danaroach {"ops":[{"insert":"We have the August 2026 finalists! \n\nPlease be sure to shoot your favorite deck(s) an upvote! Each finalist's placement at the end of voting on Wednesday, October 28 determines their awarded Cardsphere credit. Congratulations to the finalists, and thank you to all who participated!\n\nhttps://edhrec.com/articles/octobers-deckbuilding-contest-finalists-vote-now\n\nUser: meiklwhite\nDeck: Tricks or Turns\nhttps://archidekt.com/decks/27213964/tricks_or_turns\n\nUser: foldedboats\nDeck: Grismold goes fishing\nhttps://archidekt.com/decks/27417233/grismold_goes_fishing\n\nUser: smithtrevorh@gmail.com\nDeck: Willy Wonka’s Horrifying Pastry Factory\nhttps://archidekt.com/decks/27291519/willy_wonkas_horrifying_pastry_factory\n\n---------------------------------------------------------------------"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nOctober's Archidekt Deckbuilding Contest!"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nHello and welcome! This is a monthly contest with a different theme each month. The goal is to build a Commander-legal deck that fulfills the prompt in a creative or unique fashion, and at the end of each month, three finalists will be selected for you to vote on.\n\nWhoever gets the most votes will be crowned the winner, although all three finalists will receive a prize. Additionally this month courtesy of our friends at Dragon Shield we'll be giving out two special bonus prizes as well to a pair of randomly selected contest entrants!\n\nOne will receive Dragon Shield's new Día de Muertos 2026 Matte Dual Art Sleeves and one will get the Halloween 2026 Brushed Art Sleeves! These sleeves are already "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"sold out"},{"insert":" on the Dragon Shield website but we're going to give them to a pair of random contest entrants for free!\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"For October’s super spooky deckbuilding contest, your challenge will be to construct a Commander-legal deck showcasing “tricks” and/or “treats”. What does that mean? No clue! Make it interesting and explain your interpretation either in the deck’s description or with your submission."},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWhat’s the Contest All About?"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWorking within the parameters of the provided prompt, construct a deck list with your own creative and compelling spin. Three chosen finalists will be awarded "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.cardsphere.com/?utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"store credit to use on Cardsphere"},{"insert":".\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"For October's deckbuilding contest: "},{"insert":"build a deck showcasing \"tricks\" and/or \"treats\". That's intentionally open-ended!\n\nTips for the October contest prompt"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nFor example, "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://edhrec.com/commanders/zedruu-the-greathearted"},"insert":"Zedruu the Greathearted"},{"insert":" is a commander with a built-in activated ability that lets you force an opponent to take control of a permanent you control.\n\nTraditionally this has been used to give players something they wouldn't otherwise want, like "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://edhrec.com/cards/illusions-of-grandeur"},"insert":"Illusions of Grandeur"},{"insert":".\n\nWhile this would qualify as both a trick and/or a treat, this is also mostly the intent for Zedruu as well as the most common build path, and as such it wouldn't fulfill the creative and interesting portion of the contest requirement.\nStill, it's an excellent example of a Commander that would otherwise support the prompt.\n\nImportant news on deck description details and the submission process"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nAs we noted in previous contests, we have so far been very forgiving regarding picking finalists with meager deck descriptions in the past, but moving forward we're going to be a lot more discerning.\n\nEvery month, as contest submissions grow, it makes sorting through entries more and more of a time commitment.\n\nIf you don't have an effective description, we're going to find ourselves a lot less willing to try to connect those dots. We simply cannot due to time constraints.\n\nEven better would be if you would open your description with an executive statement of the deck's plan and how it fulfills the prompt criteria.\n\nTo use the above Zedruu example, opening the description with the following would be helpful: \"This is a deck built around Zedruu the Greathearted gifting my opponents treats that wind up being tricks due to their staggering downside, cards like Illusions of Grandeur and Aggressive Mining.\"\n\nHow to Participate"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nBrew a Commander-legal deck on "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/?utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"Archidekt"},{"insert":" that satisfies the prompt."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Any unreleased cards spoiled during the contest’s duration are allowed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Silver-bordered and acorn cards, while fun, are not allowed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Digital-only cards (such as those designed for the Alchemy format on Arena) are also not allowed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Strictly one deck submitted per user."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nA couple months ago, we also revamped the submission process. Decks must now be submitted on Archidekt via a button on the newspost.\n\nThis will make it easier to view all submissions in a single place. Additionally, it will simplify the process of writing a description by sharing the same text on the submission page and the deck page itself.\n\nSubmitting your deck to the contest pool"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThere's also a new, easy-to-remember landing page for anything contest-related, found at "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/contest?utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"archidekt.com/contest"},{"insert":".\n\nYou can also comment on individual decks directly from the submission, making those discussions easier to find and track later.\n\nTo submit a deck, select the orange button labeled \"Submit a deck to this contest\" and follow the form prompt. Submissions are accepted until "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"9:00 p.m. EDT"},{"insert":" (UTC -4) on "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wednesday, October 14, 2026"},{"insert":".\n\nOnly one submission per user! If you change your mind and want to submit a different deck before submissions close, you may do so by first deleting your submission. To edit your description, you can do so from the deck page itself.\n\nFrom the eligible submissions, we'll select three finalists with lists that we believe best embody the spooky spirit of the prompt.\n\nDeck descriptions are now required, and the more detailed the description the better; we just have too many submissions to try to put together what your deck is doing without some commentary and context.\n\nWhen to expect finalists and winner announcements"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nOn "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wednesday, October 21, 2026"},{"insert":", we’ll announce three finalists via the Archidekt Discord and an article on EDHREC highlighting each deck.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.cardsphere.com/sets?utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"Each finalist will be awarded credit to use on Cardsphere"},{"insert":". Please note, you must have a Cardsphere account in order to receive your winnings. Cardsphere is a player-to-player marketplace and trading platform built on the spirit of community trading.\n\nIt's quick and free — "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.cardsphere.com/signup?referrer=archidekt_contest&utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"register here"},{"insert":" if you don't have an account already! It's easy to add to your wants, haves, and find deals on its comprehensive marketplace.\n\nPrize pool"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe value of the credit is in US dollars and depends on the finalist's placement in deck upvotes at the end of the week-long polling period:\n1st Place Prize - $250"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"2nd Place Prize - $150"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"3rd Place Prize - $100"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nAdditionally this month we'll be giving out a box of Dragon Shield Halloween sleeves and a box of Día de Muertos sleeves to a pair of randomly selected contest entrants!\n\nFinalists will be contacted via email regarding their winnings within roughly 24 hours, following the conclusion of voting on "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wednesday, October 28, 2026"},{"insert":".\n\nHere are the "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/contestRules?utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"official contest rules"},{"insert":". If you have any questions, feel free to ask here, or join the Archidekt "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://discord.gg/sctEc9Ru36?utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"public Discord server"},{"insert":". We look forward to seeing what you all come up with!\n"}]}
Edited 10/21/2026, 4:18:23 PM
11
Results: 740
Order By: -createdAt
Kwain - What could possibly go wrong??
Created by: KDeeze
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This is my favorite deck of all times, was inspired by my wife who is a social worker and the most generous person I know. So I asked myself, “how can I help someone to death”?? Sweet sweet sweet card draw, that’s how.\n\nThe goal of the deck is to hug so hard they end up decking themselves, but nothing is as satisfying as offering free cards and the table saying no. This is commander? Card draw is everything! "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Faerie Mastermind"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tataru Taru"}},{"insert":" are scary, sure but the agony is real when my "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Howling Mine"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Font of Mythos"}},{"insert":" so generously gives you sweet sweet card draw. \n\nNow could I include some mill, NO! Mill is dirty, but I can’t help if you have to discard. That’s on you, not me. Also, the analysis paralysis is very real as they look through a hand of 10+ cards and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rule of Law"}},{"insert":" is staring back. \n\nFor some reason, my friends get mad when I help them. So I came prepared with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ghostly Prison"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Propaganda"}},{"insert":" and the kindly "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sokrates, Athenian Teacher"}},{"insert":" just in case someone tries to be angry at someone else. \n"}]}
The Knight House
Created by: johnoghue
13 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The Knight House"},{"insert":" is a five-color Rooms deck built around "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Balthazar Knight"},{"insert":" (proxied from Marina Vendrell), the mad warlock who turned every room of his manor into a private experiment — sealing away whatever horror or wonder he conjured behind locked doors. \n\nMechanically, the deck's entire early-to-mid game revolves around Smaller rooms, and support cards, then Balthazar's tap ability: lock and unlock the doors of your Rooms to trigger their lock/unlock effects again and again, using "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Marvin, Murderous Mimic"},{"insert":" and the artifact suite ("},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Rings of Brighthearth"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Thousand-Year Elixir"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Illusionist's Bracers"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Battlemage's Bracers"},{"insert":") to double up on activations. While the converted mana cost of the card is both rooms combined (Remember that for later) each door can be its own target. \n\nMany of the rooms have great effects, and chainable effects, especially the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Secret Arcade // Dusty Parlor"},{"insert":". If you can get it and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Zur, Eternal Schemer"},{"insert":" out together, watch out. Then comes the reveal: Remember how the Rooms's converted mana cost is the total? Well with "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Opalescence or"},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Starfield of Nyx"},{"insert":" on the field, every Room in the manor rises from the foundation as a living creature, the house itself turning on the table as an army of Balthazar's monstrous experiments, ready to slam the door shut on your opponents for good. \n"}]}
Halloween Escape Room
Created by: CharredBard
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This is a deck led by Aminatou, Veil Piercer that focuses on Rooms to simulate the experience of a haunted escape room. But this is no ordinary escape room, and those who come to play will find they have been tricked into a nasty death.\n\n\n\nMidterms are next week in the rainy college town of Drenchburg, and you and your friends have been cooped up inside for days with nothing to do but study and fret over your grades. To get everyone's spirits up, you suggest an outing to No Way Out Escape Rooms to play through their latest Halloween escape room - Duskmourn, the House of Horrors. \n\nEager for any chance to get their minds off schoolwork, a few of your friends agree. When you arrive at No Way Out, a strange, silent child ushers you down the hall to a back room. Your friends chuckle nervously as they look around. \"This looks pretty real,\" one of them comments. \"I wonder where they got all this fake blood.\" Then the door closes. Everyone jumps. \"What's happening?\" Another friend says. \"Where are all the clues? I thought you said this was an escape room. This seems pretty shady; maybe we should leave.\" No such luck; the door is locked and no one responds as a few of your friends begin to pound on the door and yell to be let out.\n\n\"Don't worry, everyone,\" you say reassuringly. \"Just follow me; I'm sure there's a way out somewhere.\" You turn away from the others to survey your surroundings, but also to hide the sinister grin creeping over your face.\n\n\nAminatou's surveil and miracle abilities work excellently with rooms. Her surveil ability sets up a room for us to draw, then the miracle ability heavily discounts it, allowing us to unlock more rooms more quickly, creating a labyrinth around our opponents. Nearly every room also does something helpful, like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Secret Arcade // Dusty Parlor"}},{"insert":" , which turns all our nonland permanents into enchantments to also benefit from Aminatou's miracle ability, or"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Polluted Cistern // Dim Oubliette"}},{"insert":" , which mills cards, returns a creature from the graveyard, and drains opponents when we mill or surveil.\n\nSeveral additional mill or surveil outlets are included in the deck, such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Victor, Valgavoth's Seneschal"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Syr Konrad, the Grim"}},{"insert":" , and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Skullsnap Nuisance"}},{"insert":" , which also synergizes with the Rooms strategy. These help ensure that we are drawing the right room at the right time, but also set up another potential win condition by putting massively impactful creatures like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Valgavoth, Terror Eater"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Arvinox, the Mind Flail"}},{"insert":" into the graveyard. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Funeral Room // Awakening Hall"}},{"insert":" can then return all creatures from the graveyard for a horrifying finish. \n\nMost of the creatures in the deck are also enchantments, allowing them to be cast much more easily. These terrifying Horrors, Demons, and Nightmares will harry your opponents as they frantically search for an escape. \n\nThe deck also includes a few of the tricks you'd expect to manipulate the top of the deck and ensure you're drawing the right card at the right time and getting the most of Aminatou's miracle ability, such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sensei's Divining Top"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Brainstone"}},{"insert":" , and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"One with the Multiverse"}},{"insert":".\n\nYou've tricked your friends into a haunted escape room that is in fact very real and very dangerous. You've set up rooms for them to get lost in and filled your graveyard with murderous monsters that can be brought back later. So how do you complete this horror movie betrayal?\n\nThere are a few win conditions in this deck. The first and most thematic is to tutor up "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Central Elevator // Promising Stairs"}},{"insert":" , which can tutor another Room and win the game when you unlock a total of 8 rooms. A number of other tutors help accomplish this, and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Enlightened Tutor"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Moon-Blessed Cleric"}},{"insert":" are particularly useful among these because they put a Room on top of your deck so that Aminatou can easily discount it with her miracle ability. You've played your final trick and trapped your friends in the escape room forever.\n\nThe second win condition is to pitch multiple impactful creatures into the yard and then bring them back. You've reawakened the terror that dwells within Duskmourn and your friends will pay the price.\n\nThe third win condition is to use cards like Arvinox, Valgavoth, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Athreos, Shroud-Veiled"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Meathook Massacre II"}},{"insert":" to steal your opponents' cards and beat them with them. Your friends were stronger than you expected, but you turned their strengths against them, and now they get to join the ranks of the House of Horrors.\n\nThe deck does have its weaknesses, which any pilot should be aware of. One is the lack of ramp. There's plenty of discounting through Aminatou's miracle ability and other tricks, but you still have to have the mana for your spells. A good suite of card draw and topdeck manipulation should help cover this weakness a bit, though.\n\nAnother weakness is the deck's limited ability to respond at instant speed. Nearly all of what you're doing has to be done on your turn and requires careful sequencing to be optimal. There are a few odd counterspells and removal pieces, but you won't be able to count on them every game. \n\n\n\nIn the end, I hope this deck makes for a fun night with friends and tells the story of an escape room gone wrong in true Halloween style. Will your friends fall victim to the House of Horrors? Will they escape Duskmourn and live another day? And are any of them going to be able to pass their midterms after the terrors they've witnessed? I guess there's only one way to find out.\n"}]}
Tricky Treats
Created by: dragonfly9078
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"The idea of this deck is to play a bunch of face down cards through morph, manifest, and related mechanics, then donate them with Jon. Tricks tend to be disruptive in nature, counters, removal, that sort of thing, while treats are more things you'd want to have. Beneficial effects, big beaters etc. \n\nAt its core, the deck is group hug, since Halloween is all in good fun, but you could also be selfish and ignore Jon and just use the cards yourself.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Wait for it . . . . .
Created by: Killswitchpokey
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck is all about deception from the start. One might even be so bold as calling this a “Trick” deck. The goal of this deck might look like a board wipe on a stick but frankly, we will never cast this commander. \n\nYes we will look suspicious when we don’t play creatures turn after turn, and yes I don’t have a maximum hand size, and yes my “commander” likes a full hand on ETB. Butttt we never plan to cast him because the real and true commander of this deck is the one and only . . . . .GAMBLING l!\n\nOkay okay no money is involved but the rush is still there. The true commander of this deck is "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ignite Memories"}},{"insert":" . This card for those who don’t know can be an insane card. It has a few draw backs yes and make up for it in spades. . . Well in this case Storm! This card can go a few ways in the game. Say an archenemy needs to be take down, ask the table to get the Stormcount up and alpha strike a player. Typically late game players are sitting on some high mana costed cards in hand. This turns into a black jack table quick. Picking cards at random. Adding the damage up seeing if it’s going to do the trick. \n\nBasically hold back most spells, try to have no maximum hand size, then when the times feels right storm off.\n\nsome back up storm cards and mage craft are included to keep this deck going. \n"}]}
No deck tags
Violence Is My Love Language <3
Created by: Faezie
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck gives out treats in the form of auras to buff our opponent's creatures, but with the added trick that those creatures must attack our other opponents. The core of the deck is a three-pillar web of overlapping synergies, all of which converge on the centerpiece of the deck: impetus cards. (For example, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shiny Impetus"}},{"insert":" .) These are our signature tricks and treats all in one.\n\nThe most obvious of these pillars is combat triggers. Our commander, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Isshin, Two Heavens as One"}},{"insert":", has the extremely powerful effect of doubling up all of our combat triggers. Traditionally, this would be used to get double value for attacking with the deck's creatures, but if you read carefully, Isshin doesn't actually care about who is attacking; he just cares about who controls the triggering permanent. Thus, our impetus cards will trigger twice when our opponent goes to combat. This also works for things like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Breena, the Demagogue"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Curse of Opulence"}},{"insert":" that reward our opponents for attacking each other. \n\nThis leads us to the second pillar: forced (or encouraged) combat. The impetus cards all goad, so this is a simple connection. Cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Karazikar, the Eye Tyrant"}},{"insert":" add even more forced combat to the mix by allowing us to goad up to three creatures every combat, or six with Isshin out. He also lets us draw tons of cards when our opponents attack each other (see the connection?) and gives out cards to our opponents as a bonus treat. Aside from these direct synergy pieces, getting our opponents to hit each other is just good value all on its own. But what if we could amplify that value?\n\nThe third and final pillar is all about enchanting our opponents creatures and making them huge. Aside from the obvious impetus cards, this deck also has a handful of strictly beneficial auras with no strings attached. Auras like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Feather of Flight"}},{"insert":" can give our opponents evasion, while auras like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ethereal Armor"}},{"insert":" make sure that they deal huge damage when they do connect. This does run the risk of those creatures turning on us, but those goad effects as well as a dash of pillowfort cards let us stay safe even if an impetus gets removed. With huge and evasive beaters on the field, we can get even more value with commensal cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Spirit Link"}},{"insert":", or even tack on a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Visions of Brutality"}},{"insert":" if we’re feeling extra evil.\n\nDespite having thee strategies simutaniously, the deck isn’t split in what it wants to do because it has so much overlap. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Armored Skyhunter"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Songbirds' Blessing"}},{"insert":" give us insane value with their attack triggers that pull free auras off the top of our library. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Curse of the Nightly Hunt"}},{"insert":" forces an unlucky opponent to swing with all their creatures every turn. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Killian, Decisive Mentor"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scriv, the Obligator"}},{"insert":" even manage to connect all three themes at the same time. \n"}]}
Kitsune steals all the candy
Created by: Jommar
13 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Trick or Treat with Mommy Kitsune"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Game plan:"},{"insert":" Blink and double Mommy Kitsune’s ETB triggers to trade creatures around the table, stealing the best candy while feeding opponents unwanted vegetables.\nMommy Kitsune loves Halloween, but her trick-or-treating rules are a little unusual: creatures are candy, and creatures with nasty drawbacks are vegetables. She wants all the sweetest treats for herself and makes sure her opponents get their greens.\nWith blink engines and trigger doublers, the exchanges keep coming. Take a powerful creature, pass along a Steel Golem or Grid Monitor, disrupt carefully built synergies, and watch the table descend into chaos. Nobody knows whether their next trade will be a treat or a trick.\nAfter all, sharing is caring. Mommy Kitsune just believes some people need more vegetables in their diet.\n"}]}
Trick, or Treat?
Created by: Number18
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"I ran out of time for primer.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Kenrith’s Haunted Door: Trick or Treat?
Created by: ciacia
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Trick or Treat? The Door Is Right There."},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This deck wins by treating your opponents to plenty of mana dorks and a Door to Nothingness. After all, you can't go trick-or-treating without a door! Unfortunately for your opponents, this particular door leads to nothing good.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The trick is to give every opponent a Door to Nothingness, enough mana to activate it, and then use Mindslaver to make them shut the door on themselves."},{"insert":" Kenrith, provides the mana sync to draw into your combo pieces, while Emiel the Blessed and Timeless Witness let us repeatedly recur Fractured Identity, handing out as many treats as necessary to prepare the ultimate Halloween trick.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The Game Plan: Infinite Mana"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"At its core, this is an infinite-mana deck, specifically infinite blue mana. Once we get there, Kenrith's card-draw ability lets us assemble the combo, find our pieces, and set up the grand finale.\nThere are several ways to generate infinite mana. These are the main lines I've included, although there are likely others:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"A mana dork that taps for 2U + Freed from the Real or Pemmin's Aura."},{"insert":" The quickest and most efficient option."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"A mana dork that taps for 3U + Vigean Graftmage."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"A mana dork that taps for 4U + a less efficient untapper."},{"insert":" Arbor Adherent and Bloom Tender are the usual candidates, with Umbra Mantle, Galvanic Alchemist, Crab Umbra, or Gauntlets of Light providing the untapping. Mana reducers such as Zirda, Training Grounds, or Biomancer's Familiar can enable similar lines with smaller dorks."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Aphetto Alchemist or Seeker of Skybreak + Illusionist's Bracers or Battlemage's Bracers."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Emiel the Blessed + Derevi or Village Bell-Ringer"},{"insert":", alongside one or more mana dorks that tap for 4U or 2U with a reducer."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Emiel the Blessed + Peregrine Drake or Cloud of Faeries + a mana reducer."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Emiel the Blessed + a sufficiently productive mana dork."},{"insert":" A dork that taps for 4–5U can work directly, while one producing 2–3U can work with a reducer and haste from Shang-Chi or Kenrith's {R} ability."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Composite Golem + Kenrith's 4{B} ability + a mana reducer."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Banishing Knack or Retraction Helix + Sewer-Veillance Cam + a mana dork that taps for 2U."},{"insert":" Knack and Helix provide redundancy in case Emiel gets exiled, since we'll need him for the main combo after generating infinite blue mana."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nGoldfishing typically produces infinite mana by turn five. This isn't necessarily the fastest or most efficient infinite-mana deck, but it has a very particular destination in mind.\n\nThe Trick: Trick-or-Treating at the Door to Nothingness"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Once we've generated infinite mana, Kenrith's {3}{U} ability lets us draw through the deck and assemble the pieces for the final sequence. The goal is to get Emiel the Blessed, Timeless Witness, Door to Nothingness, Mindslaver, a spare mana dork, and Fractured Identity into our hand. Here's how the trick works:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Set the stage."},{"insert":" Cast Emiel, Timeless Witness, Door to Nothingness, Mindslaver, and the spare mana dork."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Give everyone a door."},{"insert":" Cast Fractured Identity targeting our Door to Nothingness. Each opponent receives a copy."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Prepare to repeat the trick."},{"insert":" Blink Timeless Witness with Emiel, returning Fractured Identity to our hand. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Hand out the treats."},{"insert":" Cast Fractured Identity targeting our mana dork. Each opponent receives a copy of that dork."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Give generously."},{"insert":" Blink Timeless Witness again to return Fractured Identity to our hand. Repeat this process as needed, giving opponents enough mana dorks to produce at least {W}{U}{B}{R}{G}{W}{U}{B}{R}{G} on their next turns."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Take control."},{"insert":" Activate Mindslaver to control the first opponent's next turn."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Repeat for the whole table."},{"insert":" Use Emiel and Timeless Witness to recur Mindslaver and set up control of each remaining opponent's next turn."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Pass the turn."},{"insert":" Now, while controlling each opponent's turn, have them activate their own Door to Nothingness and pay the activation cost using the mana dorks we've so generously provided."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nAnd that's the game! Each opponent gets a door, the means to open it, and the privilege of opening it themselves. It's the ultimate trick-or-treating experience: everyone gets a treat, but nobody wants to see what's behind the door.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Why This Deck?"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This deck was built on a budget, and there are definitely improvements to be made. It isn't the best or most efficient way to win a game of Commander, and that's precisely the point.\nI think this is a legendary win condition, and I'd love to see the community work on improving the deck at different power levels and budgets. Can the combo be made faster? More resilient? More affordable? I'd love to see what other brewers come up with. If you can pull this off in the wild, I suspect your pod will be talking about it for years to come. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Happy Halloween, and remember: if someone offers you a Door to Nothingness, maybe don't open it."},{"insert":"\n\n\n"}]}
No deck tags
Cat got your tongue?
Created by: bobster
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Trick or Treat?"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The theme of this contest is "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Trick or Treat"},{"insert":", and we decided to interpret it quite literally. Our opponents will be given a choice whenever we want to play one of our tricks: sacrifice a creature to give us a \"treat\", or refuse and face the \"trick\".\nOur commander, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ygra, Eater of All"}},{"insert":" is the foundation of this strategy. \nThis creates an interesting bargain for our opponents. By giving us \"treat\", they lose mana and a creature, while also making our commander bigger. Refusing allows them to preserve their board, but they risk suffering one of the unpleasant effects we have prepared.\nNeither option is necessarily correct. The severity of our Tricks varies considerably, and our opponents won't know which one we intend to use until they have made their decision.\n"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"How Does the Bargain Work?"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Our strategy relies entirely on "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"politics and agreements"},{"insert":".\nWhenever we want to play a Trick, we ask our opponents: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"\"Trick or Treat?\""},{"insert":"\nEach opponent can choose to offer us a Treat. Anyone who accepts receives protection from our Tricks and Ygra's attacks until the beginning of our next turn. We honour this agreement, regardless of how tempting a target they might become.\nOnce everyone has made their choice, we reveal our Trick. Among the opponents who refused to pay, we decide whom to target with it. The greater the potential consequences, the more tempting it becomes to offer our cat a little snack.\nWe also run protection spells to ensure our Tricks resolve even if our opponents try to counter them "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Chimil, the Inner Sun"}},{"insert":" \n\nThe important part is that "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"we never break our promises"},{"insert":". Anyone who offers a Treat can trust that we will leave them alone for the agreed period. This makes the bargain meaningful and gives our opponents a genuine reason to cooperate with us, even when they know that feeding Ygra will only make her stronger.\n\nWhat Makes Our Tricks Dangerous?"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The Trick category contains effects of different severity. We want our opponents to evaluate the actual risk rather than automatically sacrificing a creature every time we announce a bargain.\nCurses are an important part of this plan. Some establish a recurring cost, while others become much more threatening when combined with additional Curses. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Curse of Misfortunes"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Curse of Thirst"}},{"insert":" \nOther Tricks attack different resources "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Head Games"}},{"insert":" , "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Grievous Wound"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"\nThe element of surprise matters here. An opponent might reasonably decide that losing a creature is too expensive for what appears to be a minor inconvenience. Unfortunately for them, the card in our hand might be considerably worse than expected.\nAt the same time, we do not want the bargain to become an automatic tax that opponents have no realistic way to pay. A limited number of cards can provide additional creatures to opponents who lack suitable sacrifices.\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Forbidden Orchard"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" , "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Clackbridge Troll"}},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" "},{"insert":"\n\nHow Do We Win?"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Our strategy offers two main paths to victory.\nThe first is "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ygra herself"},{"insert":". Every Treat makes her larger, and the normal course of the game can provide additional opportunities to trigger her ability. Eventually, she can become large enough to eliminate opponents through combat damage, especially with suitable evasion.\nThe second is "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"attrition"},{"insert":". Players who repeatedly refuse our offers may accumulate Curses and other harmful effects, lose valuable resources, and gradually find themselves in a difficult position.\nIf opponents choose to pay instead, they spend mana and creatures to avoid the Tricks. This gives the deck a stax-like element: rather than simply preventing players from taking actions, we make them pay a recurring cost whenever they want to avoid our threats.\n\n"}]}
No deck tags
(Combat) Tricks for Treats
Created by: Theconndor
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"The theme of this deck is as the name suggests: using combat tricks to earn treats. These spells can be used to pump our creatures or as political tools to help our opponents beat each other down. We have several payoffs to give us treats for casting our tricks. The ultimate tick of this deck is taking a player out or even the whole table in one turn! Several of these spells are charms that add flexibility to protect our permanents or remove them on opponents’ boards.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Yshtola Tricks
Created by: tsob
14 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"I trick my opponents by manipulating combat and their creatures while draining out the game. In this deck, tricks are done by redirecting attacking creatures into boards that have advantageous blocks and goading key creatures into attacking when they would be better off staying back. But with tricks come treats. I might treat one opponent our mutual enemy’s key creature! Treat for some, trick for most. I know Y’shtola can do everything but a game has to end. Casting these tricky spells while draining out all my opponents means the game can some to a close and we can go trick or treat with another game. \n"}]}
No deck tags
This Is Halloween
Created by: Emocakes
14 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"The goal of this deck is to send all your Trick-or-Treaters to raid other houses of their candy, while using your Scarecrows to ward off your opponent's Trick-or-Treaters. Threaten them with 'Tricks', entice them with 'Treats' and tell them 'We're All Out of Candy' to persuade them to send their Trick-or-Treaters to other houses. Lay down a 'Salt Circle' to really ward off the demons that might come knocking. Most importantly, when your 'Trick-or-Treaters' come home with all that candy, you have to 'Make Sure It's Not Poisoned' to really win Halloween.\n"}]}
Trick, Treat, & Treason
Created by: Greatcollector
14 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Welcome to the ultimate Commander game of high-stakes political hot potato, led by Caesar, Legion’s Emperor. This Mardu deck turns your opponents’ own resources against them through a relentless \"Steal, Sacrifice, & Donate\" loop. Using temporary theft effects like Claim the Firstborn and Mob Rule, you seize control of opposing threats, swing them in combat, and either feed them to instant-speed sacrifice engines like Ashnod’s Altar and Goblin Bombardment or permanently pass them across the table.\nThe deck features multiple lethal win conditions designed to close out the game in chaotic fashion.Through donation engines like Stiltzkin, Moogle Merchant, Bazaar Trader, and Blim, Comedic Genius, you ensure that stolen permanents stay in foreign hands while triggering brutal punishment effects. First, you can trigger sudden-death elimination by donating cursed upkeep enchantments like Nine Lives or Demonic Pact and forcing their negative clauses onto opponents. Second, dropping Transcendence and passing it to an opponent with 20 or more life causes state-based actions to eliminate them instantly on the spot. Third, Blim, Comedic Genius serves as a direct burn and discard engine, punishing the table based on how many donated permanents they control. Finally, you can seal the win through overwhelming creature sacrifice burn using Goblin Bombardment, Caesar's token assault, or lethal mass theft via Mob Rule and Insurrection. Coupled with a tuned Verge-land mana base, this deck forces every opponent to pay a fatal price for holding cards they don't own.\n"}]}
Feeding the Shark
Created by: DevinBrother
14 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This Halloween, Jace is giving out a lot of treats! But beware, because he has one big trick up his sleeve, and by trick I mean shark!\n\nThe goal of this deck is to give our opponents lots of treats, which all come in the form of noncreature tokens. Once we've given out all our candy, it's time for Jace to give out his final treat, and to do this we're gonna play the new "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dack Fayden, Helping Hand"}},{"insert":". The deck is filled with tutors and draw spells to make sure we can find him every time. Conveniently, our deck only has 3 creatures, so Dack will hit them every time. Those creature are one big shark, and 2 clone spells. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jaws, Relentless Predator"}},{"insert":" for everyone!\n\nNow your opponents are in a difficult situation. Do they use the treats you just gave them, knowing they will take damage for it? Jaws is hungry, and whoever has the most life is probably going to feed him.\n\nBut we want some candy too, right? So we've got some spells in the deck like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Slip On the Ring"}},{"insert":", and even "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fractured Identity"}},{"insert":", to get back some of our Jaws'. Importantly, the 2 creatures in the deck that clone Jaws don't care about you controlling what gets cloned, so you can blink the clone spells back to your control and make the someone else's Jaws.\n\nFinding the commander was the difficult part of this. Jace ultimately is here to solve the problem of, \"what if I draw one of my creatures?\" It's not very likely, but not impossible, so he'll get it back into your deck for Dack to find. This deck is a blast, who knew Sharks could be equal parts trick and treat!\n"}]}