Deckbuilding Contest - January 2025

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Greven Ultra Aggro"},{"attributes":{"link":" https://archidekt.com/decks/7115368/greven_ultra_aggro"},"insert":" https://archidekt.com/decks/7115368/greven_ultra_aggro"},{"insert":"\n\nHey! this deck is one of my personal decks that I built a while ago to really have fun with. its built around using Greven as a hard hitting machine that hurts you whilst hurting your enemies harder.\n\nwe have overstated minions such as"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/d/e/deaa0b9b-258e-4daf-8fec-ce64864d6bbf.jpg?1562880234"},"insert":" cosmic larva"},{"insert":","},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/c/b/cbe3a68e-c29e-48a8-a2d7-49c8bff3dd8a.jpg?1562836028"},"insert":" deep-slumber titan"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/c/a/ca9df3da-8b66-4726-a133-6047ed9fc3d1.jpg?1573516232"},"insert":"consulate dreadnought"},{"insert":" etc. or take a load of damage on attack with Greven and draw us a lot of cards in the process. We have cards that let us take advantage of life loss such as"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/4/e/4ee179ab-a15b-4bd6-b7f8-1e1abeeb31b7.jpg?1692939409"},"insert":" rowan, scion of war"},{"insert":" for ramping hard, and we also have ramp focused on damaging ourselves with "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/8/2/823f356c-0ca9-4880-9f84-b22e2891948b.jpg?1583453689"},"insert":"treasonous ogre"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/d/2/d2934af5-aa4f-4c88-adbd-dcd847ef43a2.jpg?1675957252"},"insert":"staff of compleation"},{"insert":", and"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/0/2/024ab7f9-1891-4c71-9fcf-cf124b1c6d10.jpg?1625191770"},"insert":" marshland broadcaster"},{"insert":". remembering that the more damage we take, the more we can deal,\n\nI have included ways to really make greven hard to block such as "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/c/6/c608543d-cb60-44c3-a437-e4a18c311420.jpg?1591605409"},"insert":"labyrinth raptor"},{"insert":","},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/5/9/595f0b25-6e6e-43c4-a4a0-903920067df1.jpg?1591228476"},"insert":" sonorous howlbonder,"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/0/8/0885acdc-9b4c-4e28-8785-9e721a27e81e.jpg?1604197242"},"insert":"Kargan intimidator"},{"insert":". we also have ways to take that life loss and heal ourselves with it to keep losing even more life! (this is referencing cards like "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/8/2/829786e2-260b-4bc6-935b-1868b37e2d33.jpg?1634349988"},"insert":"mask of Grisel brand"},{"insert":" and"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/7/2/728952a5-5f50-4ee6-a1ce-38d7e97023cb.jpg?1675905786"},"insert":" loxodon Warhammer"},{"insert":" for their life link and evasion provided).\n\nwe also have some cool extra pieces that help us lose more life at instant speed with things like"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/a/b/abbaf916-067d-4834-a55c-b400fe0d8c1f.jpg?1562880643"},"insert":" immolating souleater"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/c/d/cd4c5c2f-0c1e-44e8-a7f8-2dc2954eacd8.jpg?1562936256"},"insert":"deepwood ghoul"},{"insert":", and a fun bonus ramp tool that I think fits greven perfectly is "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/5/e/5ea15262-c00f-4865-bb6a-37ccb2ef62bd.jpg?1547517270"},"insert":"generator servant"},{"insert":", which if played on turn two can get greven out with haste on turn 3, allowing us to immediately start the pain train. \n\nsome other cards that give us plenty of cards and life loss for cheap are creatures such as "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/3/4/342fd427-baec-435f-9dc7-339c93f43f89.jpg?1562235482"},"insert":"Okk"},{"insert":","},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/e/e/ee4d3acb-68be-409d-beb7-92a7cbc0402f.jpg?1562939721"},"insert":" veteran brawlers"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/7/6/76f69b92-7435-4aa8-9d90-89ea078befb1.jpg?1562647854"},"insert":"wall of torches "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/3/e/3effbf84-4a33-4587-bb11-2e931809a9f0.jpg?1573515276"},"insert":"goblin deathraiders"},{"insert":", for their overstated stature despite their downsides, as greven's attack triggers lets us chuck them away for damage and draw. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/d/b/dbe1bfe0-0be7-496d-94db-e8028d4d9493.jpg?1674142183"},"insert":"warstorm surge"},{"insert":" is an expensive mana card, but for this deck as we have so many cheap overstated creatures, it makes sense as another way to deal damage. \n\nand lastly we get to protection for greven, I decided as this deck is aggressive, I needed fast ways of keeping him alive, so "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/7/3/732779aa-3000-4a7b-a155-dbddc7de8d03.jpg?1726284523"},"insert":"lightning greaves"},{"insert":" seemed like a perfect fit, and I also included a few instants that let me get him straight back in the fray with cards such as"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/b/4/b4e117a8-3291-4f9a-ab00-c820c8e2aa00.jpg?1664410943"},"insert":" fake your own death"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/c/e/ce15ab0b-c70d-4ac0-a6ee-dbd31736ce1f.jpg?1608909963"},"insert":"supernatural stamina"},{"insert":" and my personal favorite,"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cards.scryfall.io/large/front/3/4/342ec072-e581-490c-b5ae-a625bd35a153.jpg?1654567391"},"insert":" return to action"},{"insert":" that also is an instant speed way of giving life link. \n\nSo in conclusion, play big boys, draw loads of cards and take a load damage to turn that damage into commander damage that can potentially one shot your opponents, its that simple! thank you so much for tanking the time to look at my deck, and regardless of the competition outcome I just love building decks so thank you so much!!!!\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Sac for me but more for thee is a deck I built helmed by "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Anowon, the Ruin Sage"}},{"insert":".\n\nHis drawback is that at your upkeep, everyone (including you) must sacrifice a non-vampire creature. It is commonly built around by running all vampires, however, that is not how this deck is built. My deck runs with the the strategy of purposefully sacrificing your own creatures in order to punish your opponents more.\n\nThe obvious cards for this strategy include "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grave Pact"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Butcher of Malakir"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dictate of Erebos"}},{"insert":". However, there are additional payoffs that include "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Smothering Abomination"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Black Market"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bastion of Remembrance"}},{"insert":". \n\nThis deck also includes a lot of token generators to create fodder for sacrificing, including some weird ones such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sorcerer's Broom"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Liliana's Devotee"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Uchuulon"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myr Propagator"}},{"insert":". \n\nAs for winning the game, it is done though eliminating your opponent's blockers and attacking in for lethal, which is expedited by things such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cordial Vampire"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Eternal Thirst"}},{"insert":". Please take a look at it and thank you for your consideration!\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10709130/sac_for_me_but_more_for_thee_january_2025_deckbuilding_competition"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10709130/sac_for_me_but_more_for_thee_january_2025_deckbuilding_competition"},{"insert":"\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10707133/dimir_aristocrat"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10707133/dimir_aristocrat"},{"insert":"\n\nDralnu, lich lord is a sacrifice outlet in the command zone, who causes sacrifice based on damage dealt to him. My deck focuses on pinging my commander with black and blue burn spells that cause me to sacrifice tokens and recursive creatures, while I have aristocrat features on the battlefield. Dralnu's activated ability allows me to tap him and flashback my burn spells to double these effects. \n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"The pod has made you feel ill-tempered, treating your decks like a pariah. \nYour screaming nemesis sits across from you, and they promise gratuitous violence. \nThe other two players have paired in troubling ways, and misfortune is wheeling your direction. \n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10705911"},"insert":"Flare your fortitude, for Acacyn is here to tell you that there will be a reckoning."},{"insert":"\n\nBurn the heretic and believer alike and by an angel's grace may you be found purified at the end of the game, surrounded by the blasphemous remains of those who acted against you. \n\nThe goal of this deck is to turn Avacyn's righteous fury into a win condition instead of an accidental self-board wipe that your opponents can trigger. When Avacyn transforms, give your creatures indestructible. You can then bounce damage between your creatures with a Boros Reckoner ability, using additional effects like Gratuitous Violence to increase the damage being dealt around. Have a Pariah or Guilty Conscience ability on hand? Bounce the damage between the creature and yourself instead, waiting until the growing burn damage gets big enough to kill those who threaten your victory.\n\nBeyond these combos the deck focuses on being able to assemble enough cards and mana to participate in the game. Without either of these abilities in the command zone the deck has to put a lot of work towards keeping up with your opponents. Layered flicker and search effects allow you to get what you need when you need it, ending the game before the Sultai-value engines can fully overwhelm you. \n\nSome fun tricks!\nFlicker or copy Sawhorn Nemesis and name yourself to give yourself another means of doubling your damage to your indestructible Reckoners. The Sawhorn is tutorable via Imperial Recruiter as well!\nWheel of Misfortune makes a funny little game happen when you have a Pariah effect on a Reckoner. Just make sure people know they can't respond once numbers have been revealed, and Pariah is a replacement effect.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8377211/watch_the_world_burn\n\nBurn your pod as well as your own things. making you and everyone else sac half the non demon permeants for each attack\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"What does it truly mean to be “calamity’s augur” ?\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10637458/glarbs_plan"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10637458/glarbs_plan"},{"insert":"\n\nMy deck is lead & flavored by a crazed Glarb who, after a “prophetic vision,” is determined to bring on the apocalypse. As the game progresses, more and more of his "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"persistent "},{"insert":"advisors try to stop him, eventually forming a council large enough to take control. But will it be too late? Will they inadvertently cause the end of days themselves? Will some even be persuaded by Glarb to welcome the world’s demise? It’s all up to you!\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Glarb, Calamity’s Augur"},{"insert":" is a pretty open-ended commander, allowing for plenty of creativity in taking advantage of his value, albeit somewhat limiting. Yes there are ways around it but requiring a cmc of 4 or higher to play cards off the top of your library can easily halt turns. \n\nThen I discovered "},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"The Reality Chip"},{"insert":" and everything made sense. Let’s make Glarb blue-pilled and play ANY spell off the top!\n\nThis deck functions as a humorous mill/advisor tribal with a “choose your own ending” win-con. Your goal is to use the 18 "},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Persistent Petitioners"},{"insert":" paired with “head advisor” "},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Bruvac, The Grandiloquent"},{"insert":" to either fully deck opponents, surprise drop "},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Doomsday Excruciator"},{"insert":" and THEN deck everyone, or summon "},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Lord of Extinction"},{"insert":" after milling the table the whole game and swing with a 70/70. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Grolnok, The Omnivore"},{"insert":" is also broken in here as you can quickly mill nearly all of your deck into an exiled, playable hand for no cost.\n\nWhichever ending you choose, it’s a fun little mini game born from a goofy backstory given to 100 cards. Have fun!\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Sergeant John Benton\n\nhttps://www.archidekt.com/decks/10701215\n\nThe deck is a fairly low to the ground aggro deck capable of taking players out early. To align with the deck challenge for January, Sergeant John Benton gives cards to our opponent equal to the damage he deals. We can take advantage of this in a few different ways, however. The main way that we'll do this is through burn effects, such as Viseling and Iron Maiden, which will punish our opponents for having many cards in their hands. Scrawling Crawler, a new card in Foundations, is another great way to punish our opponents for drawing cards, dealing 1 damage to them per card drawn, effectively doubling the damage. Another way to mitigate this downside is Alms Collector, a card which we can flash in and prevent our opponents from drawing the cards, and instead having both us and them draw only 1 card. \nThrough allowing our opponents to draw a lot of cards combined with our more aggressive strategy, our commander will most likely attract a lot of removal spells. This is where the rest of Sergeant John's ability comes in, as we also draw cards equal to the damage dealt. By being able to draw so many cards, we can fill our deck with a lot of cheap protection spells to prevent our commander from falling prey to removal and have us fall behind from the rest of the table. Some of these include Overprotect, Gaea's Gift, and Tyvar's Stand, all of which also serve to pump our commander, increasing the amount of cards we can draw. The rest of the deck also fills into this strategy, with many small pump spells such as Giant Growth and Invigorate. The star of the deck in this respect is Wild Defiance, which adds an additional +3/+3 to each instant and sorcery spell we cast targeting our commander. Some of our pump spells also stand to benefit from drawing more cards with Inner Calm, Outer Strength and Scent of Ivy fitting in with the pump spell theme and Empyrial Plate and Armor being more permanent sources of card-based power. Another important piece of recursion is Nostalgic Dreams, which we can use to discard any number of bad cards stuck in our hand to get back the perfect removal, pump, or protection spell to close out the game. Cards like Solitary Confinement and Island Sanctuary also serve as player protection due to our ability to draw while circumventing our draw step.\nThe deck also includes the typical robust pieces, those being removal and ramp. Board wipes which are included prioritize keeping our commander alive through one means or another such as Single Combat or Starfall Invocation which also has the benefit of giving our opponent another card. With the presence of trample on our commander, we should be able to take advantage of the remaining board states to swing in for some huge damage. For the ramp package, half of the ramp is focused on getting our commander out as early as possible, preferably turn 2, so we can haste in and begin drawing cards early. These cards include Birds of Paradise, which has the benefit of being a not bad target for our pump spells in a pinch, and Lotus Petal. A stand out pair of lands present in the deck, those being Remote Farm and Hickory Woodlot, can also help in this respect when gotten down on turn 1, tapping for two mana on turn 2 to get our commander out. The other portion of the ramp is focused on cheating out additional lands from our big hand, such as Exploration and On the Trail. \n\nOverall, the deck hopes to bring our commander out early and win games quickly by giving cards to our opponents and burning them for it or winning through a torrent of cheap pump spells through commander damage. \n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":{"card-link":"Mortarion, Daemon Primarch"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/6823759/mortatian_kms"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/6823759/mortatian_kms"},{"insert":" hurt yourself to acquire more swag. You gotta gain life to hurt yourself more, it’s a vicious cycle. It’s risk reward and the idea is even if you’re at 1 that’s ok. lol I’ve beaten cheeks with this guy.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10704069/spirit_tudor\n\nIname as One is essentially a spirit tudor/recursion. However, there are two big hoops to jump through before I can do some damage. First off, Iname is twelve to cast and because of this, the \"plan B\" of the deck needs to be more prominent. Secondly, Iname must be in hand to use it to it's fullest. However, once all that is accomplished, I can tudor out my Iname, Death Aspect + Myojin of Grim Betrayal combo and win.\n\nSpeaking of Iname, Death Aspect, I thought I would mention the plan B of the deck because it is very necessary for the game before Iname as One can do its thing. What I have built this deck to do, is whenever you cast a spirit, it does some cool stuff, and then dies. All that death is taken advantage of by other cards such as mortal combat.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/8242899/mono_green_giggles\n\nWith Runadi. Behemoth Caller restriction of subtracting +1/+1 Counters on 5 or more mana Creatures. I need to play bigger creatures as well using counter doublers to help! \n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"i don't need a deck anyways \n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10524247/loot"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10524247/loot"},{"insert":"\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10700122/how_to_loose_your_friends_taniwha"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10700122/how_to_loose_your_friends_taniwha"},{"insert":"\nThis deck using the commander taniwha, has turned out to be one of my saltiest brews yet! At first glance at this commander there is almost nothing desirable about it. Its a 5-mana 7/7 with phasing that gets rid of all of your lands every other turn. In order for this commander to work I went with three strategies. First up is giving Taniwha to other people, I used cards like Metamorphic Alteration, and Puca's mischief to do this. By giving Taniwha to other people who aren't prepared, it could seriously mess up their game plan. the next strategy I went for is voltron. Even though taniwha phases in and out it, is a 7/7 with trample. using cards like Invisibility, and Eldrazi Conscription, taniwha should be able to become quite powerful. In addition you can use cards like Slip out the back to disrupt the phase cycle and surprise your opponents. the last strategie is to be mean and mess your opponents lands. Because taniwha phases out your lands playing Sunder at the right time could cause quite the stirrup. also Storm cauldron works quite well in this deck. To help with the fact that you don't have land half of the time. I made the deck packed full of mana rocks.\n\n\n\n\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":{"card-link":"Zedruu the Greathearted"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/8256882/zedruu_political_puppet_master"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/8256882/zedruu_political_puppet_master"},{"insert":"\n\nGifting opponents permanents is so much fun! I know its been done but its a classic. Zedruu has always been my favorite commander since i first played the precon. I've edited and improved upon my Zedruu deck for years now. Mainly an Archenemy control Deck . only real win condition i have is "},{"attributes":{"color":"#e60000"},"insert":"Lab Maniac"},{"insert":", making it a fun and long Game every time.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10546384/dont_pay_the_ferryman"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10546384/dont_pay_the_ferryman"},{"insert":"\nBasically using his ability to basically campaign and use your words when you need to cheat cards in or draw some answers.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Had one planned before I saw it was already made by someone else, so then I came up with this monstrosity and one of my favorite combos/cards! Who doesn't love losing so much life that its a wonder that this deck doesn't involve zombies? I introduce Gallowbraid, and his \"You can't kill me if I kill me you first!\" The main strategy is to lower your life as much as possible, potentially even to below zero and make that your opponents problems. Play as many cards as you want with Bolas's Citidel, make mega creatures via +1/+1 counters, and when all is said and done why not tell your opponent \"Hey! That's some nice life you got there... sure would be a shame if I... took it.\". \n\nMy friends often lambast me for lowering myself to 9 or less life on turn 6, until I go down to -86 life while having a crab wielding a knife. So, for your consideration, I present Death Comes, But I Am Its Master:\nhttps://www.archidekt.com/decks/10703914/death_comes_but_i_am_its_master\n"}]}