Deckbuilding Contest - January 2025 (Locked)
benthic_druid 22 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Voting has concluded!\n\nš„ Loserboi\nš„ Darkwolferum47\nš„ Stavrogin\n\nEach winner will be contacted via the email associated with their Archidekt account within the next 48 hours. \n\nCongratulations, and thank you to all who participated!"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\nHello brewers,\n\nHappy New Year! Before we get to the first deckbuilding contest prompt of 2025, a brief introduction. My name is Ben, and I'll be helping Jeremy run the competition this year. I've been writing articles for "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://edhrec.com/articles/author/ben-doolittle"},"insert":"EDHREC"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://commandersherald.com/author/ben-doolittle/"},"insert":"Commander's Herald"},{"insert":" since 2019, with a focus on legendary creatures that come with a drawback. So it seems only fitting that this month's prompt should also highlight these tricky commanders. With great restriction (sometimes) comes great power. Details below.\n\nWhatās the contest all about?"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Working within the parameters of the prompt provided below, construct a decklist with your own creative spin. Three chosen finalists will be awarded store credit to cardsphere.com. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"For January's deckbuilding contest, brew a Commander-legal list helmed by a commander with a drawback that turns that drawback into a strength. The goal is not to mitigate your commander's drawback, but to work with it as much as possible. Lists will be evaluated on how effectively they turn the commander's drawback into an advantage. "},{"insert":"\n\nKeep in mind that this prompt isn't limited to \"bad\" commanders. In fact, it's much easier to build an interesting deck when the commander has a powerful effect, but requires you to work a little to achieve it. For example, what would a deck need to do to win the game with Inferno of Star Mounts' activated ability? Or could you build Lord of Tresserhorn like a Nekusar deck? Your chosen commander should have a powerful payoff with your deck's strategy.\n\nThis is also the perfect opportunity to combine themes and bend the color pie in unique ways. Can mono-white draw enough cards to make Kiyomaro, First to Stand a real threat? Or can you combine spell slinging with aristocrats in Dralnu, Lich Lord? What is a downside in one color can sometimes be an advantage in another, and with 30 years of cards to choose from chances are there's some way to take advantage of any effect. \n\nFinally, be sure your commander doesn't impose a restriction and then immediately solve it. Taigam, Sidisi's Hand may skip your draw step, but also draws a card and fills your graveyard in your upkeep. Compare that to Asmodeus the Archfiend, who stops you from drawing cards at all until you pay the price. The same applies to Companions most of the time. They're so powerful, and easy enough to build around, that they end up being all upside for little to no cost. If you include a companion in your submission, think carefully about how impactful it's restriction actually is for your deck.\n\nHereās how to participate:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Brew an EDH/Commander legal deck on Archidekt that satisfies the prompt.\n\nAny unreleased cards spoiled during the contestās duration are allowed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Silver-bordered and acorn cards, while cool, are not allowed. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Digital-only cards (such as those designed for the Alchemy format on Arena) are not allowed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Strictly one deck submitted per user."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nReply to this newspost, or the Discord submission post with a link to your deck before "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"9:00 pm EST"},{"insert":" (UTC -5, currently) on "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wednesday, January 8, 2025"},{"insert":" (do not submit the same deck in multiple places). Only one submission per user! \n\nFrom the eligible submissions, we'll select three finalists with lists that we believe best embody the spirit of the prompt. Deck descriptions are not required but certainly may provide valuable context!\n\nOn "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wednesday, January 15, 2025"},{"insert":", weāll announce three finalists via Discord and a brief article on EDHREC highlighting each deck. Each finalist will be awarded credit on cardsphere.com. The 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:\n\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":"\nFinalists will be contacted via email or Discord (depending on where they submitted) regarding their winnings within roughly 24 hours following the conclusion of voting on "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wednesday, January 22, 2025"},{"insert":". Please note, you must have a Cardsphere account in order to receive your winnings. It's quick and free-- "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.cardsphere.com/"},"insert":"register here"},{"insert":" if you don't have an account already!\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/contestRules"},"insert":"Official contest rules"},{"insert":".\n\nThank you!\n\nIf you have any questions, feel free to ask here, or join our "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://discord.gg/sctEc9Ru36"},"insert":"public Discord server"},{"insert":". We look forward to seeing what you all come up with! \n\nThe Archidekt Team\n"}]}
Edited 1/23/2025, 2:57:22 PM
44
swerthei 22 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10702279/chisei_counters"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10702279/chisei_counters"},{"insert":"\n\nLoads of Sagas proliferate, interesting counters to play with work fantastically with little known mon-blue commander Chisei, Heart of Oceans whose downside of being sacrificed unless you remove a counter can actually help you keep valuable sagas + permanents with cumulative upkeeps in play much longer by removing lore/age counters among other very fun things. \n"}]}
Edited 1/1/2025, 10:46:24 PM
20
Trashtrashib 21 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"God I love janky Kamigawa legends. They just don't make them like they used to.\n"}]}
4
Darkwolferum47 18 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true,"background":"#f9fafb","link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10708906"},"insert":"Knock, knock. Who's there? It's the Balrog. Again."},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10708906"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10708906"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Long ago, an ancient evil disturbed the mighty mines of Moria, until a powerful wizard got rid of it for good-"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"What do you mean it's back? No, send it down. Ok, good. What, again??"},{"insert":"\n\n---\n\nIntroducions aside, here I bring my submission for the January deckbuilding contest, built around "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Balrog, Flame of Udƻn"}},{"insert":" and its ability to easily return to the bottom of your library, for sure an unfortunate one... or is it?\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The key"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nOur strategy relies heavily on the only creature card in the 99, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aspiring Champion"}},{"insert":", who will give its life to find our commander and deal a decent amount of damage to our opponents in the process. Then, we get the Balrog back in the deck and the Champion back in the field. Rinse and repeat.\n\nGame plan"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nEarly game, we want to use our token generators (we have a ton of them in the deck) so we can grab our "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aspiring Champion"}},{"insert":" with some "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Polymorph"}},{"insert":"-like effect, such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Transmogrify"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Reality Scramble"}},{"insert":". Those can also help get the Balrog if our Champion ever got permanently removed.\n\nAnother thing we will try to get is some way to turn the Balrog into a removal itself to try and kill some legendary creatures and send it right back to the deck when it enters. For that purpose, we have "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gimli's Reckless Might"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Warstorm Surge"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Where Ancients Tread"}},{"insert":".\n\nOf course, we want to use the "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aspiring Champion"}},{"insert":" again every time we kill a legendary, so we also run a pack of reanimation spells, as well as some ways to make some extra Champions in "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Splinter Twin"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mimic Vat"}},{"insert":".\n\nA way to add consistency to our strategy is to make sure the legendary creatures we kill don't stay dead for ever, task for which we carry "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Endless Whispers"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lifeline"}},{"insert":" (or even the same reanimation instants we can use to save the Champion in the likes of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Feign Death"}},{"insert":" and such).\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Note"},{"insert":": In case of using "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Endless Whispers"}},{"insert":", we should attack with the "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aspiring Champion"}},{"insert":" tokens I we can generate with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Splinter Twin"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mimic Vat"}},{"insert":" so we don't lose it to its own sacrifice.\n\nLast but ABSOLUTELY not least, we run a heavy set of tutors to get the key components of our strategy, as well as getting some pieces of our toolbox if needed, in which we have acces to:\nGiving haste with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lightning Greaves"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Making the "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aspiring Champion"}},{"insert":" even harder to block with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Whispersilk Cloak"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rogue's Passage"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vorrac Battlehorns"}},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Gaining some life back with the "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Whip of Erebos"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Preventing opponents from gaining life with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rain of Gore"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A backup get-into-the-library ability for the balrog in "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Cauldron of Eternity"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Interaction to protect our game plan with cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tibalt's Trickery"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bolt Bend"}},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Some plain removal"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Black Market Connections"}},{"insert":", which really helps with getting the deck to do its thing"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\nI think this deck is an unusual approach to these interactions, so I hope you like it!\n"}]}
17
TheUnEase 18 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This is so cool. I built this Balrog once but it was just a voltron deck that was supposed to get a kill all in one turn since he wouldn't be around for long. This is so much cooler. I've been curious how this card plays IRL too, wondering if it encourages removal of opponent's commanders since it will be a 2 for 1 getting rid of yours as well. \n"}]}
2
Niforten 16 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"I love the concept! I've never seen a deck like this before, so cool. I thought of another unblockable equipment you could potentially use for Aspiring champion. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thieves' Tools"}},{"insert":" is a cheaper mana value option than whispersilk cloak and helps ramp a little with a treasure token for your trouble. \n"}]}
1
User--Name 38 hrs
{"ops":[{"insert":"this is awesome! I had built a legends cloning Balrog of Moria deck and I think I just love all of the rakdos balrogs!\n"}]}
0
Bloch 21 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10711115/a_big_serpent_with_a_big_sword_btw_its_a_land_destruction_deck"},"insert":"A Big Serpent with a Big Sword - BTW It's a Land Destruction Deck"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"This deck is designed to take advantage of "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Taniwha"}},{"insert":" 's drawback. By not having lands, we become the only player unaffected by effects like "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Mana Vortex"}},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Mana Breach"}},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Sunder"}},{"insert":", or the deck's star, "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Worldslayer"}},{"insert":".\n\nThe deck also includes stax effects to ensure that youāre not the only one suffering from the lack of lands. Cards like "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Winter Orb"}},{"insert":" or "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Static Orb"}},{"insert":" (which we can tap using effects like "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Moonsnare Prototype"}},{"insert":" or "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Clock of Omens"}},{"insert":" to avoid their downside), and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Winter Moon"}},{"insert":" , "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Back to Basics"}},{"insert":" , "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Harbinger of the Seas"}},{"insert":" , or "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Quicksilver Fountain"}},{"insert":" don't affect us since we run almost entirely basic lands. Additionally, the last two pair well with "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Shimmer"}},{"insert":" to make everyone experience the effect of our beloved serpent. "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Ward of Bones"}},{"insert":" is another interesting stax piece, as it prevents players from playing lands while ours are phased out.\n\nTo compensate for the lack of land-based mana, the deck focuses on ramping heavily with mana rocks or using effects like "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Vedalken Orrery"}},{"insert":" to cast spells just before our lands phase out.\n\nI run plenty of artifact tutors to fetch our beloved sword, along with "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Brass Squire"}},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Hammer of Nazahn"}},{"insert":" to equip it before our serpent phases out to another plane.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Shadow of the Second Sun"}},{"insert":" is another card I really like, as it allows "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Taniwha"},{"insert":"'s phasing cycle be in the same turn by providing an additional untap step.\n\nLastly, I included a "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Donate"}},{"insert":" because thereās always the option to let someone else enjoy my beloved commander.\n"}]}
Edited 1/3/2025, 12:34:03 AM
17
BaconVsMario 19 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10713685"},"insert":"Geth, that's not how anthems work..."},{"insert":"\n\nWhen i first saw "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Geth, Thane of Contracts"}},{"insert":" I couldn't believe my eyes. It was everything a black player could wish for! A cheap repatable reanimate in the command zone? It even has a free anthem attached! Wait... is that a minus??\n\nGeth might not be as overpowered as i first thought when I read it but with some creative deck building we can make the debuff work for us. Making our creatures weaker might not be the best effect but in an aristocrats deck it essentially turns every 1 toughness creature into a free death trigger. \n\n This decks aims to put out as many cheap 1 toughness creatures that either reanimate themselves or have a fun deathtriggers and drain the enemy with various "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blood Artist"}},{"insert":" effects. Geth will enable the majority of death triggers and reanimate any engine pieces that die.\n\nTo make this deck work we need a lot of cheap ways to create death triggers. This deck runs a bunch of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Reassembling Skeleton"}},{"insert":" effects to ensure that we never run out of things to kill. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gravecrawler"}},{"insert":" is the best card in that category due to Geth conveniently being a zombie. Cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nine-Lives Familiar"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ophiomancer"}},{"insert":" produces a lot of triggers cheaply while "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pawn of Ulamog"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder"}},{"insert":" can massively increase our death trigger output.\n\nThe decks draw engines are very solid with cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Midnight Reaper"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dark Prophecy"}},{"insert":" letting us cycle all our cheap fodder while racking up death triggers. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Guildsworn Prowler"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sultai Emissary"}},{"insert":" functions like cantrips (manifest is kinda draw) with an attached death trigger. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Skullclamp"}},{"insert":" is our ticket to disney land letting us draw all the cards we want before dropping Geth. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lolth, Spider Queen"}},{"insert":" is surprisingly flexible in this decks and can either draw cards or generate triggers and will quickly regain loyalty.\n\nThis deck does not really need ramp due to the extremely low manacurve. Still some pieces are just too good/fun to exclude. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Black Market"}},{"insert":" can generate stupid amounts of mana which can be used on repeatedly reanimating fodder. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pitiless Plunderer"}},{"insert":" goes infinite with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gravecrawler"}},{"insert":" + Geth and is generally good value. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Crowded Crypt"}},{"insert":" will eventually give us an army of zombies that will swing, die and generate a sea of triggers.\n\nFor drain effects we can't really run "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blood Artist"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zulaport Cutthroat"}},{"insert":" due to their poor affinity with Geth but there are still a bunch of options. Cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bastion of Remembrance"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Marionette Apprentice"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vindictive Vampire"}},{"insert":" will drain your opponents just fine. I also included a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gray Merchant of Asphodel"}},{"insert":" to get some burst damage.\n\nThe removal package is fairly standard with some interesting additions. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vengeful Strangler // Strangling Grasp"}},{"insert":" is both fodder and removal which is fun. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dictate of Erebos"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grave Pact"}},{"insert":" are absolutely evil and I love it! "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Szat's Will"}},{"insert":" can both function as removal or finisiher.\n\nLastly I included "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Woe Strider"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blood Bairn"}},{"insert":" in case Geth becomes "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Imprisoned in the Moon"}},{"insert":" or otherwise indisposed.\n"}]}
14
Trashtrashib 22 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Piru, the Nuke: "},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10698766/piru_the_nuke"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10698766/piru_the_nuke"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Piru, the Volatile"}},{"insert":" is a callback to the original elder dragon cycle that EDH was originally based off of. When I read the prompt I felt it was only right to try building around the upkeep costs associated with them.\n\nPiru's death trigger deals 7 lifelinking damage to each nonlegendary creature, but at 8 mana plus a turn cycle without a sac outlet, this is rarely worth it. Luckily we have one of my favorite cards to pay it off! "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Repercussion"}},{"insert":"'s incredibly unique effect can turn that board wipe into an OTK.\n\nTo achieve this, we first need to be able to consistently get repercussion on the field to begin with, we run seven tutors capable of searching it out as well as eight cards that can draw us cards. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Second we generally need a way to make sure the damage is lethal, to help with this we have four different damage doublers (Which actually quadruple the damage dealt to our opponents since they apply to Piru and Repercussion separately,) as well as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Forbidden Orchard"}},{"insert":", which can help ensure out opponents actually have nonlegends to blow up to begin with!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Finally, we run seventeen ramp spells to help us get out Piru before we are "},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"completely"},{"insert":" dead and buried."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nIn terms of interaction, the deck has some generic removal spells as well as plenty of fake death effects to protect or potentially recur Piru if need be.\nIn case of Repercussion being removed, we have a weaker back up with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sanguine Bond"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Enduring Tenacity"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose"}},{"insert":" who can take advantage of Piru's lifelink to knock a player out of the game, (also useful if your opponent can get rid of their nonlegends in response to the board wipe.) Worst case we always have access to a 7/7 flying lifelinker to go beat down in the mid to end game.\n\nI'd also like to shout out "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Stinging Study"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Imposing Grandeur"}},{"insert":" for taking advantage of our commander's massive casting cost to draw more cards. Albeit for a pretty nasty sting in stinging study's case.\n"}]}
9
Leviaously 18 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Awesome take on Piru! I built a deck with him as the commander for a club challenge in my group, the challenge being $50 elder dragon cycle. Heās played well with cards like stuffy doll and brash taunter to take advantage of His death trigger.\n"}]}
1
PirateKronk 19 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Meet Norin. Norin, The Wary. Norin is what some might call a "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8188391/worry_wort"},"insert":"Worry Wort"},{"insert":".\n\nNorin is scared of everything. An opponent Ponders, Norin runs away in fear. One opponent attacks another opponent, Norin is straight up out of there. Norin spends way more time off the battlefield, then on it. He is never going to be around to block, and he is certainly never going to attack. He isn't going to be there when going get tough. Not exactly characteristics associated with a General.\n\nHowever, while Norin may not be reliable in a fight, you can always count on him to come back each and every turn to see how everything's panned out. As it turns out, Norin's fear is usually justified. His sudden disappearance is all to often followed by the arrival of something fearsome. Norin's sense of impending doom may send him running from Mana Geyers and the occasional Impact Tremor, but it also allows him to outlive his opponents when real terrors like Terror of the Peaks, Purphoros, God of the Forge, and Solophim, Mayhem Dominus show up. Norin's trepidation lets him avoid Blasphemous Acts, Farewells, and Doom Blades of all kinds. Funny thing is despite all of his efforts to avoid danger; calamity, destruction, and death always seem to happen right as Norin decides its safe and he returns to the battlefield. He runs away to stay safe, but never seems to stay away long enough to miss the destruction of others.\n\nNorin's flight reflexes are strong, and despite his anxiety he's "},{"attributes":{"background":"var(--light-background)","color":"var(--color)"},"insert":"actually made some really good friends that truly embrace how flighty he is. Rose Room Treasurer and Irreverent Gremlin are always happy to see Norin and help him through his issues while Loyal Apprentice, and Siege-Gang Lieutenant like to bring new people and things around Norin to show him that he doesn't always have to run away."},{"insert":"\n\nNorin doesn't tend to stick around long, but he has seen some interesting places in his travels. Norin has briefly seen War Rooms, the Mines of Moria, Kher Keep and, even Valakut, the Molten Pinancle, but he prefers the peacefulness of a simple mountain far away from anything resembling Burning Earth, or anything else that could ever possibly hurt him. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8188391/worry_wort"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8188391/worry_wort"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
6
AuxillaryPond 19 days
{"ops":[{"insert":{"card-link":"Kataki, War's Wage"}},{"insert":" \nhttps://www.archidekt.com/decks/10743459/kataki_artifacts_rage\n\nMy deck is built around "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kataki, War's Wage"}},{"insert":" using his tax on artifacts as a way to sac artifacts such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ichor Wellspring"}},{"insert":" for value. The deck is running many cheap artifacts that draw on either etb or death as a card draw engine returning them to the battlefield with a large recursion package. \n \nThis deck looks to win in one of three main ways, the first being "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Approach of the Second Sun"}},{"insert":" . Using the cheap artifacts and recursion listed above this deck do a good job of drawing into approach and its first cast also plays into this decks second win condition being life gain.\n\nThe next win condition of this deck is the life gain payoff "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aetherflux Reservoir"}},{"insert":". This deck plays a number of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soul Warden"}},{"insert":" style affects as a way to capitalize on the fact that many of the cheap artifacts played either are or create creatures. This serves to keep your life total high while drawing through your deck while enabling occasional one shots.\n\nFinally this deck plays "},{"insert":{"card-link":"It That Betrays"}},{"insert":" as a way to steal permanents sacrificed by the commander as well as a number of our removal pieces including "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cataclysmic Gearhulk"}},{"insert":".\n\nWith these win conditions in mind, this deck looks to slowly accrue value with its artifact and recursion package while slowing opponents down with the commanders tax and gaining life to stave off aggression. Then in the mid to late game your goal is to jump ahead with either mass or a number of repeatable recursion affects to prepare to play one of the win cons in the deck hoping to create a large enough advantage to win on the spot or soon after.\n"}]}
5
Niforten 16 days
{"ops":[{"insert":{"card-link":"Denethor, Stone Seer"}},{"insert":" https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10722545?sort=alpha&stack=custom\n\"Bring wood and oil\" and we'll burn this table to the ground!\n\nThe Lore: Our story starts with the Riders of Rohan Precon from the Lord of the Rings set. I was wanting to upgrade the deck after receiving it as a gift and was looking through the deck. I stumbled across Denethor, read his card text, and thought \"Man! What a bad legendary creature to have as your commander, he would suck!\" I then checked him out on EDHREC, saw he only had 35 decks and was at Rank #2935, felt justified in my reaction, and proceeded to forget about him in the rest of the 99 of the deck.\n\nThen the Deckbuilding contest was posted, and I thought \"Hmm, I've never done one these contests before, seems like a fun prompt. So who would I build it with...\" And at that moment Denethor jumped out of his card sleeve, smacked me on the forehead and dared me to try and make him a good deck. So here we are!\n\nThe Game Plan:\nDenethor, Stone Seer's main weakness is he sacrifices himself. Which is very lore accurate, but sadly not the most impactful thing you could be doing on turn 4. However, when he does sacrifice himself, he makes you the monarch (aka draws you cards) and deals three damage to any target on the way out. \n\nSo I have made an Izzet aristocrat deck (his creature type is noble so aristocrat is only fitting) with the entire strategy to sacrifice our own creatures to draw cards and damage our opponents as they die, just like good old Denethor taught us to. To acheive this we have \"cantrip creatures\" that draw us cards on dying ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Oculus"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Palace Familiar"}},{"insert":"). The multitude of card draw also helps us create even more creatures to sacrifice, using cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mad Ratter"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Detective of the Month"}},{"insert":" who trigger after we draw our second card each turn, which will almost always happen with the monarch. I also put in cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Phyrexian Altar"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vivisection"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Preyseizer Dragon"}},{"insert":" to keep the sacrifice train going. Lastly the win con is to use non combat damage from our red sources to suck our opponents life away whenever we sacrifice our own stuff, with cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hissing Iguanar"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Havoc Jester"}},{"insert":" getting lots of triggers, and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Twinflame Tyrant"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ojer Axonil, Deepest Might // Temple of Power"}},{"insert":" amplifying their damage. With all of the card draw going on and damage being dealt, we can hopefully finish the game off using our combo, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Niv-Mizzet, Parun"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Curiosity"}},{"insert":" to finally ping down the table into oblivion by drawing the rest of our deck.\n\nI hope you enjoy checking out this deck as much as I enjoyed making it! (also the link should still work if you copy and paste it into a browser, I'm not sure why it isn't clickable. Please let me know if it doesn't work for you)\n"}]}
Edited 1/7/2025, 10:10:49 AM
4
SimicDragon 16 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Sol'Kanar the Timeshared [UBR Group Slug Politics]"},{"insert":" ("},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10793675/"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10793675/"},{"insert":")\n\nSol'Kanar the Tainted wants to travel the world and befriend new people. His ability to give gifts (draw, drain, and removal) has interesting drawbacks: (a) Each can only happen once \"per game\", (b) only during the controller's end step, and (c) typically ends with him gifting himself to an opponent for them to benefit from. Instead of focusing on keeping Sol'Kanar all to ourselves, this deck uses threaten effects to lean into all three drawbacks to turn them into upsides.\n\n(1) Threaten\nGift Sol'Kanar to a key political ally, then temporarily borrow him during your turn so you can continue to reap his rewards. This also allows Sol'Kanar to go through his abilities twice as fast so he can hang out with someone else or return to you sooner. If that opponent is no longer being hospitable with Sol'Kanar, you can skip to the donate ability to \"permanently\" give him to a new opponent.\n\n(2) Copy Triggers\nRoaming Throne (naming Demon) allows you to get Sol'Kanar's abilities twice as fast all for yourself, in case the environment is not well-suited for Sol'Kanar to travel. \n\n(3) Blink\nIf Sol'Kanar can't be trusted with anyone at the moment, Thassa, Deep-Dwelling and Conjurer's Closet can reset Sol'Kanar to delay his donating himself to someone else. Paired with threaten effects, you can use these cards to threaten to permanently steal someone's creature unless they play nice with you and Sol'Kanar.\n\n(4) Protection\nSol'Kanar should travel under close supervision. Use these spells to protect Sol'Kanar in case of (a) removal or board wipes, (b) combat tricks, (c) attacks misdirected at you, or (d) death. (Watch out for sacrifice outlets or other effects that use sacrifice as a cost!) Note that Backgrounds still apply to Sol'Kanar even when he's abroad.\n\n(5) Goad\nIdeally, Sol'Kanar's hosts all encourage him to get exercise when it is safe to do so. For those that are overly cautious, goad effects can help Sol'Kanar attack twice per turn cycle. With teamwork, commander damage wins may be possible!\n\n(6) Ramp\nIn addition to a plethora of mana rocks, Dark Ritual or Sol Ring can help get Sol'Kanar in play as early as Turn 3. Hellkite Courser can cheat Sol'Kanar in, who can then donate himself to someone else so he sticks around permanently. \n\n(7) Draw\nBecause Sol'Kanar allows everyone, including opponents, to draw cards when they have him, our card draw can also help everyone equally. The damage taken per card drawn may be unequal, but with Sol'Kanar's ability to heal, opponents may be more inclined to treat him well. (Look out for the secret recipe of Shadow of the Second Sun and Liliana's Contract to surprise with an alternate win con!)\n\n(8-10) Removal, Board Wipes, and Lands\nThe rest of the deck helps support Sol'Kanar's travel plans. Note that some removal gives gifts as compensation, like any good houseguest should, and The Trickster-God's Heist can help others follow in Sol'Kanar's footsteps.\n\nI'd love to hear what you all think, thanks for reading this far!\n"}]}
Edited 1/8/2025, 7:47:05 PM
3
alexmitko 19 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10742141/rararasputin"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10742141/rararasputin"},{"insert":"\n\nThis is a deck I actually played when "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rasputin, the Oneiromancer"}},{"insert":" came out so it was not specifically made for this contest but since it is one of my favorite commanders (being a rather underplayed one) I thought this contest is the perfect place to brag about it.\n\nThe deck itself is Big Boys deck that wants to flicker Rasputin and use his mana generation to accelerate out big blue threats, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blightsteel Colossus"}},{"insert":", or Eldrazi. The downside of it is that every time you get Rasputin in play, all your opponents get a 1/1 goblin (which when you want to flicker him AND run a couple of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Panharmonicon"}},{"insert":" effects is a LOT). Taking a look at the decklist there are a couple of mitigation tools in "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lavinia of the Tenth"}},{"insert":" but the majority of card choices have been made to capitalize on the opponenets gaining 1/1 bodies. So what is the plan?\nStart churning out goblins for the bad guys"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Restrict their attacks against you through "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Propaganda"}},{"insert":" effects and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Crawlspace"}},{"insert":" BUT \"encourage\" them to attack anyway through effects like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Angel's Trumpet"}},{"insert":" and goading them all with a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mocking Doppelganger"}},{"insert":" who becomes a copy of ... a 1/1 goblin "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Punish them for getting bodies with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Suture Priest"}},{"insert":" and punish them for losing their precious 1/1s with a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dingus Staff"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A lone "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soul's Attendant"}},{"insert":" also benefits you for your enemies getting additional creatures, while a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Crafty Cutpurse"}},{"insert":" can quickly change who is getting the additional 1/1s when you use Rasputin"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"}]}
Edited 1/4/2025, 7:58:59 PM
3
mb1314 20 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Rakdos the Defiler."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10719037/copy_of_rakdos_goad"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10719037/copy_of_rakdos_goad"},{"insert":"\n\nDrawback: \nwhenever Rakdos attacks, it's controller must sacrifice half their non demon permanents.\n\nTwo main approaches:\n\nLet the opposition enjoy the drawback! \nGift Rakdos to opponents and goad him to cause chaos and decimate the board.\n\nEmbrace the drawback! \nUse the self sacrifice trigger to boost other creatures, add ramp, card draw and ping opponents.\n\nEnjoy!\n"}]}
Edited 1/4/2025, 4:21:49 AM
3
Budgie_DH 21 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"\"Fish Liver Oil\":"},{"insert":"\n\nToday I am building THE Chief Commander, "},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10704939"},"insert":"Zhou Yu!"},{"insert":"\n\nZhou Yu is an 7 mana mono blue Human Soldier with 8 power and 8 toughness. He also"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" requires "},{"insert":"that your opponents control an island in order to attack. So, we need to fill the deck with effects that give opponents islands. \n\nSea's Claim is a one-off enchantment that can turn one land into an island."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Eluge, The Flood of Mars, and Quicksilver Fountain slowly spread Islands around turn after turn."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Finally, Harbringer of Seas pretty quickly turns a nonbasic land on each opponents' board into an island. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nSo as long as we're jumping through this hoop of throwing islands around, we might as well turn it into an upside! We're going to give Zhou Yu and the rest of our board Islandwalk to make them unblockable!\n\nThe Deck's namesake card "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fishliver Oil "},{"insert":"is an aura that will give THE Chief Commander islandwalk. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Sandals of Abdullah and War Barge are repeatable islandwalk granters."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"We have a fair amount of Merfolk in the deck so we have two lords, Lord of Atlantis and the Master of the Pearl Trident."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Then we have some fatties with islandwalk built in, like Stormtide Leviathan and Inkwell Leviathan."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWe need more mana than a mono-blue deck usually needs because of how expensive our commander is and how expensive some of our sea monsters are. So, we're running Thran Dynamo and Gilded Lotus. We're also going to try and steal our opponents sol rings out of their decks with Thada Adel. \n\nSpeaking of Sea Monsters, while not as powerful as a Cyclonic Rift, we're running Whelming Wave to hopefully close out games with some remaining Leviathans and friends if the board gets gunked up. \n\nLet me know what you think!\n"}]}
3
Coboney 15 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"First time I've done of these. \n\nI built Rohgahh of Kher Keep, who's downside is that if you don't pay his upkeep he, and Kobolds of Kher Keep get givenaway to an opponent. Thus, I decided to make a deck that wants to give things and adds in some pillow fort, group hug (especially for treasures), goading, and similar elements together. Essentially Rohgakh is part of what the deck is doing.\n\nIt wants to win by having players fight each other, and then using Brand or Homeward Path to get all the giveaways back and pound. It also has a few other ways to help win like Insurrection and an alt-win in Revel in Riches.\n\nHere is "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10712008/kobolds_for_christmas"},"insert":"Kobolds for Christmas"},{"insert":"!\n"}]}
2
A3th3r3al 16 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Deck Submission: "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10789881/roalesk_corpse_bomb"},"insert":"Roalesk Corpse Bomb"},{"insert":"\n\nFor this deck, I chose a Commander which had always piqued my interest since I first got into Magic. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Roalesk, Apex Hybrid"}},{"insert":" was first released in War of the Spark, and was a major let-down for me as a new player, as while he proliferated (which was a mechanic I was quite interested in building around at the time), he had to die first. This wasnāt the sort of downside I knew how to or wanted to play with in Commander, so I passed him by.\n\nYears later, his downside is now exactly what I chose to build around for this competition. When Roalesk dies, he proliferates, the proliferates again. While death is not ideal for your commander, the color blue provides the perfect loophole: clones. Rather than pay your command tax over and over again just to get a few proliferations, we can abuse Roaleskās legendary status and just make a copy of him! Which will immediately die. In fact, with Roalesk, itās a double-whammy; not only will you get his death trigger, but youāll also his ETB triggerāāā¦put two +1/+1 counters on another target creature you controlā!\n\nThe question from here is why we want to proliferate. +1/+1 counters are nice, but there are a million Commanders that already do that (and better). Perhaps then we place all the counters on Roalesk and turn him into a Voltron Commander? Unfortunately, thatās far too slow and costly a strategy, especially for a legendary with no built-in protection. No; the best use of Roaleskās proliferation is poison.\n\nWhile poison counters and proliferate may seem as basic as white bread, every death trigger will net us 2 poison counters per opponent, and we can do this multiple times in a single turn. In a multiplayer game, this is phenomenal value that canāt be ignored. And we can do this without the stigma of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Atraxa, Praetors' Voice"}},{"insert":"!\n\nFrom here, the deckās game plan becomes quite obvious:\nStep 1: Give each opponent at least 1 poison counter. The best way to do this is with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Prologue to Phyresis"}},{"insert":". You can use "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Merchant Scroll"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mystical Tutor"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Solve the Equation"}},{"insert":" to find it. Alternatively, there are few early-game creatures that can reliably give your opponents poison, like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blighted Agent"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Inkmoth Nexus"}},{"insert":" , or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tainted Observer"}},{"insert":"."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Step 2: Bring out Roalesk. Pretty self-explanatory, although some games you might want to do this step before you can complete Step 1 (see "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Corrupted Conscience"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grafted Exoskeleton"}},{"insert":")."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Step 3: Start Cloning Roalesk. There are a substantial amount of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cackling Counterpart"}},{"insert":" variants in this deck. Due to the reality of resource limitation, the majority of these cards can make at least two clones, either through Flashback effects or Kicker effects. Keep in mind, you should only needāat mostā5 clones, which generally means you should only need three cloning spells. Notably, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blade of Selves"}},{"insert":" in a typical game will give you 4 proliferations a turn. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rite of Replication"}},{"insert":" will win you the game by itself!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nIf the game is going rough, Roalesk can double as a Voltron Commander. Itās not rare that Roalesk can have 12 power if you are cloning him. You could easily take out one opponent with Commander damage, so donāt stress too much if you canāt give that one pesky opponent their poison counter. \n\nWhile it may take a few games to get a hang of the deck, I had a blast playing with it. Turn a downside into an upside and use death to your advantage with "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10789881/roalesk_corpse_bomb"},"insert":"Roalesk Corpse Bomb"},{"insert":".\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10789881/roalesk_corpse_bomb"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10789881/roalesk_corpse_bomb"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
Edited 1/8/2025, 2:55:20 AM
2
RudyMental 16 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"The moment I read this, I just had to submit my all-time favorite deck:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10789493/im_not_touching_you"},"insert":"I'm Not Touching You"},{"insert":"\n\nThis is a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Horobi, Death's Wail"}},{"insert":" deck, which utilizes the commander's downside of making your own creatures (including itself) vulnerable to any kind of targeted effect by packing itself full of effects like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Baton of Morale"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Touch of Darkness"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cauldron of Souls"}},{"insert":", ignoring what they actually say and making them read \"opponent sacrifices target permanent\". \n\nWe can also turn out commander's downside back around and use cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Syr Konrad, the Grim"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nim Deathmantle"}},{"insert":" to loop our own commander (or any creature) and deal damage to the table in a stalled board state.\n\nSpeaking of protecting the commander, one of my favorite (and subsequently my playgroups least favorite) cards to windmill slam is "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Endless Whispers"}},{"insert":" (bonus points if you also have "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grave Betrayal"}},{"insert":"), as we don't care WHO has Horobi, just that she is out and about. \n\nNow, one other fun way to mess with the board is "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mycosynth Lattice"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Karn, Silver Golem"}},{"insert":". Now you can target ANYTHING (especially with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nowhere to Run"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Arcane Lighthouse"}},{"insert":") by turning it into a creature with Karn, or just target lands like a degenerate (making them 0/0s is lame).\n\nThe way the deck wins is usually by swinging into empty boards with Horobi, or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Revel in Riches"}},{"insert":". \n"}]}
2