Doomwake Giant | Art by Kev Walker

Kenne-redeaux

Hello fellow brewer and welcome back to Brew For Your Buck, where we swap out the top 10 most expensive cards in a deck with 10 budget cards that add a unique twist. Last time, I asked if you all if you wanted to see Arna Kennerüd again, with a focus on Auras this time. The answer was an overwhelming yes, so no need for a long intro, let's get to it!

The idea with Arna is to suit up a bunch of creatures with modifications, and then swing for the fences, doubling tokens and creating copies of anything attached along the way. We've had a few weeks for the website to collect more data, so our updated price for Arna's average list is $495.39 with these cards making up the top 10:

1. 1. 1. 1. 1. 1. Anointed Procession ($48.93)
               2. Sword of Fire and Ice ($40.70)
               3. Ocelot Pride ($40.34)
               4. Mondrak, Glory Dominus ($36.58)
               5. Cyclonic Rift ($31.06)
               6. Smothering Tithe ($23.05)
               7. Teferi's Protection ($22.46)
               8. Sword of Feast and Famine ($21.67)
               9. Stoneforge Mystic ($17.95)
               10. Esper Sentinel ($16.21)

Total Value of Cuts: $298.95

This is basically the same top 10 as last time, with the only newcomer being Ocelot Pride. The bigger change is in the mana base. Modern Horizons 3 (MH3) has clearly helped out with fetchland prices, which is reflected in the fact that we only have to remove one land, Marsh Flats, which wasn't reprinted. The result is an additional $17.03 in savings, for a total of $315.98. Given this, I'd strongly suggest getting your copies of the MH3 fetchlands now, before the prices go back up.

Now that we've got our cuts, we'll do the same type of budget package as before, with a focus on supporting and abusing the Auras rather than the Auras themselves. This way, you can feel free to add any Auras you want to the list. I'll also include replacements for the Equipment-centric cards at the end of the article too.

Additions

Freebees!

I'm cheating a little bit with this section, but there are three cards that were part of the last budget package that I think are too good not to include in the Aura version of the deck as well. Junk Winder ($0.16) can stun opposing blockers turn after turn to enable attacks, while also coming down for just two mana. Suiting it up with an Aura or two isn't terrible given the 5/6 body either. Brotherhood Outcast ($0.16) is a wonderful modular card in our deck, enabling the addition of multiple shield counters with Arna, or rebuying a key Aura. Nadier's Nightblade ($0.08) give us some board wipe insurance and incidental life gain as our token Auras leave the battlefield.

Cost Reduction

Our next three cards are very straightforward, reducing the cost to cast Auras. Killian, Ink Duelist ($0.31) is the best of them, bringing down the price by two mana and having some relevant keywords for when you suit him up. Hero of Iroas ($0.49) is next, since you get the cost reduction, and Arna can double the +1/+1 counters on the Hero when it attacks, turning it into a scary threat very quickly. Transcendent Envoy ($0.10) gets the bronze medal for this category, but still comes down early and with some evasion to help get it through to your opponents. Not a bad one to stick Curiosity on at all.

Maura Support-a

It seems crazy to me not to include Light-Paws, Emperor's Voice ($0.78) in this deck, which turns your Auras into buy one, get one free deals each time you cast them. Arna wants us to spread the enchantment love around, so just target something else and Light-Paws will take care of herself. Eventually she'll be so covered in Auras that your opponents will need to deal with her, taking the heat off of Arna. Heliod's Pilgrim ($0.07) is certainly less explosive, but tutors an Aura out nonetheless. Grabbing Sage's Reverie to draw a bazillion cards is probably what I'd do first, but you can always get something else when you need it.

Doomwake Giant ($0.34) also seems insane for this deck, making it even harder for opponents to block if they even have blockers leftover after Arna's trigger resolves in conjunction with this. The Giant can essentially cast Plague Wind every time you attack, assuming you've got enough modified creatures. It's also an enchantment, adding to the effect of cards like Ethereal Armor and other Constellation effects. Speaking of, our last card is another Constellation card: Archon of Sun's Grace ($0.32). It's not only a fine body to enchant, but will quickly flood the board with flying, lifelinking, Pegasi ready to be suited up as well.

Wrap Up & Savings

Let's see what we saved:

Chopping the price down by two-thirds is pretty good, especially considering we get to keep pretty much the entire mana base, which will be useful in multiple decks. As promised, here are the additional cuts I'd make to get away from Equipment and more towards the Aura theme:

• Cut Assimilation Aegis for Chains of Custody - functionally the same effect, a repeatable removal spell but Chains can hit any nonland and even grants the creature ward 2!
• Cut Steelshaper's Gift for Auramancer's Guise - equipment tutors are less important when you can just bash your opponents.
• Cut Puresteel Paladin for Glasswing Grace - an extra Aura or an extra land. Gotta get that MDFC value!
• Cut Loyal Inventor for Retether - reanimate all of your Auras
• Cut Forge Anew for Rune of Sustenance - cantripping Auras will keep the cards flowing.
• Cut Sword of Forge and Frontier for Rune of Flight - same as the other Runes
• Cut Sword of the Animist for Rune of Mortality - and Another Rune!
• Cut Kappa Cannoneer for Umbra Mystic - give all your creatures extra protection!

Cutting the Swords and some of these other cards will add up to some additional savings as well! Retether and Umbra Mystic seem especially strong for this deck, and fit the budget package, so I wanted to highlight them for sure. There are a few leftover Equipment cards which you can swap out at your leisure.

Well, I hoped you liked these back-to-back brews for the same commander. If you want to see more of this, let me know in the comments! I really like the concept of "modular" decks that share a bunch of cards. It's a great way to further save money on our favorite hobby! We'll be moving on to some Bloomburrow ideas next, and maybe looping back to Assassin's Creed (remember that?) if we get a break from the product waterfall. Until then, happy deckbuilding, and I'll see you next time when we brew for your buck!

Follow me on Twitter @BrewForYourBuck

Please note: card prices listed in this article are accurate at the time of writing, but prices can vary over time and between locations.

Read more:

Brew For Your Buck - Budget Kennerud Equipment

From the Brim to the Trim - Auras And Absolute Awe

Brian Cain

Brian played Magic intermittently between 2003 and 2017 when he fully embraced his love for Commander. Finding ways to maximize the value of each piece of cardboard in the deck is one of his favorite things to explore, especially if it involves putting lands in the graveyard! Outside of Magic, Brian works as a consultant in the marine industry, turning his passion for boats and ships into a career.