{"ops":[{"insert":"November 2026 Archidekt Challenge\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rishkar, Peema Renegade"}},{"insert":" is a commander that provides lots of extra mana early in the game by tapping creatures with +1 counters. This deck focuses on hydra like X cost creatures to make the most of this effect as they will be useful at multiple points along our curve.\n\nOn early turns, X cost creatures work to set up as ramp pieces for when the commander drops. On later turns, X cost spells can be dropped for large values of X as finishers. This makes the hydra creatures much more versatile, since in a traditional hydra deck you would typically wait for big mana in the midgame to drop your X cost creature, making them less useful in your opening turns.\n\nCurve was very heavily considered with choosing creatures. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rishkar, Peema Renegade"}},{"insert":" can donate a +1 counter to two creatures (including himself) on ETB. Therefore the optimal T1 and T2 setups will be 2 creatures, with at least one creature coming in with a +1 counter independently. This is easily achieved by filling ramp and removal slots with 1 or 2 mana creatures., along with all of our X cost creatures. The T1 and T2 options are achieved simply as follows:\n\nTurn 1 Play:\nA 1 CMC creature, with or without counters. Examples include ramp and removal options, as well as creatures with counters; "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Arboreal Grazer"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Haywire Mite"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Iron Apprentice"}},{"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"An {X} costed creature. Examples include "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Endless One"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Stonecoil Serpent"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ugin's Conjurant"}},{"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nTurn 2 Play:\nAny of the two turn one options"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A 2 CMC creature, with or without counters. Examples include strong counters setup, protection and ramp cards; "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bristly Bill, Spine Sower"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cathedral Acolyte"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Badgermole Cub"}},{"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A {XG} or {XX} costed creature. Examples include "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Goldvein Hydra"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kinetic Ooze"}},{"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nIt is worth noting some {XG} or {XGG} costed creatures have a base toughness of 1, such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Benevolent Hydra"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hormagaunt Horde"}},{"insert":", and so can be dropped for X=0 if needed to make up creature count.\n\nOn turn 3 you would drop the commander and, if you wish, use the two mana from your +1 counter creatures without summoning sickness to cast another 2 cost spell (this makes "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Studious First-Year // Rampant Growth"}},{"insert":" quite strong as a T1 drop).\n\nFrom then you move into T4 with, after you play a land, upwards of 7 mana. Additionally, each subsequent hydra dropped here works as a ramp piece if needed. Because you will be paying small X values for the first 3-4 turns, the deck also provides ways to add counters to creatures and to double counters. Doubling high X costed hydra counters is obviously going to be extremely valuable, but it also offers a route for an {XG} costed creature played on or before T4 to creep up in power and become a very real threat.\n\nFrom then on, its classic green stompy. Play big creatures, make them bigger, turn them sideways.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Comments on card choices and deck design:"},{"insert":"\nRamp other than that provided by the commander stays away from your typical dorks as they become redundant after T3. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Arboreal Grazer"}},{"insert":" type cards provide a permanent mana increase in an extra land on the battlefield early. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Badgermole Cub"}},{"insert":" is ridiculous, as it will give you 3 extra mana on T3 after the commander, and then scales with the amount of creatures on board."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Lands are almost exclusively untapped forests as you always need mana T1 and T2 for the optimal strategy."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Radioactive Spider"}},{"insert":" was chosen because its a 1 drop with an extra effect, it can fetch "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Spider-Man, Miles Morales"}},{"insert":" which scales our hydras played for low X and is a constant supply of trample."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Some hydras have inbuilt trample, but it is considered elsewhere with options like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Garruk's Uprising"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sphere Grid"}},{"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I would place this at a low bracket 3 because of the strength of some individual cards that make it tick. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Similar to ramp, removal is tied to low cost creatures. If looking to play this deck, you could perhaps add some instant speed removal but I wanted to showcase some more interesting card choices."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"House Cartographer"}},{"insert":" guarantees you always hit a land drop since it can be tapped for mana if it has a counter on it."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nI hope you enjoy!\n\n* As of this note, the commander has 362 decks.*\n"}]}