<h6 style="text-align: right;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Koll, the Forgemaster" href="#" target="_blank">Koll, the Forgemaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://www.instagram.com/bram_sels/?hl=en">Bram Sels</a></h6>
<h1>Not Another Boros Equipment Deck...</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. This week, we're combining the most popular Boros commander with the most popular Boros theme. It's Osgir Equipment! "But wait, Brian!" you ask, "That seems pretty straightforward and frankly, a little bor(os)ing." Well, to spice things up, we need to look a little closer.</p>
<p>Osgir quickly became the most popular Boros commander because he provides a grindy, value-oriented, graveyard-centric playstyle for the color pair, and finally gave us something other than just another Equipment or combat-focused commander. Just a few months earlier, we also received an uncommon legend from<em> Kaldheim</em> that looked like, yes, yet another Boros Equipment commander. However, when looking at these two side-by-side, I see some striking similarities that involve graveyards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Osgir, the Reconstructor"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Koll, the Forgemaster"></div></div>
<p>What I didn't put together at first is that Koll is a combo-tacular commander that combines Equipment and graveyard strategies all the way up through cEDH tables. Inspired by Jake FitzSimons and his <a href="https://commandersherald.com/let-me-sell-ya-koll-skullclamp-cedh/">article</a> on Commander's Herald, we're going to slot Koll and his infinite combo pieces into our Osgir deck. Looking at the average Osgir Equipment list on EDHREC, the deck clocks in at a whopping $367.81. A sword and some mono-W staples contain most of the cost. Interestingly, we're removing only white or colorless cards from the deck. All the red cards stay put.</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="Sword of Feast and Famine" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of Feast and Famine</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($41.39)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stoneforge Mystic" href="#" target="_blank">Stoneforge Mystic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($33.85)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Esper Sentinel" href="#" target="_blank">Esper Sentinel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($27.79)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smothering Tithe" href="#" target="_blank">Smothering Tithe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($24.40)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Teferi&#039;s Protection" href="#" target="_blank">Teferi&#039;s Protection</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($23.88)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hammer of Nazahn" href="#" target="_blank">Hammer of Nazahn</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($21.68)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Shadowspear" href="#" target="_blank">Shadowspear</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($18.68)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Steelshaper&#039;s Gift" href="#" target="_blank">Steelshaper&#039;s Gift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($16.79)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enlightened Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Enlightened Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($14.92)</li>
<li style="text-align: left;"><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sword of the Animist" href="#" target="_blank">Sword of the Animist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($10.74)</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
</li>
</ol>
<p style="padding-left: 200px; text-align: left;"><strong>Total Value of Cuts: $234.12</strong></p>
<p>Of note, this time only <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sacred Foundry" href="#" target="_blank">Sacred Foundry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($16.95) would be in the top 10 if we counted lands, so most of the mana base is pretty affordable! Replacing the Foundry with a budget option brings our total savings to <strong>$251.07</strong>.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Additions</h2>
<p><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Koll, the Forgemaster" href="#" target="_blank">Koll, the Forgemaster</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.09) is the obvious first addition to deck, and before we get into the individual swaps, here's how the combo works in a nutshell: using Equipment cost-reducers we equip a mana-neutral creature that will die and come back to our hand through Koll's ability over and over again. I'll go through the specifics of each card below, then sum up the combo lines at the end. Of course, these cards also have utility outside of just combo-ing off, so don't worry about adding cards to the deck that are dead without Koll.</p>
<h3>Fodder Creatures</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Ornithopter"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Myr Moonvessel"></div></div>
<p>Let's start with the mana-neutral creatures. The first place to look is creatures that literally cost zero mana. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh" href="#" target="_blank">Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.45), AKA Roger, is a familiar face in Equipment decks, as the plethora of keywords make him great at wielding a weapon of your choice. Next, and don't laugh, is the mighty <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ornithopter" href="#" target="_blank">Ornithopter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.08). Again, a zero-mana creature with evasion, it can wear Equipment just fine, but it also can be recurred with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Daretti, Scrap Savant" href="#" target="_blank">Daretti, Scrap Savant</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Sun Titan" href="#" target="_blank">Sun Titan</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, sacrificed to Osgir's first ability, or tutored up with <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>.</p>
<p>The next two are not actually zero mana, but function in much the same way as we proceed through the combo. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Myr Moonvessel" href="#" target="_blank">Myr Moonvessel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.30) pays for itself with its own ability after we sac it. It also offers a weird form of ramp if you make multiple copies of it, and it has synergies with the other artifact-matters cards, similar to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ornithopter" href="#" target="_blank">Ornithopter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Finally, we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Impulsive Pilferer" href="#" target="_blank">Impulsive Pilferer</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.08), which functions much in the same way as Moonvessel. Just make sure you don't <em>Encore</em> it for the combo, as it exiles the real card and just makes tokens of itself.</p>
<h3>Equip Cost-Reducers</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Auriok Steelshaper"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Nahiri, Storm of Stone"></div></div>
<p>Next thing we need is a way to equip without spending mana. Fortunately, the deck already has some of these effects, as we have <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Puresteel Paladin" href="#" target="_blank">Puresteel Paladin</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Fighter Class" href="#" target="_blank">Fighter Class</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bladehold War-Whip" href="#" target="_blank">Bladehold War-Whip</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Adding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Auriok Steelshaper" href="#" target="_blank">Auriok Steelshaper</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($1.26) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Nahiri, Storm of Stone" href="#" target="_blank">Nahiri, Storm of Stone</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.13) to the mix is basically automatic. You'll see that you may need two of these on the battlefield depending on which ones you have access to, though Osgir can clone <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bladehold War-Whip" href="#" target="_blank">Bladehold War-Whip</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> if you want to be sneaky from the graveyard.</p>
<h3>Key Equipment</h3>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Skullclamp"></div></div>
<p>We have our fodder, we have our cost-reducers, now for the finale. This deck already has plenty of ways to find these key pieces of Equipment, but Osgir also lets us recur them from our 'yard pretty easily if they get binned before we pop off.</p>
<p>First up is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($3.81). Yea, it stretches the definition of a budget card a bit, but as one of the most powerful Equipment ever printed, it's worth every penny. With Koll and an equip-cost-reducer on the battlefield, equipping this to one of our non-<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ornithopter" href="#" target="_blank">Ornithopter</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> fodder creatures this allows us to literally draw our entire deck at sorcery speed. Equip the clamp, our creature dies, Koll brings it back, and we cast it again to repeat. This combo is the heart of the cEDH versions of Koll, so we'd be remiss to not include it.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mortarpod"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Mask of Immolation"></div></div>
<p>Now we need a way to win the game. For this, we turn to <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mortarpod" href="#" target="_blank">Mortarpod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.09) and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mask of Immolation" href="#" target="_blank">Mask of Immolation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> ($0.05). In a similar fashion to the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> line, just equip and sacrifice the creature with its new ability to ping an opponent. Koll will trigger, returning the creature to your hand, then repeat to keep on pinging until the table is dead.</p>
<hr />
<h2>Wrap-Up and Savings</h2>
<p>Alright, let's recap the combo lines. We need Koll on the battlefield and:</p>
<ol>
<li>A mana-neutral creature</li>
<li>A way or ways to reduce the equip costs to zero</li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Skullclamp" href="#" target="_blank">Skullclamp</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mortarpod" href="#" target="_blank">Mortarpod</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mask of Immolation" href="#" target="_blank">Mask of Immolation</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ol>
<p>Then, we equip the mana-neutral creature and go to town! Now for the savings:</p>
<p><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Picture1-1.png"><img loading="lazy" decoding="async" class="size-full wp-image-97467 aligncenter" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Picture1-1.png" alt="" width="361" height="262" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Picture1-1.png 361w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/Picture1-1-300x218.png 300w" sizes="auto, (max-width: 361px) 100vw, 361px" /></a></p>
<p>Sweet, we cut the deck's price by 2/3 and you get to keep all of the leftover Equipment staples. Plus you have the start of a really fun cEDH deck! Thanks again to Jake for the inspiration for this one, it was really fun to find an interesting home for this budget package! If you liked slotting in an infinite combo, you can also check out my <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/brew-for-your-buck-unearthing-the-infinite/">article</a> about <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mishra, Tamer of Mak Fawa" href="#" target="_blank">Mishra, Tamer of Mak Fawa</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>!</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Kolld Steel" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Osgir, the Reconstructor
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Akiri, Fearless Voyager
*1 Ardenn, Intrepid Archaeologist
*1 Astor, Bearer of Blades
*1 Auriok Steelshaper
*1 Bronze Guardian
*1 Bruenor Battlehammer
*1 Danitha Capashen, Paragon
*1 Goblin Engineer
*1 Halvar, God of Battle
*1 Impulsive Pilferer
*1 Koll, the Forgemaster
*1 Lion Sash
*1 Lizard Blades
*1 Myr Moonvessel
*1 Ornithopter
*1 Oswald Fiddlebender
*1 Puresteel Paladin
*1 Reyav, Master Smith
*1 Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh
*1 Solemn Simulacrum
*1 Sram, Senior Edificer
*1 Stonehewer Giant
*1 Sun Titan
*1 Wyleth, Soul of Steel
*1 Zirda, the Dawnwaker
[/Creatures]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Archaeomancer&#039;s Map
*1 Argentum Armor
*1 Blackblade Reforged
*1 Bladehold War-Whip
*1 Boros Signet
*1 Dragonwing Glider
*1 Goldwarden&#039;s Helm
*1 Hexgold Halberd
*1 Hexgold Hoverwings
*1 Hexplate Wallbreaker
*1 Ichor Wellspring
*1 Kemba&#039;s Banner
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Mask of Immolation
*1 Masterwork of Ingenuity
*1 Mind Stone
*1 Mortarpod
*1 Sculpting Steel
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Sunforger
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
*1 Talisman of Conviction
*1 Thousand-Year Elixir
[/Artifacts]
[Sorceries]
*1 Blasphemous Act
*1 Faithless Looting
*1 Open the Armory
*1 Vandalblast
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Boros Charm
*1 Chaos Warp
*1 Dispatch
*1 Generous Gift
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Return to Dust
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Daretti, Scrap Savant
*1 Nahiri, Storm of Stone
[/Planeswalkers]
[Enchantments]
*1 Fighter Class
*1 Sigarda&#039;s Aid
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 Ancient Den
*1 Battlefield Forge
*1 Boros Garrison
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Darksteel Citadel
*1 Great Furnace
*6 Mountain
*1 Needleverge Pathway
*11 Plains
*1 Rogue&#039;s Passage
*1 Rustvale Bridge
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Sacred Peaks
*1 Slayers&#039; Stronghold
*1 Spectator Seating
*1 Sundown Pass
*1 Sunhome, Fortress of the Legion
*1 Temple of Triumph
[/Lands]"></span></div>

<hr />
<p>Do you have a cool combo idea to slot into a deck? Do you have a commander you want to see featured? Let me know in the comments below! If you want to see more budget content, follow me on Twitter @BrewForYourBuck! I post quick swaps for really expensive cards, and other budget deckbuilding content. I'll see you next time when we brew for your buck!</p>


Brew for Your Buck - Kolld Steel

<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="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>


budget commander

Brew for Your Buck - Kolld Steel

Brew for Your Buck - Venturing For Value

Brew For Your Buck - The Legend Persists

Ultra Budget Brews - Nethroi, Apex of Death

Ultra Budget Brews - Imoti, Celebrant of Bounty

Challenging Prossh Stats with Bennie Smith