Top Budget Staples Every MTG Player Should Know in 2025

You don't need expensive cards to build powerful Commander decks. These budget staples punch above their weight class and belong in every collection.

What Makes a Budget Staple?

A budget staple is a card that:

Costs under $5 (often under $1)

Fits in multiple deck archetypes

Provides consistent value

Has been reprinted recently (keeping prices low)

The Essential Budget Staples

Ramp Staples

CARD: (~$0.50)

The best ramp card in Commander. Produces 2 mana for 1. Every deck should run this.

CARD: (~$0.50)

Color-fixing ramp that works in any multi-color deck. Essential for 2+ color commanders.

CARD: (~$0.25)

Land ramp that fixes colors. Better than Rampant Growth in most cases.

CARD: (~$0.30)

Cultivate's twin. Run both in green decks for consistent ramp.

CARD: (~$0.50)

Produces any color your opponents use. Incredible in multiplayer.

Card Draw Staples

CARD: (~$3)

One card per turn for 3 mana. Pays for itself quickly.

CARD: (~$0.50)

Draw 3 cards for 4 mana. Simple and effective in green.

CARD: (~$2)

Draws cards when opponents cast noncreature spells. Often draws 3-5 cards before being removed.

CARD: (~$0.75)

Wheel effect that refills your hand. Powerful in graveyard and combo decks.

CARD: (~$1)

Draw 5 cards, opponent splits them. You always get value.

Removal Staples

CARD: (~$1)

Destroys any permanent. The most versatile removal in green.

CARD: (~$1)

Exiles any creature for 1 mana. The best white removal.

CARD: (~$1)

Removes any permanent. Red's answer to everything.

CARD: (~$0.40)

Destroys artifacts. Overload wins games against artifact-heavy decks.

CARD: (~$0.50)

Beast Within in white. Destroys any permanent and gives opponent a 3/3.

Board Wipes

CARD: (~$0.50)

Often costs 1 red mana to wipe the board. Incredible value.

CARD: (~$2)

Classic board wipe. Simple and effective.

CARD: (~$15, but worth mentioning)

The best board wipe in Commander. Save up for this one.

Utility Staples

CARD: (~$0.10)

Produces any color in your commander's identity. Free in most precons.

CARD: (~$0.50)

Produces any color your opponents use. Great fixing.

CARD: (~$0.50)

No maximum hand size. Essential if you draw lots of cards.

CARD: (~$0.25)

Graveyard hate on a land. Free to include.

Budget Staples by Color

White Budget Staples

Swords to Plowshares ($1)

Generous Gift ($0.50)

Wrath of God ($2)

Path to Exile ($1)

Smothering Tithe ($8, but worth it)

Blue Budget Staples

Counterspell ($0.10)

Fact or Fiction ($1)

Mystic Remora ($2)

Cyclonic Rift ($15, save up!)

Brainstorm ($0.50)

Black Budget Staples

Phyrexian Arena ($3)

Toxic Deluge ($5)

Demonic Tutor ($10, but essential)

Victimize ($0.50)

Grave Pact ($3)

Red Budget Staples

Chaos Warp ($1)

Vandalblast ($0.40)

Blasphemous Act ($0.50)

Wheel of Fortune ($50, too expensive)

Dockside Extortionist ($50, too expensive)

Green Budget Staples

Cultivate ($0.25)

Kodama's Reach ($0.30)

Beast Within ($1)

Harmonize ($0.50)

Eternal Witness ($2)

Multi-Color Budget Staples

CARD: - Any multi-color deck

Where to Buy Budget Staples

Best Options:

TCGPlayer - Largest selection, competitive prices

Card Kingdom - Fast shipping, good condition

Local Game Stores - Support local, often have bulk deals

Precons - Commander precons include many staples

Pro Tip: Buy playsets (4x) of staples you'll use in multiple decks. It's cheaper than buying singles repeatedly.

Building a Budget Collection

Start with these 20 cards:

Sol Ring

Arcane Signet

Command Tower

Cultivate

Kodama's Reach

Swords to Plowshares

Beast Within

Chaos Warp

Vandalblast

Phyrexian Arena

Harmonize

Fact or Fiction

Wrath of God

Blasphemous Act

Reliquary Tower

Bojuka Bog

Exotic Orchard

Fellwar Stone

Generous Gift

Mystic Remora

Total Cost: ~$15-20 for all 20 cards. These will improve every deck you build.

Using ManaTap AI to Find Budget Alternatives

ManaTap's Budget Swaps feature finds cheaper alternatives for expensive cards:

Import your deck

Click "Budget Swaps"

Set your price threshold

Get AI-powered suggestions

Find Budget Alternatives →

Upgrade Path

Start Budget → Upgrade Over Time

Build with budget staples - Get the deck functional

Play and learn - See what works

Upgrade gradually - Add expensive cards one at a time

Trade up - Use budget staples as trade fodder

Example: Start with Cultivate, upgrade to Three Visits later. Start with Phyrexian Arena, upgrade to Rhystic Study when budget allows.

Conclusion

Budget staples are the foundation of every Commander collection. These cards work in multiple decks, provide consistent value, and won't break the bank. Start with the essentials, build your collection over time, and use tools like ManaTap AI to find budget alternatives.

Ready to build on a budget? Use ManaTap AI's free budget optimization →

---