Budget and Goblins

Hello folks! Before anything else, I wish everyone all a wonderful October 2015 ahead!  

It has been weeks since the last time we saw a big modern tournament. And now, people started selling modern cards. Do not get me wrong for I have nothing against them. In fact, I like it because a handful of them are selling cards we need at a very low or friendly price. For those who are planning to get their feet wet with EDH, legacy, modern or even vintage formats, or are just putting the final pieces for whatever eternal deck you are working on, I think this is the perfect time acquiring those cards.  You’re probably asking, until when is this time? There is really no definite answer for that. So practically if you can buy them now, please do so.

 

For a player who wish to enter modern but is on a budget, experienced modern players will suggest decks that does not utilize fetch lands or any expensive staples. Decks such as Mono Red Burn, Balance-Cascade, Mono Black Eight Racks, Mono Green Infect, Kiln Fiend combo, Mono White Kitkhins  and Mono Green Aggro.  

Speaking of budget friendly decks, I have this deck ever since the Wizard of the Coast (WOTC) announced the creation of format in 2011, Mono Red Goblins. The deck comprised of summon creatures lead by tempest print Mogg Fanatic, Goblin Guide, Tattermunge Maniac, Warren Instigator, Siege-Gang Commander, Goblin Bushwhacker, Mogg War Marshal, Goblin Wardriver and Goblin Chieftain.

After participating in small modern tournaments and a series of gauntlet play tests, I am a little unsatisfied with my results. It felt like that there’s a gap between my expectation and the deck. In September of the same year, the WOTC conducted its first modern Pro Tour. One of the featured matches was between Jon Finkel (UR Storm) and Patrick Chapin (Twin). After reading it, I believe that I had found my answer. Calling a battalion of goblins as fast as possible then swarm with everything we’ve got, is the thing that I wish to do.

I revisit my pool and pondered, how will I get to mimic the way he beckons goblins that quick. With my roster then was like next to impossible for it consisted mostly of summon cards. I did a quick search through the internet and ended up seeing Kuldotha’s Rebirth.  With a turn one bomb paired with a paid kicker off Bushwhacker’s by turn two, things started to get well for the home team.

In 2012, things get a little better when Avacyn Restored (May 2012) and M13 (July 2012) came out. Banners Raised (Avacyn Restored) acted as my fifth or sixth Goblin Bushwhacker while M13 gave two additional token producing cards, Krenko, Mob Boss and Krenko’s Command. In February 2013 (Gatecrash), another one drop goblin was added –Foundry Street Denizen. Khans of Tarkir (September 2014) gave another token generating card (Hordeling Outburst).

My seventy-five as of the moment.

Lands 17

17 Mountain

Non-creature spells 19

4 Dragon Fodder

4 Krenko’s Command

4 Kuldotha’s Rebirth

3 Hordeling Outburst

3 Goblin Grenade

1 Banners Raised

Creature spells 24

4 Mogg War Marshal

4 Goblin Bushswhacker

4 Goblin Wardriver

4 Foundry Street Denizen

4 Memnite

4 Ornithopter

Sideboard 15

4 Lightning Bolt

3 Smash to Smithereens

2 Stone Rain

2 Tormod’s Crypt

2 Combust

1 Pithing Needle

1 Ghost Quarter

In other reading materials concerning budget deck: in Gavin Verhey’s August 2013 article, he discussed Eight Rack’s line up in a budget form. In David Lane’s work, he briefly discussed three budget decks: Mono Green Aggro, Eight Rack and Klin Fiend combo. Balance-cascade deck is tackled in Saffron Olive’s work. 

And if you’re interested with goblins: Collected Company is the card tech that Kevin Crimin is trying to use in his goblin deck. Now if you’re that combo type of player who loves to pour everything in one turn, try the all-in deck by Travis Woo. And if you wishes to build a more competitive modern goblin deck, Sheridan Lardner’s work suggested three decks where Goblin Piledriver is involved.  And lastly, here is a terse PPTQ tournament report from Darcy Hartwick with goblins.

There you have it guys!

By the way, if you have any suggestions about budget and/ or goblin decks, feel free to hit me.

I wish in this little way we are helping others in embracing this format we love.

Until next time folks!

Have a nice day.

-Paeng