Modern is one of the most popular formats in Magic the Gathering, and Wizards of the Coast has criminally only released ONE pre-made deck for the format (which has since gone out of print is slowly going up in price). My goal with this list is to offer a pre-made solution for people wanting to enter into the format. This will be a pseudo-budget list, with recommended upgrades and alternatives for those with fatter wallets, looking for a more competitive edge.
8-Whack is quickly gaining in popularity, and for a good reason: It's a super effective and consistent aggro strategy. This deck regularly wins turn 4, and only gets more consistent with upgrades. With Goblin Guide, this deck has the capability to win turn 3 in ideal situations, though that will very rarely ever happen.
(Turn 3 win example: T1: Mountain, Goblin Guide, Attack. T2: Mountain, Goblin Piledriver, attack with Goblin Guide. T3: Mountain, Goblin Guide, Goblin Bushwhacker or Reckless Bushwhacker swing for lethal.)
UPGRADES:
So obviously the first upgrade, as discussed above, is to get some Goblin Guide goodness in there. There was no consistent build of this deck i could make with a playset of the guide that kept the list under $100, so first order of business for anyone looking to potentially win turn 3 is to replace card:Goblin Cohorts and a copy of Frenzied Goblin with guides.
Goblin Piledriver and Legion Loyalist are absolute bombs in this deck, and rounding out the playset of each can be accomplished for less than the price of a single Goblin Guide.
The sideboard can be improved in countless ways with a larger budget. First order of business: Improving graveyard hate. Tormod's Crypt is great, but any deck that relies on the graveyard has an answer to it awaiting in their sideboard. Going down on Crypt and adding a copy of both Relic of Progenitus and Grafdigger's Cage adds a lot of consistency when playing against graveyard matchups. Shattering Spree has skyrocketed in price, and for that reason it didn't make my budget friendly sideboard, but adding 2 or 3 copies can greatly improve consistency against artifact heavy decks. Blood Moon as a one of can help swing the game in your favor and surprise the opponent on occasion. Goblin Rabblemaster, while usually unnecessary in the main board, can help push for the win against other aggro decks. Also, it's a cheaper Coat of Arms in both price and casting cost. Great as a one of in the sideboard.
ALTERNATIVES
Although it's an unpopular opinion, I personally prefer Goblin Arsonist to Mogg Fanatic. It's just better against other aggro decks, and I love the art. Mogg Fanatic is way more relevant in modern because of it's unconditional ability to sacrifice at instant speed. Recently, there has also been a huge outcry for Fanatical Firebrand, but the inability to sacrifice in addition to attacking the same turn makes it strictly worse than either the arsonist or fanatic options.
While not a suitable replacement, either 2 copies of Dragon Fodder or Krenko's Command in addition to Mogg War Marshal can make for a threatening board presence, trigger Foundry Street Denizen twice, and make a perfect turn 4 companion for one of the Bushwhacker bros!
There are several ways to change this deck for slightly alternative strategies. One of my favorites is by throwing in the cheap aggro artifacts from the Into the Breach event deck. This shell looks like a mashup of goblins and affinity, and it's truly a thing of beauty. Ornithopter, Memnite, and Signal Pest can make 8-Whack super scary as early as turn 2, with a board full cheap or free artifacts and the drop of a Goblin Bushwhacker. With the absolute nut draw of Mountain, Signal Pest, Goblin Bushwhacker, 4x Memnite, and drawing into a mountain turn 2, you can deal 15 damage. Absolute insanity. Throw in a few card:Darksteel Citadels for the extra access to artifacts, and it opens the door for super value cards like Kuldotha Rebirth and Shrapnel Blast. Vault Skirge could also be added for some damage in the air.
tl;dr, This deck can go in a million directions, most of which are good. It's an excellent starting point for anyone looking to get into modern. And, if like me, you bought the Into the Breach event deck a few years back, you already have a lot of key pieces for this deck and you're well on your way to smashing face. Happy playing!!
