Premodern on a budget: Ideas and decklists

Premodern is nowadays seen as an expensive format, and if you analyze some decks, it’s hard to argue. Cards like Mox Diamond, Gaea’s Cradle, or Lion’s Eye Diamond are really pricey, especially considering that you often have to play a full playset of them. 

Still, as I often say, the beauty of Premodern is that the answers are better than the threats, and you can build a competitive deck without needing too much. This also means that “tier decks” are often there because they’ve been successful, rather than being the absolute best thing you can do in the format. Sam Black recently introduced a new Aluren list that immediately became a contender, and the same is true for other lesser-known decks over the past months and years. Building strategically is better than copy-pasting and complaining!
Disclaimer: I am suggesting decks, not specific printings, and I’m using the cheapest versions as a reference.
With that being said, let’s talk about cheap decks… with an unpopular take: I hate mono red!

Or rather, I dislike that the first deck people recommend to newcomers is mono red. I think Premodern has infinite possibilities to offer, and unless you’re a fan of burn spells and cheap creatures, you shouldn’t necessarily start there (even if it’s very cheap). You might get bored quickly and end up seeing the format in the wrong way. I’m here to show you some other budget decks that can be great!

That said, if you enjoy burn spells and red creatures, go for it. The deck is very strong and has good matchups against most of the top meta.

#1 GW Madness

GW Madness is an aggressive deck that tries to go wide, flooding the board with creatures thanks to the madness mechanic enabled by Wild Mongrel and Patrol Hound. The deck also has plenty of grindy elements such as Call of the Herd, Sylvan Library, and Cursed Scroll, while playing the best removal in the format: Swords to Plowshares.
This is a great example of a cheap deck (where the most expensive cards can often be found as gold-bordered or reprinted versions) that still offers a lot of decision-making and challenging gameplay.
If you like aggressive decks, you should definitely try this one!
Downgrades: You can cut the Cursed Scrolls or one Sylvan Library to play some Birds of Paradise.
Upgrades: The deck might benefit from one or two Gaea’s Cradle.

#2 UG Madness

While this deck shares the “madness engine” with GW, it plays quite differently from its cousin. UG is a tempo deck that aims to push damage while disrupting the opponent’s game plan with cheap counterspells.
The deck is not very easy to play, as it requires many decisions, especially regarding what to discard with Careful Study or Frantic Search, and a solid understanding of the game. However, it is very rewarding and, ultimately, a lot of fun.
I recommend this deck to any blue player who wants to get into the format.
Downgrades: You can cut City of Brass and add two basic lands, then upgrade back later.
Upgrades: You can add Survival of the Fittest and Gilded Drake. You can also look into “Survival Madness” lists for inspiration, as the deck is very strong.

#3 Stasis

Stasis is one of the best control decks in the format and a great way to learn Premodern. Your plan is to lock the opponent with Stasis and eventually win with Black Vise or Brain Freeze, while countering early plays.
The deck is one of the “core decks” of the format and performs well against most strategies. Once again, it is very skill-intensive but highly rewarding, and it can easily win a major tournament if piloted correctly.
Downgrades: Not really necessary, you could cut a Chain of Vapor for a maindeck Brain Freeze, but I would prioritize getting the Chains, as they are crucial for resetting Stasis and maintaining the lock.
Upgrades: None in particular, as the list is quite stock, but you can always upgrade to nicer Islands or a Beta Stasis.

#4 The Rock

The Rock is, in my opinion, one of the coolest decks you can play in Premodern. It has a true midrange feel and can be built in different ways to adapt to your local meta.

The plan is to interact with your opponent using discard, removal, and cards like Naturalize, while maintaining board presence. Pernicious Deed acts as a powerful board wipe, and Genesis allows for strong recursion.

Haunting Echoes is often the icing on the cake, functioning as a win condition after trading resources.

This is the version that led Brian Kowal to win the Premodern event in Milwaukee, but other builds include Recurring Nightmare or Natural Order, either to recur threats or cheat big creatures into play.

No matter how you build it, the deck is extremely fun and can be competitive once you master midrange play and Cabal Therapy blind naming.

Downgrades: You can probably play one fewer Pernicious Deed and one fewer Engineered Plague in the sideboard.
Upgrades: Expanding into the full “Rock” pool, including Natural Order and Recurring Nightmare.

#5 UW Control

UW Control is the classic control archetype that has existed since the early days of Magic. Four Counterspell in a format where it shines, four copies of the best removal spell, Swords to Plowshares, strong card advantage tools, Wrath of God, and a slow but reliable win condition.
This deck is already competitive and can be tuned to your local meta by adjusting slots and sideboard plans.
It is probably the best control deck in the format and can be built in many ways, including Standstill versions, Accumulated Knowledge builds, and versions with or without manlands, so it is up to you. The great thing is that most of the cards have multiple reprints, making the deck relatively affordable.
Downgrades: You can skip Powder Keg and play more Wraths or spot removal instead.
Upgrades: You can add Humility and Enlightened Tutor to unlock more build options.

Conclusion

Premodern is a format where you can explore all archetypes, often even on a budget. I have highlighted five decks in the 100 to 300 euro range, and there are many more options, including most BW shells, Mono U Storm, and even Goblins with a budget manabase. Spending more will naturally open up additional possibilities.
It is also worth mentioning that the format is available on MTGO, where cards are significantly cheaper than in paper. With a rental subscription, you can often access any deck, which is a great option if you want to experiment with cards like Mox Diamond or Intuition.

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