7 Sub-$300 Budget Premodern Decks

Magic: The Gathering · by Zac Clark & ForceofPhil · June 9, 2026

Premodern has seen some price spikes of its playables' original printings, but fret not, fellow spellcasters, for budget-friendly options across archetypes remain potent and plentiful. While most budget builders default to Sligh/[r] Deck Wins, there are other options that don't include {Ball Lightning}.

Whether you like swarming the red zone, controlling the stack, slinging some dark magic, or drawing a card and passing the turn, there is a budget option for you. Here are six budget Premodern decks that are competitively viable strategies with room to explore:

Budget Premodern Decks

[r][b] Goblins

DECKLIST_START

Creatures (35)

4 {Goblin Lackey} [r]
3 {Mogg Fanatic} [r]
1 {Skirk Prospector} [r]
4 {Goblin Piledriver} [1][r]
1 {Goblin Tinkerer} [1][r]
3 {Gempalm Incinerator} [2][r]
2 {Goblin King} [1][r][r]
4 {Goblin Matron} [2][r]
1 {Goblin Sharpshooter} [2][r]
4 {Goblin Warchief} [1][r][r]
1 {Goblin Pyromancer} [3][r]
4 {Goblin Ringleader} [3][r]
3 {Siege-Gang Commander} [3][r][r]

Instants (2)

2 {Terminate} [r][b]

Lands (23)

4 {Bloodstained Mire}
7 {Mountain}
2 {Rishadan Port}
1 {Shadowblood Ridge}
1 {Snow-Covered Mountain}
4 {Sulfurous Springs}
1 {Swamp}
3 {Wasteland}

Sideboard

2 {Tormod's Crypt} [0]
3 {Duress} [b]
3 {Pyroblast} [r]
3 {Dralnu's Crusade} [1][r][b]
2 {Perish} [2][b]
2 {Pyrokinesis} [4][r][r]

DECKLIST_END

{Psychatog} by Edward P. Beard, Jr.

[u][b] {Psychatog}

DECKLIST_START

Creatures (5)

4 {Psychatog} [1][u][b]
1 {Wonder} [3][u]

Instants (25)

4 {Opt} [u]
4 {Accumulated Knowledge} [1][u]
4 {Counterspell} [u][u]
2 {Impulse} [1][u]
3 {Smother} [1][b]
4 {Foil} [2][u][u]
4 {Gush} [4][u]

Sorceries (11)

4 {Duress} [b]
4 {Portent} [u]
3 {Deep Analysis} [3][u]

Lands (19)

10 {Island}
4 {Polluted Delta}
2 {Swamp}
3 {Underground River}

Sideboard

3 {Annul} [u]
4 {Hydroblast} [u]
1 {Chill} [1][u]
2 {Tsabo's Web} [2]
2 {Zombie Infestation} [1][b]
3 {Engineered Plague} [2][b]

DECKLIST_END

{Rainbow Efreet} by Nathalie Hertz

[u] Control

DECKLIST_START

Creatures (2)

1 {Rainbow Efreet} [3][u]
1 {Morphling} [3][u][u]

Instants (27)

4 {Chain of Vapor} [u]
4 {Accumulated Knowledge} [1][u]
4 {Counterspell} [u][u]
1 {Flash of Insight} [x][1][u]
4 {Impulse} [1][u]
3 {Mana Leak} [1][u]
3 {Miscalculation} [1][u]
2 {Prohibit} [1][u]
2 {Fact or Fiction} [3][u]

Artifacts (4)

2 {Powder Keg} [2]
2 {Nevinyrral's Disk} [4]

Enchantments (2)

2 {Control Magic} [2][u][u]

Lands (25)

2 {Dust Bowl}
4 {Faerie Conclave}
10 {Island}
4 {Mishra's Factory}
4 {Quicksand}
1 {Thawing Glaciers}

Sideboard

4 {Annul} [u]
4 {Blue Elemental Blast} [u]
1 {Envelop} [u]
4 {Hydroblast} [u]
2 {Arcane Laboratory} [2][u]

DECKLIST_END

{Graveborn Muse} by Kev Walker

Moneyball [b]

DECKLIST_START

Creatures (17)

3 {Nantuko Shade} [b][b]
4 {Ravenous Rats} [b]
4 {Withered Wretch} [b][b]
4 {Hypnotic Specter} [1][b][b]
2 {Graveborn Muse} [2][b][b]

Instants (9)

4 {Dark Ritual} [b]
1 {Diabolic Edict} [1][b]
1 {Smother} [1][b]
1 {Kaervek's Spite} [b][b][b]
1 {Snuff Out} [3][b]
1 {Necrologia} [3][b][b]

Sorceries (9)

4 {Cabal Therapy} [b]
4 {Duress} [b]
1 {Chainer's Edict} [1][b]

Artifacts (4)

4 {Urza's Bauble} [0]

Lands (22)

1 {Cabal Pit}
4 {Mishra's Factory}
15 {Swamp}
2 {Wasteland}

Sideboard

2 {Vendetta} [b]
1 {Drain Life} [x][1][b]
1 {Plaguebearer} [1][b]
4 {Engineered Plague} [2][b]
4 {Gloom} [2][b]

DECKLIST_END

{Eternal Dragon} by Justin Sweet

[u][w] Control

DECKLIST_START

Creatures (1)

1 {Eternal Dragon} [5][w][w]

Instants (24)

4 {Accumulated Knowledge} [1][u]
4 {Counterspell} [u][u]
4 {Opt} [u]
4 {Swords to Plowshares} [w]
3 {Fact or Fiction} [3][u]
2 {Disenchant} [1][w]
2 {Mana Leak} [1][u]
1 {Prohibit} [1][u]

Sorceries (8)

4 {Sleight of Hand} [u]
3 {Decree of Justice} [x][x][2][w][w]
1 {Wrath of God} [2][w][w]

Artifacts (5)

3 {Powder Keg} [2]
2 {Tsabo's Web} [2]

Lands (22)

9 {Island}
4 {Adarkar Wastes}
4 {Flooded Strand}
4 {Plains}
1 {Coastal Tower}

Sideboard

4 {Meddling Mage} [u][w]
3 {Black Vise} [1]
2 {Phyrexian Furnace} [1]
2 {Exalted Angel} [4][w][w]
1 {Upheaval} [4][u][u]
1 {Spiritual Focus} [1][w]
1 {Hibernation} [2][u]
1 {Circle of Protection: Red} [1][w]

DECKLIST_END

{Undead Gladiator} by Jeff Easley

[b][w] Control

DECKLIST_START

Creatures (7)

1 {Undead Gladiator} [1][b][b]
1 {Bane of the Living} [2][b][b]
3 {Exalted Angel} [4][w][w]
2 {Eternal Dragon} [5][w][w]

Instants (10)

1 {Enlightened Tutor} [w]
2 {Skeletal Scrying} [x][b]
4 {Swords to Plowshares} [w]
1 {Diabolic Edict} [1][b]
1 {Disenchant} [1][w]
1 {Smother} [1][b]

Sorceries (16)

4 {Duress} [b]
3 {Gerrard's Verdict} [w][b]
4 {Vindicate} [1][w][b]
3 {Decree of Justice} [x][x][2][w][w]
2 {Wrath of God} [2][w][w]

Enchantment (1)

1 {Phyrexian Arena} [1][b][b]

Lands (25)

Sideboard

2 {Tormod's Crypt} [0]
3 {Circle of Protection: Red} [1][w]
1 {Disenchant} [1][w]
1 {Powder Keg} [2]
2 {Seal of Cleansing} [1][w]
2 {Engineered Plague} [2][b]
2 {Perish} [2][b]
1 {Ivory Mask} [2][w][w]
1 {Wrath of God} [2][w][w]

DECKLIST_END

{Stasis} by Fay Jones

[u] Stasis

DECKLIST_START

Instants (27)

4 {Chain of Vapor} [u]
2 {Arcane Denial} [1][u]
1 {Brain Freeze} [1][u]
4 {Counterspell} [u][u]
3 {Daze} [1][u]
1 {Flash of Insight} [x][1][u]
4 {Impulse} [1][u]
1 {Mana Short} [2][u]
3 {Thwart} [2][u][u]
4 {Gush} [4][u]