Archidekt Deckbuilding Contest - December 2025 (Locked)

{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck focuses on a combo that appears in 0 other decks as of 12/10/25, but also includes a combo with one less piece that appears in 9 other decks. The 5-card combo involves both partner commanders, along with 3 cards from the 98: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Phyrexian Altar"}},{"attributes":{"background":"#fafafa","color":"#383838"},"insert":" +"},{"attributes":{"background":"#fafafa","color":"#383838"},"insert":{"card-link":"Cloudstone Curio"}},{"attributes":{"background":"#fafafa","color":"#383838"},"insert":" +"},{"attributes":{"background":"#fafafa","color":"#383838"},"insert":{"card-link":"Skyfire Phoenix"}},{"attributes":{"background":"#fafafa","color":"#383838"},"insert":". The deck plans to use the combo alongside an aggressive combat strategy with legendary creatures and other permanents to power up"},{"attributes":{"background":"#fafafa","color":"#383838"},"insert":{"card-link":"Yoshimaru, Ever Faithful"}},{"attributes":{"background":"#fafafa","color":"#383838"},"insert":" and"},{"attributes":{"background":"#fafafa","color":"#383838"},"insert":{"card-link":"Rograkh, Son of Rohgahh"}},{"attributes":{"background":"#fafafa","color":"#383838"},"insert":" for general life loss and commander damage kills. The only tutors included in the deck are "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Moonsilver Key"}},{"insert":" and"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Reckless Handling"}},{"insert":", which can both get the Altar or some general mana pieces if needed, and Handling can also get Curio. \n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#fafafa","color":"#383838"},"insert":"The combo process: https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/1217-2232-2421-2459-4050/ "},{"insert":"\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Hey, this deck has many possibilities but can attain one particularly weird combo.\n\nThis combo uses the cards:\nKindred Discovery, Kodama of the East Tree, Eusocial Engineering, Spelunking, Barkform Harvester, Lotus Cobra, Aeromoeba, and a Izzet Boilerworks.\n\nTo achieve this combo, you must first have Barkform Harvester, Izzet Boilerworks, and Eusocial Engineering in hand and all other permanents on the field. Kindred Discovery will have Robot as the chosen creature type and you must not have played a land for turn.\nCast eusocial Engineering for its warp cost. This will trigger Kodama allowing you to play Barkform Harvester since its mana value is lower than Eusocial Engineering."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Barkform Harvester, being every creature type, will trigger Kindred Discovery allowing you to draw a card."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You can then play Izzet Boilerworks for your land, which will come in untapped due to spelunking. This will trigger eusocial engineering and lotus Cobra creating a robot token and giving you one mana of any color. The token will then trigger Kodama and Kindred Discovery."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You will tap Izzet Boilerworks for the red and blue and return it to your hand. Then resolve Kindred Discovery drawing a card."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Before resolving Kodama, discard a card to activate Aeromoeba's ability. Then , since we currently have 3 mana from the land and Lotus Cobra, pay two mana to activate Barkform Harvester's ability and put a card from the graveyard on the bottom of your library. This part is less to add to the loop and more so you don't deck out from infinite card draw."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Finally, we resolve Kodama. Since the robot token has a mana value of 0, we will choose to put the Izzet Boilerworks onto the field and restart the loop."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThis combo gives us infinite landfall triggers, infinite card draw, infinite tokens, and infinite mana as we net one mana every loop. I also decided to go with no tutors and rely on card draw and ramp to get the mana and combo components that I need. I also included many components to accomplish similar goals with the landfall triggers and token creation, as eusocial engineering is not the only option.\n\nI am still pretty fresh getting back into Magic, though I was never really into it before, so I am aware that this combo is probably slow and janky. But I had a good time trying to figure out how to accomplish the prompt and put my skills to the test. I hope you like it!\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Main"},{"insert":"\nCommand the power of Air to blow your enemies away! By While airbending is certainly a fun way of interacting with your opponents, the deck is centered around the ability to airbend your permanents. Creatures with cast triggers (eg cascade) become continuous value loops when cast every turn, and removal is just a suggestion when you can airbend your way out of danger. Importantly, cost reduction does apply to your airbending costs, which means many spells in the deck can be cast for free with sufficient reduction. This leads into the combo — the focus of the deck.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"5+ Card Combo(s)"},{"insert":"\nThere are two main ways to combo infinitely with this deck:\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Gyatso + Cost Reducer A + Cost Reducer B + Lightning Greaves + Cast/ETB payoff card"},{"insert":". You may recognize this setup from r/BatMtgCombos or YouTube, especially from the Ikoria flier Eon Frolicker, which can be used to give your opponents infinite turns via this loop. By targeting your payoff with Greaves' free equip, Gyatso allows you to airbend it, where it then can be recast for free due to the cost reducers. All of these cards also work fine with the rest of the deck, and there's a decent amount of redundancy outside of Gyatso and Greaves for the necessary effects. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Aang/Appa A + Aang/Appa B + Cost Reducer A + Cost Reducer B + ETB payoff card."},{"insert":" Funnily enough, any pair of Aangs/Appas in the deck can airbend each other on entry, so with the aforementioned cost reducers you can simply let them blink each other forever. If you're not using Appa, Steadfast Guardian however you will need a more specific payoff like Lifecreed Duo to not just be engaging in slow play. ASG can grab one or more other creatures as it airbends its partner in the combo, allowing you to get their effects as well, meaning you could be running multiple different infinite effects simultaneously. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Excluded Cards"},{"insert":"\nIf you want this deck to be better and/or the combos more consistent, Deadeye Navigator is a very strong choice. I couldn't include this as it immediately loops with Peregrine Drake, breaking the point of the deckbuilding contest. Sage of the Beyond is also strong and synergizes well with most of the deck, but it makes airbend-casting free on its own, meaning the 5-card combos only need 4 cards.\n\nThanks so much for taking a look at this list! I had a lot of fun making it, and I'm looking forward to the next contest.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Tayam Engine of Confusion"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nBuilt for the Archidekt December 2025 Deckbuilding Challenge. \n\nThe goal of the deck is to create an infinite loop of mana and counter production in order to use Tayam's ability to pull your entire deck from the library. You also can use the Krovikan Plague with the established first loop to deal infinite damage. \n\nThe 7+ card combo: "},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Combo B Card in Grave Step"},{"insert":"s:\nGet "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tayam, Luminous Enigma"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Basking Broodscale"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Concordant Crossroads"}},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Enduring Vitality"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Metastatic Evangel"}},{"insert":" on the board together. Tayam's ability can be great for recuring these or pulling them from the deck. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ensure Basking Broodscale has a +1/+1 counter on it either through its ability or other counter adding"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Have 1 other counter to proliferate. (Tayam gives vigilance counters so this should be easy)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":" Cast a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Badgermole Cub"}},{"insert":" or have it or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Heartstone"}},{"insert":" on the board as well with another creature to cast. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Use the Metastatic Evangel trigger to proliferate all possible helpful counters +1/+1 vigilance etc. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Basking Broodscale triggers from the proliferation will now create a scion "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tap the Scion either floating 2 mana from Badgermole cub or just one with Heartstone"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Sac the Scion to either get a 3rd floating mana or just a 2nd with Heartstone "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Activate Tayam's Activated ability either with the 3 from Badgermole set up or discounted 2 from Heartstone"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Pull a +1/+1 counter and vigilance counter from Basking broodscale and one other counter"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Return a "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Combo B Skeleton"},{"insert":" in Waiting card from your grave "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Use it to proliferate Basking Broodscale's +1/+1 counter if its Felothar, Dawn of the Abzan sacrifice it to itself"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Either resolve Felothar triggers and state based action checks"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"repeat 5-8 making sure the COMBO B Skeleton in waiting has entered the grave"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Return COMBO B card and repeat 5-15"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Infinite mill full deck of permanents onto the battlefield including lands infinite counters "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You can use the infinite mill to find either insidious roots or Krovikan plague to all end the game here with infinite damage or infinitely plants that are infinitely big and hasted or just swing with your giant hasted infinitely big board"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"If Combo B Card is in Hand same steps"},{"insert":"\n1-5 same as normal better if Badgermole or Heart Stone are on the field\nJust cast X for 0 or Cast Felothar, Dawn of the Abzan sacrificing it to itself. \nSteps 6-15 same as normal \n\n\n\nTHE CORE: Dont swap"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tayam Luminous Enigma\nBasking Broodscale \nConcordant Crossroads \nEnduring Vitality \nMetastic Evangel\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Tayam"},{"insert":" is the main piece here. Tayam will let us cycle our entire deck with its activated ability. The goal is to create a constant minimum of 3 counters and the mana to loop its ability. \nBasking Broodscale can create infinite mana if we can constantly add +1/+1 Counters by creating eldrazi scions that we can sac for 1 mana. \nEnduring Vitality lets us tap those scions for 1 mana as well letting each scion tap for 1 mana and sac for 1 mana. 2 of the 3 needed for Tayam \nConcordant Crossroads enables those scions to have haste letting them tap for mana on entry \nMetastatic Evangel lets us proliferate counters on non token creature entrance giving us the +1/+1 counters for Basking Broodscale. \n\nCOMBO A Better Mana"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Badgermole Cub\nHeartstone\n\nUnfortunately the core above doesnt let us activate Tayam infinitely so these cards either make it 2 mana with Heartstone so the scion mana can go infinite or add a mana with Badgermole Cub so it can activate Tayam. \n\nCombo (B) Skeleton's In Waiting"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Endless One \nFelothar, Dawn of the Abzan \nGoldvein Hydra\nHungering Hydra \n\n Gives us a creature we can infinitely recur given the rest of the setup by pulling with Tayam and them dying on entry \nThey also can be used to just caste a big creature or buff to help when not doing the combo. \n\nCombo (C) "},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Insidious Roots\nKrovikan Plague\nInsidious roots creates infinite tokens that are infinitely big with the above while Krovikan can provide counters for Tayam to do the same and infinite damage. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The rest of the deck:"},{"insert":"\nThe rest of the deck is created to constantly be drawing cards or milling them in order to find all the parts while also creating plenty of easy opportunities for counters and proliferation. \nYou can use Tayam's ability throughout the play in order to find all the parts and recur anything that is needed with virtually every part being 3 mana or less you can pull any piece from the grave once milled. Better yet since Tayam doesnt target an opponent can't respond to you targeting the card you want to take unless they do it in response to tayam's activation which lets you change targets. Tayam also can just pull lands to ramp you as they also come into play untapped. There is also a good protection package that refrains from Game Changers because if you are doing a 5+ card combo you already arent playing an optimized Tayam. Tayam easily has much smaller infinites same with Basking Broodscale. This is meant to be a game action heavy infinite. \n\nFinally, we have elixir of immortality. This lets you pull all of your instant and sorceries from you grave just in case you can't mill all of your cards and can't win. That way you don't deck yourself out. \n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"Boasting 19 (or more) 5+ card combos, this deck uses the fact that Noctis, Prince of Lucis enables many 5+ card infinite combos. The deck plays enough artifact tutors that you can get a combo consistently every game, but plays enough different combos that it shouldn't feel too repetitive. The main game plan is as what's said, tutor for artifact and execute a 5+ card combo to win the game. Attached to this description are the links to the combos in commander spellbook, plus a google doc with a bunch it missed. I am not totally confident that "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":"all "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"of these combos work, but most of them should. I am also not entirely confident that I got all of the combos. If you play it, keep your eye out, you may go infinite by mistake. Thank you so much for considering me for this challenge."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/1020-1117-2866-4659-5034/"},"insert":"https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/1020-1117-2866-4659-5034/"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/977-1020-2866-4009-4659/"},"insert":"https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/977-1020-2866-4009-4659/"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/977-1020-1766-2866-4659/"},"insert":"https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/977-1020-1766-2866-4659/"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/1651-2645-3094-4131-4176/"},"insert":"https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/1651-2645-3094-4131-4176/"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/1651-2645-2751-4131-4176/"},"insert":"https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/1651-2645-2751-4131-4176/"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/2095-2173-3189-3255-4740/"},"insert":"https://commanderspellbook.com/combo/2095-2173-3189-3255-4740/"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Jf05ht-vKa3fAHEeTITphN8kpg8UAITZ4HyeumR0Kmc/edit?tab=t.0"},"insert":"https://docs.google.com/document/d/1Jf05ht-vKa3fAHEeTITphN8kpg8UAITZ4HyeumR0Kmc/edit?tab=t.0"},{"insert":"\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Hey, this is a wild deck that aims to pull-off a Rube Goldberg machine of a combo. This combo is as involved as one could possibly get. It centres around Hoarding Broodlord and Thassas Oracle. Now I know you’re asking yourself how that could possibly be complicated? Well, the combo ONLY works by using hoarding broodlord and an insane amount of token doublers to tutor out EVERY single card in your deck into exile, and then using Thassas Oracle only when your whole deck is in exile (the only way to empty your library).\n\nFirst you must find, saw in half. Then, ideally painters servant, then a token doubler, then a token spell like Cackling counterpart, then intruder alarm, then displacer kitten, and eternal witness to get back the OG hoarding Broodlord. Then you must find a way to keep tutoring out your whole deck until your library is empty. And then win by casting Thassas oracle. \n\nThere are plenty of ways to put important pieces back on top of your deck, like brainstorm et al.\n\nGive it a go!\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Combo deck. Cast "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mass Polymorph"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Synthetic Destiny"}},{"insert":" with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ovika, Enigma Goliath"}},{"insert":" out.\n\nThe inspiration for this deck was to try and win with {Fanatic of Mogis}.\n\nMake sure most if not all of your creatures are in your deck, not your hand.\nThe polymorph pile can put a minimum of 7 creatures into play - One for Ovika, and six for the Goblins it (?) creates on the casting of the Polymorph.\n\nCurrently it puts 7- "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fanatic of Mogis"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Red Dragon"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fear of Burning Alive"}},{"insert":" , and 4 damage doublers- "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Solphim, Mayhem Dominus"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Twinflame Tyrant"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Angrath's Marauders"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fiendish Duo"}},{"insert":" .\nA 4/4 split may be more reliable than the current 4/3.\n\nThe math is as follows: (A x 2^B) + (2C x 2^B)\nWhere A is a damage trigger from Fanatic of Mogis, scaled to devotion, and B is the number of damage doublers in play.\nC in the second set of brackets is a single Red Dragon or FOBA damage trigger. There are 2 per combo instance; hence, 2C.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Full power:"},{"insert":"\n(13 x 2^4) + (8 x 2^4) = 336 damage.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Note that I'm bad at math and am guessing the combinations. There are possibly some I missed."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"Less than full power, in order of damage:"},{"insert":"\n(11 x 2^4) + (4 x 2^4) = 240 damage. (With 1 FOBA/Red Dragon not in play)\n(11 x 2^3) + (8 x 2^3) = 152 damage. (With 1 doubler not in play)\n9 x 2^4 = 144 damage. (With 2 FOBA/Red Dragon not in play)\n8 x 2^4 = 128 damage. (With Fanatic not in play)\n(9 x 2^3) + (4 x 2^3) = 104 damage. (With 1 doubler and 1 FOBA/Red Dragon not in play)\n(9 x 2^2) + (8 x 2^2) = 68 damage. (With 2 doublers not in play)\n8 x 2^3 = 64 damage. (With Fanatic and 1 doubler not in play)\n7 x 2^3 = 56 damage. (With 1 doubler and 2 FOBA/Red Dragon not in play)\n(7 x 2^2) + (4 x2^2) = 44 damage. (With 1 FOBA/Red Dragon and 2 doublers not in play)\n8 x 2^2 = 32 damage. (With Fanatic and 2 doublers not in play)\n4x2^3 = 32 damage. (With 1 FOBA/Red Dragon, Fanatic, and 1 doubler not in play)\n(5x2^1) + (8x2^1) = 26 damage. (With 3 doublers not in play)\n\nNo point in calculating further damage from here; you really shouldn't be trying to combo with only 3 creatures. \nThe highest available damage for a 3 creature combo is 1 Fanatic and 2 doublers. 5 x 2^2 = 20 damage. \n\nDo not attempt to combo if you can't put at least one Fanatic, Red Dragon, and/or FOBA into play. They're the only damage dealers.\n\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Potential additions"},{"insert":"\n\nI'm considering adding "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Goblin Chainwhirler"}},{"insert":" to the pile. It adds 3 devotion for Fanatic of Mogis, and 1/2/4/8 damage with various doublers out. \nDrawbacks are that it does very little without doublers or Fanatic. It's pretty bad in heavy FOBA/Red Dragon piles.\n\nI'm also considering "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Torbran, Thane of Red Fell"}},{"insert":" . It adds a flat 2 to Fanatic of Mogis after damage, and 3 to its devotion calculation. It also brings FOBA/Red Dragon up by a flat 2 damage.\nDrawbacks are that its damage does not scale with doublers, and does not deal damage itself. \n\nI'm considering adding "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sunspine Lynx"}},{"insert":". It has the potential to deal a very high amount of damage to each player with doubling and shuts off damage prevention and lifegain. It also adds 2 to devotion calculation.\nDrawbacks are that it deals damage to you as well - not a huge deal as 3 of the 4 damage doublers in the deck only affect opponents, but if you've taken aggro damage it could kill you too. \nOn second thought, this seems pretty funny- it could force a draw.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Coat of Arms"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shared Animosity"}},{"insert":" are there as a hedge against being unable to find a Polymorph. They can end games with goblin aggro :)\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Baylen leads this token combo deck that has a few different ways to win. One combo is Devoted Druid + Presence of Gond + Sigil of the Nayan Gods + Jaheira, Friend of the Forest to create infinite tokens that can tap for manna. Then Baylen can dig through the deck to find a way to give the tokens haste or a Fireball to end the game. Other combos rely on flooding the board with tokens and then winning with Hellkite Tyrant. Baylen is the engine though, as there are no tutors in the deck.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":{"card-link":"Alaundo the Seer"}},{"insert":" <3 "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Chakram Retriever"}},{"insert":" \n\nRequirements: It's your turn, Alaundo is untapped, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Chakram Retriever"}},{"insert":" is on the battlefield, 3x "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Slime Against Humanity"}},{"attributes":{"background":"#232323","color":"#e3e3e3"},"insert":"is in exile (with 1, 2 and 3 time counters)."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#232323","color":"#e3e3e3"},"insert":"Plan: Activate Alaundo: free SAH cast from exile, untap Alaundo, exile another SAH, get "},{"attributes":{"background":"#232323","color":"#e3e3e3","italic":true},"insert":"slimy"},{"attributes":{"background":"#232323","color":"#e3e3e3"},"insert":"."},{"insert":"\n\nWin with combat damage: ^ + "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Concordant Crossroads"}},{"insert":" (+"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Doubling Season"}},{"insert":" & "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Coat of Arms"}},{"insert":" for overkill)\nWin with mill: ^ + "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Altar of Dementia"}},{"insert":" \nWin 1v1 via burn: ^"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sword of the Ages"}},{"insert":" \n\nSpeed up your exile-slime queue with untappers. Thrumming Stone is almost quaranteed 30x oozes. Doubling Season will create two Oozes with doubled +1/+1 counters, thanks internet!\n\nIf you're into math:\n30 oozes = at least 527 power (depending on how many SAHs you have in exile when casting the first one).\nWith Coat of Arms = at least 1427 power.\nWith Doubling Season & Coat of Arms = at least 5708 power.\n\nHave fun!\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Corrupt Investigation"},{"insert":"\nHide the truth and frame your foes. This deck is all about betrayal, bribery, and manipulation. Sacrifice your own creatures and plant clues of fake evidence in exchange for treasures. Once the crime scene is set, frame and finish off your opponents with game ending combos.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"The Combo"},{"insert":"\nThis primary combo of this deck involves creating and sacrificing clues with commander Eloise, Nephalia Sleuth alongside a creature recursion loop and an artifact/clue sacrifice outlet.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"1.) Clue Generation- Eloise, Nephalia Sleuth"},{"insert":"\n\t\tEloise creates clues whenever another creature under your control dies. By incorporating a creature recursion loop, Eloise can create infinite clues used for sacrifice outlets. While this is an additional step versus traditional aristocrat drain combos, having Eloise as commander offers fairly consistent card draw as well as the ability to cycle through your deck extra quickly with surveil to find your combo pieces. This extra value outside of being a combo piece also opens opportunities for other synergies such as surveil and clue triggers which can help the state of the game until all combo pieces are found.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"2.) Creature Sacrifice Loop(Creature)- Joo Dee, One of Many"},{"insert":"\n\t\tJoo Dee is an extremely powerful combo enabler from the new set, having both token creation and sacrifice built into one ability. While this has been incorporated into many combos, I feel like the ability to sacrifice artifacts is somewhat overlooked. The strength of Joo Dee in this deck is that not only does she enable the creature sacrifice loop necessary for Eloise to create clues, her ability loop can instantly be switched to start sacrificing the created clues at no additional cost. In order to enable Joo Dee's combo, a card to generate 1 black mana as well as a card to either untap or provide haste are necessary.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"3.) Creature Sacrifice Loop(Mana)- Academy Manufactor"},{"insert":"\n\t\tIn order to generate mana for Joo Dee's ability, there are several options. Carnival of Souls and Pitiless Plunderer, both create a black mana built into Joo Dee's ability, either when the token is created, or one of the copies is sacrificed. Alternatively Academy Manufactor creates a food and treasure whenever Eloise's ability triggers creating the clue. The treasure enables Joo Dee's ability loop and the additional food is helpful for sacrifice synergies or mitigating health loss.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"4.) Creature Sacrifice Loop(Haste)- Lightning Greaves"},{"insert":"\n\t\tTo provide haste for Joo Dee, lightning greaves are an easy option. They can be moved to the new untapped copy at no cost and can be found or retrieved from the graveyard with artifact recursion such as Academy Ruins. An alternative is Intruder Alarm which synergizes extremely well with Joo Dee and even enables several alternative combo pieces such as mana dorks. Rather than giving haste to the new copy, Intruder Alarm automatically untaps Joo Dee as the copy is created from her ability.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"5.) Sacrifice Outlet- Persuasive Interrogators"},{"insert":"\n\t\tThere are no shortage of artifact sacrifice outlets that this combo can utilize to end the game. The first card that came to mind was Persuasive Interrogators. They are one of the only cards that utilizes specifically clues as a finisher which felt the most thematic to the deck. While fun, they are honestly the least mana efficient finisher. The positive side is that they can be used without the combo to finish off a player with just 5 clues. Some more reliable finishers are Nadier's Nightblade and Pactdoll Terror which have a lower mana cost and also provide life which can offset certain combo pieces like Carnival of Souls. Either of the Marionettes work well in the deck too, both as a finisher, and as individual creatures to create more bodies and thus more clues through Eloise. I thought Grinding Station or alternatively Fleeting Memories were a fun way to end the game as well, milling all of your opponents.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Notes"},{"insert":"\nAs a more casual bracket 2 or 3 player, I wanted to focus more on the theme of the deck rather than power and also to avoid tutors and expensive game changers. As a result, I tried to include plenty of redundancy for the combo so finding pieces through simple card draw/cycling would be more consistent. There are actually dozens of ways to enable the combo in this deck, some just require more pieces or are less efficient but still increase the overall consistency of the deck. I thought the clue theme of the deck was perfect for a deck with less tutors since, it naturally includes more card draw. The built in surveil and even potential self milling can also help enable the combo since most pieces are creatures which can be retrieved all at once with big recursion spells. While I initially wanted to avoid tutors, Tamiyo's Journal felt like too valuable of an artifact to exclude, working as a clue generator, sacrificer, and tutor all in one. As a result, I decided to just include some other non-universal tutors which still felt like they contained a lot of value. As for the price of the deck, the core pieces of the deck are actually not that expensive. Since it is just an online decklist, I composed what I considered optimal lands, none of which are actually necessary for the deck, not even the only gamechanger. All of the lands can be switched out for cheaper tapped lands or more basics without much consequence, especially since the deck is only 2 colors. Other than that, Sheoldred, the Apocalypse is the most expensive card but is also not necessary for the deck. She gains high value due to the card draw but can easily be substituted without much consequence. The lands and Sheoldred make up over 80% of the deck cost which isn't necessary.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"An deck that combines aristocrat and land strategies with the power of earthbend. There are a couple of 'bad' combos in the deck. One uses Glarb with beifongs bounty hunters, a sac outlet, a land like mortuary mire, and a free high cmc creature like saprazzan legate. The other uses an effect that makes your lands enter untapped to allow earthbend to effectively untap gaeas cradle. With Glarb, a sac outlet, and either mystic sanctuary+ cracked earth technique or witch's cottage/mortuary mire+dai li agents. The deck runs quite a few tutors that can find creatures or lands.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"I decided to start the deck building process by first picking my combo and building the the commander and deck around that. After some digging and testing I settled upon one revolving around a classic infinite bounce loop to get infinite mana. The combo works by having "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dream Halls"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cloudstone Curio"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Containment Construct"}},{"insert":" out on the battlefield, as well as having some way to give creature spells I cast that turn flash. I then need "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Priest of Gix"}},{"insert":" and another black creature with mana value less than 3 in hand. I cast "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Priest of Gix"}},{"insert":" by discarding the black creature to "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dream Halls"}},{"insert":" , which then gets exiled due to "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Containment Construct"}},{"insert":". I resolve "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Priest of Gix"}},{"insert":"'s etb ability to add 3 black mana and then with the "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cloudstone Curio"}},{"insert":" trigger on the stack cast the other black creature from exile, then bounce both back to hand with the two "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cloudstone Curio"}},{"insert":" triggers. The other black creature has some etb trigger than will win me the game - either through drain or mill. Ideally I will get"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thieves' Guild Enforcer"}},{"insert":" as that already has flash, allowing me to cut out having to get another card just for that. Then I had to pick my commander and after some thinking I knew I wanted to go esper to allow access to white enchantment tutors. I decided "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Yennett, Cryptic Sovereign"}},{"insert":" would be the best fit as many of my combo pieces were odd mana and she would allow me to cheat cards out, providing some much needed card advantage. I then proceeded to build the rest of the deck starting with tutors, including tutors for each card type I needed, as well as including a few that tutored to the top of my library, allowing them to work especially well with my commander. I included a couple generic tutors to make the deck run a bit smoother, but restricted myself to only ones that worked in that way with my commander. I then added some cards to manipulate the top of my library, getting more use out of my commander. I completed the deck with some protection and recursion for my combo pieces, and some draw and ramp to round out the deck. Since most of my recursion were sorceries which I couldn't tutor for, I added some lands that could recur my combo cards in case they ended up in the graveyard anyway, and then also added "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Expedition Map"}},{"insert":" to be able to tutor for those lands.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck was built to form a massive soldier raiding party, get through multiple dungeons in a single turn, and build a giant SoulHerder to finish off opponents. \n\nThe commander of this deck is "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Abdel Adrian, Gorion's Ward"}},{"insert":" who runs the whole premise of the main \"combo\". How the combo works is we play a few rounds trying to fill our battlefield with as many \"as this creature enters, venture into the dungeon\" cards as we can. Also during this time we hope to come across the rest of our combo...\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Radiant Solar"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Virtue of Knowledge // Vantress Visions"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soulherder"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Abzan Falconer"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\tOnce our battlefield is filled with cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nadaar, Selfless Paladin"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Eccentric Apprentice"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Displacer Beast"}},{"insert":", we introduce our commander who will exile all those creatures as he enters and create soldiers in their place. Our "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soulherder"}},{"insert":" will allow us to blink our commander during our end step and bring all of the \"venture into the dungeon\" creatures back to the battlefield where we will have a waiting "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Radiant Solar"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Virtue of Knowledge // Vantress Visions"}},{"insert":" to execute our dungeon raid. Radiant Solar will make each of our creatures re-entering, venture the dungeon an additional time. Then Virtue of Knowledge will allow each re-entering creature to venture the dungeon for a third and a fourth time. To take full advantage of our dungeon raids we have "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hama Pashar, Ruin Seeker"}},{"insert":" to double up each room of the dungeon we raid through. \n\tEach time our commander enters and exiles creatures, not only are we building a giant army of soldiers, but we are growing our Soulherder in the process. Eventually we throw in "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Abzan Falconer"}},{"insert":" to give our 15/15 Soulherder flying and let it loose on our opponents armies. \n\nSince implementing tutors for this build is frowned upon. We will rely on completing the \"Undercity\" dungeon as many times as we can where the final room lets us look at the top 10 cards of our library and play a creature card from among them for no cost. I also have "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Archmage Ascension"}},{"insert":" to play along with our commander's background ability, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Candlekeep Sage"}},{"insert":" that will eventually (not quickly) turn Archmage Ascension into a tutor every time I draw a card. \n\nThe beauty of this deck is that you can still play as a dungeon deck without having the entire combo. There are enough cards in this deck that will still get you through the undercity to help tutor your combo cards. Plus you can still use your commander's ability to cause problems throughout the game. Another tutor loop hole I have is a B-Team of combo cards in case we can't assemble the entire A squad. \n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Brago, King Eternal"}},{"insert":" to replicate our commander and Soulherder abilities."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Panharmonicon"}},{"insert":" to replicate Virtue of Knowledge"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dungeon Delver"}},{"insert":" to replicate Hama Pashar"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ainok Bond-Kin"}},{"insert":" to give our +1/+1's first strike in place of or in addition to flying from Abzan Falconer"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThere are a bunch of Soldier cards to ramp up our army, and counter spell cards to keep our combo creatures protected. \n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Deck constructed for the Dec 2025 deck building contest!\nThe goal: to construct a deck with a 5+ card combo. This deck utilizes a combo that will give your opponents near infinite creatures and then close out the game by forcing those creatures to block "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vicious Battlerager"}},{"insert":" or by using"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rakdos Charm"}},{"insert":" . (I've wanted to force the Battlerager to be blocked ever since it was released and the day is finally here!)\nSet-up prerequisites:\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Forbidden Orchard"}},{"insert":" on the battlefield"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"a sac outlet for creatures on the battlefield (this is the Sac Outlet category)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"a card with a landfall trigger or a dies trigger that creates a creature (this is the Landfall Creature category)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Beifong's Bounty Hunters"}},{"insert":" on the battlefield"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"any other creature to start the loop"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"a land untapper (this is the Untapper category)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"optimally (but not necessary) you have "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Gitrog Monster"}},{"insert":" or a different card that will help you draw the cards you need to for finding the wincon, the need for this depends a bit on which sac outlets are being used!"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nHow the combo works:\nsacrifice the creature (#5 in the prerequisites) to the sacrifice outlet to trigger the Bounty Hunters to earthbend. Earthbend the Forbidden Orchard, turning it into a creature. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tap the orchard for a mana to give an opponent a 1/1 spirit. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Sacrifice the orchard to the sac outlet. The Orchard returns to the battlefield untapped due to the untapper (or if you're using "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Stone-Seeder Hierophant"}},{"insert":" to untap, you'll use that to untap it). When the land enters, the landfall will create a new token creature (or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bloodghast"}},{"insert":" will return to the battlefield). If you have a death trigger instead, you'll already have the creature from the sacrifice. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"repeat this loop as many times as you'd like, giving your opponents any number of 1/1 spirits you'd like them to have!"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Use card draw or digging pieces etc, to draw/ filter through the deck to find the wincons!"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe wincons:\nthe fun wincon: forcing each opponent to block with their spirits and/or other creatures they might have on "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vicious Battlerager"}},{"insert":" . Other cards needed in order to win this way:"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"You've Been Caught Stealing"}},{"insert":" or another spell with which to make each creature have to block"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"a haste enabler, if the Battlerager is summoning sick"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blade of Selves"}},{"insert":" to give the Battlerager myriad."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The other wincon, if something prevents this: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rakdos Charm"}},{"insert":" \n\nOptimally you will be able to use the commander's ability and other draw spells to find the combo pieces including the ways to win the game if you don't have them in hand. The deck also has recursion pieces for the event someone removes your things or you mill them, and removal to get rid of anything that might prevent your combo from functioning. In order to one shot everyone with Battlerager, if each opponent is still at 40 life, they each need a minimum of 8 creatures that can block (or 24 activations of the combo). If they are all at 40 and you need to win with rakdos Charm for some reason, it'll require 120 activations so that each ends up with 40 creatures (in this instance, be careful with the card draw!)\n\nAll pieces have replacement options except for Forbidden Orchard and Beifong's Bounty Hunters. The only tutors in the deck are those that fetch lands (ie "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Expedition Map"}},{"insert":" ) and one copy of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dimir House Guard"}},{"insert":" , which can find the Bounty Hunters or the Battlerager, whichever you need. Otherwise, no game changers included, solidly intended to be bracket 2 and very fun!\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"The combo works with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Icatian Javelineers"}},{"insert":", whom steps out into the world with his trusty javelin. He is gifted with haste with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Boots of Speed"}},{"insert":"(or any haste enabling equipment,aura,or global enchantment) so he can get to the action right away. \nWith a mighty tapping throw the javelineer inflicts pain and suffering to your opponent. \nThen because of his "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Guilty Conscience"}},{"insert":" he destroys himself from guilt, but he also has "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Minion's Return"}},{"insert":" so he is forced back into service.\nFinaly because "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cass, Hand of Vengeance"}},{"insert":" he also comes back with his guilty conscience, haste enabler, and instant graveyard recursion.\nThe javelineer is back and ready to take orders to inflict minor damage to any target and then die of grief. rinse and repeat\n\nThe rest of the deck includes basic ramp artifacts, cards to dig for combo pieces, removal cards, ways to protect the combo pieces, ways to get your combo pieces from the grave, and a few cards to boost noncombat damage to speed things up.\n"}]}