aggro
While we certainly won't be a fast deck, we will be able to drop some pretty scary threats that should have some targets on them.
Grenzo, Havoc Raiser: Does too much for us in group games! Goad is amazing, or if it was a grindy match we can always just exile libraries.
Markov Blademaster
: If it connects once it gets out of control
Mirran Crusader: Good beats and good evasion
Spike Cannibal: Probably will be the most hated card of the event. Sucking hydras dry or voltron commanders will probably put a bigger target on me than I want... but it's so good!
Vampire Nighthawk
: Can't turn this guy down. Although I use him more as defense.
Equipment
Hero's Blade: Great turn 2 play. Alesha as a 6/5 first striker on turn 3 is awesome. Also, can attach to some of her reanimation targets if needed.
Mask of Avacyn
, Swiftfoot Boots, Whispersilk Cloak: Hexproof/shroud for protection.
Sword of Vengeance: Does so much for so little $$$
Removal
Bone Shredder: Destroy creatures
Crackling Doom: Great value in group games. Gets around sneaky hexproof and gets rid of opponents' prize gems.
Fiend Hunter: Exile creatures. Bonus when paired with a sac outlet for permanent exile.
Manic Vandal
: Destroy artifacts
War Priest of Thune : Destroy enchantments
Protection
Gift of Immortality: Put it on Alesha for protection, or put it on a creature with an ETB ability to continuously reap the benefits
Reconnaissance: Our strongest protection card. Absolutely great with Alesha and Mardu Ascendancy
Spirit Bonds: More presence and added protection when we have extra mana
Buff
Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit: Can be a great turn 2 play if we have the mana
Archetype of Courage
: Awesome with deathtouch, and in general
Tricks
Deflecting Palm: Works great when you pretend like you are going to lose, only to have that 64/64 hydra explode in your face
Discard
Stronghold Rats
: My preferred first target for Alesha. Fill our grave and annoy opponents.
Grief
Imposing Sovereign: Always good (as long as others are playing creatures)
Sideboard
I put some cards in the sideboard that may be more useful depending on your playgroup. I personally will not be bringing a sideboard to the event (it is counted towards the budget), but maybe you will.
-That's it!-
Please give an upvote if you like, and feel free to make suggestions! Budget has a lot of hidden gems that I may have missed!
