I built a 700 dust Budget Midrange Demon Hunter earlier because the more aggressive style seemed too expensive with all its Epics and adventure cards.
However, I eventually decided to give the archetype a try and managed to build one for a mere 800 dust, and it is performing superbly for me. I played this deck as part of my budget climb and cruised from Platinum 7 to Diamond 10 with an 80% winrate.
Budget Tempo Demon Hunter decklist
Deck code: AAECAc7WAwLMugPVyAMOlwb5rgOLugPXuwPgvAO6xgPHxgPZxgPUyAP3yAP5yAP+yAP/yAPyyQMA
There are a few key cards that enable success on a budget:
- Questing Adventurer is a growing threat that replaces the more expensive big guns.
- Mana Burn is a strategic tool to prevent your opponent’s key turns (Skull of Gul’dan, Soul Mirror, Overgrowth) and protect your Questing Adventurer.
- Altruis the Outcast provides huge swing opportunities that wipe the opponent’s board and even deliver lethal damage. It is especially powerful in combination with discounted cards from Skull of Gul’dan.
The deck has a low mana curve, so you will play a lot of cards rapidly and cycle through your deck while presenting new threats constantly. When you don’t have the big finishers of the full-cost version, Questing Adventurers, Altruis, and Silence effects give you the means to push through.
Budget Tempo Demon Hunter mulligan
Your typical mulligan is a one-drop, either Battlefiend or Blazing Battlemage, followed by nice on-curve plays, preferably in the form of Umberwing and Satyr Overseer.
Crimson Sigil Runner should only be kept if you can activate the Outcast effect early, preferably as the left-most card.
Twin Slice can be kept together with Satyr Overseer.
Eye Beam can be kept in aggro mirrors.
Budget Tempo Demon Hunter upgrade path
To get from the budget version to the full-cost version, you need a pair of Legendary cards, a pair of Epic cards, and a pair of Frenzied Felwings from the final chapter of Galakrond’s Awakening adventure (the would be $20 or 2800 gold, please).
Replace Consume Magics with the Legendary cards, Kayn Sunfury and Metamorphosis or with a pair of Warglaives of Azzinoth. They should be the first cards you replace.
Replace Questing Adventurers with Frenzied Felwings.
The final replacements are a bit more flexible, there are still many lists around. Most replace Mana Burns, but I quite like them in the archetype, so I would consider replacing Furious Felfins.
Budget Tempo Demon Hunter tips and tricks
Playing Demon Hunter is all about hand management: you want to activate your Outcast effects and need to plan several turns ahead to position cards in your hand accordingly.
Your first plan is to go face a lot and just win the game. If that fails, building and protecting Questing Adventurers and going for big Altruis the Outcast turns can help end the game. Mana Burn can be extremely valuable to prevent key removal turns from the opponent.
Budget Tempo Demon Hunter gameplay video
Finally, here is a gameplay video where I pilot the deck. I hope it helps you to understand how you can win with it.