Five MORE Budget M21 Decks for You to ❤

Core Set 2021 is upon us, and it is the perfect foundation upon which to build for the following year. Today, I’m looking at the five uncommon cards that use enemy colors, and sketching out some budget-friendly decks you can use on Arena or in paper.

(Note, each deck will use common and uncommon cards, including some from Core Set 2020 which does not rotate out for another three months. I will also include some potential upgrades that are rare or mythic.)

Let’s get to it!

Indulging Patrician

White and Black have a focus on lifegain in M21, and the Orzhov love to see it happen in batches of 3 or more. Indulging Patrician turns your upward-moving life total into downward pressure on your opponent’s, so it’s worth aiming for those field goals as often as possible.

4 Indulging Patrician
4 Griffin Aerie
4 Silversmote Ghoul
4 Ajani’s Pridemate
4 Faith’s Fetters
1 Light of Promise
4 Revitalize
1 Sanguine Indulgence
4 Basilica Bell-Haunt
4 Splendor Mare
4 Agonizing Remorse
10 Swamp
12 Plains

Potential Upgrades: Sorin, Vengeful Bloodlord, Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose, Temple of Silence

Experimental Overload

Blue and Red are watching for instants and sorceries in the graveyard. You can let them pile up naturally, or find ways to accelerate the process, but either way we’re going to want a high velocity of spells to make Experimental Overload really pop.

4 Experimental Overload
4 Kinetic Augur
4 Mystical Dispute
4 Opt
4 Sprite Dragon
2 Blitz of the Thunder-Raptor
2 Thrill of Possibility
4 Neutralize
4 Fire Prophecy
4 Slaying Fire
12 Mountain
12 Island

Potential Upgrades: Stormwing Entity, The Magic Mirror, Temple of Epiphany

Twinblade Assassins

Black and Green have a death-matters theme going in M21, and Twinblade Assassins will pay you a card at the end of your turn so long as a creature died – yours or your opponent’s. Lots of removal and a few sacrificial tokens of our own should meet that requirement easily.

4 Twinblade Assassins
4 Fungal Rebirth
4 Sabertooth Mauler
2 Liliana’s Devotee
2 Life Goes On
4 Heartless Act
4 Discordant Piper
2 Deathbloom Thallid
2 Malefic Scythe
2 Minion’s Return
2 Eliminate
1 Easy Prey
1 Finishing Blow
2 Thrashing Brontodon
12 Forest
12 Swamp

Potential Upgrades: Rankle, Master of Pranks, Murderous Rider, Temple of Malady

Alpine Houndmaster

Red and White makes up the most aggressive color pair in M21. They want to lay down a wide army of creatures and attack with them until they are the only ones left standing. This is a risky strategy, as one well-timed board wipe can set you back several turns, but the card advantage provided by Alpine Houndmaster should help rebuild, if needed.

4 Alpine Houndmaster
4 Alpine Watchdog
4 Igneous Cur
4 Bolt Hound
4 Selfless Savior
4 Underworld Rage-Hound
2 Rambunctious Mutt
2 Ferocity of the Wilds
4 Banishing Light
4 Fire Prophecy
1 Outflank
1 Barge In
11 Plains
11 Mountain

Potential Upgrades: Embercleave, Glorious Anthem, Temple of Triumph

Lorescale Coatl

Green and Blue in M21 want to see you draw cards. We’ll set up the Lorescale Coatl and let him grow under the protection of counterspells.

4 Lorescale Coatl
4 Ominous Seas
4 Opt
4 Neutralize
2 Burlfist Oak
2 Tolarian Kraken
2 Keeper of Fables
2 Jeskai Elder
4 Faerie Vandal
4 Frantic Inventory
4 Keep Safe
12 Island
12 Forest

Potential Upgrades: Nadir Kraken, Sea-Dasher Octopus, Temple of Mystery

So there you go! Five more budget-friendly decks to get you warmed up with Core Set 2021. Take one for a spin and let me know how it goes down in the comments.

We’ll see ya!
—Ryan