MTG Salvation

So, I'm looking to build a semi-budget deck on top of what I already have from previous iterations of standard decks. While I'd love to go out and grab a playset of Aether Hub and Verdurous Gearhulk, that option isn't available to me right now and I'd like a deck that's different from the RDW I've been taking to standard showdown. Here's what I have so far.

I'm not looking to spend a huge amount in making this viable (or more accurately, fleshing out the parts), so suggestions in the <$10.00 range would be helpful. Also, I'm attempting to track down two more copies of Longtusk Cub, yet I can't find them anywhere... :/ I'll just keep looking for now.

My questions are:
Are there any more green energy cards worth playing that I don't know about?
Can I afford these cards?
Should I splash another color? (such as red for other energy cards)
Is it just a plain bad foundation and should I start over?

Quote from Xinaar »

So, I'm looking to build a semi-budget deck on top of what I already have from previous iterations of standard decks. While I'd love to go out and grab a playset of Aether Hub and Verdurous Gearhulk, that option isn't available to me right now and I'd like a deck that's different from the RDW I've been taking to standard showdown. Here's what I have so far.

I'm not looking to spend a huge amount in making this viable (or more accurately, fleshing out the parts), so suggestions in the <$10.00 range would be helpful. Also, I'm attempting to track down two more copies of Longtusk Cub, yet I can't find them anywhere... :/ I'll just keep looking for now.

My questions are:
Are there any more green energy cards worth playing that I don't know about?
Can I afford these cards?
Should I splash another color? (such as red for other energy cards)
Is it just a plain bad foundation and should I start over?

I would steer clear of the energy theme and go a different route. If you want a ramp deck, Id consider splashing blue. Other options include: Bounty of the Luxa, Naga Vitalist, Nissa, Steward of Elements, Weaver of Currents, Shefet Monitor, Pull From Tomorrow, Nissa's Renewal, Part the Waterveil, Crush of Tentacles

should be cheap to make sower is the only thing over a buck in it.

Since I have no life and am incredibly bored, I put your deck into mtgs form.

The problem with your deck is that it is incredible unfocused.
A rule of thumb when building decks, you want your deck to be extremely good at one thing rather than mediocre at multiple things. What makes this complicated is that sometimes you delve into subthemes IE BG snek with delirium, energy, or just grindy cards. Each is the same idea with a different subtheme, but they still have a focused idea.

Your deck has a +1/+1 counter theme, as well as an energy theme, and a slight ramp theme.
Your counters/energy theme make you want to be beating down and/or win early with Electrostatic Pummeler. I think you want:

Next, you need to have more ramp cards. If you know the site mtggoldfish, they released a fairly interesting article on ramp a week or so ago. In a very brief summary, you want your ramp cards to line up. For example, you have a t2 play that ramps you, you want to have a 4cmc thing to play (on turn 3 using all mana), and further up. If we had 1cmc dorks, you would want to play a t2 3cmc ramp because it uses all your mana. Standard follows the 2>4>6 curve.
I would suggest around 8 2cmc rampers, 6 4cmc, and 4 6cmc rampers. Your options:

• Ulvenwald Captive:Good card that has a permanent ramp, allows for it to become a beatstick/bigger ramper later game.
• Naga Vitalist:Better in multicolor decks, still has plenty of versatility because it is permanent ramp.
• Servant of the Conduit: Only is a 2-shot ramper. That is why I removed it, you could play it.
• Channeler Intiate: Like above, but 3-shot. Can be a beater but you really don't want beaters, you want big dudes. Also more expensive than previous options.
4 Cmc

• Hedron Archive: Good burst ramp, very powerful. Depending on payoff cards you choose, you might prefer others that ramp you with lands.
• Shefet Monitor when cycled: I like this. Ramp and a free card? Seems pretty good. You could also toolbox with a few deserts since you run only green cards. It also can be a backup finisher.
• Wild Wanderer: It's a fine card. Give you a land and a chump blocker.
• Verdant Crescendo: You could run one of the PW-deck nissa as a win con. If so, this is pretty good.
6 Cmc

• Nissa's Renewal:Large payoff and ramper. I would run 4.

Now you have to look at the payoffs. This area gets tricky due to your small budget, but you can still run big dudes. I'll showcase some of my favorites that are under $1.

• Oran-Rief Hydra: In budget decks. this can be a MASSIVE beater and turns your ramp into power/toughness.
• Ulvenwald Hydra: Does just about the same thing, but in a slightly different way. These are starting to see play in marvel sideboards, so pick them up now before they break the $1 mark.
• Soul of the Harvest: Can replace your bestiary. Starts drawing cards and is on curve as a finisher.
• Honored Hydra: Almost vanilla, but has the advantage of big stats and causing 2-for-1s.

It is up to you what you do, I am just giving you options, you'll have to toy with the budget. Also you have to be careful of some cards getting whiped out by rotation. Here are my suggested Additions.
I would also suggest putting in some more lands that can also be utility.
After a little bit of tinkering, this is my final list:

Tell me what you think!

Isn't Druid of the Cowl better in this deck than Naga Vitalist? Also, what about Plated Crusher and Scaled Behemoth? The built-in hexproof might make them more resilient threats.