Budget Builds Guide: Win Consistently with Common & Uncommon Cards Only
Not every run gives you Corruption, Death Sentence, or Echo Form. When RNG refuses to cooperate, you need budget builds — decks built primarily from Common and Uncommon cards that can still clear A0-A15 consistently. This guide covers the best welfare builds for every character that don't rely on a single Rare card to function.
The Budget Build Philosophy: 4 Principles
- Commons are your backbone, not filler. A deck of 25 upgraded Commons is stronger than a deck of 15 Rares + 10 Strikes. Upgrade your best Commons before hunting Rares.
- Synergy over power. A Common that enables your archetype is better than a Rare that doesn't. Acrobatics (Common) is more valuable in Sly Discard than Grand Finale (Rare).
- Prioritize card removes over card adds. Removing Strikes transforms your deck more than adding mediocre Rares. By Act 3, aim to have 0-2 Strikes remaining.
- Upgrade aggressively. An upgraded Common often matches or exceeds a base Rare. Defend+ (11 Block) vs Leg Sweep (11 Block + 2 Weak). Prioritize campfires over Elite hunting in budget runs.
Budget Builds by Character
🗡️ Ironclad: Strength Strike
Core Commons: Inflame (2 Strength), Sword Boomerang (3×3 damage), Headbutt (recursion), Shrug It Off (11 Block + draw).
Key Uncommons: Spot Weakness (4 Strength if target attacks), Limit Break (double Strength).
Gameplan: Inflame → Sword Boomerang × 3 = 9×5 = 45 damage per turn at 5 Strength. Headbutt recurs Boomerang for boss-killing consistency. No Rares needed — this clears A10 reliably.
🔪 Silent: Budget Discard
Core Commons: Sly Strike (8 dmg + draw on discard), Acrobatics (draw 3, discard 1), Dagger Throw (9 dmg + draw + discard), Survivor (8 Block + discard).
Key Uncommons: Calculated Gamble (discard all, redraw), Tactician+ (gain 2 energy on discard).
Gameplan: The reason Sly Discard is #1 meta isn't the Rares — it's that the core engine is ALL Commons. Sly Strike (Common) + Acrobatics (Common) + Tactician (Uncommon) = infinite draw-and-energy loop. You can literally beat A15 with 0 Rare cards as Silent.
⚡ Defect: Frost Wall
Core Commons: Cold Snap (6 dmg + Frost orb), Coolheaded (Frost + draw 2), Ball Lightning (7 dmg + Lightning), Charge Battery (7 Block, next turn +1 energy).
Key Uncommons: Glacier (2 Frost orbs + 7 Block), Defragment (1 Focus).
Gameplan: Stack Frost orbs (Glacier + Coolheaded + Cold Snap), build Focus (Defragment+ = 2 Focus for 1 energy), stall until Blizzard (a Common!) deals 40-60 damage. This is the most reliable Defect budget build and arguably stronger than many Rare-reliant Defect decks.
💀 Necrobinder: Budget Swarm
Core Commons: Sic 'Em (3 skeletons), Raise Dead (2 skeletons), Bone Throw (8 dmg, gain 1 Soul).
Key Uncommons: Bone Legion (2 skeletons), Soul Harvest (8 dmg per Soul).
Gameplan: The Sic 'Em buff (2→3 summons) makes the full Swarm engine functional without Devoted Legion (Rare). 2× Sic 'Em + 1× Bone Legion = 8 skeletons. Soul Harvest converts 8 Souls → 64 damage. The Scythe (Uncommon) deals AoE based on minion count. Viable through A10 without ever seeing a Rare.
👑 Regent: Minion Wall
Core Commons: Reflect (15 Block, return damage), Levy (summon 1 Soldier), Royal Guard (summon 1 Elite Guard).
Key Uncommons: Monarch's Gaze (2 cost, minions gain damage), Call to Arms (draw per minion).
Gameplan: Regent is the hardest budget character — Monarch Decree is Rare and a key power spike. Without it, focus on Reflect + block stacking + chip damage from minions. Accept that budget Regent wins by surviving, not by out-damaging. Aim for 3+ Reflects and upgrade them all.
Also check: Deck Building Principles · S-Tier Cards Guide · Beginner's Guide