benthic_druid 2 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Voting has concluded!\n\nđ„ Loserboi\nđ„ Darkwolferum47\nđ„ Stavrogin\n\nEach winner will be contacted via the email associated with their Archidekt account within the next 48 hours. \n\nCongratulations, and thank you to all who participated!"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\nHello brewers,\n\nHappy New Year! Before we get to the first deckbuilding contest prompt of 2025, a brief introduction. My name is Ben, and I'll be helping Jeremy run the competition this year. I've been writing articles for "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://edhrec.com/articles/author/ben-doolittle"},"insert":"EDHREC"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://commandersherald.com/author/ben-doolittle/"},"insert":"Commander's Herald"},{"insert":" since 2019, with a focus on legendary creatures that come with a drawback. So it seems only fitting that this month's prompt should also highlight these tricky commanders. With great restriction (sometimes) comes great power. Details below.\n\nWhatâs 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\nHereâs 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 contestâs 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":", weâll announce three finalists via Discord and a brief article on EDHREC highlighting each deck. Each finalist will be awarded credit on cardsphere.com. The value of the credit is in US dollars and depends on the finalist's placement in deck upvotes at the end of the week-long polling period:\n\n1st Place Prize - $250"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"2nd Place Prize - $150"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"3rd Place Prize - $100"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nFinalists will be contacted via email or Discord (depending on where they submitted) regarding their winnings within roughly 24 hours following the conclusion of voting on "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wednesday, January 22, 2025"},{"insert":". Please note, you must have a Cardsphere account in order to receive your winnings. It's quick and free-- "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.cardsphere.com/"},"insert":"register here"},{"insert":" if you don't have an account already!\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/contestRules"},"insert":"Official contest rules"},{"insert":".\n\nThank you!\n\nIf you have any questions, feel free to ask here, or join our "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://discord.gg/sctEc9Ru36"},"insert":"public Discord server"},{"insert":". We look forward to seeing what you all come up with! \n\nThe Archidekt Team\n"}]}
Edited 1/23/2025, 2:57:22 PM
44
Randomhitter 57 days{"ops":[{"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10797550\n\nI've been wanting to make an aristocrats deck that stands out from the typical play pattern of nickel and diming opponents to death and this challenge is the perfect excuse for me to break out a Yukora build. \n\nSure, sacrificing your whole board could be seen as a downside, but really this means we only have to sac 1 creature to get our whole board into the graveyard and triggering our on death effects.\n\nThis frees up slots that usually are auto-includes like Yahenni and the altars for more Village Rite effects. It also allows us to work in 2 redundancies for our commander with some under appreciated Black cards: God-Eternal Bontu and Pitiless carnage. \n\nIn addition, we can use other effects that take advantage of clearing our whole board at once . Thrilling Encore and Rise of the Dread Marn really shine in this type of Aristocrats build and we even get to focus on Season of Loss's 2 + 3 paw ability to great effect. \n\nThe deck isn't without downsides though. It's less resilient than standard builds, and you need to focus on amassing your bomb big enough and with 1-2 big recursion spells or a big token generator to end the whole table at once. \n"}]}
0
Montusker 57 days{"ops":[{"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/7597787/the_beat_down\n\nThe Second Doctor gives quite the advantage to my opponents! Luckily Leela helps me punish them for taking the card draw, while I focus on getting effects to abuse \"second draw per turn\" engines. \n\nThere's also this version which more directly punish's peoples handsizes and overdrawing!\nhttps://www.archidekt.com/decks/10655715/suffocating_knowledge\n"}]}
0
marshalltk 57 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10718795/chisei"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10718795/chisei"},{"insert":"\n\nThe approach for making this list is to remove counters from cards that donât want their counters. There are twenty-one cards that care about their counters being removed. Imagine no longer\ntaking damage from the One Ringâs burden counters, or get a\nKarnstruct every turn with Urzaâs Saga!\n\nThe commander and a few other cards remove counters. Chisei triggers on the upkeep, so there are a few cards that give extra\nupkeeps, and many cards that give extra turns (hence more upkeeps).\n\nClones and copy effects allow the deck to turbo counters off the cards, especially when combined with extra upkeeps. Marit Lage will come out faster than you can say âRemove ten ice counters.â\n\nThe average mana value is a bit high due to copious amount of\n extra turn cards, so the deck list also has a myriad of ramp cards. Itâs almost like playing a green deck!\n\n How does the deck win? Putting big and/or evasive creatures into play with a very interactive deck that also takes extra turns. The value accrued by the commander, and the other cards that contribute to removing counters help fuel the win cons.\n\nSo thatâs it! I hope this description gleans insight to the deck list and that you enjoyed reading about this spectacular deck! Ciao.\n"}]}
0
GamaGenta 57 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10752651/flubs_lands "},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10752651/flubs_lands "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Another month, another Formless Genisis List"},{"insert":"\nThis time with Flubs :) \nDiscard is the name of the game. This list tries to get hell-bent as fast as possible and play what comes it's way. With multiple land drops per turn and getting additional card advantage through casting cheap spells from exile, we want to find our payoffs for quasi-milling us. \nThe payoffs here are: looping Formless Genisis or Centraur Vinecrasher or to recycle all our lands with World Shaper or Aftermath Analyst, which can get pretty nutty with Dark Depths and Vesuva or Thespian's Stage. \n"}]}
0
Aeenubis 57 days{"ops":[{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10795233/deckbuilding_challenge_january_2025\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Starke of Rath"},{"insert":" is a 2/2 legendary human rogue for 3. It's ability consists of tapping himself to destroy a creature or an artifact to then be given to it's victim. As it, it's a politiquing tool paired with removal in the command zone. \n\nWhat can be used to synergise with it ?\nVery low to the ground deck with very impactful spells that prevent having your opponent blow starke to himself."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Stealing effects that can be either used to gain starke back or just steal other peoples creature."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Sacrifice effects in case starke could go into the wrong hands, used in cunjunction with the steal effects to gain even more value."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Very impactful creatures and spells that will run with the game if unanswered or will just end the game on the spot. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Indestuctible effects to prevent your opponents from killing starke to himself or protect your own mana rocks. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"strike":true},"insert":"Also chaos because of red"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
0
PickledOnions 57 days{"ops":[{"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10797659/the_c_in_rakdos_stands_for_caring\n\nMalfegor comes with a steep cost for playing him: your entire hand. And while he does reward his price, losing your grip can often lose you the game.\n\nBut, that need not be the case. With this deck, being handless is just the beginning. By utilizing Malfegor's sacrifice, we can clear out our foes' boards and swing in with efficient-yet-robust beaters that provide extra utility beyond combat damage. Coupled with several effects that attack our opponents' own hands, this can lead to a grindy beatdown game that only we came prepared for.\n\nAdditionally, there are many effects that require us to discard our entire hand for other payoffs, usually drawing a new grip. If our hand is already empty, these extra \"costs\" are suddenly free! We can then utilize our rotating grips of cards to keep the pressure on our opponents or fuel the numerous discard payoffs in the deck. \n\nThe deck itself is surprisingly budget, mostly at a cost to the mana base. The good news is that quantity>quality in this case, with the sheer card velocity and Treasure production allowing us to fix our colors in most games. Our basics also provide the added bonus of being able to run Ruination to devastating, one-sided effect.\n"}]}
0
Thiobus 57 days{"ops":[{"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10798045/eron_the_relentless \n\nTake what you want when you can and use your foes to strengthen your own forces with land\\creature\\artifact theft and removal. Just hold 3 mana for Eron\n"}]}
0
Arlovv 57 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10784337/gallowbraid_jan_25_contest"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10784337/gallowbraid_jan_25_contest"},{"insert":"\n\nFor the modest cost of ~300 dollars, you can get...\na horrible deck.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/details.aspx?multiverseid=4458"},"insert":"Gallowbraid"},{"insert":" (Or "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/details.aspx?name=Morinfen"},"insert":"Morinfen"},{"insert":", if you like flying over trample) was cursed with arguably the worst ability in the game, cumulative upkeep, where you progressively pay a cost more and more just for having something out on the battlefield. In this case, you're paying with your life.\n\nThankfully, WOTC has released enough cards to make life loss somewhat useful, with this deck, you have a few ways to try and win the game. I'm not going in depth of what every card does, but you can try to swap life totals to leave opponents with low life and then finish them off with a spell such as "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=210235"},"insert":"Exsanguinate"},{"insert":" or "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/details.aspx?multiverseid=107306"},"insert":"Bond of Agony"},{"insert":", try to survive with lifegain effects which can also wither down your opponents, or try to cheat death altogether with "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/details.aspx?name=Lich%27s%20Mirror"},"insert":"Lich's Mirror"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=446019"},"insert":"Stunning Reversal"},{"insert":", or my favorite, "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://gatherer.wizards.com/pages/card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=189006"},"insert":"Eternity Vessel"},{"insert":"\n\nThis deck also has plenty of mana and ways to get a lot of mana to play enough cards to have a sliver of a chance to win. Or at least not be the first one dead.\nWorth looking at the decklist, I'm not the best at deck building, but I would love to hear suggestions so I could potentially rework this and potentially make it more playable in the future.\n"}]}
0
NextLevelTTRPG 57 days{"ops":[{"insert":"Thatâs a Texas Sized 10/4. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10796306/texas_sized_104"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10796306/texas_sized_104"},{"insert":"\n\nLeaned into the commanderâs entry effect by making it the theme of the deck. Creatures that do things on death. Extra card draw for everyone. And my favorite is life is a resource. With this deck, Iâm either pushing you into an open grave or Iâm dragging you into the cold, damp earth with me. \n\nOh yeah, and a little extra snaz for my Texas Sized 10/4. \n"}]}
0
bzeug7 57 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9750455/milling_big_beats"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9750455/milling_big_beats"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Ancient One"}},{"insert":" is an 8/8 for 2 mana, with the downside that it cannot attack or block until the graveyard gets filled. It provides an activated ability to help mill that cares about the mana value of the card it discards. This deck seeks to take advantage of this by having a ton of high CMC spells that will help get the commander online as soon as possible. Once we can swing with our massive 8/8, we can then target other players as desired with the activated ability to try and mill out the rest of the table. \n\nThere are several other creatures in the deck that grow and scale with the size of the graveyards at the table, and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Mindskinner"}},{"insert":" converts the large bodies into huge amounts of mill for the table. It also forms a potential game-winning combo with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Syr Konrad, the Grim"}},{"insert":", as every time a creature is milled, Konrad deals a damage to each opponent, which then gets turned into more mill!\n\nI really liked the idea of combining two less-utilized themes in Commander: Dimir combat damage and mill, and I think The Ancient One facilitates both of these themes.\n"}]}
0
Luked 57 days{"ops":[{"insert":"Hi team, didn't see the comp had gone up so had to throw this together super quick, fingers crossed I made it on time with the time difference, would have liked more time to work on it but here is my idea for Iwamori of the open fist - "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10795881/iwamori_mono_green_chops"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10795881/iwamori_mono_green_chops"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
0
monkeyjam 57 days{"ops":[{"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10793689/shisato_whispering_hunter\n\nWe use "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shisato, Whispering Hunter"}},{"insert":" drawback of having to sacrifice a snake on upkeep to be a benefit by putting +1/+1 counters through morbid and creature die triggers. With the snakes we sacrifice "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Agatha's Soul Cauldron"}},{"insert":" let's us get the regeneration ability from various snakes and the level ups from "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hexdrinker"}},{"insert":" to make our payoffs even more harder to deal with. Various death touch snakes will make the opponents not want to swing into us in the early game which we can then sacrifice later for our payoffs. \n"}]}
0
kalimando 57 days{"ops":[{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10795426/karona_hug_slug\n\nBuilt a Karona deck which should in theory have the other players chipping each-other down and avoiding you most of the game. Getting enough enchantments on her and other creatures is the challenge, and once it is down to only 2 players, then out damaging them. My perception is that Karona herself becomes a big target once she is on the field so her downside is being a conspicuous target for everyone in the game. \n"}]}
0
deadman420 57 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10792113/kroxa_titan_of_deaths_hunger"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10792113/kroxa_titan_of_deaths_hunger"},{"insert":"\n\nOk so I chose Kroxa, Titan of Death's Hunger. The downside is that you have to sacrifice your commander immediately if it didn't escape and the escape cost also includes exiling 5 cards from your graveyard. But Kroxa's other abilitiy forces your oppnents to discard a card and then take damage if it wasn't a nonland card. So I built the deck utilizing the fact that you can't cast from the command zone without having to sacrifice your commander, often times it hitting the battlefield and immediately going to the graveyard and basically created a deck that is constantly forcing your opponents to discard cards taking damage or having to exile the card they discard with lifegain abilities for certain cards being discarded. Then to top it off throwing in theft elements to steal the cards your opponents discard/exile.\n"}]}
Edited 1/8/2025, 12:51:07 PM
0
FeastingOnUnicorns 57 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10795181/giveitawaynow"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10795181/giveitawaynow"},{"insert":"\n\nKarona, False God as commander. Get to use your bad creatures to punish your opponents instead of you. Could go real bad if you donât get the right draws in time, but would definitely be a good time while it lasted! Has a few infinite combos and a fun board wipe too in case your donations get out of control. \n"}]}
0