Modern for Under $400
Modern forum
Posted on May 13, 2015, 11:30 a.m. by MollyMab
Heya all. Lots of people asking for budget modern decks so I thought I would put together a list of all decks that have done well at a competitive events and cost $400 or less TCG.
This list is by no means definitive and decks vary from competative to one hit wonder. MTGSalvation is another good source of cheap decks but it can give you an idea of what to expect.
Ad Nauseam Combo: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/232438
Big Red/Skred Red: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/223899
Naya Burn: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/235368
RW Midrange: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/226957
Hulk Combo: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/223439
Boros Burn: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/236005
Dredgevine: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/235865
Elves: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/235856
Enduring Ideal: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/179053
Esper Delve: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/226942
GOBLINS!: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/223033
Grixis Delver: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/235336
Bloom Titan: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/235352
Ascendancy Combo: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/235350
Mardu Land Destruction: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/226724
Twinning End: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/235358
Living End: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/231918
Loam Pox: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/222236
Soul Sisters: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/224044
Merfolk: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/234765 or http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/235879
Through the Breach: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/223783
Tokens: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/227841 Also available as an event deck and competative with very little tweaking needed
Mono U Tron: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/235342
UW Gifts Tron: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/231925
UR Storm: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/235857
Balance Post: http://www.mtgdecks.net/decks/view/222192
ZooGambler says... #3
Wow, $400 Is considered budget? Dang. Looks like modern isn't for me boys.
May 13, 2015 11:49 a.m.
It's funny how wide the range can be when people talk about budget. For me $400 is so far from budget. I'm fairly certain that for average mtg player it is too. I would say $100 is budget. Max $150.
Also, I'd recommend reading formatting tips so you could link those deck properly.
edit: but yeah. On the other hand, I'm a casual player so what do I know :)
May 13, 2015 11:59 a.m. Edited.
That's why I don't play real competitive MTG, too much money, too many market speculators hoarding cards and rising prices artificially.
May 13, 2015 12:01 p.m.
Look at it like this. I looked at Theros, RTR and ISD. I looked at deck changes and the cost of them.
If you didn't focused on modern over standard throughout Khans, you could build any of the decks on the above list and then some. Then on top some of the cards are standard staples, such as Wooded Foothills and the rest of the fetches, Tasigur, etc.
$400 seems like a lot. But, when you look at it in terms of standard, it is nothing. Legacy too. I've not played standard since Theros and I own MUD, half foiled Scapeshift and 4 FOW
May 13, 2015 12:01 p.m.
ZooGambler says... #8
Thing is, I don't have money to keep up with anything besides prerelease/ FNM, the decks I build are from winning FNMs and taking store credit vs packs. If I could afford to buy a whole deck, then I don't think budget would be an issue at all. But I do see your points.
May 13, 2015 12:05 p.m.
TristanTaylorsVoice says... #9
Mono Green Aggro would like to have a word with budget. If you can't build this deck, you can't play modern. I built this deck for 30 dollars.
May 13, 2015 12:15 p.m.
Unforgivn_II says... #10
I'd say 400 is definitely budget. Opinions are relative. Perhaps it isn't budget for those with no income (summer is coming; get a job!), but for the majority, 400 is affordable.
Also, trade. I'm still very slowly building 4C gifts (yes, $800-$1000), and I've barely spent any on cards specifically for the deck. If you're a smart trader, take what you get from your drafts/prize packs and turn them into stuff you need.
Also, it helps to not wait for obvious staples. I got my Lilianas at ~36, Snapcasters ~20, and my Elesh Norn for ~9, but all of that at least a year ago, 2 years for the Elesh Norn. You're almost always better off getting the cards now rather than later.
May 13, 2015 1:56 p.m.
Keep in mind that "Budget" has different meanings for competitive and casual players. A budget Casual deck might be under $50. I personally see them as only comprised of bulk costed cards (ie. nothing much more expensive then $1 rares, $3 mythics etc). The above deck will not get you anywhere near a win in a tournament (ie, a competitive setting), and competitive decks in modern can be thousands of dollars. Everything is relative.
May 13, 2015 2:57 p.m.
For all the people complaining that 400 isn't in their "budget" range. There are a LOT of people making decks that are competitive in the 800-1000 range, now you can play a 50-150 deck, but the chances of it beating even a 400 budget version are slim to none.
Magic is an expensive hobby, if you're a casual player then use proxies, competition is expensive, that's unfortunately how it works =/
May 13, 2015 3:37 p.m.
Well, you do have to remember that budget is a relative term. We can't get snooty about it. My modern isn't your modern.
May 13, 2015 3:39 p.m.
Maybe not, but competitive level paper modern IS the same for those involved in it. That's why I differentiate between casual and competitive magic.
There are obviously many many different types of players, but in order to play at the specific level we are talking about, it costs money.
It's a frustration to many including me because it's not even pay to win, it's pay to play. It's comparable to stakes poker in that you have to buy into the game in order to compete.
Magic has many many different levels of community and involvement.
May 13, 2015 3:44 p.m.
Well yeah, but the above list makes it clear that you CAN play lower budget modern competitively. And home-brews can do well. Obviously a $200 deck isn't going to be as solid as an $800 deck but you can win FNMs with budget delver etc which is very, very cheap. There is a level at which you just can't play competitive modern, but I am saying that that threshold is a lot lower than most would think. Mono green stompy decks can win smaller tournaments and can cost like $100. I've been beaten by them when playing BG/x!
May 13, 2015 3:47 p.m.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #17
guys you can make an excellent Balance Post deck for under $40.
May 13, 2015 4:35 p.m.
TristanTaylorsVoice says... #18
One thing to note about the lists above is that most of the lists are synergystic or combo based decks, thus synergy decks are the best place to start in modern. Good stuff decks are a lot of money because of their namesake:they require in demand, highly valuable cards. A synergystic deck on the other hand usually utilizes cards that are bad in a vaccum and are therfore lower demand: affinitys cards are never going to cost as much as bg/x because affinity's cards are only used in affinity, not every deck playing black or green.
May 13, 2015 5:26 p.m.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #20
ChiefBell I'm not sure how that is possible. Top Tier affinity is about $600 USD.
May 13, 2015 5:33 p.m.
Oh I think ravager and opal have fallen slightly. Hm. Fair enough.
May 13, 2015 5:40 p.m.
Actually, I disagree about synergy decks being a good way to start, because due to their nature they tend to be only good in 1 deck.
If you wanna play modern, go wide. Remand sees play in every blue deck pretty much. Fetches see lots of play. etc
May 13, 2015 6:11 p.m.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #23
you can't go wrong in modern with 4 bolts, 4 remands, and a sense of tempo and card advantage
May 13, 2015 6:21 p.m.
Burn can be pretty cheap and straight forward as well. other than Goblin Guide.
May 13, 2015 6:44 p.m.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #25
Goblin Guide will likely be reprinted in BfZ which should decrease the price.
May 13, 2015 6:48 p.m.
Serendipitous_Hummingbird says... #26
although it will make RDW in standard hell with Zurgo Bellsmasher, Goblin Guide, AND monastery swiftspear all together
May 13, 2015 6:49 p.m.
DeletedNow4ever says... #27
Budget is a dirty word, don't think of decks in money terms, think of them in terms of time. Building a deck slowly can be very rewarding. Seeing those proxy cards turn in to real cards over time is awesome.
I have two competitive Modern decks, a competitive Legacy deck, and a competitive Vintage deck. I didn't buy everything all at once, I worked towards a goal.
The other tip I have is make your cards work for you. My Modern Merfolk deck was super easy to port over to Legacy and Vintage since the deck shares 90% of its card pool in each format. Yes I had to buy a set of Force of Will, but I shopped smart and can now play all three eternal formats. Patience is the key, have it and you'll have decks.
May 13, 2015 9:07 p.m.
I didn't read all of the comments. But for Modern, I think 400 is a fair number as these are all viable modern lists. Like you said, some are more competitive than others. But overall, 400 will build you a cheaper but competitive modern deck whereas 100 will not. (I'm talking about paper not mtgo)
These are all budget compared to Junk, Twin, and jeskai
May 14, 2015 10:10 a.m.
TristanTaylorsVoice says... #29
@LeaPlath that's a fair point regarding synergy decks, as working towards getting a bunch of good cards over time will be more beneficial in the long run. So I guess we can say that if you need a deck to play, get a synergistic deck, and if you want to work towards playing modern or older formats, slowly work towards acquiring good cards.
May 14, 2015 11:17 a.m.
I think it depends on the individual's means and what they want to do.
May 14, 2015 11:19 a.m.
I would look at generically good stuff decks, rather than dead ends.
For example, in legacy I wanted to play UR painter. So I built MUD. It shares a lot of the land base and the none land cards are cheap.
So now I own 4 wasteland. 4 tomb. 4 city. With these I can go wasteland fair deck like RUG Tempo or BUG or something. I can also got unfair deck like Show and tell, UR painter, etc
May 14, 2015 11:36 a.m.
If I was to do an article about modern, alternative decks etc, explaining each of the above decks, would people be intrested?
May 15, 2015 5:42 p.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #33
I've dumped like 2000$ into my deck and still have a few cards left to buy... In terms of modern 400$ is budget. (Low budget at that) Sure you can build 100$ homebrews (I built mono 
infect for 80$) but they will crumble in a competitive environment (as others already mentioned)
I've played a few standards but it always feels like playing handicap modern when I do, I get so much more enjoyment out of modern the price doesn't even matter & it's not like standard where 40$ cards drop to like 2$ a year later...
May 16, 2015 1:20 a.m.
APPLE01DOJ says... #34
Good point LeaPlath I always share mana bases with my decks.
MollyMab says... #2
Of course, brews are possible, and I'll talk about them in another post.
May 13, 2015 11:31 a.m.