Nice combo, i might have to build this, then eventually get the non budget list together.

Hidden Strings can win you turn 4 turn only 3 lands.

I really like this take on mill. Very simple yet very effective. I've never played mill, but I have to believe that a turn 5 consistent win by mill is faster than most decks and much cheaper too

I like it. +1

Why not just use the Mindcrank Bloodchief Ascension combo instead of the guildmage?

A few reasons:

1. Duskmantle Guildmage is cmc=2 so it can be searched with the same cards as Mindcrank.

2. Bloodchief Ascension is easy to remove because removing the guildmage is suicide. See the description for details.

3. Bloodchief Ascension must be played on turn 1 to be fully effective and as fast as the guildmage. You also need to make your opponent lose life to trigger it which isn't easy in a mill deck because you rarely attack for 2 damage.

Overall, when it comes down to it, the guildmage combo is better because it runs a lot smoother and is a lot more focussed than the Ascension combo. Maybe I'm missing an obvious advantage to the Ascension combo but for me at least the guildmage is better.

@Figag I couldn't have put it better myself. Modern is all about speed, Bloodchief Ascension is pretty much a dead turn 1, where Duress or Thought Scour should go (or Thoughtseize/Serum Visions if you don't like budget). Therefore, another major difference is Duskmantle Guildmage is ready to go the moment he hits the field.

I have a deck with the same combo

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/15-03-15-pOq-combo/

I would put in Gutshot to kick off the combo

Also thoughtscour isn't the best draw spell, and I would put in dizzy spell to tutor for gutshot, or to stop aggro

This is a great base for an affordable mill deck! Though, a bit land-heavy, I'm +1 this as it's a simplified version of my modern competitive deck. Check it out if you are looking to beef up it's defense or put a few more quick triggers in to set it off:
Open Skull Lobotomy

3good5me - Thought Scour > Gut Shot

Kjartan, Gut Shot can win the game a turn earlier than Thought Scour, so you may want to rethink that one...

But man, I LOVE what you have done here! I have a beefed up version of this meta called Mill and Torture , but the fact that you made a working version of this for under $30 is really impressive. Hats off to you, and +1 no doubt.

... I would like to point out, however, izzet4lyf, that the statement "any removal can be answered with an activation of Duskmantle Guildmage's ability. This is great because once you have the combo, your opponent effectively can't play spells, or they lose." is not true. All they have to do is destroy, exile, or bounce your Mindcrank. If they do that, your DGM's ability only does one damage to them. Just felt like saying. Still an AMAZING budget build though!

@Nexliser I guess that does work. I guess I just haven't seen enough artifact removal in my meta to realize this. Also, Gut Shot doesn't really matter here, because we're not running AEther Vial for the turn 3 win, and at that point, it makes no difference. In my personal experience most of my triggers are off them playing spells, etc, so Thought Scour is just a cheap cantrip alternative with a bonus.

Nexliser Are you actually serious. Do you think it's better to win on turn 4 with a bad card, the to win the very same turn, with good card

Gut Shot is ponitless here.

Kjartan, Gut shot is capable of setting off the loop on turn 3, as long as you run Aether Vial. Therefore, Thought Scour isn't always better, only arguably in THIS specific budget case... Also, if all you are going to use it for is to trigger the loop, it's not any worse of a card, just has more mana flexibility.

I have a bit of a bad idea. As a secondary win condition add maybe a couple of copies of Sanguine Bond and Exquisite Blood. I don't know what to take out though.

The one problem with this deck is things that use the graveyard for spells that kill you- things like tarmagoyf and creatures that are buffed up by the graveyard. Other than that, great deck! +1

Those cards don't matter because as soon as this deck combos off, it's game. Immediately. Your opponent could respond midway through the stacks of mill and damage, but Tarmogoyf wouldn't matter along with most every other card because unless they can stop the combo, they lose as soon as the stacks resolve.

One card I wonder about though is Extirpate. If they cast a card, you respond by activating Duskmantle Guildmage (which taps you out), and they put Extirpate on the stack, will the mill + kill combo still resolve and result in you winning? I'm not sure.

I dont think it will, and thats exactly the kinds of cards im talking about. Cards that interrupt the combo, then stop it permanently.

@Jdvanliew Added to description.

I'd add some Dismal Backwater for mana fixing but I might be wrong about that. Although it comes in tapped, it looks like it'd be fine on turns 1 or 2.

@Figag I'll try some out. They do seem helpful but every land counts in this build, so you have to be careful.

i used this deck during some multiplayer the other day. beat everyone in one turn.

Hey!Can I win a tournament with this deck?

Unfortunately I have to say it's unlikely. Very unlikely. It's a fun deck and the budgetless version has some potential, but for $30 you won't be able to win even a semi-competitive FNM unless you're super good with the deck and get really lucky.

How big of a tournament do you want to win? If you want to take 1st in anything bigger than a 3-4 round FNM you'll need a fully-built tier 2 deck at a minimum as well as the skills to pilot it, which will cost you $300 most likely. If you're set on winning, you'll likely need to spend $450 minimum for burn (and subsequently never enjoy another game of magic) or up to $2000 if you want to build Jund. Basically, with $30 and playing a deck for the first time you'll need the stars to align and then some to win a tournament. This deck is tons of fun and you won't lose every game with it, but it won't win tournaments.