Deckbuilding Contest - January 2025

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{"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
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{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10740337/vaevictis_asmadi_tax_evasion"},"insert":"Vaevictis Asmadi Tax Evasion • (Commander / EDH deck) • Archidekt"},{"insert":"\n\nThis deck takes advantage of the original elder dragons' upkeep triggers, and uses spells like Supernatural Stamina and Not Dead After All in response the the sacrifice trigger, and the rest of the deck is built around that cheeky little interaction: Warstorm Surge-type effects, cards like Garruk's Uprising to draw cards, and other cards like a good ol' Hamletback Goliath to help close out the game. It also has a few other cards in there to take advantage of the commander's massive mana cost, which is in itself another drawback. The deck is not exactly the best, but there are some fun little interactions you'll find once you start playtesting. Being able to sacrifice a Vaultborn Tyrant and use a one mana spell to bring it back feels almost illegal, which I suppose is sort of the theme of the deck, hence the name.\n"}]}
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certainly avatarcertainly 46 hrs
{"ops":[{"insert":"Behold: "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10705808"},"insert":"The Shisato Stunlock"},{"insert":"..."},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shisato, Whispering Hunter"}},{"insert":" is a lovely card for stunlocking your opponent. If you can consistently deal with her drawback, she can make it very very difficult for opponents to play the game, regardless of their big beefy boardstate. Let's imagine for a moment that we can pull this off consistently. When would this be strongest in a four player EDH pod?\nWhen all players are evenly matched?"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"When there is a clearly advantaged player?"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"When players have started dying?"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nIn short, because we can only stunlock one person at a time, the third option is our strongest option, so our strongest gameplan involves kingmaking to some degree, then stunlocking our king to the death. Hence, several cards with selective grouphug elements, like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Heartwood Storyteller"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Skullwinder"}},{"insert":" (a snake!), and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Healing Technique"}},{"insert":" . We also run several gift cards in this sense.\n\nTurns out, there are two good ways to deal with the snake saccing requirement:\nConsistently generate a snake each turn a la "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Orochi Eggwatcher // Shidako, Broodmistress"}},{"insert":" (we rarely benefit from flipping this card)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Make Shisato stop being a snake via mutate creatures and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Psychic Paper"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nFinally, it's important to recognize that even this stunlock is temporary. Lands played by our opponents will be untapped even if that player skipped an untap step. Thus, we need to be efficient with our means of beating people to death. Most of this deck's big creatures serve double-duty as removal or card selection, or they simply grow quite large if left unblocked. This lack of blocking is easy to achieve via cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Trailblazer's Boots"}},{"insert":" .\n\n\nOne last card I'd like to note is "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Timbermare"}},{"insert":" , a mono-green card which is lovely for turning off huge, intimidating boardstates. I believe that this niche commander is a uniquely fantastic home for this even nicher card.\n"}]}
Edited 1/6/2025, 1:44:29 AM
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{"ops":[{"insert":"Well I see someone already beat me to it, but here's my Taniwha deck. I call it "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/5670639/taniwhatthef"},"insert":"TaniwhattheF***"},{"insert":"\n\nInstead of a more drawn out Stax plan, this deck just aims to survive long enough to pull off the "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Taniwha"}},{"insert":" /"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Worldslayer"}},{"insert":" combo. Then once the board is clear, we sweep up with big dumb creatures like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jokulmorder"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Denizen of the Deep"}},{"insert":" , cuz that's way funnier than just dropping some Eldrazi on the board.\n\nIt's still land destruction, so I wouldn't try to play this deck without at least running it by the other players first. But as two card combos go, it's pretty clunky. You can see it coming from a mile away, and there's plenty of opportunities for counterplay. Plus you're not dragging out the game or completely crippling just one player. Once you clear the board and show you've got enough damage to finish the job, then we can all just say gg, and shuffle up with something else.\n"}]}
Edited 1/6/2025, 1:15:10 AM
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Leviaously avatarLeviaously 47 hrs
{"ops":[{"insert":"This is my grimgrin list, it’s zombies with the drawback being grimgrin doesn’t untap on his own. It runs plenty of token makers aswell of plenty of ramp to get grimgrin and other heavy hitting spells out as early as possible. It’s played well at my lgs even without comboing off. The decks big wincon is combo with cards like GraveCrawler and Phyrexian alter with backup win-cons involving combat damage with equipment like shadow spear and wand of Orcus for benefits with a big body in the command zone. "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/6807642/grims_graveyard"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/6807642/grims_graveyard"},{"insert":". \n"}]}
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Rjjennings avatarRjjennings 47 hrs
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10734780/yukora_the_prisoner"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10734780/yukora_the_prisoner"},{"insert":"\n\nYukora, the Prisoner is a nuke in this. Try to build an army with Death triggers, then kill them all. Mono black Drain and Reanimate, with card draw removal. It's Overall strategy is to build up an army with etbs and deathtriggers, kill your own commander, forcing you to sacrifice all non Ogre creatures, and bringing them back to do it again. Essentially boardwipe yourself to deal damage to opponents from multiple sources. \nTo specify, the drawback here is having to sacrifice all non Ogre creatures you control when then commander dies, but the goal of this deck is to lose your creatures \n"}]}
Edited 1/6/2025, 2:11:05 AM
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Kook1023 avatarKook1023 2 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10759595/phage_but_it_works"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10759595/phage_but_it_works"},{"insert":"\n\nIdk, Phage is a commander i've always wanted to do smth with so this is the perfect opportunity!\n"}]}
Edited 1/5/2025, 11:46:46 PM
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{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10758460/listen_to_the_daisys_bloom?sort=price&stack=multiple"},"insert":"Listen to the Daisies Bloom"},{"insert":" | https://archidekt.com/decks/10758460/listen_to_the_daisys_bloom\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Haakon, Stromgald Scourge"}},{"insert":" is the inspiration of this deck, and the name too. Hark, to listen, and those who die are pushing up daisies :P\n\nAnywho, depsite being a cool guy, Haakon doesn't want to leave the Command Zone. We force this behaviour with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Command Beacon"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Campfire"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Netherborn Altar"}},{"insert":". There are a bunch of ways to get these, such as the many tutors in black, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Urza's Cave"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Urza's Saga"}},{"insert":". Once Haakon is in hand, we chuck him in the bin, only to get him back out for shenanigans. There is some follow through on either "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ashnod's Altar"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Phyrexian Altar"}},{"insert":" with many creatures eligible for each of these as infinite sac/cast triggers, with options such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blood Artist"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bastion of Remembrance"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aetherflux Reservoir"}},{"insert":" as methods to kill everyone.\n\nWorst case scenario, you can't get Haakon, then we beat down with a bunch of guys, especially "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bloodline Pretender"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Diamond Knight"}},{"insert":", or we go for life directly with some graveyard recursion, and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gray Merchant of Asphodel"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shard of the Nightbringer"}},{"insert":". This... doesn't necessarily work well as I wanted to be restricted to the commander's ability. Jump through hoops for purpose and all that.\n"}]}
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henpoz avatarhenpoz 2 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10742121"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10742121"},{"insert":"\n\nMassacre Girl's ETB/rest of turn effect is arguably more of an upside than a downside in most situations (especially in 4-player formats), but this deck is designed specifically to make use of it killing my own creatures, and doesn't really care that much about what it hits on the opponents' side of the board. \n\nTo that end, I have a bunch of small creatures that die either to the ETB or the repeat effect, most of which have some kind of death trigger, sac spells to trigger MG and my card draw engines like Dark Prophecy and Harvester of Souls. Umbilicus, Blood Clock, Skull Collector, and Erratic Portal are all used to bounce MG into my hand so I can reuse her ability without saccing her and paying commander tax (although this deck can probably make enough mana to pay the tax, thanks to Coffers, Stronghold, Phyrexian Tower, and Crypt Ghast). \n"}]}
Edited 1/5/2025, 10:38:54 PM
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cammew avatarcammew 2 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Willingly Giving Karona (get it?): "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10755106/karona_forced_combat "},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10755106/karona_forced_combat "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Karona, False God"}},{"insert":" is simply here to smack face and betray me more than "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Khârn the Betrayer"}},{"insert":". The commander's downside? It has to be given to other players constantly and they don't even need to attack with it at first. But what happens when Karona because constantly angry at everyone at the table except me? The deck's cards are contained in 3 main categories: \n\nGoad effects that make sure that not only it is attacking every turn but it has to hit anyone other than myself ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Assault Suit"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bloodthirsty Blade"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shiny Impetus"}},{"insert":", etc.)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Pieces that protect my commander from someone trying to stop it from constantly swinging ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sword of Wealth and Power"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Robe of Stars"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Canopy Cover"}},{"insert":", etc.)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Tools to help me find the perfect card by tutoring for it or delaying the game long enough for me to find it the hard way ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zur the Enchanter"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Propaganda"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Take the Bait"}},{"insert":", etc.)"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThere are a few win conditions to keep in mind when playing against the deck. The obvious one is to deal commander damage, but others include "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Eriette of the Charmed Apple"}},{"insert":" to constantly drain my opponents as long as I have auras, overloaded "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Spectacular Showdown"}},{"insert":" to make someone else kill my opponents for me, or failing to deal with the other 2 attacking threats in the deck "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Slicer, Hired Muscle // Slicer, High-Speed Antagonist"}},{"insert":". There are some cards in the maybeboard that I either had in there at first and swap them out for better cards or ones that I just don't see how they would fit but still want to keep them in mind. \n\nBTW first contest I'm entering on here so good luck to me!\n"}]}
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Zharr avatarZharr 2 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10628433/mathas_fiend_seeker_sinister_group_hug"},"insert":"Mathas, Fiend Seeker - Sinister Group Hug • (Commander / EDH deck) • Archidekt"},{"insert":"\n\nMathis, Fiend Seeker - the drawback of the commander is your opponents get a lot of free card draw. To mitigate that and lean into it, I added a ton of group hug and group slug elements to create a deck that rewards opponents earlier but punishes them later. It has a few cards that increase card draw for the table but cards like Sheoldred, Fate Unraveler and Spiteful Visions that form the source of the pings. It has all the bounty support, a few other ways to put counters on opposing creatures and then Kulrath Knight which prevents creatures with counters on them from attacking or blocking. The deck has a good protection package as well as goading elments and both Xantcha and Alexios for maximum chaos. \n\n\n"}]}
Edited 1/5/2025, 6:00:51 PM
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{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10725280/ambergris_the_drawing_sailor"},"insert":"Ambergris The Drawing Sailor"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" : Amber Gristle O'Maul // Sword Coast Sailor"},{"insert":"\n\nFor the January deckbuilding contest, I chose to build an unpopular commander from the D&D Baldur's Gate set, "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Amber Gristle O'Maul"}},{"insert":". This background commander allows you to discard your hand on her attack trigger, then draw one card for each opponent being attacked. So, at minimum, you draw one card per attack, and up to three max. However, this rate isn't very good and represents a definite drawback, without being offset by the low card draw. The question immediately arose as to which background to pair with it. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Criminal Past"}},{"insert":", to take advantage of the discard and the size of the graveyard? "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cultist of the Absolute"}},{"insert":" , to try to combine a discard theme with a sacrifice theme and another drawback? (I'll admit, this one was tempting). Despite my love for Rakdos, reanimation strategies, and madness/discard options in red/black, I ultimately opted for a background that guarantees at least one card per turn without risk, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sword Coast Sailor"}},{"insert":" , which makes Amber unblockable. The other advantage was the ability to include blue, which would grant a clearer and more coherent strategy, while providing a relatively original theme for this color pair. This attempt is also a love letter to the Baldur's gate universe, this amazing set, and the background gimmick. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"The strategy: discard but draw more"},{"insert":"\n\nThe biggest disadvantage of Amber Gristle O'Maul's \"wheel\" trigger is the number of cards drawn to compensate for discarding your entire hand. The main strategy to mitigate this drawback will be to use draw (and especially draw and discard) effects to (1) have draw and discard synergies, (2) keep an ideal hand. Classic draw and discard effects are included, such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Faithless Looting"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cathartic Reunion"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Big Score"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Frantic Search"}},{"insert":", as well as more unorthodox ones like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tolarian Winds"}},{"insert":". The deck's approach was heavily inspired by "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rielle, the Everwise"}},{"insert":". "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Teferi's Ageless Insight"}},{"insert":" is also included to double each draw. Other cards help draw on combat damage, since our commander and our creatures need to attack each player, such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grazilaxx, Illithid Scholar"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Reconnaissance Mission"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bident of Thassa"}},{"insert":". "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Broodbirth Viper"}},{"insert":" has the advantage of attacking all opponents at once due to its myriad ability. Draw payoffs help create tokens for blocking or attacking to fulfill the commander’s requirements, like the new "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mischievous Mystic"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Alandra, Sky Dreamer"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Locust God"}},{"insert":" . "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Emrakul's Messenger"}},{"insert":" generates mana whenever we draw our second card, while "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Psychosis Crawler"}},{"insert":" pings opponents in a classic heavy drawing payoff. An alternative win condition will also be "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Laboratory Maniac"}},{"insert":" if the library runs empty.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Discard synergies"},{"insert":"\n\nSince our commander throws our hand into the yard, the deck benefits greatly from discard synergies and payoffs. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Brallin, Skyshark Rider"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Glint-Horn Buccaneer"}},{"insert":" ping opponents, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ivora, Insatiable Heir"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cunning Survivor"}},{"insert":" become larger for each discarded card (for the second, we need to discard before combat if we want it to be unblockable), "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Drake Haven"}},{"insert":" creates 2/2 Drake tokens in exchange for paying 1 mana, while "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Surly Badgersaur"}},{"insert":" generates treasures from discarded land cards and can be used as repeatable removal.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Ambergris O'More : attack, clone and copy"},{"insert":"\n\nSome creatures in the deck allow attacking each players at the same time (thus the inclusion of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blade of Selves"}},{"insert":", notably) but most of the sources of attack come from the evasive tokens and from effects that make a creature unblockable, like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Key to the City"}},{"insert":", which can also draw and discard. Lastly, the deck’s secret tech was inspired by myriad strategies and copies/clones of legendary creatures, such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Delina, Wild Mage"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sakashima of a Thousand Faces"}},{"insert":" , both included in the deck. The idea is to generate copies of our commander to attack all three players at once, but more importantly, to have three attack triggers that can be ordered for multiple wheel effects and thus activate one or more of the deck's payoffs. For example, under ideal conditions with Teferi’s Ageless Insight on the battlefield, and two clones of the commander (+ the original Amber) attacking each a player, you discard your hand (for the sake of the argument, 6 cards), then draw 6 cards. The second trigger can then be resolved, 6 cards discarded and 6 drawn, and the same goes for the third trigger. So there will be 18 discard triggers and 18 draw triggers, which can activate our payoffs, and thus winning us the game !\n"}]}
Edited 1/6/2025, 11:41:32 AM
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Ninjæk avatarNinjæk 2 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"The drawback of the commander AND other cards in this deck is that they give your opponents extra card draw. But that card draw can be weaponized into passive damage.\n\nhttps://www.archidekt.com/decks/10755252/windmill_afire\n"}]}
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bob123456 avatarbob123456 2 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10710919/lord_of_tresserhorn"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10710919/lord_of_tresserhorn"},{"insert":"\n\nAs soon as soon as I read the contest prompt I knew I wanted to build a Lord of tresserhorn deck. Since they are often been built as a zombie tribal deck or as an aristocrat strategy I decided to instead focus on a theft strategy, Stealing creatures temporarily with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Threaten"}},{"insert":" effects only to sacrifice them to "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lord of Tresserhorn"}},{"insert":"'s ETB drawback to avoid having to return them back to their owners at EOT.\n\nThe deck contains 14 theft effects including 5 that do not cost any mana on the turn they are activated helping accommodate the 4 mana necessary to cast the commander afterwards.\n\nThe deck also includes other ways to sacrifice the stolen creatures for value like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Geralf, Visionary Stitcher"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kethek, Crucible Goliath"}},{"insert":" in case the commander is already in play or cannot be casted.\n\nTo go with along with the strategy of stealing and then sacrificing creatures, I included "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kinzu of the Bleak Coven"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nightmare Shepherd"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Marchesa, the Black Rose"}},{"insert":" who allow us to milk even more value out of that play pattern while keeping the creatures out of our opponents' graveyards.\n\nThe deck contains a lot of payoffs for sacrificing creatures but I deliberately strayed away from grave pact effects because of the unfun play patterns they\n generate. That being said, I allowed myself to add "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ruthless Deathfang"}},{"insert":" because it doesn't hit every player and it is much easier to interact with.\n\nI finally found a good home for "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dead Man's Chest"}},{"insert":" because it is very easy to steal the enchanted creature, sacrifice it and then dive into the gold coins like Scrooge Mcduck.\n\nTo top it all off, since the challenge was to utilise the drawbacks to our advantage, I decided to dedicate a few slots to cards that interact positively with the other two parts of our commander's ETB effect, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Psychic Possession"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Faerie Mastermind"}},{"insert":" allow us to generate card advantage from the force draw while "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Orcish Bowmasters"}},{"insert":" generates extremely useful sac fodder and targeted removal. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Greven, Predator Captain"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mortarion, Daemon Primarch"}},{"insert":" both take advantage of the life loss from Lord of tresserhorn while also contributing to the overall game plan.\n \n"}]}
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{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10567828/landfalling_to_the_top"},"insert":"Landfalling to the Top"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Altanak, the Thrice-Called"}},{"insert":" sucks as a commander. Yeah he's a 9/9 with trample but 7 mana is a lot for a commander that doesn't provide constant value. He needs his opponents to target him to use his card draw ability and his discard ability is useless from the command zone or the battlefield (the places our commanders usually are 95% of the time). So we ignore those first 2 abilities, we don't care about them for now. That last discard ability is what we want. We mulligan or tutor for "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Command Beacon"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Stone-Seeder Hierophant"}},{"insert":" , but ramp a little first. Then: play beacon>sac beacon>discard Altanak>bring command beacon back>return Altanak to the command zone>untap beacon with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Stone-Seeder Hierophant"}},{"insert":" > repeat for landfall triggers. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Springheart Nantuko"}},{"insert":" on a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lotus Cobra"}},{"insert":" needs only 2 copies to be mana positive and allow infinite drops, or just use "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Devoted Druid"}},{"insert":" with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Luxior, Giada's Gift"}},{"insert":" for the mana. We juice "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Springheart Nantuko"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scute Swarm"}},{"insert":" for hundreds of funny little bugs, or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rampaging Baloths"}},{"insert":" . "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Craterhoof Behemoth"}},{"insert":" or a similar variant if you can't go infinite but can still beacon drop a few times a turn.\n\nI also didn't make this deck for this challenge. I made it last month and thought it fit. I'm going to actually build it and play it at some point because I like playing funny stuff."},{"insert":{"card-link":"Altanak, the Thrice-Called"}},{"insert":" \n"}]}
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KaiCarmine avatarKaiCarmine 2 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10752022/were_burnin_tonight_boys"},"insert":"We're burnin' tonight, boys! • (Commander / EDH deck) • Archidekt"},{"insert":"\n\nIt's Gruul grillin' time! Come on down to the biggest barbeque in the planes where the cook master is just as likely to set himself ablaze as the patrons are! An let me tell you, them fires be hot, hot, hot! Just as hot tempered as the axe wielding chef is!\n\nThe primary idea being that you are as likely to have a whoppin' 6 damage axe slap you in a one shot kill by "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ruric Thar, the Unbowed"}},{"insert":" as likely as your opponents have, with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dictate of the Twin Gods"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gratuitous Violence"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"City on Fire"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fiery Emancipation"}},{"insert":" all jacking the damage that is dealt to "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"everyone"},{"insert":". And with other burners like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sunspine Lynx"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Heart of Bogardan"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Manabarbs"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pyrohemia"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Descent into Avernus"}},{"insert":" as a ticking time bomb, no one is safe. No one. Not even myself.\n"}]}
Edited 1/6/2025, 12:08:20 AM
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