[Standard] Mono Green Monument $20 Standard Tournament

[CardAgain Sweater]

Mono Green Monument $20 Standard Tournament

My LGS has a tournament at the end of each standard, before the new set comes out.  Rules are 60 card minimum, sideboard is optional; total deck must not exceed $20, based on that store's pricing (not tied to tcgplayer, etc.). If a card isn't specifically priced at this store (ie, Chandra TOD = $23 at this shop) price is: $1 for rares, $0.25 for uncommons, and $0.10 for commons; basic lands have no cost. Standard legal cards only.

I'm using a budget deck (about $100) idea, and converting it to ultra budget, $20 or under. Based on my Mono Green Monument deck: https://deckstats.net/decks/82140/873771-mono-green-monument

Loses majority of instant speed protection, some card draw, and value from rares that cant fit into budget. Main theme preserved with a cheaper deathtoucher, and less of a concern about hitting 4 power without rhonas. Instead, going with +1/+1 counters to help push through damage cheaply and making pounce suck less as my only removal stuck in monogreen. Armorcraft Judge replaces Lifecrafter's bestiary as best it can under new theme. Lifecraft cavalry is a terrible facsimile of verdurous gearhulk.

I'd really like to find room for maulfist revolutionary because its a cheap value card with the new +1/+1 counter angle.

I could see cutting resilient khenra to make room, but it gives me that late game, got-6-mana-and-no-cards option.

[CardAgain Sweater]

The point of this deck is to leverage both abilities of Rhonas' Monument - reduce colorless casting cost of green creatures while adding trample and buffing small, cheap value creatures. Many use the monument to ramp out green fatties, this deck goes the other way to avoid the blowout when your opponent removes your one big creature.

[KingKitten450]

I like the budget and general idea but I think you should cut the terrain elemental

[CardAgain Sweater]

I like the budget and general idea but I think you should cut the terrain elemental

Thank you for your interest. Finding the right 2cmc monogreen creatures was the hardest part of this build, given the strict $20 budget limit detailed in the deck overview.

Terrain Elemental is a 3/2 for 2cmc - that's above curve, and with the monument out, it is a 3/2 body that gives another creature +2/+2 and trample for a single G. I'm always looking to optimize, so I'd listen to any suggestions for a different monogreen creature at 2cmc in standard (don't forget that due to budget, it can't be a rare or mythic).

Again, thanks for your interest in my idea.

[CardAgain Sweater]

After some thought, I want the hexproof more than the extra pounce, and i dropped the worst 2cmc creature to make room for another hapatra's mark, making it 4 defensive instants. Cant fit 4 blossoming defense into the budget rules.

I'm taking some advice to ditch the Lifecrafter's cavalry for arborback stompers.

Revision 2

Added/removed cards:
-2 Lifecraft Cavalry
+2 Arborback Stomper
+2 Hapatra's Mark

Changed amounts:
-1 (Main) +1 (SB) Pounce
-1 Terrain Elemental
-1 (SB) Plummet

[ladof]

How does your store price things? Like are all bulk rares a buck? This is a really neat idea and I like your mono green approach; I'm working on a build on how I would do it, but I have to know how your pricing works

[ladof]

Here's my dino mono green. Assuming basic lands are free (and they really should be), this site says both the main and sideboard combined is under 20 (only running 14 in the sideboard because Rishkar is a bit pricey on the site for some reason)

https://deckstats.net/decks/57155/966025-20-standard-green

[CardAgain Sweater]

How does your store price things? Like are all bulk rares a buck? This is a really neat idea and I like your mono green approach; I'm working on a build on how I would do it, but I have to know how your pricing works

Basic lands are free, yes; and to stop any confusion over pricing, "tcg says $1.75, mtggoldfish says $2.15", they base it on store costs. If it is a sought after card under the display case with a price on it at that store - that's the price. Other than that it's: $0.10, common; $0.25, uncommon; $1.00, rare/mythic.

The elephant and the khenra are both bulk rares, $7 total.
Blossoming Defense is $1 in the case, so $2 more takes us to $9
Longtusk cub is $0.50 in the case, so $2 more, up to $11
21 bulk uncommons at $0.25, $5.25, running total of $16.25
22 bulk commons at $0.10, $2.20, final total of $18.45

That counts the deserts as commons and sideboard. 

For the deck you posted and asked about,  all the rares but rishkar, peema renegade would be bulk at my LGS, $2.50 each for the elf. None of the other cards would go over bulk pricing, looks like it would fit the budget rules or be close. Your strategy is definitely built for smashing! I like Rishkar'sexpertise a lot, good selection.

(EDIT: Math)

[ladof]

I've had a lot of fun with a simic deck that abuses Rishkar's Expertise and Monstrous Onslaught together. Gets rid of a LOT of little things quickly, and fills my hand. Granted, I dont' have a Carnage Tyrant in this build, but Colossal Dreadmaw would work in a pinch.

[CardAgain Sweater]

I've had a lot of fun with a simic deck that abuses Rishkar's Expertise and Monstrous Onslaught together. Gets rid of a LOT of little things quickly, and fills my hand. Granted, I dont' have a Carnage Tyrant in this build, but Colossal Dreadmaw would work in a pinch.

Just an idea,  but you could drop 1 copy each of your two high end creatures and go down to 3 each, avatar and tuskar, to add in two copies of larger than life.  +4/+4 and trample for attacking. If it is late enough in the game where you have lots of mana, you can buff a creatures power, attack, then cast monstrous onslaught or Rishkar's expertise for more value.