Looking to crush riffs, shred solos, and melt faces — without melting your wallet?
Whether you’re chasing tight rhythm tones, aggressive leads, or atmospheric intros, these budget-friendly pedals under $100 are perfect for metal guitarists who want to dominate their tone game without breaking the bank.
We’ve rounded up the 20 best metal-ready guitar pedals under $100 — including distortion, fuzz, reverb, delay, and more — all geared toward brutal tones and tight precision.
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⚡ Top 5 Budget Metal Pedals (Quick Comparison)
| Pedal | Type | Price | Key Features | Buy Now |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz | Fuzz | >$29 | Doom-ready fuzz chaos | View on Amazon |
| JHS 3 Series Distortion | Distortion | >$99 | Modern, tight, high-gain tones | Buy Now |
| Donner Morpher Distortion | Distortion | >$49 | British high-gain stack in a box | Shop here |
| NUX Metal Core Deluxe | Distortion | >$100 | Tight metal distortion, palm-mute friendly | See on Amazon |
| Joyo R Series “Atmosphere” | Reverb | >$85 | Massive ambient textures & shimmer | Check it out |
🔥 1. Behringer SF300 Super Fuzz
- Price: ~$29
- Why It Slays: Brutal, unhinged fuzz tones perfect for stoner metal, doom, or grindcore. Three voicing modes = versatility.
👉 Check Price on Amazon
💀 2. Donner Morpher Distortion
- Price: ~$49
- Inspired by: Suhr Riot / Marshall JCM
- Tone: British high-gain with tons of mids and sustain. Ideal for modern metal and leads.
👉 Buy it here
🔪 3. JHS 3 Series Distortion
- Price: ~$99
- Why It Rips: Balanced, articulate, and tight enough for djent or tech-death.
- Toggle for classic or modern voicing.
👉 View on Amazon
🔥 4. NUX Metal Core Deluxe
- Price: ~$69
- Why It Shreds: Dedicated metal pedal with tight low end, great for palm mutes and fast riffing.
👉 See current price
🌀 5. Joyo “Atmosphere” Reverb
- Price: ~$85
- Why It Rules: Add shimmer, modulation, or huge hall reverb to your intros, solos, or blackened breakdowns.
👉 Check it out
🎸 More Metal-Approved Budget Pedals
| Pedal | Type | Price | Why Metalheads Love It | Link |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mooer Noise Killer | Noise Gate | >$70 | Clean up tight riffs, fast response | Buy on Amazon |
| NUX Horseman | Overdrive | >$95 | Boosts high-gain amps like a champ | Shop now |
| Joyo Ultimate Drive | Distortion | >$40 | OCD-style gain, great for sludge & doom | View pedal |
| Caline Wave Machine | Modulation | ~$49 | Chorus for eerie cleans | See on Amazon |
| Flamma FS02 Reverb | Reverb | ~$75 | Plate, shimmer, mod reverb for dark tones | Buy now |
⚙️ Metal Tone Stack Example For Pedal Board
| Pedal | Role |
|---|---|
| Donner Morpher | High-gain distortion |
| NUX Horseman | Boost pedal for solos or chugs |
| Mooer Noise Killer | Noise gate for tight rhythm |
| Joyo Atmosphere | Reverb for leads & intros |
🧠 Pro Tips for Metal Guitarists on a Budget
- 🧱 Use a boost in front of distortion for tighter lows and added saturation.
- 🔇 Noise gate is a must if you’re running high gain — especially for modern metal or djent.
- 🌌 Don’t sleep on reverb — shimmer or modulated verbs can add epic depth to solos and intros.
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