With Birthing Pod banned, this is no longer a suggested starting deck. The instructions and card choices will be left here, in the event an unbanning occurs in the future.


Upgrade Instructions:

+4 Windswept Heath
-2 Evolving Wilds
-1 Plains
-1 Sunpetal Grove

Getting untapped mana turn 1 is necessary, usually green, but after board black is necessary as well (this is why Overgrown Tombs are in the list to start). Additional white fetches means the extra basic (and buddy land) can be dropped.

+4 Verdant Catacombs
-2 Evolving Wilds
-2 Forest

Additional green and black fetches.

+1 Temple Garden
+1 Godless Shrine
-2 Sunpetal Grove

This completes the most common landbase. You can do this upgrade before finishing the fetches, but I would recommend getting the land completely intact before beginning to change the creatures too much (2 drops are recommended to change whenever though).

+2 Voice of Resurgence
-1 Wall of Roots
-1 Qasali Pridemage

Getting the most common 2 cmc creatures into the deck. Podding into walls is a loss of pressure (but may be necessary for budget version), but voices are the best. (NOTE: If you want to go with the Angel build at this point, take out a Pilgrim, instead of a wall)

+1 Spellskite
+1 Linvala, Keeper of Silence
-2 ??

The flexibility of builds starts to open here. These 2 creatures are amazing toolbox options, but cuts are more difficult. Common cuts are:
4th Kitchen Finks
Murderous Redcap
3rd + 4th Rhino
2nd Wall of Roots

+1 Restoration Angel
+1 Ranger of Eos
-2 ???
Again, what you take out varies, but is usually 2 more of the above options.

+1 Archangel of Thune (?)
+1 Spike Feeder (?)
-1 Melira (?)
-1 Viscera Seer (?)

If going the angel build, substitute the 2 main combo pieces appropriately.

FINAL (MAINDECK) UPGRADE:

-3 Avacyn's Pilgrim
+3 Noble Heirarch

The most expensive upgrade, but greatly increases the effectiveness of early attacks. Some decks only run 2 Nobles now, so research appropriately. There may be a reprint in MM2 in Summer 2015 as well.

Sideboard:
-2 Duress
-2 Despise
+4 Thoughtseize
swap Murderous Cuts for removal of choice (Slaughter Pact, Path to Exile, additional Dismember)

Sideboarding options vary greatly depending on metagame, player preference, or even card availability at larger events. 3-4 Thoughtseize and 2-3 removal options is relatively standard, but the rest is flex. A second scavenging ooze or additional Voice is also very common.

ALL IN ALL: Going through this upgrade path is about $30 more over time than buying the deck all in one go, but it lets you learn as you play, and is better for those on a time-based budget rather than a flat amount.