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
Soupangel44 5 days{"ops":[{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9611984/counter_i_hardly_know_er\n\nCaptain Xavier Sal requires you to remove counters from your permanents in order to populate, which is normally a downside as most of the time counters are a good thing, but this deck is full of cards that actively don't want their counters. Stuff like Unstoppable Slasher, the Duskmourn Overlords, Chronozoa, Devoted Druid, Arixmethes and Garruk Relentless, as well as several sagas and battles. Add to that a bunch of big tokens to populate, like those from Octomancer, Urza's Saga, Idol of Oblivion, or any number of clone spells, and you've got a winning formula.\n"}]}
Edited 1/4/2025, 12:33:03 AM
1
TZForever 5 days{"ops":[{"insert":{"card-link":"Kuon, Ogre Ascendant // Kuon's Essence"}},{"insert":" is a Commander that does nothing truly exciting while he is in his creature form; but once he is in his enchantment form, things get interesting. In order to flip Kuon, three creatures must be put into the graveyard from play in a single turn. Some may think this is rather easy to do; but believe me when I say that the amount of times only two creatures have died in a turn rather than three -thereby resetting the amount needed- is more common. Board-wipes don't help you as Kuon will die as well, and Mono Black doesn't have many offerings to keep Kuon from dying by means of a removal spell. \n\nOnce you reach that magical sweet spot however, Kuon flipping now means each player must sacrifice a creature at their upkeep. Including you. Luckily, Kuon doesn't count as a creature at this point, so he's safe; but maybe your Blood Artist or Massacre Wurm you used to get those creature kills has to bite the dust. Sure, Mono Back has plenty of graveyard recursion, but graveyard hate is very common in EDH.\n\nLuckily, we're in Mono Black, so let's turn our creatures dying into the ultimate benefit for us.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Key Cards"},{"insert":"\nLiliana, Dreadhorde General"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Skullclamp"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Nine-Lives Familiar"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Jadar, Ghoulcaller of Nephalia"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ophiomancer (Mainly for the 1/1 Black Snake Creature Token)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Soul-Shatter"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Rise of the Dark Realms"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"The Deck:"},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10459802/graveyard_shift"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10459802/graveyard_shift"},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"(Cards Listed are My Personal Deck's Variants)"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Playing the Deck"},{"insert":"\nThe deck is admittedly a slow start, but what you truly want to have happen is get at least one card that either causes an opponent to sacrifice a creature or one that effects a creature's power and toughness; such as "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mutilate"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Stab"},{"insert":", or "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Massacre Wurm"},{"insert":". This will allow you to be able to get creatures brought in early on in the game to be snuffed out easily. "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Consuming Corruption"},{"insert":" is another good card as for targeted creature removal in the early stages around rounds 3 and 4 as it relies on your Swamp count.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Liliana, Dreadhorde General"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Skullclamp"},{"insert":", and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Nine-Lives Familiar"},{"insert":" are going to be cards you want to get in the mid game in order to get exceedingly high card draw as you will be able to draw up to 28 cards if you use all instances of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Nine-Lives Familiar"},{"insert":". If you want to get it back for later casting, use the second chapter of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Braid's Frightful Return"},{"insert":" to bring it to your hand. If you have "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Vengeful Bloodwitch"},{"insert":" and; or, "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Blood Artist"},{"insert":" out at this time, you will be pinging your opponents quite frequently. If you have "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Bloodthirsty Conqueror"},{"insert":" out as well, you'll be getting some juicy life gain. "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"(Do note that there is no infinite in this deck as I do not think it is fun.)"},{"insert":"\n\nYour main goal is to fill up graveyards and cast "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Rise of the Dark Realms"},{"insert":" or even have "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Gisa, Glorious Resurrector"},{"insert":" bring them all back for them to only die again to overwhelm your opponents with their own creatures. If you cannot do that, you will have heavy hitters, some creatures with evasion, creatures with the ability to destroy any possible blockers, and keep us alive with lifelink from "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Whip of Erebos"},{"insert":".\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Possible Card Swap-Out Recommendations"},{"insert":"\nArmy of the Damned"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Accursed Marauder"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Defile"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Bitterblossom"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Grave Pact"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"}]}
1
brodycmorris@gmail.com 6 days{"ops":[{"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/8392374/russian_roulette \n\nPHAGE! This card's drawback is plain in it's first line of text. It's also a game-loser, literally, if you don't have the proper board-state. My approach was to use one of the 4 or 5 combinations to get her out without dying and swing with her for lethal. Or, at least, some sort of shitty way of handing her directly to someone else to let her end them. Not my favorite or most flavorful build, but definitely tries to maximize on its unique drawback. \n"}]}
Edited 1/1/2025, 11:25:56 PM
1
Hayao 6 days{"ops":[{"insert":"Mortal Combat has never been easier! I make it nice and easy for you to put your legendary creatures on the board only for me to force them to fight mine. May the greatest fighter win!\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10702151/put_them_on_the_board_i_dare_you"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10702151/put_them_on_the_board_i_dare_you"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
1
kws 6 days{"ops":[{"insert":"I'm having fun with my deck led by "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Xiahou Dun, the One-Eyed"}},{"insert":" that presents a fun twist on graveyard recursion strategies. This is a pretty funky commander -- he has an awesome ability that returns any black card from your graveyard to your hand. However, the downsides are that he sacrifices himself to do it and you can only activate that ability at sorcery speed. \n\nFlipping this into our benefit -- we can make Xiahou Dun immortal using some clever death-flicker spells like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Feign Death"}},{"insert":", and there is a lot you can do with recurred ETB or death triggers! It's scammy, aristocraty, comboey, and just plain weird but it's a unique strategy you can take to a few different goal posts, i.e.:\nGravestorm with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bitter Ordeal"}},{"insert":" , or"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Storm with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tendrils of Agony"}},{"insert":" , or"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Drain everyone's life with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Syr Konrad, the Grim"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zulaport Cutthroat"}},{"insert":" effects, or"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Extra Turns (or probably the big time life drain instead) with repeated casts of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Temporal Extortion"}},{"insert":" , or"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Zombie army with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rise of the Dread Marn"}},{"insert":" ,"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"and more!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nDecklist: "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8796745/immortal_oneeye"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8796745/immortal_oneeye"},{"insert":" (More info in deckpage's description section!)\n\nThere are certainly routes to take this deck in a very aggressive or mean direction (like adding Dictate of Erebos) but I don't think this deck needs it to work, so I'd rather not. Also, while the deck can definitely go infinite, depending on your strategy or the game state it really doesn't need to.\n\nAs a bonus, many people will never have heard of or seen this commander before, which is fun for people who like janky old cards!\n\n"}]}
Edited 1/2/2025, 12:38:35 AM
1
CamoYuki 6 days{"ops":[{"insert":"I had a hard time finding a commander with a downside, lol, but I built around the first one I found and I think it ended up being pretty cool. \n\nhttps://www.archidekt.com/decks/10699735/i_want_the_bad_counters\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10699735/i_want_the_bad_counters"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10699735/i_want_the_bad_counters"},{"insert":"\n\nThe description for the deck is with the list through the link\n"}]}
Edited 1/3/2025, 3:11:43 AM
1
RudyMental 2 mins{"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"}]}
0
Taki 14 mins{"ops":[{"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10789566/morinfenor_gallowbraid_\n\nMay as well throw my hat in, this is my Morinfen build! It tries to take advantage of its time counters as well as the fact that it's a big guy who can be sacrificed on any upkeep. Using death payoffs every upkeep, and stacking the time counters for hex parasite or mutilated cultist! \n"}]}
0
Farosh 15 mins{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8027905/braids_plays_our_decks"},"insert":"Braids Plays Our Decks • (Commander / EDH deck) • Archidekt"},{"insert":"\n\nBraids gives your opponents the chance biggest scariest things in their hands. So it's only fair you get to play with those scary things too.\n"}]}
0
dporter 34 mins{"ops":[{"insert":"my deck uses the Mindskinner to mill cards but with Bruvac it doubles the cards milled. There is also traumatize and several other cards that mill half the opponents library. Here is the URL (https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10774615/the_mindskinner_deck_no_damage_even_commander) copy and paste it in the search bar and you can get to my deck. \n"}]}
0
dporter 42 mins{"ops":[{"insert":"my bad <a href=\"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10774615/the_mindskinner_deck_no_damage_even_commander\"></a>\n"}]}
0
dporter 44 mins{"ops":[{"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10774615/the_mindskinner_deck_no_damage_even_commander\n\nThis deck's commander causes this deck's creatures to do absolutely no damage to the opponent, but it allows some milling. Then when combined with some of the cards you can make it so you cant lose and destroy the opponents deck.\n"}]}
0
Molkshake 75 mins{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/7558606/adamaro_a_good_time_for_all"},"insert":"Adamaro"},{"insert":" is here to draw cards for all! \n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Adamaro, First to Desire"}},{"insert":" \n\nHe gets more powerful as everyone has more fun playing more cards. It's sure to be an accelerated game when everyone has no max hand-size with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Anvil of Bogardan"}},{"insert":", and we're all drawing more cards with things like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shah of Naar Isle"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Temple Bell"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Font of Mythos"}},{"insert":". \n\nThe more cards you draw... the harder I hit.\n"}]}
0
darkconfidnt 2 hrs{"ops":[{"insert":"Can't spend mana to cast "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis"}},{"insert":"? Turn that cast restriction to your advantage in "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10787574/hogaaks_grave_departures_jan_25"},"insert":"Hogaak's Grave Departures"},{"insert":" by leveraging"},{"attributes":{"background":"var(--light-background)","color":"var(--color)"},"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Insidious Roots"}},{"attributes":{"background":"var(--light-background)","color":"var(--color)"},"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Defiled Crypt // Cadaver Lab"}},{"attributes":{"background":"var(--light-background)","color":"var(--color)"},"insert":", and their ilk to churn out an army worthy of the necropolis! "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"var(--light-background)","color":"var(--color)"},"insert":"Fill your graveyard with 20+ mill effects, then find and trigger your 6 recursion-payoff effects as frequently as possible with 20+ recursion effects: "},{"insert":"\nRebuild with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cauldron of Souls"}},{"insert":" after casting "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Terror Tide"}},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Use "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Barkform Harvester"}},{"insert":" to trigger your payoffs, or to help craft "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Throne of the Grim Captain // The Grim Captain"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Recast "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis"}},{"insert":" from your graveyard when it dies (and essentially dodge commander tax to boot) "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Recur "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Brood of Cockroaches"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bloodghast"}},{"insert":" each turn cycle while profiting via "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wight of the Reliquary"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Izoni, Thousand-Eyed"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nYou'll most often play the 5 MDFC creature/lands as lands, but they count as creatures in your yard for all other effects.\nArise to victory by bashing with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hogaak, Arisen Necropolis"}},{"insert":", an attrition war of recursion and tokens, or a cheeky "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grist, the Hunger Tide"}},{"insert":" ultimate!\n\n(Bonus: deck clocks in at a reasonably budget $48)\n"}]}
Edited 1/7/2025, 10:20:55 PM
0