Budget Alternatives to Arms Dealer
Looking for a functional budget replacement for Arms Dealer ($0.32)? Whether you're brewing a 100-card Commander deck, upgrading a budget league list, or trying to avoid spending over $50 on cardboard, these data-ranked substitutes cover the Versatile Deck Staple role for a fraction of the cost.
Top 3 Substitutes for Arms Dealer at a Glance
Grotag Siege-Runner
Matches Arms Dealer's Creature card type and costs 1 less mana (2 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #bombard-self, #martyr.
Skirk Commando
Matches Arms Dealer's Creature card type and shares the exact same mana value (3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #burn-creature, #repeatable-crime, #repeatable-removal.
Tar Pitcher
Matches Arms Dealer's Creature card type and costs 1 more mana (4 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #bombard, #bombard-self.
Arms Dealer
30-day $0.32–$0.32 · +0% (11 snapshots)
Prices as of 2026-10-23
How Much Can You Save? (Price & Similarity Matrix)
Direct financial comparison between Arms Dealer and top budget alternatives.
| Card Name | Card Type & CMC | Price | Savings ($) | Savings (%) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Arms Dealer (Original) | Creature | $0.32 | — | — | Original |
| #1 Grotag Siege-Runner | Creature (2 MV) | $0.07 | $0.25 | 78% | Very strong match |
| #2 Tar Pitcher | Creature (4 MV) | $0.15 | $0.17 | 53% | Very strong match |
| #3 Ember Hauler | Creature (2 MV) | $0.26 | $0.06 | 19% | Very strong match |
| #4 Sparksmith | Creature (2 MV) | $0.19 | $0.13 | 41% | Very strong match |
| #5 Skirk Commando | Creature (3 MV) | $0.06 | $0.26 | 81% | Very strong match |
| #6 Mogg Mob | Creature (3 MV) | $0.25 | $0.07 | 22% | Very strong match |
In-Depth Analysis: Best Alternatives to Arms Dealer
Detailed mechanical similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, and ideal deck situations for each substitute.
Grotag Siege-Runner
(Creature — Goblin Rogue • 2 MV)
{R}, Sacrifice this creature: Destroy target creature with defender. This creature deals 2 damage to that creature's controller.
Matches Arms Dealer's Creature card type and costs 1 less mana (2 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #bombard-self, #martyr.
- • Costs $0.07 (78% savings over Arms Dealer)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (2 MV vs 3 MV)
- • Overlaps 4 of 13 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Tar Pitcher
(Creature — Goblin Shaman • 4 MV)
{T}, Sacrifice a Goblin: This creature deals 2 damage to any target.
Matches Arms Dealer's Creature card type and costs 1 more mana (4 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #bombard, #bombard-self.
- • Costs $0.15 (53% savings over Arms Dealer)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 1 additional mana to cast
- • Costs 1 more mana, arriving a full turn later on curve.
Ember Hauler
(Creature — Goblin • 2 MV)
{1}, Sacrifice this creature: It deals 2 damage to any target.
Matches Arms Dealer's Creature card type and costs 1 less mana (2 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #bombard-self, #martyr.
- • Costs $0.26 (19% savings over Arms Dealer)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (2 MV vs 3 MV)
- • Overlaps 4 of 13 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Sparksmith
(Creature — Goblin • 2 MV)
{T}: This creature deals X damage to target creature and X damage to you, where X is the number of Goblins on the battlefield.
Matches Arms Dealer's Creature card type and costs 1 less mana (2 MV vs 3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #burn-creature, #noncreature-typal.
- • Costs $0.19 (41% savings over Arms Dealer)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (2 MV vs 3 MV)
- • Overlaps 7 of 13 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Skirk Commando
(Creature — Goblin • 3 MV)
Whenever this creature deals combat damage to a player, you may have it deal 2 damage to target creature that player controls. Morph {2}{R} (You may cast this card face down as a 2/2 creature for {3}. Turn it face up any time for its morph cost.)
Matches Arms Dealer's Creature card type and shares the exact same mana value (3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #burn-creature, #repeatable-crime, #repeatable-removal.
- • Costs $0.06 (81% savings over Arms Dealer)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Overlaps 4 of 13 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Mogg Mob
(Creature — Goblin • 3 MV)
Sacrifice this creature: It deals 3 damage divided as you choose among one, two, or three targets.
Matches Arms Dealer's Creature card type and shares the exact same mana value (3 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #bombard-self, #martyr.
- • Costs $0.25 (22% savings over Arms Dealer)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Overlaps 4 of 13 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Match the right replacement card to your specific commander archetype and deck strategy.
Maximizes mana efficiency and replicates Arms Dealer's primary trigger role.
Reduces total deck cost below $50 while keeping the curve active.
Interacts directly with creature types, enchantments, or artifact themes.
When Is Arms Dealer Irreplaceable?
If your deck relies on specific infinite combo lines that require Arms Dealer's exact mana cost, unconditional timing, or unique text interaction, budget alternatives may not provide 100% parity. For casual Commander, mid-power EDH, and local game store play, the substitutes above deliver 90%+ functionality without the $0.32 price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions About Arms Dealer Alternatives
Answers to the most common deckbuilding and replacement queries.
Match scores blend rules-text similarity, shared mechanics, mana-curve proximity, and card-type fit. They rank budget picks against each other — they are not a measurement of competitive power.
What is the best budget alternative to Arms Dealer?+
Grotag Siege-Runner ($0.07) is the best overall alternative to Arms Dealer ($0.32), saving $0.25 (78% savings), rated a very strong match for this swap.
What cards are like Arms Dealer in MTG?+
Cards like Arms Dealer include Grotag Siege-Runner ($0.07), Tar Pitcher ($0.15), Ember Hauler ($0.26), Sparksmith ($0.19). These cards share similar mana curves, mechanics, and strategic roles in Commander.
What is the cheapest replacement for Arms Dealer?+
Skirk Commando ($0.06) is the most affordable replacement, saving over 81% compared to Arms Dealer.
Why would a player want a replacement for Arms Dealer?+
At $0.32, Arms Dealer represents a substantial financial barrier for casual Commander decks, budget league builds, or players testing new color identities.
When should a player NOT use a cheaper alternative to Arms Dealer?+
The closest pick, Grotag Siege-Runner, still has limits: overlaps 4 of 13 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation. In top-tier competitive pods where those edges decide matches, the original remains optimal.
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