<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Radiant Solar" href="#" target="_blank">Radiant Solar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/mokhman">Alexander Mokhov</a></h6>
<h1>Venture into Valuetown</h1>
<p>Hello, fellow brewer, and welcome back to <em>Brew for Your Buck</em>, where we swap out the top 10 most expensive cards in a deck with 10 budget cards that add a unique twist.</p>
<p>It's probably no secret at this point that black is my favorite color in the game, so I was on the lookout to not bore you all with another black deck but also search for something I could put together from cards in my collection.</p>
<p>An LGS in my area was unfortunately going out of business (thankfully someone bought it and it's back!) right around the time of <em>Commander Legends: Battle for Balder's Gate </em>release, so I ended up getting a few discount boxes during their closing sale. In reading through the Background pairings possible, I noticed a really interesting synergy between these two:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Alora, Merry Thief"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Far Traveler"></div></div>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alora, Merry Thief" href="#" target="_blank">Alora, Merry Thief</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can make one of our creatures unblockable, but that comes with the drawback of having to return it back to our hand in the end step. However, when we order our triggers on our end step, we can target that creature with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Far Traveler" href="#" target="_blank">Far Traveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> first, blink it, then not have to return it! Now we have something most blink decks don't have: a way to win quickly. Looking at the average list on EDHREC, the deck clocks in at $189.10, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhystic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Rhystic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and a bunch of blink staples making up our top 10. When did <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> become a $4+ dollar card?!</p>
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhystic Study" href="#" target="_blank">Rhystic Study</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($37.63)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Preston, the Vanisher" href="#" target="_blank">Preston, the Vanisher</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($20.68)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa, Deep-Dwelling" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa, Deep-Dwelling</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($13.60)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Displacer Kitten" href="#" target="_blank">Displacer Kitten</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($9.90)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farewell" href="#" target="_blank">Farewell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($9.64)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conjurer&#039;s Closet" href="#" target="_blank">Conjurer&#039;s Closet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($7.91)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Panharmonicon" href="#" target="_blank">Panharmonicon</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($6.05)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teleportation Circle" href="#" target="_blank">Teleportation Circle</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($5.07)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Talisman of Progress" href="#" target="_blank">Talisman of Progress</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($4.68)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Propaganda" href="#" target="_blank">Propaganda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($4.65)</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="padding-left: 200px; text-align: left;"><strong>Total Value of Cuts: $119.99</strong></p>
<p>This time around, the manabase doesn't make up a huge percentage of the deck's value. We can save an additional $23.70 if we cut and replace the ones that would have made the top-10, bringing our total savings to <strong>$143.69</strong>.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Additions</h2>
<p>For all of you that are upset with taking out our blink pieces, don't worry. You'll still be able to head straight to value town and with an actual clock to boot. For our budget package, we turn to another <em>D&amp;D</em> mechanic: dungeons. It turns out that there are a lot of ways to venture into the dungeon when our creatures enter the battlefield or do combat damage to an opponent, and our commanders are set up to do both of these, so we'll be flying through dungeons and reaping the benefits in no time!</p>
<h3>Venture "Lords"</h3>
<p>Our first substitutions are the some of the best venturers we have access to. First up, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Radiant Solar" href="#" target="_blank">Radiant Solar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.48) is just cracked. Not only do we get a venture trigger when it enters, but we'll venture <strong>every time</strong> we blink a creature. Not to mention <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Radiant Solar" href="#" target="_blank">Radiant Solar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> also flies, so we can target something else with Alora's ability and still crack in for a six-point life swing. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker" href="#" target="_blank">Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.06) is a no-brainer, doubling up our dungeon value for just existing on the battlefield.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Radiant Solar"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker"></div></div>
<h3>Attacking for Value</h3>
<p>While Alora gives us some fantastic evasion, she only does so with one key creature. Our plan is to end the game through combat damage while supporting our creatures with all of our dungeon value, so granting more of our board evasion will accelerate us to a win. To start, we can add <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Midnight Pathlighter" href="#" target="_blank">Midnight Pathlighter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.25) to grant our board a unique form of evasion. Even though the format is clogged with more and more legendary creatures, at the bare minimum we guarantee a venture trigger with the creature we target with Alora. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seasoned Dungeoneer" href="#" target="_blank">Seasoned Dungeoneer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($3.42) can give 17 out of 39 creatures in our final list protection from creatures (read: unblockable) and some card filtering with the <em>Explore</em> mechanic as well. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thorough Investigation" href="#" target="_blank">Thorough Investigation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($1.61) grants us Clues for attacking so much, and in turn the Clues will give us a venture in addition to a card. We can even store up the Clues and turbo through a dungeon in one big card-drawing, venturing turn!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Midnight Pathlighter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seasoned Dungeoneer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thorough Investigation"></div></div>
<h3>Completion Bonuses</h3>
<p>Now that we've accelerated our dungeon room rate, we can take a look at cards that grant us big bonuses for completing them. The recently-banned-in-Legacy <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="White Plume Adventurer" href="#" target="_blank">White Plume Adventurer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($3.22) saw a significant price drop, so we can snag a copy on the cheap. Like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seasoned Dungeoneer" href="#" target="_blank">Seasoned Dungeoneer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> above, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Eccentric Apprentice" href="#" target="_blank">Eccentric Apprentice</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.06) can help us attack with other creatures that aren't being sneaked through with Alora by turning a blocker into a bird. These two are also fine blink targets, as we'll take the initiative on their way in. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imoen, Mystic Trickster" href="#" target="_blank">Imoen, Mystic Trickster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.06) keeps the good times rolling, drawing us two cards per turn as long as we have the initiative, which should be trivial if we have an unblockable creature each turn.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="White Plume Adventurer"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Eccentric Apprentice"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Imoen, Mystic Trickster"></div></div>
<p>One omission from our budget package to note is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nadaar, Selfless Paladin" href="#" target="_blank">Nadaar, Selfless Paladin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. He's a great card for the strategy and cheap ($0.30) if you want to pick up a copy, but his inherent vigilance prevents him from being blinked with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Far Traveler" href="#" target="_blank">Far Traveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Watch out for those non-bos!</p>
<h3>Generic Value</h3>
<p>Okay, we could slot in some other dungeon cards, but I just thought it was criminal that <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sludge Monster" href="#" target="_blank">Sludge Monster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.17) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Battlesphere" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Battlesphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.21) were not in the average deck list. Both of them have ETB and attack triggers that are just insane if we get them turn after turn. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sludge Monster" href="#" target="_blank">Sludge Monster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> will lock down two creatures per turn, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Battlesphere" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Battlesphere</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>... well, games will just END if it sticks around for a few turns. A note on <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sludge Monster" href="#" target="_blank">Sludge Monster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>: just because it leaves the battlefield when it blinks doesn't mean the slime counters are removed from anything, so feel free to slime it up like a Nickelodeon show from the 90s.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sludge Monster"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Myr Battlesphere"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Wrap Up and Savings</h2>
<p>Let's take a look at what we've saved:</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Picture1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-97451 aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Picture1.png" alt="" width="364" height="262" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Picture1.png 364w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Picture1-300x216.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 364px) 100vw, 364px" /></a></p>
<p>Now that's what I call some savings! We dropped the price of the deck down to just under $55, and yet again kept 90/100 cards from the original list. Value engineering at its finest.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Venturing for Value" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Alora, Merry Thief
*1 Far Traveler
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Abdel Adrian, Gorion&#039;s Ward
*1 Aerial Extortionist
*1 Aether Channeler
*1 Archaeomancer
*1 Brago, King Eternal
*1 Circuit Mender
*1 Cloudblazer
*1 Dawnbringer Cleric
*1 Eccentric Apprentice
*1 Flickerwisp
*1 Githzerai Monk
*1 Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker
*1 Hero of Bretagard
*1 Imoen, Mystic Trickster
*1 Inspiring Overseer
*1 Karmic Guide
*1 Kor Cartographer
*1 Midnight Pathlighter
*1 Mistmeadow Witch
*1 Mulldrifter
*1 Myr Battlesphere
*1 Oji, the Exquisite Blade
*1 Pegasus Guardian
*1 Peregrine Drake
*1 Radiant Solar
*1 Reflector Mage
*1 Reveillark
*1 Rumor Gatherer
*1 Seasoned Dungeoneer
*1 Sludge Monster
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Soulherder
*1 Spirited Companion
*1 Sun Titan
*1 Venser, Shaper Savant
*1 Watcher for Tomorrow
*1 White Plume Adventurer
*1 Yorion, Sky Nomad
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Azorius Signet
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Golden Argosy
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Austere Command
*1 Hallowed Respite
*1 Time Wipe
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Blessed Sanctuary
*1 Candlekeep Sage
*1 Ghostly Prison
*1 Thorough Investigation
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Blur
*1 Cloudshift
*1 Counterspell
*1 Eerie Interlude
*1 Ephemerate
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Ghostly Flicker
*1 Lae&#039;zel&#039;s Acrobatics
*1 Momentary Blink
*1 Negate
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Lands]
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Azorius Chancery
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deserted Beach
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Hallowed Fountain
*1 Idyllic Beachfront
*8 Island
*13 Plains
*1 Port Town
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Sea of Clouds
*1 Temple of Enlightenment
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>Time for feedback! Did you like the dungeon idea? Is there a commander that you want to see next? Let me know in the comments and I'll see you next time when we brew for your buck!</p>


Brew for Your Buck - Venturing For Value

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider Spawning" href="#" target="_blank">Spider Spawning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thesteveprescott/?hl=en">Steve Prescott</a></h6>
<h1>Limited Inspiration</h1>
<p>Hello, fellow brewer, and welcome back to <em>Brew for your Buck</em>, where we swap out the top 10 most expensive cards in a deck with 10 budget cards that add a unique twist. Until now we've looked at a lot of different two-color decks, in part because as we add colors the most expensive cards tend to just be the mana base, which for us creates a weird dynamic for removing and adding cards. Based on your feedback, we're going to switch it up a bit. We'll only look at the top ten <span style="text-decoration: underline;">nonland</span> cards going forward, trusting you to adjust your mana base as needed for your budget and deck functionality. I'll include "additional savings" from the mana base after the list of cuts just so it's clear.</p>
<p>With that out of the way, let's move on to today's deck. My favorite way to play <em>Magic </em>besides Commander is Limited. I started my foray into drafting back in the <em>Scars of Mirrodin</em> block, and yes, I forced <em>Infect</em> until I didn't, then 3-0'd the FNM with a red-white beatdown deck. After <em>Scars</em> block, something happened that is now mythical in the annals of Limited: triple <em>Innistrad</em> draft. And within that format was one of the most famous Limited decks of all time<em>. Shadows Over Innistrad: Remastered</em> kind of brought it to <em>Arena</em>, but we are bringing it to Commander. Yes, dear reader, today's budget package is the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider Spawning" href="#" target="_blank">Spider Spawning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> deck, shoehorned into an existing Commander deck as a tribute to the fun I had all those years ago.</p>
<p>Fortunately, we have a perfect commander to do this: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sidisi, Brood Tyrant" href="#" target="_blank">Sidisi, Brood Tyrant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Sidisi is all about getting creatures in the 'yard, which happens to be perfect for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider Spawning" href="#" target="_blank">Spider Spawning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Being in Sultai also allows us to play all of the cards we need for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider Spawning" href="#" target="_blank">Spider Spawning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and its myriad of friends that made the 40-card deck pop.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Sidisi, Brood Tyrant"></div></div>
<p>Looking at the average list on EDHREC, the deck clocks in at $367.40. As expected, seven of the top 10 most expensive cards are lands. Taking out that many without replacing them with basics or other budget lands would probably be catastrophic in a deck looking to mill itself, so as mentioned before we're going to look at the top 10 nonlands to remove:</p>
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($40.15)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($35.81)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reanimate" href="#" target="_blank">Reanimate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($11.05)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Life from the Loam" href="#" target="_blank">Life from the Loam</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($10.02)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Birds of Paradise" href="#" target="_blank">Birds of Paradise</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($6.65)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entomb" href="#" target="_blank">Entomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($5.91)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($5.90)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Assassin&#039;s Trophy" href="#" target="_blank">Assassin&#039;s Trophy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($5.53)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deathrite Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Deathrite Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($5.37)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cryptbreaker" href="#" target="_blank">Cryptbreaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($5.27)</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="padding-left: 200px; text-align: left;"><strong>Total Value of Cuts: $131.66</strong></p>
<p style="text-align: left;">We can save an additional $134.04 by replacing the expensive lands with budget options, for a total savings of <strong>$265.70.</strong></p>
<hr />
<h2>Additions</h2>
<h3>The Trinity</h3>
<p>To start off, we know we're adding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider Spawning" href="#" target="_blank">Spider Spawning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.11), it's the namesake card of the deck. In <em>Innistrad</em> Limited there were other key cards needed to infinitely loop it. One reason why the deck was so silly is because a lot of these cards would be close to last picks since they really didn't do much in any other draft deck. These were <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Runic Repetition" href="#" target="_blank">Runic Repetition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.02) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Memory&#039;s Journey" href="#" target="_blank">Memory&#039;s Journey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.15). Once you were down to only a few cards left in the deck, you could use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Memory&#039;s Journey" href="#" target="_blank">Memory&#039;s Journey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to shuffle <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Spider Spawning" href="#" target="_blank">Spider Spawning</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Runic Repetition" href="#" target="_blank">Runic Repetition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> back into your deck, then use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Runic Repetition" href="#" target="_blank">Runic Repetition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> to put <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Memory&#039;s Journey" href="#" target="_blank">Memory&#039;s Journey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> back into your hand and repeat to make unlimited Spiders.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Spider Spawning"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Runic Repetition"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Memory&#039;s Journey"></div></div>
<h3>Classic Support</h3>
<p>Some of the classic support cards for the draft deck are already in our list, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deranged Assistant" href="#" target="_blank">Deranged Assistant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Splinterfright" href="#" target="_blank">Splinterfright</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but we have a few more classics to add. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gnaw to the Bone" href="#" target="_blank">Gnaw to the Bone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.12) keeps you alive as you mill yourself towards that state of bliss, and while we have plenty of ways to mill ourselves, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Selhoff Occultist" href="#" target="_blank">Selhoff Occultist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.07) goes into overdrive in Commander, with more players at the table, creature tokens (like the Zombies that Sidisi makes) dying, and board wipes flying around.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gnaw to the Bone"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Selhoff Occultist"></div></div>
<h3>Best Impressions</h3>
<p>The decks that really got to pop off had multiple copies of the key cards. Well, we can't do that in Commander, but thankfully we've been to Innistrad three times (as of 2023), so we can look to the sister sets for redundancy. <em>Midnight Hunt</em> and <em>Crimson Vow</em> tried to capture the nostalgia, like we're doing today, bringing us <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vilespawn Spider" href="#" target="_blank">Vilespawn Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rootcoil Creeper" href="#" target="_blank">Rootcoil Creeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Turn the Earth" href="#" target="_blank">Turn the Earth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vilespawn Spider" href="#" target="_blank">Vilespawn Spider</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is already in the deck, which really threw me for a loop as to why the card it pays homage to isn't. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rootcoil Creeper" href="#" target="_blank">Rootcoil Creeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.07) is not in the deck, but it is a great addition, being a mana dork to get us to Sidisi early and acting as a one-shot <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Runic Repetition" href="#" target="_blank">Runic Repetition</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Turn the Earth" href="#" target="_blank">Turn the Earth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.13) is essentially <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Memory&#039;s Journey" href="#" target="_blank">Memory&#039;s Journey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with some extra flexibility and lifegain thrown in.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rootcoil Creeper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Turn the Earth"></div></div>
<h3>Commanding Shifts</h3>
<p>Okay, okay, I know we can't only jam Limited cards into the deck, so the last few cards are proof that I am not lost in a Bruce Springsteen song. This is Commander, after all, and there are some sweet additions that can supplement our Limited dreams. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mausoleum Secrets" href="#" target="_blank">Mausoleum Secrets</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.84) is one of my favorite tutors on a budget, and this is a perfect home for it. It can find 31 of the cards in our deck for two mana at instant speed, making it a really powerful tutor for us. In a similar vein, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Songs of the Damned" href="#" target="_blank">Songs of the Damned</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.78) can give us a huge burst of mana, again at instant speed to fuel a big turn. Finally, the newly reprinted <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Oversold Cemetery" href="#" target="_blank">Oversold Cemetery</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.47) will let us grab a key creature out of our graveyard. Most of the time we want them to stay in there, but with all the milling we're doing, this card can act more like card draw than recursion.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mausoleum Secrets"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Songs of the Damned"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Oversold Cemetery"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Wrap Up and Savings</h2>
<p>Let's take a look at what we've saved:</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Picture1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="alignnone wp-image-96628" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Picture1-300x235.png" alt="" width="352" height="276" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Picture1-300x235.png 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Picture1.png 355w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 352px) 100vw, 352px" /></a></p>
<p>We achieve a massive 72% cost reduction from the average if we make these swaps and cut out the pricey lands. And hey, maybe by cutting out just the nonlands, you can keep one of the expensive lands for your collection! I definitely like this new method going forward, so look for more mana base savings in the future.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Spider Senses" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Sidisi, Brood Tyrant
[/Commander]
[Artifacts]
*1 Altar of Dementia
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Conduit of Worlds
*1 Mesmeric Orb
*1 Perpetual Timepiece
*1 Sol Ring
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Animate Dead
*1 Cemetery Tampering
*1 Out of the Tombs
*1 Oversold Cemetery
*1 Path of Discovery
*1 Sultai Ascendancy
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Death Baron
*1 Deathbloom Ritualist
*1 Deranged Assistant
*1 Diregraf Captain
*1 Elves of Deep Shadow
*1 Eternal Witness
*1 Genesis
*1 Golgari Grave-Troll
*1 Golgari Thug
*1 Jarad, Golgari Lich Lord
*1 Kagha, Shadow Archdruid
*1 Llanowar Elves
*1 Millikin
*1 Muldrotha, the Gravetide
*1 Nyx Weaver
*1 Old Rutstein
*1 Old Stickfingers
*1 Ramunap Excavator
*1 Reclamation Sage
*1 Rootcoil Creeper
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Satyr Wayfinder
*1 Selhoff Occultist
*1 Skull Prophet
*1 Splinterfright
*1 Stinkweed Imp
*1 Stitcher&#039;s Supplier
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Timeless Witness
*1 Underrealm Lich
*1 Urborg Lhurgoyf
*1 Vilespawn Spider
*1 Wilhelt, the Rotcleaver
*1 Wonder
*1 World Shaper
*1 Zellix, Sanity Flayer
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Fact or Fiction
*1 Gnaw to the Bone
*1 Grisly Salvage
*1 Mausoleum Secrets
*1 Memory&#039;s Journey
*1 Overwhelming Remorse
*1 Putrefy
*1 Songs of the Damned
*1 Turn the Earth
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cultivate
*1 Dread Return
*1 Living Death
*1 Runic Repetition
*1 Spider Spawning
*1 Splendid Reclamation
*1 Stitch Together
*1 Victimize
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Tyvar, Jubilant Brawler
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Breeding Pool
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dakmor Salvage
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*5 Forest
*1 Island
*1 Llanowar Wastes
*1 Misty Rainforest
*1 Opulent Palace
*1 Overgrown Tomb
*1 Polluted Delta
*1 Rejuvenating Springs
*6 Swamp
*1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
*1 Undergrowth Stadium
*1 Verdant Catacombs
*1 Watery Grave
*1 Woodland Cemetery
*1 Yavimaya Coast
*1 Zagoth Triome
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>Thanks for taking this journey down memory lane with me. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Memory&#039;s Journey" href="#" target="_blank">Memory&#039;s Journey</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> lane? Something like that. As always, I look forward to your feedback in the comments, and I'll see you next time when we brew for your buck!</p>


Brew For Your Buck - Spider Senses

<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilt-Leaf Archdruid" href="#" target="_blank">Gilt-Leaf Archdruid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/thesteveprescott/?hl=en">Steve Prescott</a></h6>
<h1>This Land is My Land</h1>
<p>Hello, fellow brewer, and welcome back to <em>Brew for your Buck</em>, where we swap out the top 10 most expensive cards in a deck with 10 budget cards that add a unique twist. Today is an exciting day for me, since we get to talk about my favorite two-color pair in the game: Golgari. (No I won't say Witherbloom, even if it's fitting.) <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Dina, Soul Steeper" href="#" target="_blank">Dina, Soul Steeper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> has some great aspects that make a good commander. She's only two mana, making her easily castable, her first ability is a win con and her second is a sac outlet, and, most importantly for today, she's a Druid.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Dina, Soul Steeper"></div></div>
<p>Looking at the average list on EDHREC, the deck clocks in at $168.87, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exquisite Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Exquisite Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> topping the list. That makes sense since it goes infinite with our commander, but we're only interested in <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/brew-for-your-buck-unearthing-the-infinite/">budget infinite combos</a>. A few other lifegain/Golgari staples make up the rest. As usual, we'll start by removing the most expensive cards in the deck, then take a look at our budget package, noting that all prices listed below were current at time of writing.</p>
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Exquisite Blood" href="#" target="_blank">Exquisite Blood</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($28.29)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Overgrown Tomb" href="#" target="_blank">Overgrown Tomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($12.80)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Alhammarret&#039;s Archive" href="#" target="_blank">Alhammarret&#039;s Archive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($10.87)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Undergrowth Stadium" href="#" target="_blank">Undergrowth Stadium</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($9.33)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Beledros Witherbloom" href="#" target="_blank">Beledros Witherbloom</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($8.69)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Veinwitch Coven" href="#" target="_blank">Veinwitch Coven</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($6.01)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pest Infestation" href="#" target="_blank">Pest Infestation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($5.81)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Assassin&#039;s Trophy" href="#" target="_blank">Assassin&#039;s Trophy</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($5.78)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ayara, First of Locthwain" href="#" target="_blank">Ayara, First of Locthwain</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($5.68)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Deathrite Shaman" href="#" target="_blank">Deathrite Shaman</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($5.34)</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="padding-left: 200px; text-align: left;"><strong>Total Value of Cuts: $98.60</strong></p>
<hr />
<h2>Additions</h2>
<p>Those of you that recognized the art at the top of the article know what's coming already: we're going to build around one of my favorite cards, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilt-Leaf Archdruid" href="#" target="_blank">Gilt-Leaf Archdruid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($1.76). While our primary gameplan is still gain and drain, our package gives us a completely different (and hidden) plan of attack that is absolutely hilarious if we can pull it off. The list already contains six Druids, including Dina, so we can add some more to not only make the Archdruid activation possible, but even less of a magical christmasland scenario.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Gilt-Leaf Archdruid"></div></div>
<p>However, we aren't just adding random Druids for the hell of it. I've done my best to make sure the additions today aren't just dead cards if we don't have the Archdruid. No <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Maskwood Nexus" href="#" target="_blank">Maskwood Nexus</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> below!</p>
<h3>Whether You Life It or Not</h3>
<p>Unsurprisingly, our first three additions are from <em>Strixhaven</em> or <em>Commander 2021. </em>These three Druids also synergize nicely with our lifegain plan, with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ezzaroot Channeler" href="#" target="_blank">Ezzaroot Channeler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.29) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Accomplished Alchemist" href="#" target="_blank">Accomplished Alchemist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.25) giving us some more ramp, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Honor Troll" href="#" target="_blank">Honor Troll</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.04) amplifying our lifegain as we go.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ezzaroot Channeler"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Accomplished Alchemist"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Honor Troll"></div></div>
<h3>Druiding Your Best</h3>
<p>Speaking of ramp, this is arguably the thing that Druids are best known for. We already have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Llanowar Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Llanowar Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, so we can add <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fyndhorn Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Fyndhorn Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.97) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Elvish Mystic" href="#" target="_blank">Elvish Mystic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.38) for some more turn-one acceleration. We can also add <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seton, Krosan Protector" href="#" target="_blank">Seton, Krosan Protector</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($1.97) to turn all of our Druids (including Dina) into <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Llanowar Elves" href="#" target="_blank">Llanowar Elves</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. And yes, we could just put Seton in the command zone, but we lose access to black, the best color in <em>Magic</em> (fact, no personal bias at all), and our opponents will see what's coming!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Seton, Krosan Protector"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Fyndhorn Elves"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Elvish Mystic"></div></div>
<h3>Druid-tility</h3>
<p>To round out our budget package, I wanted to include some druid-tility cards. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nullmage Advocate" href="#" target="_blank">Nullmage Advocate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.15) is a weird one, but besides being repeatable "free" removal, it can be a really great political tool and act as a weird form of graveyard hate in a pinch. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Paragon of Eternal Wilds" href="#" target="_blank">Paragon of Eternal Wilds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.17) pumps our team and can give Dina trample if we decide to use her second ability to deal a bunch of damage. Finally, while not a Druid or even a creature, I had to include <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Primal Command" href="#" target="_blank">Primal Command</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.56). It can be slow, but it's really flexible, being a tutor for <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilt-Leaf Archdruid" href="#" target="_blank">Gilt-Leaf Archdruid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, removal for a problem noncreature card, graveyard hate, and can even dome someone for seven if we have a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sanguine Bond" href="#" target="_blank">Sanguine Bond</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect out.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nullmage Advocate"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Paragon of Eternal Wilds"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Primal Command"></div></div>
<h2>Wrap Up and Savings</h2>
<p>Let's take a look at what we've saved:</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Picture1-1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-95541 aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Picture1-1-300x229.png" alt="" width="377" height="288" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Picture1-1-300x229.png 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Picture1-1.png 343w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 377px) 100vw, 377px" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Yet again we dropped the initial list to under $100 by cutting only 10 cards from it. I have my usual problem with the land count, but I'm starting to sound like a broken record, so I'll throw it to you, dear reader. Going forward would you like me to remove only the top 10 <span style="text-decoration: underline;">nonland</span> cards from the list? This might mean less overall savings but at least we keep these low land counts the same. Or we can keep doing what we're doing, lands be damned!</p>
<p><script>var pd_tags = new Array;pd_tags["12036455-src"]="poll-oembed-simple";</script><script type="text/javascript" charset="utf-8" src="https://secure.polldaddy.com/p/12036455.js"></script><noscript><iframe title="Which do you prefer?" src="https://poll.fm/12036455/embed" frameborder="0" class="cs-iframe-embed"></iframe></noscript></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="A Druid&#039;s Life" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Dina, Soul Steeper
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Accomplished Alchemist
*1 Blood Artist
*1 Creeping Bloodsucker
*1 Deathgreeter
*1 Elvish Mystic
*1 Epicure of Blood
*1 Essence Warden
*1 Ezzaroot Channeler
*1 Falkenrath Noble
*1 Fyndhorn Elves
*1 Gala Greeters
*1 Gilt-Leaf Archdruid
*1 Gray Merchant of Asphodel
*1 Haywire Mite
*1 Honor Troll
*1 Jaddi Offshoot
*1 Llanowar Elves
*1 Marauding Blight-Priest
*1 Nullmage Advocate
*1 Paragon of Eternal Wilds
*1 Prosperous Innkeeper
*1 Sakura-Tribe Elder
*1 Scavenging Ooze
*1 Sedgemoor Witch
*1 Seton, Krosan Protector
*1 Social Climber
*1 Spectrum Sentinel
*1 Valentin, Dean of the Vein
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose
*1 Witch of the Moors
*1 Witherbloom Apprentice
*1 Zulaport Cutthroat
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bolas&#039;s Citadel
*1 Pristine Talisman
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Tablet of the Guilds
*1 Talisman of Resilience
*1 Well of Lost Dreams
[/Artifacts]
[Enchantments]
*1 Bastion of Remembrance
*1 Blight Mound
*1 Druid Class
*1 Moldervine Reclamation
*1 Revenge of Ravens
*1 Sanguine Bond
*1 Trudge Garden
[/Enchantments]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Infuse with Vitality
*1 Mortality Spear
*1 Plumb the Forbidden
*1 Putrefy
*1 Tamiyo&#039;s Safekeeping
*1 Tend the Pests
*1 Village Rites
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Culling Ritual
*1 Cultivate
*1 Deadly Brew
*1 Deadly Tempest
*1 Essence Pulse
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Primal Command
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Sign in Blood
*1 Urborg Repossession
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Vraska, Golgari Queen
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Command Tower
*1 Deathcap Glade
*7 Forest
*1 Golgari Rot Farm
*1 High Market
*1 Jungle Hollow
*1 Llanowar Wastes
*1 Radiant Fountain
*1 Riveteers Overlook
*1 Sapseep Forest
*12 Swamp
*1 Tainted Wood
*1 Temple of Malady
*1 Woodland Cemetery
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p><em>Brew for Your Buck</em> is a new series, so I'm always glad to hear feedback! Would you have tried something different for the budget package? Is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gilt-Leaf Archdruid" href="#" target="_blank">Gilt-Leaf Archdruid</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> your new favorite card? Let me know in the comments below what you think about this deck or about the series as a whole, and I'll see you next time when we brew for your buck.</p>


Brew for Your Buck - A Druid's Life

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Welder Automaton" href="#" target="_blank">Welder Automaton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://victoradameart.com/">Victor Adame Minguez</a>)</h6>
<h1>To Infinity and A Win</h1>
<p>Hello, fellow brewer, and welcome back to <em>Brew for your Buck</em>, where we swap out the top 10 most expensive cards in a deck with 10 budget cards that add a unique twist. If you've been following the series so far, you'll know that we haven't yet delved into the wonderful world of red mana, so today we're going to change that. I don't have more than a basic understanding of the lore, so I won't try to tell you much about Mishra. I do know that he likes artifacts and graveyards, though, and that's right up my alley!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mishra, Tamer of Mak Fawa"></div></div>
<p>Looking at the average list on EDHREC, the deck clocks in at $240.98, with some big artifacts to reanimate, some dual lands, and a random <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> comprising the top end. As usual, we'll start by removing the most expensive cards in the deck then take a look at our budget package, noting that all prices listed below were current at time of writing. Listening to your feedback, the ten removed cards are now linked so you can see the card images!</p>
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="list-style-type: none;">
<ol>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($35.64)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Blood Crypt" href="#" target="_blank">Blood Crypt</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($18.08)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Portal to Phyrexia" href="#" target="_blank">Portal to Phyrexia</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($17.51)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Welder" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Welder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($17.13)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wurmcoil Engine" href="#" target="_blank">Wurmcoil Engine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($13.43)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Haunted Ridge" href="#" target="_blank">Haunted Ridge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($10.27)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Biotransference" href="#" target="_blank">Biotransference</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($9.75)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cityscape Leveler" href="#" target="_blank">Cityscape Leveler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($9.70)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sundial of the Infinite" href="#" target="_blank">Sundial of the Infinite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($9.41)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Conjurer&#039;s Closet" href="#" target="_blank">Conjurer&#039;s Closet</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($6.65)</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="padding-left: 240px; text-align: left;"><strong>Total: $147.57</strong></p>
<hr />
<h2>Additions</h2>
<p>For the budget packages of the last few decks, we focused our substitutes on specific mechanics that fit our commanders' respective advantages and abilities. Today, we're going to swap in a budget package that adds a full-on infinite combo to the deck. We'll need a few pieces for this to work, so let's get started.</p>
<h3>Combo Pieces...</h3>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Trazyn the Infinite" href="#" target="_blank">Trazyn the Infinite</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.75) is the primary piece we need for our combo to work, being a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Necrotic Ooze" href="#" target="_blank">Necrotic Ooze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.98) for artifacts. You might be asking, "Why not just build the deck with Trayzn in the command zone?" Well, not only is this deck already built around getting artifacts (including Trayzn) into the graveyard, but <em>Unearth</em> will allow us to cheat him into play with haste, enabling an immediate combo win. Oh, and guess what, we are also going to throw in the Ooze, too! As you'll see, all of the other combo pieces are creatures, so while we can't reanimate the Ooze with Mishra, it does offer us some redundancy.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Trazyn the Infinite"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Necrotic Ooze"></div></div>
<p>We need to put the right combination of cards into our graveyard. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Palladium Myr" href="#" target="_blank">Palladium Myr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.51) is an artifact (for Trazyn) and a creature (for Ooze) that taps for the critical two mana needed to go infinite. You can also use <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sol Ring" href="#" target="_blank">Sol Ring</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in conjunction with Trazyn as a backup. Next, we use two creatures with untap abilities: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pili-Pala" href="#" target="_blank">Pili-Pala</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($2.49) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farmstead Gleaner" href="#" target="_blank">Farmstead Gleaner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.11).</p>
<p>With <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Palladium Myr" href="#" target="_blank">Palladium Myr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pili-Pala" href="#" target="_blank">Pili-Pala</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in the 'yard, Trazyn and Ooze can now generate infinite mana which can turned into infinite damage via <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Welder Automaton" href="#" target="_blank">Welder Automaton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.07). Replace <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pili-Pala" href="#" target="_blank">Pili-Pala</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farmstead Gleaner" href="#" target="_blank">Farmstead Gleaner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Welder Automaton" href="#" target="_blank">Welder Automaton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triskelion" href="#" target="_blank">Triskelion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.17), and you'll also have infinite damage.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Palladium Myr"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Welder Automaton"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triskelion"></div></div>
<h3>...and How to Find Them</h3>
<p>We already have two great direct-to-graveyard tutors in <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Goblin Engineer" href="#" target="_blank">Goblin Engineer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, plus we get to keep both in the deck since they aren't in the list of cuts. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Unmarked Grave" href="#" target="_blank">Unmarked Grave</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($1.14), <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vile Entomber" href="#" target="_blank">Vile Entomber</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.23), and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Disciples of Gix" href="#" target="_blank">Disciples of Gix</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.03) simply increase the density of these effects so we can grab a combo piece or another one of the sweet artifacts in the list to <em>Unearth</em> with Mishra.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Unmarked Grave"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vile Entomber"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Disciples of Gix"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Wrap Up and Savings</h2>
<p>Before we take a look at the savings, let's recap the two combo scenarios. We need one set of these in the graveyard:</p>
<ol>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Palladium Myr" href="#" target="_blank">Palladium Myr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pili-Pala" href="#" target="_blank">Pili-Pala</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Welder Automaton" href="#" target="_blank">Welder Automaton</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Palladium Myr" href="#" target="_blank">Palladium Myr</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Farmstead Gleaner" href="#" target="_blank">Farmstead Gleaner</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> + <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triskelion" href="#" target="_blank">Triskelion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ol>
<p>Then we need to have a hasty Trazyn or Ooze to begin the fun.</p>
<p>Okay, onto the savings!</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mishra2.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-95254 aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mishra2-300x223.png" alt="" width="441" height="328" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mishra2-300x223.png 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Mishra2.png 352w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 441px) 100vw, 441px" /></a></p>
<p>We did it! Our new list is (just barely) under $100 and now includes a combo finish as another way to win. What will you do with your $141 worth of savings? Subscribe to the EDHRECast <a href="https://www.patreon.com/edhrecast">patreon</a> perhaps? One more note: yet again, these average lists seem to have too few lands for my taste. Lands are cool! Play more of them! Especially in decks like this where you'll likely be discarding them a lot. In this case we also removed two of them as part of our budget swap, so pay extra attention if you seem to be mana screwed a lot.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Unearthing the Infinite" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Mishra, Tamer of Mak Fawa
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Anrakyr the Traveller
*1 Burnished Hart
*1 Canoptek Spyder
*1 Combustible Gearhulk
*1 Disciples of Gix
*1 Farmstead Gleaner
*1 Feldon of the Third Path
*1 Foundry Inspector
*1 Goblin Engineer
*1 Imotekh the Stormlord
*1 Meteor Golem
*1 Mishra, Excavation Prodigy
*1 Myr Battlesphere
*1 Myr Retriever
*1 Necron Deathmark
*1 Necrotic Ooze
*1 Noxious Gearhulk
*1 Palladium Myr
*1 Phyrexian Dragon Engine
*1 Pili-Pala
*1 Quicksmith Genius
*1 Ruin Grinder
*1 Scrap Trawler
*1 Scrap Welder
*1 Slobad, Iron Goblin
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Technomancer
*1 Trazyn the Infinite
*1 Triplicate Titan
*1 Triskelion
*1 Vile Entomber
*1 Welder Automaton
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bolas&#039;s Citadel
*1 Convergence of Dominion
*1 Cursed Mirror
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Ichor Wellspring
*1 Infernal Idol
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mirrorworks
*1 Oni-Cult Anvil
*1 Rakdos Signet
*1 Sculpting Steel
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Indulgence
*1 Wayfarer&#039;s Bauble
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Bedevil
*1 Big Score
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Rakdos Charm
*1 Terminate
*1 Thrill of Possibility
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Buried Alive
*1 Cathartic Reunion
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Feed the Swarm
*1 Scrap Mastery
*1 Their Name Is Death
*1 Trash for Treasure
*1 Unmarked Grave
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Daretti, Scrap Savant
[/Planeswalkers]
[Enchantments]
*1 Kaya&#039;s Ghostform
*1 Out of the Tombs
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Blightstep Pathway
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Buried Ruin
*1 Command Tower
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Dragonskull Summit
*1 Drossforge Bridge
*1 Foreboding Ruins
*1 Great Furnace
*1 Luxury Suite
*9 Mountain
*1 Rakdos Carnarium
*1 Smoldering Marsh
*1 Sulfurous Springs
*9 Swamp
*1 Vault of Whispers
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>So what do you think? Are you a fan of infinite combos? What about the tutors? Do you want to see more combo packages in the future? Let me know in the comments, and I'll see you next time when we brew for your buck!</p>


Brew For Your Buck - Unearthing the Infinite

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leyline of Anticipation" href="#" target="_blank">Leyline of Anticipation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/charlesurbachart/?hl=en">Charles Urbach</a>)</h6>
<h1>Whatcha Doing in My Waters?</h1>
<p>Hello, fellow brewer, and welcome back to <em>Brew for your Buck</em>, where we swap out the top 10 most expensive cards in a deck with 10 budget cards that add a unique twist. <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/brew-for-your-buck-the-legend-persists/">Last time</a>, we played around in Orzhov, so this week we're going to get our feet wet (pun very intended) in Simic.</p>
<p>A little about me: I love the ocean, so much that I based my education and career on it, in addition to three different Commander decks I've built over the years. Our commander today slid right into the 99 of one of them, my sea creature deck, though I'm seriously considering swapping her into the command zone. Anything that has "Kraken, Leviathan, Octopus, or Serpent" in its card text catches my eye for that deck, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kenessos, Priest of Thassa" href="#" target="_blank">Kenessos, Priest of Thassa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is no different.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Kenessos, Priest of Thassa"></div></div>
<p>Looking at the average list on EDHREC, the deck clocks in at $277.42. Not an awful price tag, but we can do better. As usual, we'll start by removing the most expensive cards in the deck, then take a look at our budget package, noting that all prices listed below were current at time of writing.</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Picture2.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-95173 aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Picture2.png" alt="" width="262" height="256" /></a></p>
<p>Stompy decks like this tend to have a common weakness: you drop a huge monster, making you an immediate threat, but without something granting haste we can't pressure any of our opponents until our following turn, giving them ample time to sink (more maritime puns!) our plans.</p>
<p>Enter our budget package. Operating at instant speed is not exactly a new thing for Simic, as anyone who played <em>Arena</em> in 2019 will know. Applying that playstyle to sea monsters offers them pseudo-protection, surprises our opponents, and makes playing these powerful creatures that much more... well... flashy. With a mana sink like Kenessos in the command zone, we can hold up mana for our counters and other instant-speed tricks, then, if we didn't need to use those, just activate Kenessos and put a prehistoric terror into play.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Additions</h2>
<hr />
<h3>Instant Speed Enablers</h3>
<p>First, let's throw in some enablers. Before you ask, we will not be including the literal flash fish, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Tidal Barracuda" href="#" target="_blank">Tidal Barracuda</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, since we're greedy and don't want to share our instant speed shenanigans extending to everyone else. We will, however, include the banned-in-Pioneer <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Wilderness Reclamation" href="#" target="_blank">Wilderness Reclamation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($1.50), since in this deck it can quadruple the frequency we can activate Kenessos. Partnered with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Leyline of Anticipation" href="#" target="_blank">Leyline of Anticipation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($2.79) or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vivien, Champion of the Wilds" href="#" target="_blank">Vivien, Champion of the Wilds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.38), it puts the deck's ability to turbo out our deep-dwelling friends into overdrive, even if Kenessos isn't on the battlefield. Vivien even allows our monsters to beat down our opponents and remain available to block on the crack back, assuming someone is brave enough to swing back into our 6/6s.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Wilderness Reclamation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Leyline of Anticipation"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vivien, Champion of the Wilds"></div></div>
<h3>Interaction</h3>
<p>Even before we make our swaps, there is only one <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Counterspell" href="#" target="_blank">Counterspell</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> (yes, that one) in the whole deck. Adding some more will help us protect our critical pieces and allow us to answer threats before they hit the battlefield. The best part is that if we don't use them, we just dump the mana into Kenessos. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stubborn Denial" href="#" target="_blank">Stubborn Denial</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($1.33) will almost always be a one-mana <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Negate" href="#" target="_blank">Negate</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in this deck. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Voracious Greatshark" href="#" target="_blank">Voracious Greatshark</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.21) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Thassa&#039;s Intervention" href="#" target="_blank">Thassa&#039;s Intervention</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.17) both fit our oceanic flavor and are almost always 2-for-1s when cast, so they seem like obvious inclusions as well. Our opponents will be scrambling for a bigger boat indeed.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stubborn Denial"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Voracious Greatshark"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Thassa&#039;s Intervention"></div></div>
<h3>Top-Deck Manipulation</h3>
<p>Next, we can increase the number of ways to manipulate the top card of our library. My favorite suggestion for this pushes the the boundaries of a budget card, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cream of the Crop" href="#" target="_blank">Cream of the Crop</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($5.86) is too cool not to include. Imagine having it out and chaining together multiple Kenessos activations. You'll dig so deep into your deck, it's basically guaranteed that your next activation will hit a huge creature, triggering this again and further increasing the absurdity. You can even use this to dig to Mariana Trench depths for an answer just before a draw, assuming a mythical sea beast is somehow not the right answer.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cream of the Crop"></div></div>
<p>A less expensive but obvious addition is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Omen of the Sea" href="#" target="_blank">Omen of the Sea</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.13), adding more to the flavor but also offering two instances of scry 2, which will likely be scry 3, at instant speed. While not particularly exciting, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crystal Ball" href="#" target="_blank">Crystal Ball</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.28) gives us a repeatable scry ability for only one mana, again freeing up the rest of our mana for Kenessos. Thinking a bit outside of the box, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Reclaim" href="#" target="_blank">Reclaim</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.11) gives us a much-needed way to recur key sea monsters, essentially making that Kenessos activation an instant-speed <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zombify" href="#" target="_blank">Zombify</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effect.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Omen of the Sea"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Crystal Ball"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Reclaim"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Wrap Up and Savings</h2>
<p>Let's take a look at where we ended up:</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Picture1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class=" wp-image-95172 aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Picture1-300x205.png" alt="" width="405" height="277" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Picture1-300x205.png 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/02/Picture1.png 383w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 405px) 100vw, 405px" /></a></p>
<p>&nbsp;</p>
<p>Wow! We almost cracked the $100 mark and cut out more than half the cost of the deck AND you get to keep 90 cards from the original build, saving you all that money you would have spent on upgrades. Like <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/brew-for-your-buck-the-legend-persists/">my previous article</a>, I think the list still has too few lands, so I'll again recommend swapping some of the other expensive cards with a few basics to get the deck under $100 if that is your goal.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Fish Flash" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Kenessos, Priest of Thassa
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Arixmethes, Slumbering Isle
*1 Biblioplex Kraken
*1 Biomancer&#039;s Familiar
*1 Brinelin, the Moon Kraken
*1 Charix, the Raging Isle
*1 Deep-Sea Kraken
*1 Hullbreaker Horror
*1 Icebreaker Kraken
*1 Inkwell Leviathan
*1 Koma, Cosmos Serpent
*1 Lorthos, the Tidemaker
*1 Nadir Kraken
*1 Octavia, Living Thesis
*1 Octoprophet
*1 Reservoir Kraken
*1 Scourge of Fleets
*1 Serpent of Yawning Depths
*1 Shipbreaker Kraken
*1 Sigiled Starfish
*1 Simic Sky Swallower
*1 Slinn Voda, the Rising Deep
*1 Spawning Kraken
*1 Stormtide Leviathan
*1 Trench Behemoth
*1 Tromokratis
*1 Voracious Greatshark
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Aqueous Form
*1 Cream of the Crop
*1 Garruk&#039;s Uprising
*1 In Search of Greatness
*1 Leyline of Anticipation
*1 Omen of the Sea
*1 Quest for Ula&#039;s Temple
*1 Retreat to Coralhelm
*1 Wilderness Reclamation
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Crystal Ball
*1 Lifecrafter&#039;s Bestiary
*1 Simic Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 The Temporal Anchor
[/Artifacts]
[Instants]
*1 Beast Within
*1 Brainstorm
*1 Counterspell
*1 Deliberate
*1 Growth Spiral
*1 Joint Exploration
*1 Opt
*1 Pongify
*1 Reclaim
*1 Return of the Wildspeaker
*1 Stubborn Denial
*1 Thassa&#039;s Intervention
[/Instants]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cultivate
*1 Farseek
*1 Kodama&#039;s Reach
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Ponder
*1 Preordain
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Reason // Believe
*1 Serum Visions
*1 Whelming Wave
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Kiora, Behemoth Beckoner
*1 Vivien, Champion of the Wilds
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Castle Vantress
*1 Command Tower
*1 Dreamroot Cascade
*5 Forest
*1 Hinterland Harbor
*16 Island
*1 Rejuvenating Springs
*1 Reliquary Tower
*1 Rimewood Falls
*1 Simic Growth Chamber
*1 Snow-Covered Forest
*1 Snow-Covered Island
*1 Temple of Mystery
*1 Yavimaya Coast
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>So what do you think? Does the flash package seem like a good idea or are you, like me, traumatized by Simic Flash from Arena? Do you want more nautical puns? Let me know in the comments and I'll see you next time when we brew for your buck!</p>


Brew For Your Buck - Fish Flash

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cauldron of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Cauldron of Souls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://scryfall.com/search?q=artist%3A%22ron+brown%22">Ron Brown</a>)</h6>
<h1>A New Method for Budget Brews</h1>
<p>Hello, fellow brewer! Welcome to the first in a series of articles designed to help you save money. My name is Brian, and I started playing <em>Magic</em> way back in 2003, around the release of <em>Mirrodin</em>. I left and came back to the game a few times since then, but I’ve been hooked on Commander ever since I opened a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grenzo, Dungeon Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Grenzo, Dungeon Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in a <em>Conspiracy </em>booster. I loved cooking up ways to exploit the rarely explored design space sitting at the bottom of my library. Grenzo opened the Commander floodgates for me, and now it's the only format I play outside of the occasional Arena draft.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Grenzo, Dungeon Warden"></div></div>
<p>With the entirety of the internet at our disposal, it’s easy to find budget brews for any deck, but that often comes at the price of functionality and power. Plus, you might end up spending more over time, buying expensive cards to make incremental upgrades. Say you buy a $100 version of a deck, then spend another $200 updating it over the course of the next year, when you could have spent $150 on most of the cards you needed and only a few budget substitutes. You’d have $50 more in your pocket and a comparably powerful deck <strong>right away</strong>.</p>
<p>Here’s how it works: I’ll pick a commander and start with the average decklist from its page on EDHREC. Then, we’ll remove the ten most expensive cards in the deck and substitute in our budget package, so we save the most amount money while sacrificing the least amount of function, power, and efficiency. The new cards won’t just save you money, they'll also give the deck unique flavor and play patterns compared to its more expensive, “stock” list. And if you need to save more, simply go further than the top ten most expensive cards.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Set-Up and Subtractions</h2>
<p>Now that the stage is set, let’s dive in. One of the coolest commanders to be released recently is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ratadrabik of Urborg" href="#" target="_blank">Ratadrabik of Urborg</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The twist on classic aristocrats with the legendary theme is really fun, and there are interesting ways to abuse his ability. More on that in a minute.</p>
<p>EDHREC’s average deck list costs $526.94 at time of writing, so let’s see how we can cut that down.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ratadrabik of Urborg"></div></div>
<p>First, let’s remove our top ten most expensive cards. Most of these make a ton of sense as inclusions in the 99, but removing them will save us nearly half the cost of the entire deck!<a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-30-at-13.44.44.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-medium wp-image-94177 aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-30-at-13.44.44-300x292.png" alt="" width="300" height="292" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-30-at-13.44.44-300x292.png 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-30-at-13.44.44.png 582w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 300px) 100vw, 300px" /></a></p>
<p>Now for the fun part: deciding on our budget package. As I alluded to before, Ratadrabik’s ability doesn’t exile the original card that it copies, unlike most similar effects. While the list has many ways to abuse this, the best ones are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Luminous Broodmoth" href="#" target="_blank">Luminous Broodmoth</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mikaeus, the Unhallowed" href="#" target="_blank">Mikaeus, the Unhallowed</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Having our legends return to the battlefield immediately to stack their effects on top of the token copy is incredibly powerful, but wouldn’t it be great if we could remove the counters to re-use those effects repeatedly? Sounds like an infinite combo to me!</p>
<hr />
<h2>Additions</h2>
<p>In addition to Mothra and Mikaeus, let’s add some cards that grant our creatures <em>Persist</em>. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cauldron of Souls" href="#" target="_blank">Cauldron of Souls</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($3.52) is repeatable, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cauldron Haze" href="#" target="_blank">Cauldron Haze</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.72) can make a board wipe (even our own) one-sided for just two mana. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Antler Skulkin" href="#" target="_blank">Antler Skulkin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.19) can target sixteen of our creatures after the rest of our additions. Note that all of these can target our opponents’ creatures as well. Bonus points if you use them politically!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cauldron of Souls"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cauldron Haze"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Antler Skulkin"></div></div>
<p>Next, let’s add cards that let us remove those pesky counters that will stop our sweet mechanics from triggering. We pretty much have to add <em>Persist</em>’s best friend, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vizier of Remedies" href="#" target="_blank">Vizier of Remedies</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.21), which enables some pretty crazy turns with <em>Persist</em> and a sacrifice outlet. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fain, the Broker" href="#" target="_blank">Fain, the Broker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.18) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scholar of New Horizons" href="#" target="_blank">Scholar of New Horizons</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.41) can ramp us when we remove counters. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sanctuary Warden" href="#" target="_blank">Sanctuary Warden</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($1.17) is a nigh-indestructible flying beat stick with card draw and sacrifice fodder built in. Finally, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nesting Grounds" href="#" target="_blank">Nesting Grounds</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($1.04) gives us a counter-moving ability in our mana base.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Vizier of Remedies"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scholar of New Horizons"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nesting Grounds"></div></div>
<p>Finally, our last two cards will give us some extra benefits from being repeatedly reanimated. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Triarch Praetorian" href="#" target="_blank">Triarch Praetorian</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.85) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Canoptek Tomb Sentinel" href="#" target="_blank">Canoptek Tomb Sentinel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($1.93) are two sweet new cards from the <em>Warhammer 40K</em> Necron deck that are just begging to be bouncing in and out of the graveyard. Not only will they work with our <em>Persist</em> package, but they’ll synergize well with the rest of the reanimation effects in our deck.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Triarch Praetorian"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Canoptek Tomb Sentinel"></div></div>
<hr />
<h2>Wrap-Up and Savings</h2>
<p>Let’s look at our savings after we swap in our budget package:<a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-30-at-13.49.48.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="wp-image-94179 aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-30-at-13.49.48-300x225.png" alt="" width="485" height="364" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-30-at-13.49.48-300x225.png 300w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-30-at-13.49.48-1024x767.png 1024w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-30-at-13.49.48-768x576.png 768w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-30-at-13.49.48-1536x1151.png 1536w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/01/Screen-Shot-2023-01-30-at-13.49.48.png 1628w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 485px) 100vw, 485px" /></a></p>
<p>With just swapping out the top ten most expensive cards, we saved $261.38, got most of the cards we wanted anyway, and gave the deck a unique synergistic twist. Not bad at all! One note I will say about the original and new lists is that both are low on lands in my opinion, so removing some of the other expensive cards and replacing them with basic lands is an easy way to save more.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="BFYB01" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Ratadrabik of Urborg
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Antler Skulkin
*1 Ao, the Dawn Sky
*1 Athreos, God of Passage
*1 Ayara, First of Locthwain
*1 Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim
*1 Braids, Arisen Nightmare
*1 Canoptek Tomb Sentinel
*1 Commissar Severina Raine
*1 Elas il-Kor, Sadistic Pilgrim
*1 Elenda, the Dusk Rose
*1 Fain, the Broker
*1 Ghoulcaller Gisa
*1 Gisa, Glorious Resurrector
*1 God-Eternal Bontu
*1 God-Eternal Oketra
*1 Gonti, Lord of Luxury
*1 Illuminor Szeras
*1 Junji, the Midnight Sky
*1 Kambal, Consul of Allocation
*1 Liesa, Forgotten Archangel
*1 Loran of the Third Path
*1 Luminous Broodmoth
*1 Mikaeus, the Unhallowed
*1 Ravos, Soultender
*1 Sanctuary Warden
*1 Scholar of New Horizons
*1 Sheoldred, Whispering One
*1 Sidisi, Undead Vizier
*1 Syr Konrad, the Grim
*1 Teysa Karlov
*1 Triarch Praetorian
*1 Viscera Seer
*1 Vizier of Remedies
*1 Whisper, Blood Liturgist
*1 Yahenni, Undying Partisan
[/Creatures]
[Instants]
*1 Anguished Unmaking
*1 Cauldron Haze
*1 Deadly Dispute
*1 Despark
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Malakir Rebirth
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Swords to Plowshares
*1 Village Rites
[/Instants]
[Enchantments]
*1 Animate Dead
*1 Phyrexian Reclamation
*1 Song of the Worldsoul
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Blade of Selves
*1 Cauldron of Souls
*1 Fellwar Stone
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Relic of Legends
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Damn
*1 Dread Return
*1 Living Death
*1 Primevals&#039; Glorious Rebirth
*1 Reanimate
*1 Urza&#039;s Ruinous Blast
*1 Victimize
[/Sorceries]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Kaya the Inexorable
[/Planeswalkers]
[Lands]
*1 Bojuka Bog
*1 Brightclimb Pathway
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Command Tower
*1 Fetid Heath
*1 Godless Shrine
*1 High Market
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Marsh Flats
*1 Nesting Grounds
*1 Orzhov Basilica
*6 Plains
*1 Shattered Sanctum
*12 Swamp
*1 Tainted Field
*1 Takenuma, Abandoned Mire
*1 Vault of Champions
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>What do you think? Is there anything for the <em>Persist</em> package that I missed? Would you take the budget package in a different direction? Be sure to let me know in the comments, and tune in next week as we <em>Brew for Your Buck</em>!</p>


Brian Cain