Budget Alternatives to Deranged Outcast
Looking for a functional budget replacement for Deranged Outcast ($0.18)? 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 Deranged Outcast at a Glance
Wall of Mulch
Matches Deranged Outcast's Creature card type and shares the exact same mana value (2 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #martyr, #noncreature-typal.
Burr Grafter
Matches Deranged Outcast's Creature card type and costs 2 more mana (4 MV vs 2 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #martyr, #noncreature-typal.
Canopy Crawler
Matches Deranged Outcast's Creature card type and costs 2 more mana (4 MV vs 2 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #gains-pp-counters, #noncreature-typal.

Deranged Outcast
30-day $0.18–$0.18 · +0% (10 snapshots)
Prices as of 2026-10-22
How Much Can You Save? (Price & Similarity Matrix)
Direct financial comparison between Deranged Outcast and top budget alternatives.
| Card Name | Card Type & CMC | Price | Savings ($) | Savings (%) | Match |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Deranged Outcast (Original) | Creature | $0.18 | — | — | Original |
| #1 Wall of Mulch | Creature (2 MV) | $0.26 | $0.00 | 0% | Strong match |
| #2 Canopy Crawler | Creature (4 MV) | $0.17 | $0.01 | 6% | Strong match |
| #3 Crossroads Consecrator | Creature (1 MV) | $0.14 | $0.04 | 22% | Strong match |
| #4 Lifespinner | Creature (4 MV) | $0.28 | $0.00 | 0% | Partial match |
| #5 Myr Scrapling | Artifact Creature (1 MV) | $0.26 | $0.00 | 0% | Very strong match |
| #6 Burr Grafter | Creature (4 MV) | $0.04 | $0.14 | 78% | Partial match |
In-Depth Analysis: Best Alternatives to Deranged Outcast
Detailed mechanical similarities, differences, advantages, disadvantages, and ideal deck situations for each substitute.
Wall of Mulch
(Creature — Wall • 2 MV)
Defender (This creature can't attack.) {G}, Sacrifice a Wall: Draw a card.
Matches Deranged Outcast's Creature card type and shares the exact same mana value (2 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #martyr, #noncreature-typal.
- • Costs $0.26 (0% savings over Deranged Outcast)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Overlaps 4 of 10 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Canopy Crawler
(Creature — Beast • 4 MV)
Amplify 1 (As this creature enters, put a +1/+1 counter on it for each Beast card you reveal in your hand.) {T}: Target creature gets +1/+1 until end of turn for each +1/+1 counter on this creature.
Matches Deranged Outcast's Creature card type and costs 2 more mana (4 MV vs 2 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #gains-pp-counters, #noncreature-typal.
- • Costs $0.17 (6% savings over Deranged Outcast)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 2 additional mana to cast
- • Costs 2 more mana, arriving a full turn later on curve.
Crossroads Consecrator
(Creature — Human Cleric • 1 MV)
{G}, {T}: Target attacking Human gets +1/+1 until end of turn.
Matches Deranged Outcast's Creature card type and costs 1 less mana (1 MV vs 2 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #repeatable-crime, #typal-human.
- • Costs $0.14 (22% savings over Deranged Outcast)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (1 MV vs 2 MV)
- • Overlaps 3 of 10 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation.
Lifespinner
(Creature — Spirit • 4 MV)
{T}, Sacrifice three Spirits: Search your library for a legendary Spirit permanent card, put it onto the battlefield, then shuffle.
Matches Deranged Outcast's Creature card type and costs 2 more mana (4 MV vs 2 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #noncreature-typal, #repeatable-sacrifice-outlet.
- • Costs $0.28 (0% savings over Deranged Outcast)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 2 additional mana to cast
- • Costs 2 more mana, arriving a full turn later on curve.
Myr Scrapling
(Artifact Creature — Myr • 1 MV)
Sacrifice this creature: Put a +1/+1 counter on target creature.
Acts as a Artifact Creature alternative to Deranged Outcast's Creature and costs 1 less mana (1 MV vs 2 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #gives-pp-counters, #martyr.
- • Costs $0.26 (0% savings over Deranged Outcast)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Faster casting curve (1 MV vs 2 MV)
- • Different card type, so it answers different removal and misses type-based synergies.
Burr Grafter
(Creature — Spirit • 4 MV)
Sacrifice this creature: Target creature gets +2/+2 until end of turn. Soulshift 3 (When this creature dies, you may return target Spirit card with mana value 3 or less from your graveyard to your hand.)
Matches Deranged Outcast's Creature card type and costs 2 more mana (4 MV vs 2 MV). Overlaps on functional mechanics including #activated-ability, #martyr, #noncreature-typal.
- • Costs $0.04 (78% savings over Deranged Outcast)
- • Fills the Creature curve slot cleanly
- • Costs 2 additional mana to cast
- • Costs 2 more mana, arriving a full turn later on curve.
Which Alternative Should You Choose?
Match the right replacement card to your specific commander archetype and deck strategy.
Maximizes mana efficiency and replicates Deranged Outcast'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 Deranged Outcast Irreplaceable?
If your deck relies on specific infinite combo lines that require Deranged Outcast'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 $0.18 price tag.
Frequently Asked Questions About Deranged Outcast 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 Deranged Outcast?+
Wall of Mulch ($0.26) is the best overall alternative to Deranged Outcast ($0.18), saving $0.00 (0% savings), rated a strong match for this swap.
What cards are like Deranged Outcast in MTG?+
Cards like Deranged Outcast include Wall of Mulch ($0.26), Canopy Crawler ($0.17), Crossroads Consecrator ($0.14), Lifespinner ($0.28). These cards share similar mana curves, mechanics, and strategic roles in Commander.
What is the cheapest replacement for Deranged Outcast?+
Burr Grafter ($0.04) is the most affordable replacement, saving over 78% compared to Deranged Outcast.
Why would a player want a replacement for Deranged Outcast?+
At $0.18, Deranged Outcast 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 Deranged Outcast?+
The closest pick, Wall of Mulch, still has limits: overlaps 4 of 10 tracked mechanics; the rest is lost in translation. In top-tier competitive pods where those edges decide matches, the original remains optimal.
Explore More Budget MTG Guides & Tools
Continue optimizing your deck with our dedicated strategy hubs, card replacement engines, and price filters.
Find Swaps for Any Card with the MTGCheap Engine
Use our local PostgreSQL pgvector engine to search any card in Magic: The Gathering and filter by custom price ceilings, strict card types, and Commander color identity.
