benthic_druid 6 days{"ops":[{"insert":"Hello 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\nWhat’s 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\nHere’s 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 contest’s 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":", we’ll 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 1/1/2025, 4:28:23 PM
42
Zhagath 3 days{"ops":[{"insert":"Dancing Inferno:\nhttps://www.archidekt.com/decks/10700213/dancing_inferno\n\nHere's my Inferno of the Star Mounts -deck. The gameplan is to make a lot of artifacts, token and nontoken, which are weaponized as equipment to raise the commander's power close to 20, use commander's ability to trigger 20 damage blast, shuffle equipment around to drop below 20 and trigger another blast again, and again, and again. Utilizing some specific combination of cards we can go all the way of 19 triggers of 20 damage blast (by putting -1/-1 counters on our commander) in a single turn/entry of our commander. Capacity of moving equipment at instant speeds we can be deadly on opponents' turns as well, and the capability of negating damage prevention and/or life gain for a turn will ensure opponents have nowhere to hide.\n\nMore details in the description.\n"}]}
0
Babolos 3 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Tameshi, the Reality Architect:"},{"insert":" https://archidekt.com/decks/10208459/tameshi_the_landfall_architect_v2\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tameshi, Reality Architect"}},{"insert":" is an Azorius commander that let's you return lands to your hand in order to return a target artifact or enchantment from the graveyard to the battlefield. This deck aims to turn this drawback into a way to enable Azorius Landfall. \n\nThis deck is played at a table that is relatively low power, and its main wincons are therefore to win via cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Windrider Eel"}},{"insert":" and the wonderful "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fearless Fledgling"}},{"insert":" .\nIn order to allow these cards to shine we require may lands to enter the battlefield in a single turn. \n\nThis is achieved in one of three main ways:\nHaving less land cards in play and using some of the many ways white lets you catch up on land drops, the best ones being "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scholarship Sponsor"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Surveyor's Scope"}},{"insert":" ."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Playing land cards from our hand into the battlefield using "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Patron of the Moon"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Walking Atlas"}},{"insert":" in combination with cards that untap our permanents. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Putting many land cards in the graveyard and returning them with second chance effect such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gerrard's Hourglass Pendant"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Planar Birth"}},{"insert":" ."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe first two ways are achieved by our commander, who ensures we have less cards on the field than our opponents while ensuring we have enough land cards in hand as well. The third approach is there to work around Tameshi's main weaknesses, being that they require a lot of mana, while putting you behind on land drops. Thus, in order to ramp we use as many lands that provide more than one mana, and make them enter untapped with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Amulet of Vigor"}},{"insert":" or untap them with cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vizier of Tumbling Sands"}},{"insert":" . \n\nConsidering our table is relatively low power, I tried to avoid making infinite loops the focus, though there may still be some left in. The deck is quite slow, but can consistently get a big attack off on turn 9, even while facing some drawbacks. By no means am I a good deckbuilder, so I'm sure there's many ways to improve the deck (which I'd love to hear), but I really enjoy this deck and especially the way it wins making some small creatures enormous for a single turn.\n\n\n"}]}
0
gahelar 3 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Aristocrats, in Gruul!?"},{"insert":"\n\nMy submission is a deck piloted by "},{"attributes":{"color":"#e60000","underline":true},"insert":"Gimli, Mournful Avenger"},{"insert":". He really wants a repetitive sac outlet to become really big and clear the enemy board while doing that, but being in Grull you really don’t have a lot of option.\nThe solution? "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","underline":true},"insert":"Eldrazi Scions and Spawns"},{"insert":", by generating a bunch of them you can easily sac at least 3 a turn and let gimli do what He does best: FIGHT, add a bit of trample in let and let him swing for the win.\nThis deck is really resiliant as well, just sac 2 baby eldrazis and gimli becomes indestructible so it’s not easy to remove, and if someone manage to do that there are two backup strategy in "},{"attributes":{"color":"#e60000","underline":true},"insert":"Raggadragga, Goreguts boss"},{"insert":"/"},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","underline":true},"insert":"Kozilek, the broken Reality"},{"insert":"/"},{"attributes":{"color":"#e60000","underline":true},"insert":"Forsaken Monument"},{"insert":" to turn your Scions and Spawn in an army to be reckoned and some big eldrazi creatures to cast with all the mana they generate.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10083077/boh?sort=alpha&"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10083077/boh?sort=alpha&"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
0
FriendlyDoesTheThings 3 days{"ops":[{"insert":"Maralen of the Mornsong. - Gives everyone a tutor every turn. (oof) but then you control it and they die rapidly (yay) https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10735229/meme_build\n\nin a worst case scenario (getting no ramp and no tutors in the starting hand) it should play something like this:\n- fair magic at the start playing a swamp for the 1st 2 turns\n-commander comes in on 3\n-grab the dark ritual on 4 and play opposition agent and dark deal if you can\n-if not dark deal on 5\n-play ob nixilus and every turn thereafter your opponents are taking 13 damage while you make them find a fetchland and then 10 more if they use it.\n"}]}
Edited 1/4/2025, 7:35:53 PM
0
Brisinger23 3 days{"ops":[{"insert":"Ludvic's self reflection\nhttps://archidekt.com/decks/10712076/ludvics_self_reflection\n\nThis deck takes milling and exiling and turns it into a strength rather than a weakness. Uses recursion to take advantage of the mill effect and to keep too many card from going to exile. Uses ramp to help cover some costs to make casting things easier from the graveyard and transform the commander.\n\nMillling and losing cards can make it difficult to come back unless you can bring things back from the graveyard and is what Ludvic requires in order to balance the drawback and to transform Ludvic to it's other side. \n"}]}
0
Nikolo 3 days{"ops":[{"insert":"Tetzimoc's Bounce House: https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10707096/tetzimocs_bounce_house\n\nTetzimoc is such a cool dino with such a tricky ability! Short of getting smacked with cyclonic rift, I don't often find myself with my commander in my hand, but the hand is Tetzimoc shines! The goal of this deck is to get Tetzimoc in your hand, throw as many prey counters out as you can afford, and repeat. Keep your opponents' boards in check, and reap the benefits of a bunch of death triggers. \n"}]}
0
duck123 3 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10720055"},"insert":"Cumulative fun"},{"insert":"\n\nMy commander is Morinfen, which has the alleged downside of cumulative upkeep pay 1 life.\n\nMy goal in this deck is to get value of off my life total and lower it significantly so i can switch it with someone else then swing in with my commander and kill them. To switch life totals I use cards like Magus of the Mirror and Soul Conduit. To reduce my life total quickly there are cards like Necropotence, K'rrik, Son of Yawgmoth, and Toxic Deluge. To keep myself from dying I play cards like Platinum Angel, Eternity Vessel and Lich. Lich also has the added bonus of drawing me lots of cards when I switch life totals because that's gaining life. There are a few fun board wipes that result in lots of life loss as well as targeted removal like Vendetta.\n\nIf you decide to play test this deck it will feel lacking in a board state but loosing life is part of the strategy.\n"}]}
0
Dad_ 3 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10656829/discard_yaself"},"insert":"Discard yaself, Greel Mind Raker • (Commander / EDH deck) • Archidekt"},{"insert":" \nSelf-discard and opponent discard, everyone's mind is raked by the end. This was my first submission ever hopefully it nailed the theme of this contest.\n"}]}
0
Styx916 3 days{"ops":[{"insert":"Can't Geth Enough of This: https://archidekt.com/decks/10731677\n\nI'll be honest, I can't take full credit for the inspiration of this deck. I introduced my girlfriend to Magic during All Will Be One Jumpstart and after opening a mono black pack with Geth at the helm, her first words were \"Who the heck would ever want this?!?!?!\" So, I suppose this is my answer to that question!\n\nThe goal of this deck is to take advantage of the -1/-1 Anti-Lord effect to immediately kill off your cannon fodder creatures like Nine-Lives Familiar and Wriggling Grub for value. A healthy splash of aristocrat staples such as Syr Konrad, Bastion of Remembrance, and Dreadhound will ensure opponent life totals keep moving, while fun token makers in Thopter Assembly and Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder will keep the bodies coming. More fuel for the fire!\n\nFinally ensure card advantage, I gave us a decent mill package which will allow us to take advantage of Geth's secondary text. By filling our graveyard with effects like Crow of Dark Tidings, Stitcher's Supplier, and Golgari Thug, we always have the late game option of a MASSIVE Living Death win.\n"}]}
Edited 1/4/2025, 2:33:53 AM
0
Locus 3 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Jeren, Corrupted Bishop // Ormendahl the Corrupter "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10730249/forsaken_faith"},"insert":"Forsaken Faith • (Commander / EDH deck) • Archidekt"},{"insert":" or https://archidekt.com/decks/10730249/forsaken_faith \n\nEver played a Mono-black Human tribal deck? Well here is your chance. Jeren, Corrupted Bishop is a fairly adequate human creature who cares about when your non-token human creatures die by replacing them with a 1/1 white human creature token for the low cost of 1 life, no this is not optional, as well as for 2 generic mana you can give any one of your humans lifelink. This loss of life and slight control over it is important for the final ability of Jeren as for 6 mana (4 generic and 2 black) you can transform him into the Demon \"Ormendahl, the Corrupter a 6/6 black demon with flying trample and lifelink as well as the ability to sacrifice creatures to draw cards. The catch? Jeren can only transform if you have "},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"exactly"},{"insert":" 13 life. This deck is filled with stuff to spend and/or gain life so that you can get that life total, and enough mana to not only to flip into Ormendahl, but be able to draw enough cards and have enough mana by which you can protect your vulnerable life total. \n\nThis specific rendition of the deck is meant to be on the more affordable side with no single card exceeding $10.00 US before tax. Variations with more efficient land base or with better spells, creatures, aristocrat pieces are always welcome in this customizable game we play. \n\nI feel this deck's commander fits with the spirit of the challenge as while it isn't a terrible commander the drawback of having to be at less than half your starting life total in order to fully unlock it's potential as well as the small window to use it, makes Jeren, Corrupted Bishop // Ormendahl, the Corrupter a fun commander to build around it's weakness. \n\nOther ideas I played with revolved around switching life totals and the \"Fateful Hour\" mechanic, however this build is the one I found most fun. \n"}]}
0
Lopj 3 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10731014/lord_of_tresserhorn_is_really_funny"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10731014/lord_of_tresserhorn_is_really_funny"},{"insert":"\n\nLord of Tresserhorn is such a unique commander, and I wanted to build around his massive power while turning his “drawbacks” into strengths. Sacrificing two creatures is no issue with cards like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Reassembling Skeleton"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ophiomancer"},{"insert":", while "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Grave Pact"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Dictate of Erebos"},{"insert":" punish my opponents whenever I sacrifice something.\n\nThe life loss is offset by cards like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Sheoldred, the Apocalypse"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Gray Merchant of Asphodel"},{"insert":", which keep me healthy and hurt my opponents. And while letting an opponent draw two cards might seem bad, cards like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Underworld Dreams"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Notion Thief"},{"insert":" turn that into a liability for them.\n\nFlicker effects like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Essence Flux"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Thassa, Deep-Dwelling"},{"insert":" let me reuse Lord of Tresserhorn’s ability without having to recast him, keeping the value flowing. At the same time, I use ramp and tutors to stay ahead, ensuring I can drop my commander early and consistently.\n\nThe deck wins in multiple ways: flickering "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Gray Merchant of Asphodel"},{"insert":" for massive life drain, controlling the board with sacrifice effects, or just smashing in with Lord of Tresserhorn’s 10 power. It’s all about embracing his unique design and making every “downside” work for me.\n\n"}]}
Edited 1/4/2025, 1:24:12 AM
0
choccymilk 4 days{"ops":[{"insert":"Lord Windgrace: https://www.archidekt.com/decks/8141226/rgb\n"}]}
0
rhiannrhiannarchidekt 4 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"You hit me? Me too! "},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10730740 "},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10730740 "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Darien, King of Kjeldor"}},{"insert":" has always been a commander I and others have shown interest in, but the downside of needing to be dealt damage in turn for tokens is a risky and uncertain play.\n\nThis downside is harnessed in the deck "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"You hit me? Me too! "},{"insert":"by redirecting, tap-pinging, and throwing damage at yourself with a wide array of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soul Warden"}},{"insert":" cards to replenish the damage dealt through my "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"17 "},{"insert":"self damage dealers. Highlights of this bunch are:\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blasting Station"}},{"insert":" - this card is the perfect card for this commander. With 2+ "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soul Warden"}},{"insert":" types and your commander out this card goes easily infinite, giving infinite lifegain/death triggers/etb triggers\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blood of the Martyr"}},{"insert":" - a unique gem for this deck which prevents all damage dealt to creatures you control and redirects it to you. What makes this great is with your commander out you can cast it during your own combat to both protect your creatures and get more 1/1 soldiers out there. Again with 1+ "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soul Warden"}},{"insert":" type of creatures out you immediately replenish any damage you take. \n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dingus Staff"}},{"insert":" -a fun card in the deck which turns board wipes/removal into even more soldiers, making it hard for your board to ever be truly wiped (Always fun to see a dingus staff in a deck)\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Some final shoutouts are:"},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Halo Fountain"}},{"insert":" - super flexible card/wincon which can be used at any point of the game | "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Skullclamp"}},{"insert":" - best card draw in the deck | "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Angel's Trumpet"}},{"insert":" - symmetrical board hate, pillow-forty, with life gain creatures out you go positive | "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mass Calcify"}},{"insert":" - nasty one sided board-wipe which will open up opponents for killing\n\nThanks for reading! I splurged on card prices for this deck, as it's a hard one to brew budget.\n"}]}
0
plasmahawk07 4 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Djeru Super-unfriend"},{"insert":" https://archidekt.com/decks/10598104/\nDo you like slowly gaining value, to the point that every other deck outpaces you?\nDid you follow planeswalker's stories, and cried when they killed Gideon?\nDoes your play group allow mass land destruction?\nWelcome to Mono-white superfriends, with a commander that really just is a support card for a 5-colour planeswalker deck. The problem with Djeru is that mono-white walkers have good ultimates but scale poorly in commander when three 1/1s are not game breaking preassure. The power of planeswalkers is in their card type; Most games go by with people playing 1 at most\n\nThis one can win big, but be warned that misplays can cause the board to stall as players wait for someone to draw something useful\n\nThis deck's gameplan is to ramp into body producing planeswalkers, wait for the oppertune moment, then remove all non-planeswalker permenants through multiple board-wides and an armagedon. Once you set everyone else back to square one, you ultimate the planeswalkers that can no longer be policed by your ramping opponents\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Targets for Djeru fall under 3 catigories:"},{"insert":"\nUgin and the Eternal Wanderer act as sudo-boardwipes in a pinch if you really need to pop the armegeddon, or just manage the boardstate"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Card draw can only be found naturally on Teyo, Geometric tactition, but Elspeth cards in general create tokens to trigger Welcoming Vampire and Co."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If you have the mana to destory everything: Ajani Goldmane, Ugin, Elspeth Sun's Campion, and both Karns lead to clear winning boards."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"}]}
0
Doctor_Karate 4 days{"ops":[{"insert":"Flubbs the Fool - "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10730188/flubbed_up"},"insert":"Flubbed Up • (Commander / EDH deck) • Archidekt"},{"insert":"\n\nWith this deck, we're hoping to activate Flubbs as a draw engine as fast as possible so we can churn through our deck. While we want to discard, draw, cycle, and wheel as much as possible and take advantage with token makers or take advantage of madness costs, we are also running landfall strats to speed up Flubs and always ensure we're discarding and drawing. Ideally, we're playing multiple lands a turn and recurring them from our graveyard. \n\nWin Cons can include: \nToken Makers: Drake Haven, Faldorn, Ominous Seas, Locust God, The Lost and Damned"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Madness: Emrakul, the World Anew"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Landfall: Scute Swarm"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"And Thassa's Oracle. With the right set-up, you'll churn through this deck fast. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWith this set-up, Flubs forcing us to discard IS the strength and the rest of the deck synergizes to take full advantage of it. \n"}]}
0