benthic_druid 3 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
27
Trashtrashib 2 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Piru, the Nuke: "},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10698766/piru_the_nuke"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10698766/piru_the_nuke"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Piru, the Volatile"}},{"insert":" is a callback to the original elder dragon cycle that EDH was originally based off of. When I read the prompt I felt it was only right to try building around the upkeep costs associated with them.\n\nPiru's death trigger deals 7 lifelinking damage to each nonlegendary creature, but at 8 mana plus a turn cycle without a sac outlet, this is rarely worth it. Luckily we have one of my favorite cards to pay it off! "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Repercussion"}},{"insert":"'s incredibly unique effect can turn that board wipe into an OTK.\n\nTo achieve this, we first need to be able to consistently get repercussion on the field to begin with, we run seven tutors capable of searching it out as well as eight cards that can draw us cards. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Second we generally need a way to make sure the damage is lethal, to help with this we have four different damage doublers (Which actually quadruple the damage dealt to our opponents since they apply to Piru and Repercussion separately,) as well as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Forbidden Orchard"}},{"insert":", which can help ensure out opponents actually have nonlegends to blow up to begin with!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Finally, we run seventeen ramp spells to help us get out Piru before we are "},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"completely"},{"insert":" dead and buried."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nIn terms of interaction, the deck has some generic removal spells as well as plenty of fake death effects to protect or potentially recur Piru if need be.\nIn case of Repercussion being removed, we have a weaker back up with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sanguine Bond"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Enduring Tenacity"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose"}},{"insert":" who can take advantage of Piru's lifelink to knock a player out of the game, (also useful if your opponent can get rid of their nonlegends in response to the board wipe.) Worst case we always have access to a 7/7 flying lifelinker to go beat down in the mid to end game.\n\nI'd also like to shout out "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Stinging Study"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Imposing Grandeur"}},{"insert":" for taking advantage of our commander's massive casting cost to draw more cards. Albeit for a pretty nasty sting in stinging study's case.\n"}]}
7
swerthei 2 days{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10702279/chisei_counters"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10702279/chisei_counters"},{"insert":"\n\nLoads of Sagas proliferate, interesting counters to play with work fantastically with little known mon-blue commander Chisei, Heart of Oceans whose downside of being sacrificed unless you remove a counter can actually help you keep valuable sagas + permanents with cumulative upkeeps in play much longer by removing lore/age counters among other very fun things. \n"}]}
Edited 1/1/2025, 10:46:24 PM
6
Trashtrashib 32 hrs{"ops":[{"insert":"God I love janky Kamigawa legends. They just don't make them like they used to.\n"}]}
2
Bloch 46 hrs{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10711115/a_big_serpent_with_a_big_sword_btw_its_a_land_destruction_deck"},"insert":"A Big Serpent with a Big Sword - BTW It's a Land Destruction Deck"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"This deck is designed to take advantage of "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Taniwha"}},{"insert":" 's drawback. By not having lands, we become the only player unaffected by effects like "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Mana Vortex"}},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Mana Breach"}},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Sunder"}},{"insert":", or the deck's star, "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Worldslayer"}},{"insert":".\n\nThe deck also includes stax effects to ensure that you’re not the only one suffering from the lack of lands. Cards like "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Winter Orb"}},{"insert":" or "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Static Orb"}},{"insert":" (which we can tap using effects like "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Moonsnare Prototype"}},{"insert":" or "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Clock of Omens"}},{"insert":" to avoid their downside), and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Winter Moon"}},{"insert":" , "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Back to Basics"}},{"insert":" , "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Harbinger of the Seas"}},{"insert":" , or "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Quicksilver Fountain"}},{"insert":" don't affect us since we run almost entirely basic lands. Additionally, the last two pair well with "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Shimmer"}},{"insert":" to make everyone experience the effect of our beloved serpent. "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Ward of Bones"}},{"insert":" is another interesting stax piece, as it prevents players from playing lands while ours are phased out.\n\nTo compensate for the lack of land-based mana, the deck focuses on ramping heavily with mana rocks or using effects like "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Vedalken Orrery"}},{"insert":" to cast spells just before our lands phase out.\n\nI run plenty of artifact tutors to fetch our beloved sword, along with "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Brass Squire"}},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Hammer of Nazahn"}},{"insert":" to equip it before our serpent phases out to another plane.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Shadow of the Second Sun"}},{"insert":" is another card I really like, as it allows "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Taniwha"},{"insert":"'s phasing cycle be in the same turn by providing an additional untap step.\n\nLastly, I included a "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Donate"}},{"insert":" because there’s always the option to let someone else enjoy my beloved commander.\n"}]}
Edited 1/3/2025, 12:34:03 AM
4
mb1314 22 hrs{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Rakdos the Defiler."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10719037/copy_of_rakdos_goad"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10719037/copy_of_rakdos_goad"},{"insert":"\n\nDrawback: \nwhenever Rakdos attacks, it's controller must sacrifice half their non demon permanents.\n\nTwo main approaches:\n\nLet the opposition enjoy the drawback! \nGift Rakdos to opponents and goad him to cause chaos and decimate the board.\n\nEmbrace the drawback! \nUse the self sacrifice trigger to boost other creatures, add ramp, card draw and ping opponents.\n\nEnjoy!\n"}]}
Edited 1/4/2025, 4:21:49 AM
3
Foolbert 2 days{"ops":[{"insert":{"card-link":"River Song"}},{"insert":" , no spoilers: "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/9463083/no_spoilers"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/9463083/no_spoilers"},{"insert":"\n\nWhen I read River's card, I knew I wanted to build around her but had no idea how to proceed. Drawing from the bottom part of the deck is a drawback, but also an opportunity. Most approaches seemed to focus on "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Opt"}},{"insert":"-like effects, but that wasn't enough to separate her from the \"generic Izzet spell-slinger\" category.\n\nEventually, I found my inspiration: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Reito Lantern"}},{"insert":" . With its effect, I could maintain bottom-deck manipulation and create some silly loops. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Spell Crumple"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Timestream Navigator"}},{"insert":" are good examples of the synergy.\n\nWith that, I had a direction, but it also introduced challenges. There are many Reito Lantern-like effects, but most are very overcosted, the Lantern itself is the best option. So, when we don’t have enough copies of a specific effect in our deck, what do we do? Draw. But then I thought \"what if "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"everyone"},{"insert":" drew, a lot?\". I always liked "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Howling Mine"}},{"insert":" effects, but let's go further let's punish these draws with another favorite card of mine, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ebony Owl Netsuke"}},{"insert":" and its many sisters. \n\nIf River and a Lantern effect are on the battlefield, whatever I play is essentially \"forever\" in my hand. Even if an opponent tries to interact with my graveyard, I can simply hide the needed cards at the bottom of the deck and draw them again.\n\nWith this foundation, the deck was born. It just needed some insurance to avoid dying prematurely. The deck has categories, but you'll notice they're fairly standard: how to survive the value I give my opponents and eventually defeat them. I’m very pleased with this one and like to think it maintains part of the character’s theme "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"no spoilers,"},{"insert":" if you draw all your cards, you’re left with none.\n"}]}
Edited 1/2/2025, 9:38:14 PM
3
duck123 14 hrs{"ops":[{"insert":"you should try adding \"minds aglow\", it's a join forces card that makes everybody draw cards equal to the amount paid.\n"}]}
1
konungredocsil 23 hrs{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10704171/what_are_permanents"},"insert":"Deal him Damage, I dare ya"},{"insert":"\n\nNormally an effect like Dralnu's would be pretty bad most of the time. You'd hate to sacrifice your board from attacking during combat or from someone hitting you with a damage based removal spell like lightning bolt or even worse Blasphemous Act. However, this deck is built to take advantage of Dralnu sacrifice effect, hopefully making it so our opponents will fear dealing damage to him.\n\nThe deck has a heavy artifact theme, as it can be easy to make a large amount of them and effects like Disciple of the Vault and Marionette Master make sacrificing artifacts dangerous for my opponents. Clue generators help give me fodder and artifact loopers like Myr Retriever make sure the artifacts come back. Esoteric Duplicator is a powerhouse for the deck, as for the lowly price of 2 mana, I can get endless value from my most powerful artifacts like Spine of Ish Sah. Many of the artifacts have triggers when they die like Ichor Wellspring, Chromatic Star, and Servo Schematic, which pair very nicely with sacrificing permanents.\n\nApart from artifacts, they are other cards that benefit from being sacrificed. Chime of Night let's me destroy a creature when it dies and Hatchling Plans let's me draw 3 cards for 2 mana. Bridge from Below is another spicy card, that be added to the graveyard at any time to generate me an army of zombies.\n\nFinally, there are ways to deal damage to Dralnu to force the sacrifice triggers if my opponents are inclined. Kiku's Shadow and Consuming Corruption give 1 time bursts of damage to get some sacrifices going. Noxious field gives a more repeatable effect. Finally, the craziest one of them all is Last Laugh. If Dralnu takes 1 damage or something is sacrificed, an endless loop of damage and sacrificing permanents begins unless I sacrifice Last Laugh or Dralnu. A great way to close out game or wipes the enemy board.\n"}]}
Edited 1/3/2025, 4:51:38 PM
2
bBork 36 hrs{"ops":[{"insert":"Twas the night before Christmas, when all through the house. Not a creature was stirring, not even a mouse... except maybe a jellyfish.\n\nThis is the story of "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10718106/how_the_gluntch_stole_christmas"},"insert":"How The Gluntch Stole Christmas"},{"insert":". Helmed by "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gluntch, the Bestower"}},{"insert":" normally a group hug commander, this deck aims to reduce the benefits our opponents get from our grinchy Gluntch.\n\nFirstly Gluntch allows someone to put two +1/1 counters on a creature they control. To counteract this we run cards that either care about the number of counters a creature has or the power of a creature. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nils, Discipline Enforcer"}},{"insert":" acts as a pillow fort piece taxing our opponents from attacking us depending on the number of +1/+1 counters on the attacking creature. Cards such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dusk // Dawn"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Expel the Interlopers"}},{"insert":", and more can be one-sided board wipes. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Meekstone"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Crackdown"}},{"insert":" prevent creatures with power greater than 3 from untapping.\n\nSecond Gluntch allows a second player to draw a card. The hate for this section is a little lacking as many of the hand-size punishers are in red. However, we still have "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sword of War and Peace"}},{"insert":" which burns our opponents for the number of cards in hand, as well as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Smothering Tithe"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scrawling Crawler"}},{"insert":" which punishes individual draws. Since there is less hate for this effect we are more likely to pick ourselves to draw a card, which helps us find more ways to hate out the other effects of Gluntch.\n\nAnd lastly, Glunch allows a third player to create two treasure tokens. Luckily Selesnya is extremely good at shutting down artifacts with cards such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Stony Silence"}},{"insert":". "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Collector Ouphe"}},{"insert":", and more completely preventing usage of artifacts. This causes our opponents to stockpile artifacts that will benefit our "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Curious Herd"}},{"insert":" to make a big board of beaters. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Titania's Song"}},{"insert":" is also a fantastic hate piece that acts as a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Humility"}},{"insert":" for artifacts. Finally, we can also benefit from people using the treasures we give them with cards such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tarrian's Soulcleaver"}},{"insert":" to pump Gluntch, or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fangren Marauder"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Powerleech"}},{"insert":" to gain life.\n\nTo smooth out the deck we have some synergistic pieces that interact well with our commander, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scholar of New Horizons"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gyre Sage"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Incubation Druid"}},{"insert":" are all ramp pieces that benefit from the counters Gluntch bestows. As well as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Evolution Witness"}},{"insert":" which is fantastic recursion with counters. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Esper Sentinel"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kutzil, Malamet Exemplar"}},{"insert":" are good card draw options for pumping our creatures as well. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Excise the Imperfect"}},{"insert":" is a good catch-all removal spell since most artifact abilities should be shut down from our hate pieces. We can also use "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pariah"}},{"insert":" on an opponent's big creature to act either as removal or protection for ourselves, we can also attach it to Phyrexian Vindicator to become basically immortal.\n\nI hope you enjoy this different flavor of Selesnya Stax and maybe can punish your naughty friends with some coal.\n"}]}
2
evolution1988 40 hrs{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10712912"},"insert":"Decklist: Karona, Goaded God"},{"insert":"\n\nThis month, we’re building around Karona, False God and its ability that forces it to go over to another player’s control at the start of their upkeep. We'll work with both this ability and Karona's second ability to pump creature types to win through some chaotic combat by leaning into both abilities. \n\nIn addition to Karona, we’re playing a suite of cards that also go over to another players’ control: Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos; Xantcha, Sleeper Agent; Sleeper Agent; Kharn the Betrayer; Rogue Skycaptain; and Humble Defector. We also have ways to give control of our other creatures to our opponents with cards like Custody Battle and Zedruu. \n\nTo support the second ability, we're going to manipulate creatures types to take advantage of Karona's pump and encourage some swingy combats. Amoeboid Changelin, Standardize, Unnatural Selection, and Shields of Velis Vel all support this. We'll also run Arcane Adaptation in order to take advantage of Karona's pump ourselves. And we can Use Zedruu to grant control of Arcane Adaptation to our opponents to also take further advantage of Karona. Depending on who you're playing, this can also disrupt strategies based around creature types. \n\nTo keep the gas going, we're using an enchantress package since we play a lot auras to pump and goad creatures that we've given to our opponents. We also run a couple group hug pieces to encourage players to act against each other and can politic around the table if we need to stall. Humble Defector, Tempt with Discovery, variuos Curses, and even Zedruu, can be used to make friends and encourage players to act against anyone other than us. We can always regain control of our permanents as needed with cards like Homeward Path. Zedru is a true political powerhouse in this deck as we can give copies of powerful enchantments like Rhsytic Study to our opponents who are behind and regain control later while Karona does its thing. \n\nWe want to force combat as much as possible, the grand plan being to make big beefy creatures with auras and force them to attack our opponents. We are goading creatures... a lot... and will also use cards like Jon Irenicus and Firkraag to help support this to beef up and draw. Goading Karona removes us as a target and forces it to attack opponents, so we can often sneak out a win as commander damage accumulates quickly. If Karona gets removed, we'll force combat to speed up the game and disrupt our oppoennts until we can regain our footing with our commander.\n\nAnd finally - as a 5 color deck - the most expensive part of our deck is land-based. The rest of the deck can be built for approx. $160, so we can run a budget land-base to save substantially. \n\nHope you enjoy this. :)\n\n\n\n"}]}
Edited 1/3/2025, 7:36:06 PM
2
gahelar 5 hrs{"ops":[{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Aristocrats, in Gruul!?"},{"insert":"\n\nMy submission is a deck piloted by "},{"attributes":{"color":"#e60000","underline":true},"insert":"Gimli, Mournful Avenger"},{"insert":". He really wants a repetitive sac outlet to become really big and clear the enemy board while doing that, but being in Grull you really don’t have a lot of option.\nThe solution? "},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","underline":true},"insert":"Eldrazi Scions and Spawns"},{"insert":", by generating a bunch of them you can easily sac at least 3 a turn and let gimli do what He does best: FIGHT, add a bit of trample in let and let him swing for the win.\nThis deck is really resiliant as well, just sac 2 baby eldrazis and gimli becomes indestructible so it’s not easy to remove, and if someone manage to do that there are two backup strategy in "},{"attributes":{"color":"#e60000","underline":true},"insert":"Raggadragga, Goreguts boss"},{"insert":"/"},{"attributes":{"color":"#008a00","underline":true},"insert":"Kozilek, the broken Reality"},{"insert":"/"},{"attributes":{"color":"#e60000","underline":true},"insert":"Forsaken Monument"},{"insert":" to turn your Scions and Spawn in an army to be reckoned and some big eldrazi creatures to cast with all the mana they generate.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10083077/boh?sort=alpha&"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10083077/boh?sort=alpha&"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
1
rhiannrhiannarchidekt 16 hrs{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"You hit me? Me too! "},{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10730740 "},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10730740 "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Darien, King of Kjeldor"}},{"insert":" has always been a commander I and others have shown interest in, but the downside of needing to be dealt damage in turn for tokens is a risky and uncertain play.\n\nThis downside is harnessed in the deck "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"You hit me? Me too! "},{"insert":"by redirecting, tap-pinging, and throwing damage at yourself with a wide array of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soul Warden"}},{"insert":" cards to replenish the damage dealt through my "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"17 "},{"insert":"self damage dealers. Highlights of this bunch are:\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blasting Station"}},{"insert":" - this card is the perfect card for this commander. With 2+ "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soul Warden"}},{"insert":" types and your commander out this card goes easily infinite, giving infinite lifegain/death triggers/etb triggers\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blood of the Martyr"}},{"insert":" - a unique gem for this deck which prevents all damage dealt to creatures you control and redirects it to you. What makes this great is with your commander out you can cast it during your own combat to both protect your creatures and get more 1/1 soldiers out there. Again with 1+ "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Soul Warden"}},{"insert":" type of creatures out you immediately replenish any damage you take. \n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dingus Staff"}},{"insert":" -a fun card in the deck which turns board wipes/removal into even more soldiers, making it hard for your board to ever be truly wiped (Always fun to see a dingus staff in a deck)\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Some final shoutouts are:"},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Halo Fountain"}},{"insert":" - super flexible card/wincon which can be used at any point of the game | "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Skullclamp"}},{"insert":" - best card draw in the deck | "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Angel's Trumpet"}},{"insert":" - symmetrical board hate, pillow-forty, with life gain creatures out you go positive | "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mass Calcify"}},{"insert":" - nasty one sided board-wipe which will open up opponents for killing\n\nThanks for reading! I splurged on card prices for this deck, as it's a hard one to brew budget.\n"}]}
1
Stapletapeworms 18 hrs{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/10728899/january_2025_deckbuilding_contest_the_blackblade_determines_who_is_left"},"insert":"The Blackblade determines not who is right, but who is left."},{"insert":"\n\nI have always had a soft spot for the Secret Lair printing of Dakkon Blackblade because I am left handed, but building a commander that cares about lands with no green in their identity is a bit unusual. My goal with this deck was to try and get lots of lands in our graveyard in addition to the ones we play, allowing us to cast Planar Birth for as much value as we can. There's several Walking Atlas combos to let us put out as many lands as we have in our hand as well, getting our landfall triggers to tap down our opponent's boards so Dakkon can swing in for lethal. There are also some options to give Dakkon some evasive abilities, like swampwalk and islandwalk, along with Urborg to enable that swampwalk on all of our opposition. I also like running old/strange cards, so having things like Fishliver Oil provide actual utility is always fun.\n"}]}
1
Player_Too 20 hrs{"ops":[{"insert":"Hazoret the Fervent - "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10728181/this_is_madness"},"insert":"This is Madness!"},{"insert":"\n\nHey everyone. \n\nSending in a list for Hazoret the Fervent. We want to take advantage of his drawback of needing to be heckbent to attack. Since Hazoret wants us to discard, and can assist with its activated ability, we use madness and hellbent effects to turn the drawback into a strength. We'll also use a few fortell cards to help get our hand cut down to size, too. Ultimately we want to win with boosted red damage from City on Fire and/or Torbran paired with attacking red creatures and burn effects. We can also make for some interesting storm-like turns with Birgo, Run-Away Steamkin, Neheb, etc. to get lots of mana for Hazoret's ability or even top it off with Impending Flux (cast from fortold exile of course) to board wipe and deal lots of damage. \n\nThe deck can be built on a budget at just under $120 as well so it's definitely cost friendly.\n\nHave fun!\n\n\n"}]}
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Volbe(Common Patron)
36 hrs{"ops":[{"insert":"Silent or Silenced? ft. Phlage: "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/7788736/silent_or_silenced"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/7788736/silent_or_silenced"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Phlage, Titan of Fire's Fury"}},{"insert":" is a card known for its power in modern, but is relatively fair in commander. Yes, big body with a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lightning Helix"}},{"insert":" attached to it isn't anything to scoff at, but having to exile six cards from your graveyard to get it to stick out on the field the first time can be a be a little difficult at times.\n\nSo what if we took a different route and just avoided the grave altogether? That's where "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Torpor Orb"}},{"insert":" and similar effects come in. Cards like these might make Phlage a little less impactful immediately, but we really care about is "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hushbringer"}},{"insert":"ing that first ability so we no longer need to sacrifice it right away. Now we've got a huge body that can swing and shoot down creatures as early as turn 3 or 4!\n\nBut why stop there? There are plenty of other creatures that are way above curve, but happen to have a huge downside on ETB that stops them from seeing play. Cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Eater of Days"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dust Elemental"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Boldwyr Heavyweights"}},{"insert":" all are massive creatures that we can cheat out the same way as our commander. We have plenty of protection like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Devoted Caretaker"}},{"insert":" to make sure our hushbringer effects stick around to see the creatures through their ETB abilities and also many effects that benefit off high power like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sarkhan's Unsealing"}},{"insert":" so we aren't only relying on big vanilla beaters for the win.\n\nSo if you ever wanted to play a Timmy deck with a little extra risk, this is the one for you!\n"}]}
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Falconnor4 42 hrs{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10708023/deckbuilding_contest_january_2025"},"insert":"Gallowbraid, The Depressed:"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gallowbraid"}},{"insert":" was one of the first printed legend cards, as is common with some of the first-printed high-power creatures, he comes with a heavy cost of a cumulative upkeep life cost.\n\nIn this deck, we use Gallowbraid's upkeep as a life outlet. Allowing us to combo into cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Magus of the Mirror"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mirror Universe"}},{"insert":" place this cost onto our opponents, or sacking everyone using cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Repay in Kind"}},{"insert":". In order to survive these feats we need some preservation cards, notably: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pact Weapon"}},{"insert":" & "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lich"}},{"insert":"\nand to add some control rods to this reactor we need cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ashiok, Wicked Manipulator"}},{"insert":" for if our life loss gets too out of hand.\n\nOnce we've used our fair share of Gallowbraid, we can initiate table politics using "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gauntlets of Chaos"}},{"insert":" as we will not target players with high life totals with our ability.\n\nSince this deck relies on a few specific cards, we are running 11 tutors and some heavy card draw that both can double as life outlet, using cards such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ad Nauseam"}},{"insert":".\nWe run a pretty standard black swamp mana base, leveraging cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cabal Stronghold"}},{"insert":". \nAlso, pretty standard mono-black interaction, primarily focusing on creature destruction.\nCombo-wise Some notable mentions are some infinite combos built around Ashiok and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lich"}},{"insert":" to keep the game spicy.\n\nThats about it!\n"}]}
1
duck123 13 hrs{"ops":[{"insert":"Why did you choose gallowbraid instead of morinfen?\nI built the same deck for this competition just around morinfen, "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10720055"},"insert":"Cumulative fun"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
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ForsakenWynd 44 hrs{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10713464/no_commander_no_problem"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/10713464/no_commander_no_problem"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":{"card-link":"Etrata, the Silencer"}},{"insert":" is a peak \"Assassin\" card, especially for a commander. However, despite being unblockable and having built-in removal (she exiles a creature when she attacks), she has one significant weakness for a commander: "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"After attacking, she removes herself from the battlefield"},{"insert":". This incurs an ever-increasing commander tax and prevents her from easily dealing 21 lethal commander damage to any one player, especially since she only has 3 power when unmodified. There are three ways to combat this inherent weakness built into this deck: Increasing the number of hit counters deployed to opponents, powerful commander buffs, and methods for copying Etrata, all of which is supported by potentially surprising levels of ramp for a Dimir deck.\n\nThe first of these strategies employs two other creatures: "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Mari, the Killing Quill"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Ravenloft Explorer"},{"insert":". Both of these creatures make it so that any creatures opponents control that would die are instead exiled with hit counters on them. Assuming that any other player loses two other creatures this way, a player would only need to successfully deploy and attack with Etrata one time to eliminate that player. This means that a player can potentially eliminate all their opponents with three uses of Etrata, rather than just one opponent. Additionally, "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Rames, Assassin Lord"},{"insert":" has been included as an alternative win-con that may allow a player to win after attacking with Etrata just once.\n\nWhile this strategy is powerful, it is also never a good idea to rely entirely on two creatures that are subject to countering or removal as your only path to victory. As such, this deck also incorporates numerous artifacts intended to allow Etrata to strike harder or repeatedly. These include "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Excalibur, Brass Knuckles, Sword of the Animist, and Blackblade Reforged"},{"insert":". Each of these are meant to significantly increase Etrata's lethality per strike.\n\nTo further combat Etrata's weakness, the deck includes a few ways to copy Etrata, thus circumventing her self-removal once more. "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Helm of the Host"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Mirror Box + Mirage Mirror/Glasspool Mimic/Phantasmal Image"},{"insert":" are the primary avenues for making an additional copy of Etrata who can land an extra hit and deploy another hit counter.\n\nAs if this were not enough, numerous powerful and distracting cards such as "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Shard of the Nightbringer"},{"insert":", variations on "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Jin-Gitaxias, Talion the Kindly Lord, Liliana Vess"},{"insert":", and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Painful Quandry"},{"insert":" have been included to ensure that the player remains competitive during the game while also providing alternative targets for focused removal from opponents. Additional win-cons in the form of "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Triskadekaphile "},{"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Laboratory Maniac "},{"insert":"+"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":" Enter the Infinite"},{"insert":" have been included to further distract opponents. It should be noted that while these are not the focus of the deck, both of these win-cons remain viable pathways to victory if circumstances present themselves.\n\nAs a last fun twist for this deck, it has a highly functional alternative Commander built-in: "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Basim Ibn Ishaq"},{"insert":". While he does not eliminate players in quite the same way as Etrata, the large selection of artifacts and legendary cards in this deck provide powerful support for his abilities.\n"}]}
Edited 1/3/2025, 6:06:51 AM
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