Hey, I think it's great what you are doing. People who can't dump every paycheck into their decks should get to compete too. +1 from me. :)

Have you considered Sands of Delirium instead of Codex Shredder?

@ Bozak -- Adding that combo, well actually I'd replace Mortus Strider with Undead Alchemist as w999 stated, would require me to drop 6-8 cards from this deck. I think that's too many for a combo that doesn't really work with the rest of the deck. Because mill can be easily trampled over in standard competitive play, I'm trying to make this deck as universal as possible, not requiring any specific combos for it to work.

@ My_ppl_eat_dogs -- I am keeping this as a budget deck (under $50 or so), and splashing while would steer it away from a devoted mill deck, which I don't want to do.

@ PriestessKikyo1 -- Thanks for the support! Once this deck reaches 100 upvotes, I will be starting to work on another budget deck to legitimize an uncommon strategy that is thought to be useless in competitive play. I'm open to suggestions too, so please post any ideas on my wall! I have considered Sands of Delirium, but I like Codex Shredder because it's a T1 drop and makes a T3 Jace's Phantasm very likely. Also, it has won me a few games - late-game its' second clause is amazing.

On a side note, I was thinking of sideboarding Mutilate. Maybe drop a Fog Bank and a Talrand, Sky Summoner for two of them? Thoughts?

Sands of Delirium is too mana intensive. That card would be better suited as a support card to an aggro deck or control. Codex Shredder is a freebie card. Increasing Confusion would be a better replacement for Codex Shredder if anything.

Specially on turn 4+, Increasing Confusion for 1 just to put it in the graveyard and Mind Sculpt the same turn. Next turn, Increasing Confusion for 3 or 4+ to mill out a good 30%-40% of deck in 2 turns.

I made a change of my own that worked out pretty nicely. I took out 3xConsuming Aberration and put in 3xBalustrade Spy, then substituted 4xGriptide for the 4xGrisly Spectacle. Spectacle has always been a hard card to play and I've noticed against aggro decks it has become less and less effective milling 1-3 for 4 mana. Griptide has been great for removing a creature from combat (plus if it had enchantments) and screwing their next draw. I did put spectacle in the sideboard, removing Talrand, Sky Summoner and Illness in the Ranks. I might be replacing Griptide with AEtherize though... haven't really had enough plays to see the full change of this.

Aberration is nice, but it felt more focused to have the ETB mill rather than giving their removal an immediate target, not having the chance to put his triggers out.

If you decide to go all out mill then Mutilate would a fine choice. As would Killing Wave. If you consistently rely on damage to win then they would be too good a choice.

@ Enyeto -- I will playtest with Increasing Confusion and see how it works out! I really do like the Codex Shredder's second ability though. AEtherize is much better than Griptide, so that would be t he replacement for Grisly Spectacle if I were to replace it. I don't really like Balustrade Spy; for one more mana, Consuming Aberration is bigger, and continuously mills.

@ w999 -- That's a good point. Either would work great for this deck, since I rarely have more than two creatures out :P If I'm thinking about Mutilate, I could cast it with up to 4 swamps and not worry about my creatures usually. but Killing Wave is also good... I'll have to think about this one, and I'm open to suggestions regarding which to run!

Mutilate would be better if you could get the shockland. (which you have...)

I only have one :P I'm going to possibly buy some packs today, maybe I'll get a second!

maybe, maybe

It would be cheaper to buy the shockland. 3 packs = 10 bucks at most stores. Shockland is 9-12.

I'm not really relying on the packs to get one, I was just curious to see what I'd get :P Now that I have a possible new idea for a deck, I might not buy packs.. not sure yet

I've added 3x Mutilate to the sideboard, and removed the two Talrand, The Sky Summoners and one Fog Bank.

I wouldn't worry myself with Thought Scour. Really, it's just 1 mana to mill 2 cards that gets replaced by a new card a turn later. It's just not that efficient.

In its place, I would honestly sneak in some copies of Murder ; removal is always good in budget, especially when you're wide-open for attacks otherwise.

Also, Dimir Guildgate should be in here. I'd just take out 2 Island and 2 Swamp to make room for a set. It would really only serve to benefit you, especially when trying to cast things like Lazav on turn-4 and Dimir Charm turn-2.

@ zandl -- Thanks for the suggestions! I will playtest with the Murders in place of Thought Scour. I don't care for the mill two, but the card draw can be helpful. I will also add in the Guildgates.

@ w999 & Enyeto -- I got a few packs today, and I got a Watery Grave. Hah. a $3 shockland isn't bad!

@ducttapedeckbox Im putting my foot in my mouth now!

I know this sounds a little crazy, but you might want to consider siding Consuming Aberration, he's a little high on the mana curve for my taste. Might I suggest Vampire Nighthawk? The lifelink and deathtouch will help you survive longer and give you more time to mill those midrange decks.

Consuming Aberration speeds up the milling process while posing a threat as a big creature. It's a key card to this deck. I don't know if it should be taken out.

what Luck! Man, I wish I would get what I wanted whenever I buy a booster pack

@ epicusername -- Consuming Aberration is a key card to this deck. It is also the only 5-CMC card in here, which doesn't take a toll on the deck's speed. Vampire Nighthawk poses a threat, but does absolutely nothing when it comes to milling.

@ w999 -- Well, I did buy a few packs and the Watery Grave one was the only good one (I also pulled a foil Spark Trooper in the same pack). Wait. I got a Duskmantle Seer too, But the rest was crap :P My friend bought 3 packs before me, and he got 2x Legion Loyalist and an Aurelia, the Warleader... too bad he doesn't play Boros :P

Have you thought about Inaction Injunction? Slows them down early and cantrips.

In place of Thought Scour I mean.

I don't know how valuable those mill 2 are to you.

I think Thought Scour is better than Inaction Injunction on multiple fronts. The first is that the former can be played at instant speed. That is ultimately the deciding factor for me, because I can leave mana open for a counterspell or charm and can use Thought Scour if I have the available mana at the end of my opponent's turn. Additionally, the detain doesn't do too much for the deck's purpose; the mill from Thought Scour is really an added bonus.

On a side note, love your username (assuming that it's referencing the Chrysler Crossfire).

I agree with ducttapedeckbox. In a mill deck you want to be really pressing that mill every spell or countering stuff to prevent losing by damage. Inaction Injunction just doesn't make enough of an impact. However if we were running white in the mix Feeling of Dread would be a top pick for sure.

I know theres the nice mill 2 part of Thought Scour, but think twice seems better as its 2 spells for 1 slot and works in the mirror.

I believe I have the same line of thought as ducttapedeckbox when I say this, but Think Twice you are paying 5 mana for 2 cards. Scour is 2 mill and draw 1. I put Increasing Confusion in the main deck for mine and I scour myself and dimir charm myself often to get them in the graveyard.

Thought Scour is part of the theme. The card draw is a bonus. But 2 cards for 1 mana is efficient. That leaves enough mana open for a counter on their turn, or mind sculpt, or most anything else in the deck if you are at turn 3+. It is also a really nice turn 1 play.