Budget-ish Exped Midgro [Top 50 Masters - October 2021]

This is a home brew, lovingly tweaked deck that has been rockin for me in this meta. Got to Diamond II on a 9 game win streak, and made it to masters on a 6 game win streak.

It's flexible, it's fast, and it has a lot of counters. Must importantly, it has been teched over time against the current meta. The Xenan and Praxis, for instance, get handled almost perfectly.

Autotread - Rule #1 of this deck - never play Autotread on turn 1. If you hold it for turn 2, there are tons of 1 hp units you can blast, which can totally throw your opponent off (especially if they're ramping). In addition, putting it on turn 2 means your opponent can't snipe it for 2 power themselves.

Gleaming Grenadin - Could maybe be cut? But having the second unit on entomb helps a lot, and the charge helps lots of units that need exactly 2 attack.

Permafrost - Strongly recommend holding for the 4+ units, where neutralizing it for 1 really throws them off.

Ankle Cutter - Totally necessary, primarily for dealing with sandstorm titan.

Houndmaster - This can make things roll down hill FAST.

Iron Priestess - Probably my favorite offensive 2 drop. Also very nice that it gives 2 ammo cards for Autotread

Amaruq - Usually go aegis with this, but if I feel another unit needs to be targeted for removal, I will use quickdraw

Smite - I've thought about moving this up to 4, and moving permafrost down to 2 (or balancing 3-3). But it's an underused card, IMO, and especially with Autotread, it does whatever you want.

Steyer's Eyes - Gives some flexibility, helps you dump cards if you need to get out of cards, or get another power

Manacles - There is very little relic hate in the current meta, which makes this a must have

Shorthopper - Maybe the MVP of the deck. Dropping that thing down and stunning the opponent's 4/5 drop is an amazing swing.

Varbuk - There's not a massive amount of dual color this kills, but having the charge coming in hot can be good. Honestly, I often end up discarding it too.

Velise - The Overwhelm really helps you push through

Market
Icy Gaze & Privilege of Rank - Must haves with Shorthopper
Invasive species - really does help you go over the top at the end
Lay Siege - Honestly, because it takes 6 to get this out of the void, it's rarely used
Inferno Dance - This would be fine to replace if there's something you like


Happy to hear comments, questions, suggestions