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
Chopicus 4 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10415066/blim_sharing_is_caring"},"insert":"Blim, Comedic Genius "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"\"Whenever Blim, Comedic Genius deals combat damage to a player, that player gains control of target permanent you control. Then "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"each player"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":" loses life and discards cards equal to the number of permanents they control but don't own.\""},{"insert":"\n\nThis deck primarily wants to give our precious Permanents to our opponents, and punish the table for holding onto them. Utilizing cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grid Monitor"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Akroan Horse"}},{"insert":","},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rust Elemental"}},{"insert":"; we are able to shut down our opponents ability to play with their own toys while punishing them for holding onto ours! We also have a healthy amount of goad/goad-adjacent tech to ensure combat is constantly happening and that we stay out of the fight. This deck also features some amazing (and kind of rude) nukes like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nefarious Lich"}},{"insert":" played alongside "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Withering Torment"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Despotic Scepter"}},{"insert":" to INSTANTLY remove an opponent from the game. We're also able to force our opponents to discard cards with cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grafted Skullcap"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Greed's Gambit"}},{"insert":" . This furthers our strategy of sharing, because our toys are better than our opponents!\n\nOverall, this deck is a real blast to play and while it can feel kind of mean at times, its all in the spirit of sharing, and sharing is caring after all! \n"}]}
Edited 1/3/2025, 9:51:08 AM
0
GeorgiePorgie 4 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10709024"},"insert":"Stop Copying Me - Myojin of Cryptic Dreams"},{"insert":"\n\nMyojin has a big drawback in its ability only manifesting when it's cast from hand. This deck uses proliferation to boost the number of indestructible counters it has on it, and bounce it back to your hand to be recast if it runs out. This is my first competition I've entered, and I'm kinda just having fun with it :)\n\nMyojin's copy ability is great fun if we consider the potential for multiple uses per cast, with quick wins with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mechanized Production"}},{"insert":" as a next turn win if we can spend three indestructible counters, or big wide boards with things like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Clone Legion"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Extravagant Replication"}},{"insert":" , or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rite of Replication"}},{"insert":" .\n\nStop Copying Me really is a snowball of a deck, mixing proliferation and spell copying to an extreme degree. It's great fun, enjoy!\n"}]}
0
Saubby 4 days{"ops":[{"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10716661/antired "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tivadar of Thorn"}},{"insert":" ,using color identity change for protection("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shields of Velis Vel"}},{"insert":","},{"insert":{"card-link":"Distorting Lens"}},{"insert":") and changing creature types("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Runed Stalactite"}},{"insert":" )\n"}]}
0
village_artificer 4 days{"ops":[{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10667996/vhal_array\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher"}},{"insert":" helms this deck that I describe as \"Mana Sink Kindred.\" Vhal has the ability to create a LOT of mana if you can buff her up, and even more if you can untap her multiple times. The catch, of course, is that you can't spend that mana to cast spells from your hand, so you need to figure out how to use that mana in more creative ways. This deck, effectively works to create card advantage by impulsing with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tavern Brawler"}},{"insert":" as the background, and a number of other impulse draw spells. That way, Vhal can act as an early game value engine that can cast the spells that buff her from exile. Then, once you've found "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Freed from the Real"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pemmin's Aura"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Crab Umbra"}},{"insert":" , you can tap and untap Vhal to generate huge amounts of mana, then sink them into spells like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Spectral Sailor"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Triskaidekaphile"}},{"insert":" for card draw, or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Captivating Crew"}},{"insert":" to steal your opponent's boards. \n\nAnd then, for the true degenerates, dump your mana into fixers like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Prismite"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Signpost Scarecrow"}},{"insert":" and go infinite with your untappers, finishing the game with burn from "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Welder Automaton"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kumano, Master Yamabushi"}},{"insert":".\n"}]}
0
Fredrick0927 4 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10720369/i_want_you_to_hit_me"},"insert":"I Want You to Hit Me • (Commander / EDH deck) • Archidekt"},{"insert":"\n\nI'm going to make you attack, but it's ok, you can attack me! Instead of goad I want to force combats against myself so that I can swing back with my commander, O-Kagachi, Vengeful Kami. There are loads of ways to offset the downside of taking a big swing, including giving things attacking me -X/-0, gaining life, or making the attacking player lose a bunch of life as well. It's also very funny to redirect an attack originally against an opponent to myself when the attacker thought they could get away from my vengeance.\n"}]}
0
PlanetNM 4 days{"ops":[{"insert":"LET'S GO GAMBLING!!!!!!!!!!!\n\nhttps://www.archidekt.com/decks/10717616/lets_go_gambling\n\n\tThe main downside to running Krark, the Thumbless as a commander is the risk that the turn might as well have been skipped because of some lousy coin flips. However, with the use of cards that have cascade, demonstrate, or storm, there's a way to guarantee at least a little bit of value out of every play while still having the opportunity to pop-off with some insane luck here and there. All of these are held together with some cast from exile staples and synergy pieces, which allow the deck to have a consistent game plan with insane explosive potential. \n\tGilanra, Caller of Wirewood was chosen as a partner for Krark since the extra mana is a safety net to bad RNG. Also, some of the best (and highest CMC) cascade spells are in green, along with some more exile synergy, such as Bigger on the Inside and Escape to the Wilds. The card draw she provides is also incredibly useful since most of the deck's card advantage pieces are impulse draws.\n\tCascade, Storm, and Demonstrate trigger on cast, so whether or not the spell copies with Krark's ability, some value is gained. Cards like Throes of Chaos or Into the Time Vortex are either cast as normal, or they are bounced into hand. This turns Krark's \"downside,\" into an upside, as the card casted is kept in hand for recast later. There are also cards like Wild-Magic Sorcerer that give cards cascade and Sunbird's invocation which is very similar to cascade so that every card has this property OR it doubles. These also synergize nicely with the deck's high average cmc of 4.75.\n\tThere are also plenty of cards that copy spells on cast such as Pyromancer's Goggles, which allows a guaranteed cast. Harmonic prodigy, which doubles Krark's trigger, will often allow the spell to be copied, and then returned to hand. Sure, 1 out of 4 times you still get nothing, but more often than not you'll be able to cast the spell and get it back to hand. You get to have your cake AND eat it... or you get 2 additional copies of brass's bounty, which is good too I guess...\n\tWith all of this risk management, even with bad luck, the deck is never truly out of the game as it can keep pace with the potential to pop-off and take the lead out of nowhere. \n\t\n\n"}]}
0
nsmith101891 4 days{"ops":[{"insert":"TactiNuke - https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10707374/tactinuke\n\nNevinyrral, Urborg Tyrant's main drawback is that he if removed, you lose your whole board. Well, with a mixture of creatures and artifacts that you want to die and a immediate turn around like Feign Death, you can turn your own board wipe into a hoard of zombies. Add in an ability to sacrifice Nev as another bonus ability like Village Rites and the value just rolls in. The durability of this deck is next level, with exile being often the only solution for your opponents.\n\nThis was one of my favorite budget decks. At under $50, this is a budget powerhouse. My last game with it led to a win via 36 zombie token hoard.\n"}]}
0
BurningSage 4 days{"ops":[{"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10704644/rakdos_the_defiler_jan_deck_building_comp Rakdos, the Defiler you sacrifice your own permanents to trigger pingers like mayhem devil and then recur your own stuff, or anything juicy your opponents have, with recursion to put yourself ahead and your opponents behind\n"}]}
0
Liquidmyst 4 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10714809/of_course_lands_and_rocks_matter"},"insert":"Or Course Lands and Rocks Matter!"},{"insert":"\nhttps://archidekt.com/decks/10714809/of_course_lands_and_rocks_matter\n\nTo achieve greatness you need both the land and the stone. This deck does both by using landfall and artifacts to slowly drain your opponents health. Using either Commanders ability you can create an army of Lands to attach your rocks to your army and throw boulders at your enemy \"the choice is yours\"\n\nI built this deck without your normal Landfall wins by making lots of creatures to attach with. It is based solely on the focus of using the army of Lands or Rocks. Each land drop brings you closer to victory but for the win you will need to use the lands wisely in order to overrun your opponents. \n\nRemoval is also done by the amount of lands or artifacts you have in play. Using what you have as a resource and building out your play using what you have available to you is part of the strategy.\n\nSo have fun and create your army of Lands and Artifacts and use them to attach or ping your opponent to Victory!\n\n\nIn the heart of the forest deep,\nToggo and Kamahl their vigil keep.\nGoblins and lands, a duo strong,\nIn their hands, nothing goes wrong.\n\nToggo, the Weaponsmith of might,\nCrafts his rocks, ready for the fight.\nKamahl, Heart of Krosa, nature's wrath,\nShapes the land along their path.\n\nTogether they roam, a fearsome pair,\nThrough fields and groves, without a care.\nAncient Greenwarden by their side,\nIn unity, their foes divide.\n\nTheir deck a blend of rock and wood,\nEach card played, for victory stood.\nGather 'round, witness their art,\nFor Toggo and Kamahl will never part.\n\n"}]}
0
MooGiGon 4 days{"ops":[{"insert":{"card-link":"Glissa Sunseeker"}},{"insert":" was the first legendary creature that I ever opened & she helped cement my early identity as an artifact-hating (now merely averse) Green mage. I was devastated when I returned to the game years later to find that she had been compleated and become a loyal servant of New Phyrexia. "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10716603/glissas_revenge"},"insert":"Glissa's Revenge"},{"insert":" puts her story on a different path by leveraging cards that turn other cards into artifacts to make everything a target for purification from artifice. Untap effects help ensure we can use her ability multiple times per turn while land ramp, a few mana sinks, and a blend of mana values across the deck help ensure our mana pool can hit the magic number needed to hit any card on the board at will. \n"}]}
0
NotBad 4 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"This Norin's on Fire:"},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10717152"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10717152"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#ffc266"},"insert":"Norin the Wary"},{"insert":" helms this etb based burn deck! Whenever any player casts a spell or attacks, Norin exiles itself until end of turn. Normally, your commander spending most of the game in exile would suck, but this deck turns this unique effect into its main engine! The blink effect on our one mana commander gives us access to a very safe, repeatable way to get enters triggers. The main game plan of the deck is to stack effects like "},{"attributes":{"background":"#ffc266"},"insert":"Impact Tremors"},{"insert":" with damage amplifiers that add, double, or even triple our damage and slowly burn out the table. The deck also runs plenty of removal and card draw to help keep us in the fight while we assemble our damage pieces. Of course, no enters-based deck would be complete without a "},{"attributes":{"background":"#ffc266"},"insert":"Panharmonicon"},{"insert":" too! Lastly, the deck runs some extra land ramp spells to help us power out our expensive damage enhancers even faster. \n\nExtra shout out to "},{"attributes":{"background":"#ffc266"},"insert":"Aether Revolt"},{"insert":" for inspiring a small energy package in the deck - with all the new mh3 energy cards, there were enough value includes that generate energy that it made an already playable synergy piece for Norin into a sleeper threat. \n"}]}
0
ily 5 days{"ops":[{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10717282/january_2025_drawback_for_gifting_draws\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Xantcha, Sleeper Agent"}},{"insert":" 's drawback is allowing your opponents to draw! I balance that by forcing my opponents into activating Xantcha, like discarding their hands. I also made sure to include some quirky cards that really fit the theme of Rakdos. \n\nI have always wanted to play Xantcha and love the idea of her. I've just always thought Rakdos is a little too mean for my play group, but I hope this deck entertains all of you!\n"}]}
0
Keyw 5 days{"ops":[{"insert":"For my first-ever competition, I present "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true,"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10714922/all_the_way_down"},"insert":"All the Way Down"},{"insert":", a creature-focused beatdown strategy in Gruul, featuring "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Nikya of the Old Ways"},{"insert":" as my commander.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"All the Way Down "},{"insert":"wants to play creatures. Small creatures, medium-sized creatures, and big creatures. Especially big creatures. The only cards in this deck are lands and creatures, sans one single sorcery, because "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Nikya of the Old Ways"},{"insert":" doesn't like anything else. Creatures serve as removal, protection, ramp, world enchantments, and everything else required to win the game -- combat damage very much included. \n\t\t"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Nikya "},{"insert":"gives us the mana to cast massive bombs faster, or to sink into powerhouse activated abilities like those seen on "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Loot, Exuberant Explorer "},{"insert":"or "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Etali, Primal Conqueror"},{"insert":". A healthy surplus of conditional ramp which we can easily satisfy ("},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Somberwald Sage"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Fanatic of Rhonas"},{"insert":", for example) ensures we can recast her or play out protection like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Vigor"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Archetype of Endurance"},{"insert":". We leverage our high mana costs and one-sided card typing with cards like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Combustible Gearhulk"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Cait, Cage Brawler"},{"insert":", and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ruric Thar, The Unbowed"},{"insert":". Our creatures can clear opponents' boards of troublesome artifacts and enchantments, and fight their creatures upon entering the battlefield, letting us swing in freely with titanic bodies.\n\t\tThe game ends when we beat our opponents into unconsciousness with gigantic creatures which carry effects that simply cannot be overcome, such as through "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ghalta, Stampede Tyrant "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Apex Devastator"},{"insert":", hasted by "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Enduring Courage"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Surrak and Goreclaw"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Urabrask the Hidden"},{"insert":", or others. With summoning sickness holding nothing back, they'll trample their way to victory.\n\t\tFinally, if all else fails, we throw the kitchen sink -- the single sorcery in the deck is "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Primal Surge"},{"insert":", which will allow us to put into play every remaining card in the deck sans one. This overload of mana and creatures should be enough to finish off any other players left standing.\n"}]}
0
EliC 5 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10716253/flubs_the_dragon_speaker"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10716253/flubs_the_dragon_speaker"},{"insert":"\n\n”flubs the dragonspeaker”\n\nThis deck uses the drawback flubs the fool has of having to discard when I play cards to get the card “Dragons approach” into the graveyard, which then I exile 5 of, to get massive dragons from my library into play and I then kill my opponents with these dragons. I also take advantage of dragon synergy’s, I do this so if I don’t have enough dragons approach’s in my graveyard I then can hard-cast the dragons instead.\n"}]}
0
RizingSon 5 days{"ops":[{"insert":"Flubs, fooling around like mad! "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10714467/flubs_fooling_around_like_mad"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10714467/flubs_fooling_around_like_mad"},{"insert":"\n\nTo avoid the disadvantage you get from discarding, this deck works with some madness and benefits from having some in your graveyard, with a strong land drop to give you even more advantages. Flying through your library at the speed of light (especially with the Commander's ability) should give you a lot of fun and cause trouble for your opponents while you create a strong presence on the board or wait for your alternate win option, Jace.\n\nThanks for this great fun again!\n"}]}
0