This is a hyperbudget Modern deck based on Assault Formation.
The main idea is simply to cast the enchantment and a few low-power, high-toughness creatures (known colloquially as "big butts") and attack for a lot more damage than would normally be the case for the mana cost.
The current Standard block has some remarkable options for primary beaters, but poor support. Luckily, the latter can be found in spades when we go Modern.
Your first turn drops are Ornithopter and Birds of Paradise. They're cheap, they fly, they can't attack worth shit.
After that come the actual beatsticks. Glorious, wonderful 1/3, 1/4 and 0/5 beatsticks. These weren't even randomly selected from the pool of big butts. Benthic Infiltrator is naturally unblockable, and
Elusive Spellfist
is unblockable on any turn that you've cast a pump, which should be most of the time. Tide Drifter is the biggest, he is a great blocker even before Assault Formation is deployed and is highly resistant to burn, plus he buffs the other Eldrazi.
The third part is the glorious pump that is Tower Defense, which in our hands is effectively a +5/+5 for everyone for 2 mana. Suddenly your unblockable Benthic Infiltrator is swinging for 9, and do you remember that little birdy you cast on turn one thinking it was only good for mana ramping? It's swinging for 6.
Your backup pump is
Triton Tactics
, which can be cast effectively for free off a birdy as it can immediately untap that same birdy. It also has a secondary effect when defending, so good flexibility there.
Your other spell slots are flexible. I use Commune with the Gods as it can dig deep and grabs almost anything in the deck, and Dispel to protect Assault Formation from counterspells.
My mana base is really, really budget. If you have better lands lying around, by all means use them. If you don't, then I heartily recommend you give
Holdout Settlement
a go. It essentially turns your Ornithopter into another birdy. Don't forget, the best spell to cast this way is
Triton Tactics
.
What do you think, sirs?
