Gruul Ramp has been in and out of Pioneer since 2019. Since we came out with a solid build for Pioneer. I wanted to cover a budget option that can be a nice transition into the optimal list. This list comes in right under $100. It has decent coverage against most of the common strategies you will find in Pioneer.
DECK LIST
Deck List: Budget Gruul Ramp
MAIN DECK
Creature Breakdown
World Breaker gives the deck the ability to exile lands, artifacts, or enchantments. It has the ability to be returned from our graveyard, which is important against heavy removal decks.
Cavalier of Thorns and Oblivion Sower are midrange pieces that provide two functionalities. Most importantly they help ramp us to our bigger threats. The other functionality of these two cards is the ability to block most threats and reducing the aggression by the opponent.
Arboreal Grazer: Comes down turn one and lets us ramp to three mana turn two.
Courser of Kruphix: Helps the deck gain life against aggro and allows the deck to play lands from the top of our library. So, we can dig for action.
Kozilek, the Great Distortion: Running two copies of Kozliek since it triggers Kozilek's Return and also providing cards against midrange and control.
Noncreature Breakdown
Ramp Spells: Glimpse the Core is the most narrow ramp spell we are playing. It is a two drop that gives us a land. Running two copies of Cultivate to help us find our one of mountain.
Card Advantage: Running four copies of Escape to the Wilds. Comes out and digs four cards to find action while helping us ramp.
Removal Suite: Two copies of Kozilek's Return to deal with aggro decks that swarm the board with small threats like Convoke or Atarka Red.
Sideboard Breakdown
Removal Suite: Two copies of Kozilek's Return to deal with aggro decks that swarm the board with small threats like Convoke or Atarka Red. Running four copies of Warping Wail to help against Lotus Field and similar decks that rely on a sorcery card to win the game or can deal with a small threat.
Card Advantage: Running two copies of Tireless Tracker to come i and provide clues, while we are ramping.
Cindervines: Running one copy, which allows the deck to deal incrementing damage while the opponent combos and also being a solid way to answer artifact and enchantments.
Scavenging Ooze: Running two copies to slow down Phoenix and Greasefang matchups.
Weathered Runestone: Running two copies to prevent phoenixs from being returned and to stop our opponent from using Collected Company and Chord of Calling.
Damping Sphere: Running three copies to help bridge the gap against Lotus Field that wins by turn five.
Sideboard Guide
Rakdos Prowess
Azorius Control
Izzet Phoenix
Jund Sacrifice
Enigmatic Fires
To look at the upgraded version of this deck check out the other article discussing it. The first upgrade I would recommend is getting Dragonlord Atarka and Ugin, the Spirit Dragon. These are two key pieces for stabilizing against aggro.
Upgraded List Link: Upgraded List Article
Azorius Control
Mono Black Demons
