Burn decks are completely overpowered. You just keep playing burn spells and there's nothing they can do about it. Even if they're playing something like Abzan midrange and end up gaining a lot of life, you can still end up burning them out. Unfortunately, this deck does run out of steam fairly quick, so you do have to rely on being aggresive and fast. Let's get on to the cards.
The Burn:
Lightning Bolt: The good old bolt has reached the MTG hall of fame along with Jace, the Mind Sculptor and Black Lotus. Such an amazing card, it's the Tarmogoyf in red (meaning almost every red deck in modern should run a playset of these). One mana to burn three to a creature OR a player is just unbeatable.
Lava Spike: It's almost like a Lightning Bolt, but not quite. However, most burn in this deck is going to be focused on the player anyways, so this card is still great. Again, one mana for three burn damage is nothing to mess with.
Shard Volley: This is more of a late game card, because you don't want to be sacrificing your lands on turn two. Again, this is almost a Lightning Bolt. Three damage to a creature is substantial, and three damage to a player is something to be careful of.
Rift Bolt
: Concluding the amazing playsets of one mana burn three spells in this deck is
Rift Bolt
. This is a Lightning Bolt, but it has suspend for a turn. This is a disadvantage because in the following turn, you could lose, your opponent's creature that you were planning to target can die, or they cast Siege Rhino and manage to gain that extra life that will cause your
Rift Bolt
not to do lethal damage. Still, this card is great.
Magma Jet: 2 damage is just okay, you kill their Monastery Swiftspear or Goblin Guide, but it's pretty insubstantial, especially for two mana. Sticking scry 2 on this card gives it huge value, and it lets you set up your burn spells for later. You probably won't have the time to use this more than once, which is why I run 2.
Lightning Helix: Yes, this is the card that was shoved on a rhino that combined, makes one of the most annoying and ridiculous cards in standard (and modern). Getting just the ability for two mana is pretty sweet. Lifegain actually has a lot of relevance, it allows you to hold out that extra turn needed to burn them out. Of course, three damage is noteworthy as well.
Searing Blaze: The card is ridiculous. It's meant to be played turn two or three, or any turn in which you will be putting lands out. Its a removal spell and a Lava Spike on one card. This card is just so helpful and so damaging.
Flame Slash: This card is debatably better left on the sideboard, but I find it hard to think of a deck that removal isn't relevant against. It can't kill Tasigur, the Golden Fang or Siege Rhino, but four damage is still a force not to be underestimated.
I'm only running a grand total of three creatures in this deck, because screw Goblin Guide. Here they are:
Eidolon of the Great Revel: This is one of those cards that just does so much damage that it begs for a removal spell. It pretty much causes every strategy to be careful with casting their CMC three or less spells. But since you just got to cast them, this card is going to deal huge portions of damage all around.
Monastery Swiftspear: In my opinion, this card is nearly the equal, if not the equal, of Goblin Guide. Because you are casting so many spells per turn with this deck, the swiftspear can be easily pumped to become a Lightning Bolt or something of a
Stoke the Flames
.
Vexing Devil: Unless you play this card later game, on turn 4 or 5, your opponent is going to take the four damage as opposed to have to deal with the towering presence of a 4/3 on turn 2.
Four damage for one mana? It's ridiculous. Late game this doesn't have as much relevance, but it can still take town a Liliana of the Veil or something.
Also, this deck is only budget in the sense that there is no fetchlands or goblin guides (and now you know why I'm not running everyone's favorite goblin).
