Commander is one of the best formats for budget-minded Magic: the Gathering players because you can build around almost any idea, but it can also become expensive very quickly. With hundreds of possible cards and powerful staples commanding high prices, it is easy to spend far more than originally planned. But what if the budget is in question?

Setting a clear budget before building the deck helps keep your spending under control while also encouraging creativity and better card evaluation.

First, decide your total budget before choosing individual cards. For example, you might set a ₱2,500, ₱3,000, or $50 limit and treat that amount as your maximum rather than a target you can easily exceed. I also recommend dividing the budget into categories such as the commander, mana base, ramp, card draw, interaction, and win conditions. This prevents one expensive card from consuming a large portion of the budget and leaving you without enough money for the rest of the deck.

When money is limited, prioritize synergy over expensive staples. A $10 card may be powerful, but that does not automatically make it better for your particular deck than three or four inexpensive cards that work perfectly with your strategy. Look for commons, uncommons, older cards, reprints, and cards that perform multiple functions. Commander is a singleton format, so you have plenty of room to find budget alternatives while still maintaining a coherent 100-card strategy. (MTG Commander)

There are also situations where proxies can be a reasonable option for casual Commander, provided your playgroup agrees beforehand. For example, you might want to test an expensive card before spending money on it, temporarily proxy a card that you own but currently have in another deck, or test a high-priced upgrade to determine whether it genuinely improves your strategy.

The important point is communication: tell your opponents what you are proxying and establish expectations before the game. Wizards has specifically distinguished playtest cards used outside sanctioned events from tournament play, while the Commander community emphasizes discussing expectations and the social contract with your group.

However, do not assume that a casual proxy is legal at an organized or sanctioned event. Current Magic Tournament Rules generally require authentic, authorized cards, with tournament-issued proxies reserved for specific situations such as cards accidentally damaged during the event or certain foil-only cards.

Simply not being able to afford an expensive card is not a reason for a judge-issued proxy. (Wizards Media) For regular kitchen-table Commander, a clearly agreed-upon playtest proxy can help you experiment without immediately spending money; for competitive or sanctioned play, always check the event’s specific rules first.

Ultimately, a limited budget should be treated as a deckbuilding challenge rather than a disadvantage. Set your maximum spending limit, identify the truly essential cards, search for affordable alternatives, and only consider proxies when your playgroup is comfortable with them.

A budget Commander deck that is carefully built around its strategy can be much more satisfying than simply buying expensive staples—and you can always upgrade it gradually when your budget allows.

Thanks for reading.