Mtg Budget Deck Tech: $40 Hapatra in Amonkhet Standard!

One of the most exciting new cards from Amonkhet is definitely Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons, but nobody is quite sure of what to put around her. Dev takes you through his build, which involves using Hapatra along with Nest of Scarabs to generate a small army! There's all sorts of little two-and-three-card combos in the deck, like Noose Constrictor + Archfiend of Ifnir (throw in a Hapatra/Nest for extra fun), or Key to the City + Hapatra, which ensures that not only will Hapatra get through for combat damage and trigger her first ability, but also lets you discard cards for Archfiend and Ruthless Sniper! And the price tag for all of this powerful synergy? Only about $40.
Decklist
Creatures (21)
4 Ruthless Sniper
2 Festering Mummy
3 Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons
4 Noose Constrictor
3 Channeler Initiate
2 Crocodile of the Crossing
3 Archfiend of Ifnir
Enchantments (7)
4 Nest of Scarabs
3 Sinister Concoction
Artifacts (4)
4 Key to the City
Instants (4)
2 Grasp of Darkness
2 Dissenter's Deliverance
2 Splendid Agony
Lands (22)
2 Blooming Marsh
10 Swamp
8 Forest
2 Grasping Dunes
Sideboard
1 Sinister Concoction
2 Dissenter's Deliverance
2 Grasp of Darkness
4 Trespasser's Curse
4 Manglehorn
2 Prowling Serpopard
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Category
Gaming

[@SBMTG]

Despite the graphic in the video, we're playing 2 Splendid Agony and 2 Grasp in the main. Editing Dev was sleepy :D

[@AhrenGraves]

By chance do you have an email that I could possibly reach you at?

[@skwarka3285]

Strictly Better MtG 17 card sideboard?

[@chrissenior1834]

What about Soulstinger? You can dump -1 counters on him and when he dies do it again to them.

[@SBMTG]

-2 Prowling Serpopard geez I must have been all the way asleep when I edited this

[@jakecole7644]

build a red white exert deck with always watching, no budget, fully competitive please, i built one but i wanna see how you'd do it

[@SBMTG]

I must have been all the way asleep when I edited this. There are only 2 Serpopards in the board. Don't run a 17-card sideboard. It's kind of against the rules XD

[@Dazbii]

I was playing nest of scarabs in the prerelease and found a pretty fun combo to make a ton of scarabs. Play Soulstinger, putting two -1/-1 counters on itself and generating two scarabs. Then play Exemplar of Strength, putting three more -1/-1 counters on our Soulstinger, generating three more scarabs and killing out Soulstinger. Then using Soulstinger's ability we get to move those five -1/-1 counters onto an opponent's creature and generate five scarabs in the process. So using two cards with nest of scarabs out we are able to come out with 5 -1/-1 counters on an opponent's creature, a 4/4 on our board, and 10 scarabs.

[@jongurley7337]

Dazbme that's pretty cool. Just remember that Soulstinger is a 4 drop and consider all the possible cards that could go there. In a limited environment, cards can do things that they wouldn't have a chance to in constructed.

[@Feyamius]

Jon Gurley Could be cool in a casual environment though.

[@jongurley7337]

No doubt. In a purely casual environment I could see this running amock and causing some awesome beats. BTW didn't mean to come off like a competitive snob. Fun IS the aim of the game.

[@Dazbii]

Jon Gurley Yeah, in a sealed enviroment, it could pay off pretty well. In the game that it happened for me my opponent had a greater sand worm, so the scarabs didn't do a whole lot of good in protecting me. The combo probably doesn't have a place in a constructed deck like this but maybe if you're trying to make something like this on an even lower budget.

[@benjaminclarke305]

Dazbme I almost played the exat same thing but I never really got all of them out at the same time

[@GreenEyes046]

I also made a Hapatra deck a few days back! The thing with mine is that I don't use the whole cycling/discard theme and instead go all out on -1/-1 counters. I use Tree of Perdition to put all the counters on and sometimes even get my opponent down to 5 or 6 health just using its ability. Plague Belcher has been an all star for me even though I don't have many zombies. Decimator Beetle is also extremely solid. The Cartouche of Ambition / Trial of Ambition combo has worked well so far. For sure trying out your deck - thanks for making these!

[@KyokenX20]

GreenEyes046 I've been wanting to do the same with tree of perdition, how well does it work?

[@GreenEyes046]

Honestly its ok. Not to the level I thought it was going to be but I'm gonna keep it in the deck.. Nice blocker and counter sink. It won me a few games by casting my own Grasp of Darkness on it twice, switching the life total and swinging in. Extremely janky but I'm enjoying it.

[@seustia]

do you mind if you give us a more detailed deck list? I'm trying to build one too.

[@Scarecrow9black]

Can we get some non budget versions for this as i like the deck alot. Also is there anyway to get draw for this deck since it feels like it'll stagger after a big discard with noose constrictor

[@INonStopWin]

Scarecrow9black yeah ur right what about altar's reap? sacing a creature isn't that big a deal and it's at instant speed!

[@DragonForce1393]

"Against cat combo" "Against cat combo" :D you should make a button so you don't repeat it everytime :D

[@hippongggg]

Wattouat Blackshiney I second this.

[@tomluna1201]

Thanks for adding "what to take out when playing against the cat combo" that helps alot

[@Devn8tr]

I've been trying to work on this deck for a while now and I love the way that you're interpreting it and I'm definitely gonna try it

[@canepazzopirata2062]

Which deck do you think will be tier 1? Also, is there a non-budget list for this deck that would take it to tier 1?

[@BR0STRADAMUS]

Deck looks fun! Why not add Westvale Abbey? With the token producers seems like a good payoff

[@RaysRandomWorld]

It's good in any side for control decks. If your meta has a lot of control do it.

[@sebastiansarmiento3488]

I put an Abbey and you can transform it the same turn that enter in game by sacrificing tokens... Sweet

[@terabot4007]

People are mentioning the missed edit but lets talk about that Stankonia shirt!

[@tcz6978]

You should add an upgrade section to budget decks. Also, do you think Decimator Beetle could fit in this deck? Anyways great video and great deck tech :)

[@KensanOni]

From my testing, D. Bettle is okay against Energy decks, but the demon in general should be better against army decks.

[@redmangoose182]

Agreed!

[@Lefarsithegod]

Spencer Butisbauch I tried running it instead of archfeind, but Archie is just so essential to the deck it puts you back not having it.

[@ashtonpohl5464]

Another day, another deck. This one's been ordered. Thanks Dev!

[@jamesswope6444]

Hey Dev, thanks for the vid. Any reason for not using plague belcher? T1 F mummy, T2 Hapatra, T3 Belcher leaves you with a T3 9 power on the board (2 deathtouch 5 menace) which seems good to me. Also with so much removal in play what about cards like hapatra's mark or blossoming defense? Lemme know, and thanks for all the vids!

[@Ash.King.Y]

Nice, budget! Thanks Dev.

[@joranmoore5663]

After looking at your ratings, what would you do to up the speed (even by +1) ?

[@theunwantedveggietray8476]

Been trying to build this and love seeing your take in it

[@drmadskills]

How do you measure power, versatility, synergy, consistency, etc.? As in, is there a formula for coming up with those numbers, or is it more "gut feeling"

[@ashadeofnight]

Great deck! Only thing I expected to see and didn't was plague belcher. Any particular reason why you didn't play it? Also agree that at least 1 copy of Westvale Abbey seems a good idea. Can you give us a list of all the upcoming decks please? I want to build a standard deck but not sure whether to build this or hold out for something. I'm keen to see aristocrats, red deck wins, red or red/white aggro, red/white exert...

[@BlaineTog]

This deck is sweet. I've wanted a Hapatra deck since she was spoiled and this looks like a really fun way of running her.

[@mariesterweijden5596]

In wich way does iT destroy the cat-combo exactly?

[@ethanh4633]

Fun deck ideas: U/B Cycling R/W Exert U/R Burn

[@HavocTheWendigo]

Venersis I can see naya exert since you get your pick from the best

[@ethanh4633]

William Henry true Naya exert can definitely work well

[@cooper6614]

Venersis I have a brew for naya exert

[@deansprinkle7104]

Another gr8 deck idea would be the come back of blue red spellz with things like enigma drake (gets even better as the game goes on), soul-scar mage, and cryptic serpent along with all the other gr8 spellz stuff. P.S. The deck can also be made to be rotation proof, since you would only be giving up stormchaser mage and anticipate.

[@dolphuscolon9101]

Venersis burn

[@HellBentHitman]

Now that there are no more "cat"astrophe's in standard what would you switch up for your cat hate?

[@jayriccabona8988]

What do we replace grasp of darkness when hour of devastation comes out?

[@jeremiahfigueroa5789]

I like it. I may throw in westvale abbey since it seems you'll have a lot of board control

[@skynexus9933]

how would you go about upgrading this deck from budget to competitive and would try running lily the last hope

[@nickmargaritondo5249]

Thanks for the awesome videos! I'm thinking about making this deck as my first foray into the standard format and I was wondering if you would make any changes to the deck/sideboard now that Felidar has been banned? Thanks!

[@ricardoremedios3511]

what about hapatra and undying with vizier of remedies and melira? Does ir Works?

[@necrofeo]

will liliana death wielder and liliana's ifluence work?

[@ThisIsAweshum]

Subterranean Promotions Yes, Lilinana, Death Wielder's +2 effect will constantly generate scarabs and snakes, not to mention if your opponet doesn't have any creatures you can just slap -1/-1s on your creatures. If you have a bunch of cards if the graveyard when you use her ultimate that put -1/-1 counters on stuff when you put it on the field could win you the game. Especially if you bring out a lot of stuff and a soulstinger. Just slap Soulstinger with all the -1/-1s, killing it off then slapping an opponets creature with the same -1/-1s it had. It's a mean token generator. Liliana's influence works the same way Ifnir would work. Plus, if you lost Liliana Death Wielder or used her ulitimate and killed her off, you could just get her back. Overall, it's a really nice combo, but it's more late game because of the cost both cards have.

[@teddythodo3302]

What do you do against a planeswalker? How much of a threat are they? I'm going to build this tonight at my card shop.

[@rozadodelacolina]

A friend and I opened practically everything for this deck bar the hapatra in our prerelease, so it looks like we'll definitely build it... I also opened a rhonas and a liliana... would it be a good idea to splash them there for fun, or would they be a misfit for the deck?

[@Djmattymulz]

any thoughts on trying to fit in obelisk spiders or ammit eternals in here? obelisk spiders are tougher noose constrictors that add counters and gain/loss but without feeding into the discard/cycle combos, and ammit eternals let your opponent feed into combos, then can use key to the city to remove the counters and start over. Also, tenacious hunter - doesn't feed into combos, but is almost guaranteed to be a 4-drop 4/4 with vigilance and deathtouch...

[@ChiIlPenguin]

A list very similar to this one is used in one of the new magic duels story missions and oh boy was it a blast to spam the board with snakes, this deck seems unexpectedly cool!

[@gravit8ed]

I feel like this set is really REALLY looking for a w/g angels deck. FLYERS w/+1 COUNTERZ ALL DAY. What do you think? ETA thanks for this one too! The neg counters thing is hard to figure into a decent deck on sealed, this will help on the weekend.

[@yinyanggaming1523]

I apologize, I didn't watch videos long enough so I don't know your name @SBMTG. I like the music you put in these intros, honestly the whole reason I subscribed :) This is also my first comment on a youtube video ever. Thanks for your content.

[@yinyanggaming1523]

Also, 3:34 you forgot to edit my friend :)

[@unscriptedraps2712]

Does anyone know where I can find the intro music?

[@FETUSSTATUS]

would westvale abbey be good in the land base? and if so, what would you take out? I plan on running 4 blooming March and 4 hissing quagmire

[@FETUSSTATUS]

by the way, absolutely am loving the idea of this deck

[@maxmavros8929]

What do you think of Plague Belcher in place of Crocodile of the Crossing ?

[@dustinpoole1997]

Do you have suggestions for an updated version of this deck now that felidar guardian is banned?

[@ratans2]

would a splash vizier of remedies, metallic mimic for snake tokens and winding constrictor to create extra tokens would work in this deck?

[@troynelson7008]

What's the set symbol on noose constrictor?

[@szeto400]

is there any good removal when your opponent board in trespasser's curse. because that basically shuts down the token generating strategy

[@szeto400]

Also now that Cat combo is band is there any recommendation for sideboard?

[@Paekabou]

Dev great deck, please help me remove & replace the Sept rotating block cards: Noose constrictor Grasp of Darkness Sinister concoctuon I'd like to build and get good with it and not have to worry about rotation for ages. What would you recommend? thanks.

[@OlympusPublicAffairs]

This deck can easily stop cat combo Game 1. Archfien of Ifnir, Hepatra, Noose Constrictor, and one card in hand. Let them combo and swing. Discard at least one card, each cat gets a counter, create a Snake for each cat that had a counter placed. Block. Kill all cats. Swing lethal on your turn.

[@optimysticyet]

Where do you do your testing? Sorry if you have said before, I don't read many comments, but I watch ALL your videos. You're the best!! Id like to see mono red soon.

[@SuperBronzong]

I would like it if in these budget deck techs there was a section in the end where you touch upon which cards to include with a slightly higher budget.

[@gl-cn6xg]

Awesome, I will try this. Pls keep making videos, we need u! 👍

[@seth8877]

what can you do with this deck if money is no object ive been wanting to build it since they started spoiling these cards

[@REYSiempre1]

Hey dude! What do you recomend for artifacts lovers in standard?

[@hivefleethappiness7331]

Since we are using the discard mechanic so frequently, how about using scrapheap scrounger as fodder? It is also a good choice when we need to put counters on our own guys since it comes back from the dead, (and is able to take a single counter without dieing) EDIT: Looks like Honored Hydra and Destined to Lead make better discard fodder

[@chapelstadium1430]

Folks, the pause was a simple editing oversight. "Go" seems to be a self reminder to cut there. Tiny error. Great deck tech Dev!

[@infamousgengar]

Added a westvale abbey and sleeved up the deck going to a local and see how it runs. It seems decent so far!!

[@Damatovg]

I traded a Vizier of the Menagerie for a promo Hapatra on Sunday. I wanna see a Red Blue Green Vizier deck though with Samut and Khenra Charioteer. I'm working on one, but not sure what direction to take.

[@Doguran127]

I'm surprised you didn't put Stinging Shot on the Sideboard! Well, at the very least, against Mardu Vehicles so you can: 1º Make Heart of Kiran less of a threat; 2º MORE TOKENS! Three from Nest and 1 from Hapatra. 3º Cycle for the Archfiend and the Sniper. Idk, it seems good imho. Definitely making this deck! Would like to see your opinions for a non-budget of this versions as well!

[@Arghore]

Why didn't you play the very powerful 'Evolving Wilds' to shore up this mana-base in proper budget style ?

[@galaxygirl9630]

Cool, I got exactly 3 Hapatra's at the 2HG Amonkhet pre-release and I wanted to make a deck with these cards. So I think I will give this a try :D

[@jamaigar]

MONORED, MONORED! And also that spider dance, so fitting

[@keenanmccracken6758]

Love the deck Dev. How about upgrading your Death and Taxes deck with the new curse?

[@Galactictopdeck]

if you were to take out cards and replace anything in here even if it makes it not budget what would be some of them?

[@scholtzspider]

Keen for blue red something! Lotsa unblockable damage! Glorybringer and Insult to Injury and Fling! Dude, what about one or two Westvale Abbeys here? It can get activated so quickly with all the 1/1 tokens this thing can generate. Awesome deck! probably what I'm gonna try sleeve up for this season :)

[@shataraterevar]

why no 1 or 2 shadow of the grave for refilling the Ifnir removal alfter it goes of?;p It's basicaly card draw in a deck with constrictor

[@jiezhangjzmobee8102]

I just wanna point out that shirt with BeBop & Rock Steady is Amazing!

[@Bryan181]

I've been playing around with a cheapo kitchen table version of this deck. It's a lot of fun, I love Hapatra.

[@SpliffG707]

Yo Dev, can you do a deck tech for Mono White Angels? Or for U/W Control for this standard? I really want to build either one.

[@randomdudehere4828]

I'm new to the game, but your videos and deck techs are very helpful ! Thank you

[@thewarriorofboros]

Would you mind trying to do a full power version of this(read: full power version of any budget decks)?

[@lynseldest3597]

As a musician I am disappointed you don't acknowledge the music you've started using for intro/outro. Some of it is really cool. As a Magic player I really enjoy your deck techs.

[@BillKeyz]

Did you go to the pre-release

[@mtgenius4958]

Hey Dev, Great video as always! You mention X2 copies of grasp of darkness in the main deck, but the graphic shows X4. Just a heads up :) Really looking forward to trying a version of this deck.

[@DoomBringer2000000]

He also said 2 of Splendid Agony but showed 3

[@SBMTG]

it's a 2-2 split. bad edit sorry

[@joseph_alonzo]

I know I'm late to this video, but I have actually had a hapatra deck since the opening day, and just revised it the other week. My version is much cheaper, all Amonkhet block cards, and omits the cycling part. I can send you the list if you want. It is really fun

[@Cheshirekat.]

I built the most paired-down version of this deck at prerelease, it was super gratifying to kill off the soulstinger with the exemplar of strength's etb and drop their active Rhonas while generating 9 bugs. hella value, a little slow though

[@dzomp]

Not sure if anyone mentioned it in here, but if consistency with lands is an issue and you're also trying to lower your budget, don't forget about replacing Blooming Marsh with Foul Orchard and cut $12 off

[@benglendening9847]

Any changes to this now that Felidar Guardian has been banned? Replace trespasser's curse and grasp of darkness maybe? Does Exemplar of Strength become a better option now?

[@LapahnYT]

I play Exemplar of Strength and he's one of the best cards in the deck because there are so many aggro decks running around. The crocodile was always bad so far, Hapatra often is just removal bait - but when she sticks she's awesome. The deck loses gas really quick so I will probably try out Altar's Reap or Midnight Oil.

[@nicholaslott4575]

What about a U/R Heck bent deck? Fast ways to dump your hand while curving Lupine Prototype, into some spells, into Hazeret, into Geralfs, Masterpiece? Or even Turn 2 minotaur, discarding Geralfs masterpiece, turn 4, animating it, turn 5, drop an activated Hazeret, swing for 16?

[@Kavou]

The deck has such a cool and great there,one of the things I love about Magic,over being competitive.

[@figdestroyer]

I would like to see Dez make a deck with the highest possible power ranking, regardless of budgetary restraints. Even a budget deck with the highest possible rank would be cool!

[@TheRealAudioDidact]

Dev, where can I get your music?

[@KensanOni]

The only real problem with the deck is you will want to find a way to squeeze in some card draw, because you are going to be ditching a lot of cards during play. I put in Lifecaller's Beastiary, but it's not the greatest... I'm going to look for something better.

[@wookiee231]

Hey dev. I have watching your videos about a yr now. You do great original deck techs for us. Thanks a bunch. I got a rakdos discard tech that might be very fun for you to and it's budget. Let me know if you want the list

[@baconcube6109]

Archfiend + discard or cycle also stops Copycat and you get infinite Sneks with Hapatra

[@Xiko37]

Dev, is it possible to get your opinion on decks we make, I couldn't find the FAQs in the playlists srryD:

[@reggiejarvis4814]

hey dev now that cat combo is out what would you change up the deck

[@planeswalkermtg5324]

Dev, I love your budget deck techs... i'm a player on a budget and I feel like you make rather competitive decks for cheap... i'm currently beating down opponents with your U/R/Colorless bounce modern deck... its fun to watch them get pissed and scoop on turn 4

[@AdamKeeton]

I'd love to see a Drake Haven deck. Been trying to brew something and it just hasn't worked out so far.

[@TheBunnyDestroyer]

Uhhhhh....I made a 4-C Throne of the God-Pharaoh deck. I wanna see what you do with that card.

[@metalfreekz13]

So now that cat got e-banned, what would you do with the sideboard?

[@troynelson7008]

Wait to see what top decks start to fill standard then build it around that

[@michaelcords4006]

A budget or semi budget mill deck would be great.

[@desert2474]

i would like to see your updated version of temur tower or a izzet prowess deck.

[@coronerdeath5073]

I'm working on several brews right now, my favorite is "Bontu's Hidden Stockpile"

[@taftstansel2629]

Awesome!! Totally buying into this!!

[@DatsVatSheSaid]

Intro Music? kinda curious..

[@kristian420mua]

Can you make a Bant super friends deck:3

[@timbister3682]

Looks fun. I'm sure I'll try this deck!

[@SlyBlu7]

So, what's your answer against Solemnity? I'm playing in a draft-league, and my GF runs a deck with lots of -1/-1 effects, and Solemnity just shuts it ALL down.

[@ggflowen]

I wish R/B Minotaur tribal could be a thing. I got Neheb and several other Minotaurs in my prerelease pool. They did serious work and were a lot of fun. Just wish this set included one or two more good ones to play with Neheb.

[@danielellis-robinson1573]

Can you do a deck list based around Soul scar Mage, nest of scarabs, Searing sun and a whole lot of burn. Glory bringer as a finisher.

[@greygryphon8204]

Esper embalm with the blue white vizier? Seems like it could be fun maybe

[@disafear3674]

Would love to see some control decks!

[@jiezhangjzmobee8102]

How come Plague Belcher didn't make the cut? Seems like the No.1 go to guy!

[@koreyg8552]

How is noose constrictor standard ?