Mtg Budget Deck: $30 Mono-Blue Wizards (Rotation Proof)!

[@Humatra]

Hey Dev from the place, I've been a sub for a long time. I just wanted to let you know that I really like how you structure your videos, basically teaching people how to use each card, explaining the cards, top notch editing, and also featuring all kinds of decks, from budget to competitive. Good luck making it to 100k subscribers!

[@MTGOTradersInc]

ohhh. really like this build a ton! Very interesting list. Tempest Djunn is for sure flying under the radar.

[@replaysmtg2704]

Hey dev! I started watching your channel when I first got introduced into magic. Back in revolt when you made the mono black vampires deck which was amazing. I don’t think I could’ve gotten into magic otherwise. However, since then I’ve been grinding pptqs for standard and modern and I can’t say I’ve been using the sweet budget decks but I finally just took down my first pptq. I’d like to thank you for introducing budget decks to the community and making it accessible to everyone.

[@ecoKady]

For anyone picking up the deck, it's worth remembering the second clause on Curious Obsession. It's really, really easy to forget that you need to attack with something every turn or the aura dies. Depending upon the form of control you expect, Jace Cunning Castaway can be great out of the sideboard with this creature base. You'll often get to loot using his + ability and he'll still take over the game like any planeswalker, if left unchecked. Did you consider him over Archaeologist? I'm very sad when i have to play Deep Freeze, so I like to looking for alternatives. If G/R Monsters with Rekindling Phoenix or White midrange featuring Knight tokens and Lyra start seeing play, Time of Ice is a card-efficient option. It does a lot that a tempo deck wants to do, albeit at a cost of 4 mana. Going off-the-wall a bit, if standard is getting overrun by green stompy and GR Dino stompy, I would keep an eye on Transmogrifying Wand for this list. The threat density in Stompy can overwhelm 3x Deep Freezes and none of your creatures live through combat with any of their threats. Being able to deal with 3 threats for only a single card, is really card-efficient. The 2-power from those Oxen can add up, but they're a much slower clock than Steel Leaf Champion, Regisaur Alpha, Gigantosaurus or Ghalta.

[@necrokin1]

jace is good in my version of this list, but he's no all-star, if your behind on boardstate he's only good as a distraction

[@ecoKady]

@@necrokin1 He would only come in against a creature-light control decks, I'd expect. I'd like Jace more than Archeologist, because he doesn't die to Cleansing Nova. I agree if you're in a matchup where youay be in a creature deficit, Jace will not be good.

[@carterbraun6284]

I agree with the part about the wand. It's especially spicy in my journey to eternity deck, targeting my own creatures with JtE on them, getting an ox, flipping it, amd getting another etb trigger.

[@TygerYasha]

"I only regret that I have but one like to give to this video." - Nathan Hale (probably, I mean, the man was pure class, just like Dev) That Tempest bit is perfection.

[@SlyBlu7]

You built my deck, Dev. I've had this one put together for a while now, but mine IS a little different. I focus more on Merfolk Wizards, to help make Silvergill Adept more playable in the 2-drop slot, including Watertrap Weaver. Also Sleep and Time of Ice as a 3/2 rather than 4 River's Rebuke; they can each be cast T4 and I feel have a bigger effect over the course of the game.

[@Frey_64]

Hello my devs this is wizard.

[@mr.neqtan]

Freddy Omaña, wise minds think alike!

[@KyleMaxwell]

magic likes we

[@EnordAreven]

Looks good buddy, THANK YOU SO MUCH! I'm teaching mates here in England and your videos help so much!

[@shizzle559]

I've built a similar deck with many similarities but a few differences, firstly I'm trying to take advantage of naban more almost every wizard has an etb effect and I'm also running mostly merfolk wizards as they have strong synergy with naban... silvergill adept draw 2 cards, watertrap weaver tap down 2 creatures eg and instead of the 3 mana flyer I use naru as my finisher to swing in big or blow out an opponent's attack with some blocks that go well in my favour

[@shizzle559]

It's in my sideboard it helps alot against mono red aggro goblin chainwhirler especially

[@arieltkotz4877]

I'm doing an similar build and works great.

[@mceveb]

yeah I'm jumping on the djinn bus.

[@SlyBlu7]

Alastair Jack - hard "maybe" on that. It's tempo; that extra 1 mana hurts. The big card we want to 'Dive' on, is Djninn, and we want to cast him with protection. With Storm Tamer and Dive, we only need 1 mana up, and can cast Djinn safely on T4. Ruse would mean not casting until T5, and at that point, we already have a wealth of 2-mana counters in the deck. If you want to repeat ETB triggers, I'd look at Rescue. Of course, you 'Rescue' a T4 Djinn, you're casting him T5 anyay :/

[@SlyBlu7]

Yeah, if you're not gonna run a full 4 on Dive, I'd make absolutely sure to run 4 copies of Storm Tamer, and then 2 Dive and then either 2x Rescue or 2x Ruse. Ruse DOES seem like a better play in U/R Wizard, actually. Like you said - being able to turn an ETB effect like Viashino, Firefist Adept, or Ghitu Journeymage into a 2CMC Instant, is pretty cool. It would be so fun to finish a game by reflashing a wizard for 2-to-the-dome.

[@Miscegenist]

Awesome build Dev. Keep it coming! Gotta love MC Herald and Tempest quotes in one spot.

[@antedeguemon1194]

Reporting in for 2 in a row 5-0 results in competitive constructed in arena. Yeah this deck is a blast. Props to the guy that still keept going with all 4 obsessions in a single creature with a wall of counters up. Really considering buying this one for paper, I was looking at the enchantments deck but I already have a couple cards for this one and it seems to perform better

[@chadwallace6566]

I really enjoy your content. All the deck techs and list videos are great. Would love to see you do some Commander deck techs since the new decks just came out. Keep up the good work my wizard.

[@Stat1stique]

He's doing standard only pretty much

[@mannyramirez5630]

Cool to see how this deck has evolved into our mono blue tempo we have currently

[@necrokin1]

this has been my favorite deck in standard since DOM, it's fun to play and consistently gets wins. thanks for posting your version of the list, it gives me a different variation of the deck

[@argumentumadhominem3977]

the first set of ravmica features izzet. i hope forsome good ones.

[@the_wammer5715]

I hope izzet wizards will see both Adeliz and goblin electromancer together!

[@Frey_64]

Electromancer confirmed !

[@bdrakePBDA]

Sideboard MTG rocked this deck tonight! Nice build, Dev!

[@eccboy7]

Fantastic work Dev! Need to get this built and tested!

[@joelcesaratinado4564]

Dev the wall on the left side (your right) has cracks. Very Nice deck tech. The best deck techs almost always come from here.

[@keenanseable5736]

I literally had this idea THIS MORNING! The same MTG inspiration spirit must have touched both of our hearts today.

[@Joshuakim378]

I play mono blue wizards and it’s definitely a hidden gem. Mines a little more ETB based which helps against boardwhipes and stuff. I run 4 Silvergill adept which if you reveal another one or a trickster with naban out can draw two cards. A couple Naru Meha as a finisher, and a couple panharmonicon. Nimble Obstructionist is bomb too (tho it will rotate). I do like some of your additions tho. I’m going to try out Tempest Djinn and curious obsession

[@othon_87]

Super awesome and budget friendly. Need to try building this on Arena.

[@Pinkpachiderme]

I play a similar version with some other merfolk and i love this deck

[@JCMELKOR]

encountered at least three of this deck last night at magic arena; it's pretty beastly

[@Chaoslorden]

I used to play a pretty evil blue bouncer back in the days (rishadan theme) and I've started to collect a new one for standard. Not sure it'll be close to this deck but we'll see in the end.

[@nuramoon5257]

Could you please look into R/B discard deck with Angrath, the Flame-Chained as an engine? Is it possible to create a viable standard post-rotation deck like that? Just an idea from one of my games with your mono black budget burn with discard mechanics where I sided in an Eldest Reborn and reanimated Angrath to my side. It felt insane with Fell Specter. :)

[@ryant2418]

keep these budget decks coming! I run something similar with flyers, but this would be a good chance to practice my counter game. Also T-Shirt game is on point as always!

[@Zaknyfein]

When you first introduced the deck I thought it was going to be a blight, but looking at the list, I find it to be a fair deck that will take some skill to use...well done Dev!

[@jessemclean3585]

Another spot on deck tech! How often are we seeing these decks having some sustainability? I like the finger magic here I think the white is awesome. Keep them coming Dev.

[@Scarecrow9black]

Dev built your zomboe deck and have been loving it! Can't wait to pick this up and give it a go

[@jackloup93]

Super nice build ! I would try with perilous voyage instead of blink of an eye, you dont get the draw later in game but you will most likely scry against aggro decks ! Just a thought

[@nickkoppelman9837]

So....why is no one playing admirals order??? I don’t understand .. specially one mana counter after you attack? One mana protection from settle? Contempt cast out ect ect pretty much for anything any one wants to play on your turn..I don’t understand why this card is never played..

[@droidphyrex]

Nick Koppelman I don't know either, seems great. Replace negate and maybe a spell pierce or retort, add one in the board

[@SlyBlu7]

I side it in against White to answer Settle and Cast Out. Anything else, I need a 2-mana counter for, because they can do it whether I attack or not. I strongly prefer just having the Stormtamer in; same effect, and it's not a "dead card" if their hand is empty.

[@nickkoppelman9837]

SlyBlu7 sure, storm tamer is great, but if your running more counters then just storm tamer why not utilize a card that’s a 3 mana hard counter or a 1 mana hard counter? Admiral order is probably a card you side out for negate or whatever game 2.. but hey it’s a nice surprise gotcha card that’s underrated. Speacially running it in a Aggro or midrangy deck

[@chriswilson9331]

Another great video! Thanks for the decklist! Looks like a fun deck!

[@anthonycline6558]

Siren stormtamer countering settle the wreckage is just where I wanna be. Good beats.

[@supercat3729]

Awesome deck! Why not add red to play wizard's lightning and basically have a counterspell-thunderbolt deck? Also things like Adeliz become available. Bad idea?

[@brandonguthrie8122]

Not necessarily a bad idea, but its change the deck quite a bit.

[@Stat1stique]

It becomes an aggro deck instead of a tempo one ...

[@reedjohnson5916]

I think he made a R/U wizards deck not that long ago

[@jimmybobobbingo]

I play UR Wizards, and from what I've seen, it looks like you either have to choose tempo or burn. Choosing both just plays worse than choosing either. And when playing the UR version, you're typically using Adeliz, which makes you a UR Prowess deck, and burn works better for that strategy. You want spells you're actively casting before Combat damage is done so you're getting those 'prowess' triggers (sometimes they're actual prowess triggers, others Adeliz "pump the team instant/sorcery" prowess triggers). Not much point in triggering prowess without having your creature hit your opponents in the face.

[@andrewgolubiewski3463]

I always think those cracks in the paint on your wall are hairs on my screen, always trying to brush them off.

[@carterbraun6284]

Naban doesn't die with a curious obsession on it. Nice deck btw😁

[@Mantachen666]

I just wanna say ty for this deck. Managed to win the Store Championship whith it. So much fun to play.

[@iSpitboxer]

Bro this deck is fire. Reminds me of the uw flash spirit decks. Super fun to play and wins lots of matches.

[@BobSMASHTV]

I'm thinking I'll buy this one for my son. Thanks for the upload! Great VOD, as always.

[@Mr.CoffeeBeard]

Looks interesting, well done Dev!

[@moisesmela5091]

I'm going to pause for a bit to comment on how awesome this looks. Thanks Dev.

[@TheExperienceShare]

Being new to magic I love seeing budget videos it helps me find new archetypes and figure out my play style however when I find I deck I like it would be helpful if there was an upgrade section at the end of the video so I know what to work up to allowing me to maximize the potential.

[@LairoftheHydra]

just out of pure curiosity, Dev could you do a deck tech on a sacrifice thalid build? cause I am builind one and it feels like it needs something else.

[@Stat1stique]

That Shakespeare reference !!!

[@stantheman1976]

Have you ever done a deck tech for a pauper sliver deck? Can you please do one if not?

[@nokiacr]

thank you for giving us your knowledge in the creation of this deck, followed each of its steps, to achieve the perfect match, the truth friend you with your videos gave me the different perspective that does not always require a deck of many $$ for win ... today play with the blue tempo and win an Izzet ... 2/0 ... a Jeskay 2/0 and finally a Golgari .. 2/1 There I have the creation of a selesnya according to his conviction to see the decks the letters therefore many thanks =)

[@jacobrichards4448]

I've been rocking a similar deck with more fliers mono blue favorable tempo

[@ecoKady]

I've tried both and I've come around to the unblockable creatures version only because it's much better on the draw. Both decks operate fine on the play, but having your card advantage going on turn 2 either via Curious Obsession or Chart a Course instead of turn 3 (after a 2 drop flier) makes all the difference and gives you a chance to keep up and overtake your opponent's inherent tempo advantage in going first.

[@adriencalla2085]

I win my local store's championship with this deck ! Thank a lot Dev !

[@reedjohnson5916]

Is that all 5 rotation proof mono decks? Or are we missing mono white? I know U/wizards, B/zombies, R/goblins, G/elves

[@SlyBlu7]

U/TempoDjinn, B/Zombies, R/Goblins, G/Stompy, W/Lifegain+Tokens There are also some rotation proof guilds/tribes out there; U/R Wizards, U/G Merfolk, and B/W Knights are all tribes to watch post rotation, plus B/W Vampires and U/B Pirates

[@johnreynolds2337]

Siren Storm Tamer “Noooooooo...” I LOL’d.

[@jankmtg6046]

Yeah I think this will be a good place to start in standard post rotation. The deck is powerful and consistent. It is one of the decks that is not really losing the most key cards like other strategies.

[@David-gj9qr]

I recently thought the idea of a mono-blue wizard deck was funny because of the company that manufacturers the cards "Wizards" of the "coast"

[@santiproductions9318]

Personally I’d love to see mono blue flyers, I feel like that deck has more post rotation power because it runs tempest djinns and curious obsession as its main engine, plus is mono blue aggro which is always amazing lol

[@ethanseekins4905]

I was wondering if there would be an deck built around Thran Temporal gateway?

[@doccosta8336]

Very good! I'm assembling this deck, but it's not a top 8 deck yet! Thank you! 🐟🦈🐳

[@Ash.King.Y]

Nice deck! The crack in your wall always bugs me cause I think it's on my cell's screen...

[@yanasavina.poetry]

"We're cultured around here." Nice Dev. Nice.

[@voidpunkprincess]

I know it's not a board wipe, but you might want to consider sleep since it's reprint in core 19 on the side board instead of a board wipe

[@ecoKady]

This isn't a deck that plans to tap out after turn 3. You want to play a threat and the protect that threat until your opponent is dead. If this deck is in a position where you need to prevent your opponents from attacking you, you've probably already lost. Sleep is only useful in a neutral board state. If you're ahead, it's redundant. If you're behind, you'll still be behind next turn. Something like River's Rebuke is a better fit because it's good in both a neutral board state and if you're behind. It will help you win games you would have otherwise definitely lost without it.

[@SlyBlu7]

Disagree - tempo is, essentially, a deck that wants to win fast. Sleep will win fast. Consider: T4 - Sleep, swing all into an empty board Opp T4 - cast any blockers in hand, no attacks (barring Haste) T5 - Swing into minimal blockers, potentially finish the game T6 - River's Rebuke, swing into an empty board Opp T6 - Guaranteed to have blockers in hand, plus potential ETB triggers T7 - Swing into minimal blockers, potentially finish the game If you're casting Sleep on T6, it also costs 2 mana less, meaning you can leave up just enough for any of the counterspells in this deck, or Admiral's Order (which I highly recommend sideboarding) I agree that if you're using either card to keep your opponent from hitting you with, say, Ghalta or something; GG, you're done. But you aren't trying to do that with this deck. If you don't want to get hit by Ghalta, you slap 'Deep Freeze' on him, or you bounce him for less mana with Perilous Voyage / Blink of an Eye, Exclusion Mage, or tap him down with Trickster.

[@d.f.9140]

And I'm still trying to get dragon/zombie/skeleton deck running in b/r/u with new nicky b.. what a drag, the mana base kills me. But the flavour is soooo good and synergies are everywhere, help me sbmtg!! please!??

[@N64Overclocked]

Are there any videos of someone experienced playing this deck?

[@ohb71303]

Still enjoy that blue/white flash wizards/angel deck I got

[@GuitarSnakeBite]

Can you make a Standard rotation proof Enigma Drake style deck tech please?

[@grozaAC]

Thinking about how to fit Curious Obsession into a UW Spirits deck...

[@TheMaddestHatter234]

Yay! Deck on my birthday!

[@maxpheby7287]

I think the flying pirates version of this deck is better mainly because of the warkite marauder walking ballister combo (untill rotation). Also lookouts dispersal is the truth.

[@samuelwebster207]

Could you sideboard an unwind(gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=unwind) instead of a negate

[@lizardgod1016]

Powerstone bane fire deck?

[@cmac9088]

Great deck in testing. Glorybringer reks it but still good.

[@Ragnarok691]

Whats up DEV. Thanks for the content

[@dimebag5884]

Can I make an argument for sleep instead of rivers rebuke or maybe deep freeze?

[@SlyBlu7]

Sleep > River's Rebuke for Tempo. Don't swap Deep Freeze, closest the deck has to permanent removal.

[@timothyhall4794]

www.starcitygames.com/decks/122575 My Mono Blue Wizards tempo deck, for anyone who might be interested in a different take on the deck.

[@tulfix1816]

Maybe "sleep" over rivers rebuke for aggro?

[@brandonguthrie8122]

Great list dev ;)

[@BroscoWankston]

omw he called it MC Herald

[@reedjohnson5916]

You should buy your cards from TCGPLAYER. This video shows Excusion Mage for .15 cents and all the local stores sell it for $1 just for one example

[@greenwizardgames]

A wizards deck .... sounds perfect for me!

[@slackingminotaur8950]

Love this idea man

[@lhsalsa-1366]

What does Naban do in this deck? There is nothing to trigger when a wizard enters the battlefield. Am I missing something? Appreciate the help.

[@SlyBlu7]

He also doubles ETB effects. So Trickster taps down 2 creatures, Exclusion bounces 2 creatures, etc

[@lhsalsa-1366]

@@SlyBlu7 Oh, I thought the wizard entering the battlefield had to trigger another permanent's ability, but its own ability also triggers naban's then. Cool

[@FredSoriano]

Reminds me of Forbidian

[@mattman8436]

We're cultured around here!

[@k98killer]

Omenspeaker seems a reasonable meta response to Chainwhirler

[@michaelcicero2967]

Omenspeaker is hot garbage

[@pyronicdesign]

Also, no Naru Maha and release to the wind combo in this deck? I'm actually surprised by that.

[@ecoKady]

Without Prowess, that loop doesn't actually do anything productive does it?

[@pyronicdesign]

Depends, with the Dean of iteration out you get a free boardwipe and get Naru back in your hand so you can do it every turn with a guttersnipe you get free damage, there lots of great tricks.

[@pyronicdesign]

With trickster and dean you can turn all of their creatures into chumps with no abilities, with Dean and your excision mage you also can bounce everything. Couple it with an aquatic incursion you can have infinate merfolk, there are lots of little comboes you can add in for just two cards.

[@pyronicdesign]

Little bit of tech with trickster, is it possible to cast trickster in response to chainweirlers etb?

[@ecoKady]

The Chainwhirler's ability goes on the stack before you can cast the Trickster, so it's already there by the time you remove its ability. The only way to remove it would be to counter the triggered ability on the stack.

[@jacobmartens4080]

You seem like a really cool guy that i would want to just sit down and talk to

[@gobowinkler4837]

Sycopate also seeing sideboard play because nexus of fate.

[@rexone9564]

Nice list.

[@בנימיןגייגר]

Naru meha?

[@urtarsmusicreviews8775]

Why not play Water knot instead of deep freeze.

[@JCMELKOR]

trying to make it rotation proof I guess

[@urtarsmusicreviews8775]

KAMLU Water knot does not rotate out. It is in rivals of Ixalan.

[@jankmtg6046]

After rotation water knot might actually be better than deep freeze. Deep freeze seems better against the scarab god, rhonas and hazoret because it turns off their activated abilities but those are rotating out as well. It all depends on how many creatures have relevant abilities that work even when they are tapped down post rotation.

[@ecoKady]

The only creature that cares about a 0/4 Wall is the Merfolk Trickster so there's no difference for combat. Even after rotation, there are going to be creatures that affect the board state like Regisaur Alpha, Kumena, Siege Gang Commander. Deep Freeze also reduces power making Ghalta harder to cast. For a deck with evasive threats, Deep Freeze is nearly always the better answer.

[@mtgenthusiast1168]

well i use the u/r version of the deck and it works better in certain scenarios than the mono blue erion plus you get access to adeliz!!!

[@ecoKady]

I wouldn't compare the two decks, because they have different strategies. Mono-Blue tempo is about dropping 1 or 2 evasive threats and then countering everything your opponent does to stop you. U/R Wizards tries to play spells to actively clear the way for your threats.

[@hivefleethappiness7331]

agreed. They are two different decks. Leaving mana open for counterspells defeats the purpose of playing adeliz

[@TehSeksyManz]

One is Proactive and the other is Reactivate. Very different, like the guy above me said

[@pyronicdesign]

Siren stormtamer will not protect your 1 drop wizard from chainwhieler. Chainwhieler does not target.

[@Nyloxmc]

Chainwhirler does not care

[@bethmaxwell7834]

I like to refer to Naban as Khal Drogo. Anyone else see it?

[@false0-078]

Hay thx this really helped with making my wizard deck thx for the helpful and it always helps being budget thankyou but I have a idea for a mill/zombie deck (I know it sounds crazy but I wanted to give it a go) if anyone could help I'll list its components and I'll be super great full thx

[@SyriusY]

Hello. I love your videos. It is highly unlucky you will see this but would be amazing if you would. Can you please show us a good (i know it won't be amazing) deck around the Scorpion God? Or at lest replay to this comment with a deck?

[@drew-horst]

I still dont even know what chainwhirler does

[@SlyBlu7]

3/3 for RRR, First Strike. ETB it deals 1 damage to each opponent, and each creature and planeswalker they control. It's nasty, and it's been dodging bans like Neo dodges bullets.

[@mrkaifer1337]

let's have a monotype that does not go away after the rotation

[@SlyBlu7]

Knights, Goblins, Vampires, Wizards, Pirates, Merfolk...

[@singedlesurfeurincurve5396]

Without baral and champion of wits ? Oh boi

[@Stat1stique]

He's rotation out in 5 weeks....

[@singedlesurfeurincurve5396]

@@Stat1stique i mean it surprising that the deck looks competitive without thoses cards

[@TowanTalks]

@StrictlyBetterMTG Got a sweet rotation proof deck list for you to have a look at. MonoBlack Apex of Power www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/visual/1291399 only issue for budget is Contempts, but moving them out for something else shouldnt be too hard (they take up almost half the decks cost)

[@BEENOBAGamingWithBloodstone]

make the trickster deck

[@fandomewhisper]

stifle or an evasive body....

[@Arghore]

Looks thick !

[@SunniestAutumn]

I like this, but I do have some feedback. Don't bother with Naban. It doesn't help with any match up consistently enough. Just move Archaeologists to the main, it's the best option as is. Also, Jace, Cunning Castaway wins games randomly out of the sideboard, so run a couple of those. -One of the 5-0's.