Digimon TCG: 3 Budget Lists to Start Playing!

A constant concern for any TCG beginner is finding a budget-friendly list to test out and see if you actually enjoy playing the game before you dump all your money into it. So, today, I brought you a few Digimon TCG lists that perform reasonably well in tournaments, but cost a lot less than the most competitive lists we see around.

Before we head into them, this is my suggestion if you're just starting out: go to a game store nearby and see if anyone there can loan a deck to you so you can test it out. This way, you won't spend anything straight away, and will also be able to learn from more experienced players as well.

If there aren't any stores near you hosting tournaments, a decent alternative is a simulator - the two most popular ones are DCGO and Project Drasil.

DCGO makes the game automatic, which can be useful for beginners. The only issue is, it takes a bit to update, and not all cards work perfectly. Project Drasil, on the other side, includes all the cards in the game, but you'll need to understand the rules pretty well, as it doesn't work automatically. The server is also a bit unstable, but it is still a great option if you already know the rules.

Now, without further ado, I'll show you a few decks that are great for beginners and anyone who wants to explore Digimon TCG on a budget!

Necromon

A deck that recently started showing up in many local metas and seems to be working well is Necromon.

This deck focuses on Ghost cards that return to the board constantly, all while your Necromon dies, which the opponent will struggle to deal with. Furthermore, you can use Necromon's effect to both attack one extra time and kill it at the end of your turn. This way, you'll be able to interact with enemy Digimon you'd usually not be able to attack directly because they're standing up, all thanks to the Execute mechanic. These attacks are strong because they often catch your opponent off-guard and also delete Digimon regardless of what they do to stop you, which would typically be a weak spot for this deck.

It is reasonably accessible for beginners. Currently, the main card in this deck - Necromon itself - costs around US$7. So, even if you have to get 4 copies of it for an early version, you'll hardly spend over US$60, which is great.

However, this deck can get pricey if you'd like to "upgrade" it with cards like Analog Youth, which cost around US$20 each. This card is useful, but not that essential, so I don't recommend it if you've just begun playing.

If you do decide to upgrade it, it can be worth it long-term, considering this card is a useful staple in this set.

Jesmon GX

Another deck that was recently upgraded and is a lot stronger is Jesmon GX.

This strategy revolves around combos, and controlling or protecting the board with level 6 Digimon. Meanwhile, Jesmon will destroy enemy Digimon and put pressure on the opponent from very early on.

Gankomon lets you play more defensively, as it protects you from attacks. Its X-Antibody form protects the entire board from enemy Digimon effects as well. These two elements enable this deck's ACE, which can win games when it attacks, as it destroys the opponent's Security and checks from 4 to 5 cards on a single turn.

This list is also quite accessible, as it ranges from US$40 to US$60, so it's a great option for beginners. However, we can also use another card in it that will make it a bit more expensive, but isn't that essential: BT10's Jesmon GX. This card lets you be proactive, as you won't need to wait until your opponent answers to put its level 7 form on the board. You can also copy its protection effect if you use Gankomon X-Antibody. However, as this card costs around US$40, I can't recommend it for beginners.

Blue Flare

Finally, we have Blue Flare, which was always considered a great budget list and recently got some support that made it even more interesting.

Blue Flare is a DigiXros archetype. You'll use your tamers to save cards that would normally be trashed, and then turn them into resources to bring new Digimon to the board. Early on, you'll set up these tamers, and only then you'll attack with the Digimon you just put in play - they'll be ready to attack and interact with the enemy board straight away, in fact. A good example of this mechanic is BT10's MetalGreymon.

You can use this card to prevent enemy Digimon with digivolution cards less than or equal to this Digimon's digivolution cards from attacking or blocking. Because of its Rush, it can also attack on the same turn it enters play. When it leaves the board, it saves 2 cards under it, below the tamers, and lets you use them on other Digimon.

This deck is quite accessible, as it costs from US$40 to US$60. The most expensive card in it is MetalGreymon, which costs around US$10 each, and you'll need 3 copies of it. The other cards are quite cheap and usually cost less than US$2, so this list is excellent if you're a beginner.

These are our 3 budget lists! If you've just begun playing and want to test different decks without going bankrupt, they're perfect.

What did you think of these lists? Tell us your thoughts in our comment section below.

Thank you for reading, and see you next time!