What are budget versions of the staples in Magic: The Gathering? Now, staple cards are staples for a reason. They don't really have an equal, hence why they're played over other cards. BUT! What if we tried to get close? We continue with Red!

Jeska's WIll Budget Option

One of the definitively best Red cards in Commander is Jeska's Will. Being able to add Red for each card in a target opponent's hand and exiling the top three cards of your library if you control your commander, is insane. The card advantage, the mana advantage, puts you way ahead. In Red, there aren't many cards that do both of these for . Imagine playing Solphim, Mayhem Dominus and flipping two dragon's approaches. If your opponent has even five cards in hand and one open, that's 12 damage to each player. Jeska's Will is going to cost you $20 though. What can do something close to this on a budget?

What is a budget option for Jeska's Will? For something that exiles two cards, not three, for, Wrenn's Resolve. I know, I know. It's the combo that makes this card so good. You need the mana to cast the cards exiled. Unlike Jeska's Will, Wrenn's Resolve gives you longer than the turn you play it. You could play it that turn or the following turn, to get the mana needed to clinch it and it'll only cost you $1.50.

Purphoros, God of the Forge Budget Option

One of the biggest game ending cards in Red is Purphoros, God of the Forge. It's not a creature unless your devotion to Red is five and it's indestructible, making it really tough to remove. Unless it's a creature and you can manage the Path to Exile or you have a Farewell and select enchantments, you don't really have good removal for it. What it does is even crazier: whenever another creature enters the battlefield under your control it deals 2 damage to each opponent. Note that it doesn't say nontoken, so Scute Swarm absolutely works here. It's also damage instead of loss of life so damage doublers like Fiery Emancipation and Solphim, Mayhem Dominus works as well. It is game ending. If you want to run it, it'll cost you 18$. How can I get close to this effect on a budget?

What is the budget option for Purphoros, God of the Forge? This is really tough because the closest thing I could find was Agate Instigator. It'll run you about $9, which is hardly budget, but it's cheaper. It's a creature for and offspring for . Whenever another creature you control enters, this creature deals 1 damage to each opponent. With offspring a token comes in with the same ability. So, it'll be two triggers of 1 damage for each creature that enters on your side. It's very similar to Purphoros but without the same protection from removal. However, if you are running something like Doubling Season or Parallel Lives or Mondrak, Glory Dominus you can make even more tokens, to increase the damage. Each would see the others enter. It is still good for the damage doublers as well.

Deflecting Swat Budget Option

A surprisingly inventive way to have interaction in Red is Deflecting Swat. A free spell that changes the target of a spell or ability to something else. It doesn't seem like that interesting, until you change the target of a counter spell to that very counter spell. Or maybe changing a big draw spell from one player to yourself. And the fact that it's free if you control your commander, you can bait out a pretty strong targeted spell for yourself. If you want to run it, it'll cost you $40.

What is the budget option for Deflecting Swat? A spell that, in some situations, is only . It'll cost you only $2.50. It's Bolt Bend. It costs three less if you control a creature with power 4 or more. You can change the target of target spell or ability with a single target. It still costs mana, but it functions a lot like Deflecting Swat. Same strengths.

Dockside Extortionist Alternative Options

I understand that the recent ban of Dockside Extortionist creates a little bit of tension looking for something to replace it. I planned this article before the ban, so I'll change the heading a little. I don't think there is really anything as powerful as Dockside Extortionist in the game, but I have some options. Dockside used to cost you roughly 80-100$. When Dockside Extortionist enters, create X Treasure tokens, where x is the number of artifacts and enchantments your opponents control. Considering most people play mana rocks like Arcane Signet in the early game, Dockside Extortionist is great almost any time in the game. Maybe not after a Vandalblast or Farewell, but still.

What is the alternative option for Dockside Extortionist? In a Pirate Kindred Deck, Breeches, Eager Pillager is a great option. You swing in with 5 pirates and on the attack trigger you create 5 treasures. He'll cost you $2. Even with just Breeches, himself, it's one treasure on a body with first strike, who is a 3/3 for . It's a good conversion rate for early game.

Professional Face-Breaker is a slight upgrade on this. It has menace and costs and $5. Whenever one or more creatures you control deal combat damage to a player, creature a Treasure token. If you play a combat heavy deck it might be a good option. Additionally, if you can manage damage on multiple players, it'll trigger each time then as well, for 3 or so treasures each turn.

Another alternative option? Kellogg, Dangerous Mind is another good option for for $5. He's a 3/2 with first strike and haste. It's something that can get in a lot in the early game. It's a reliable source of treasure through attack triggers.

What is another alternative option for Dockside Extortionist? Lastly, I'd have to mention this since it's not exactly creature treasure production related. It's a little harder to manage because it's easier to counter. Reckless Endeavor. It's and costs around $8. High mana, high cost, high reward. You roll 2 D12s and choose one. Reckless Endeavor deals damage equal to that result to each creature then creates a number of treasure tokens equal to the other result. It can make you 12 treasures and clear the board. You could also whiff.

Thank you so much for taking the time to read. I hope this helps in your next deck-building session! @cashinds on X