Archidekt Deckbuilding Contest - August 2025 (Locked)

{"ops":[{"insert":"We have the August 2025 finalists! \nVoting has concluded!\n\n🥇 TheTalonGates  \n🥈 YoseiMorningStar\n🥉 HydoMTG\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!\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://edhrec.com/articles/deckbuilding-contest-finalists-august-2025"},"insert":"https://edhrec.com/articles/deckbuilding-contest-finalists-august-2025"},{"insert":"\n\nUser: YoseiMorningStar\nDeck: Lantlaza\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/13413080/lantlaza_august_contest_submission"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/13413080/lantlaza_august_contest_submission"},{"insert":"\n\nUser: HydoMTG\nDeck: Living End - High CMC Control\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/15197780/living_end_high_cmc_control"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/15197780/living_end_high_cmc_control"},{"insert":"\n\nUser: TheTalonGates\nDeck: Super Doomsday!\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/15153109/super_doomsday"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/15153109/super_doomsday"},{"insert":"\n\nHello brewers,\nAs we move into the back half of the year, we're asking a question that Magic players have struggled to answer for decades. How few lands can you get away with running? Or, conversely, how many?\n\nWhat’s The Contest All About?"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWorking 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 "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cardsphere.com/"},"insert":"cardsphere.com"},{"insert":".\n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"For August's deck building contest build a Commander-legal deck with fewer than 30 lands, or more than 50. This includes double-faced cards that are lands on one side."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Decks will be judged on their creativity and originality, as well as how important the total land count is to how the deck functions."},{"insert":"\n\nThe question of how many lands to play has plagued players for nearly as long as Magic has existed. Common wisdom says that slightly more than a third of your total deck size is enough, although the math would suggest a number closer to half is better. Many players stick to the low ends of these ranges, because spells are more exciting than lands, but some archetypes encourage you to play even fewer lands.\n\nPerhaps the best known archetype to play as few lands as possible is Storm. Storm decks want to chain as many spells together as possible, which a couple of lands on top of your deck can easily interrupt. Whether you're chaining artifacts with Jhoira, Weatherlight Captain or paying life with Bolas's Citadel, there's no worse feeling than having your turn end thanks to an unlucky land on top of your deck.\n\nOf course, other cards might encourage you to play even fewer lands. Goblin Charbelcher is a famous combo finisher for decks that play no lands, but you could also play only Mountains to still ensure revealing fewer cards in a lethal blast.\n\nOn the flip side, some decks want to play more lands than usual. Landfall and Lands Matter decks need plenty of lands to fuel their primary engines, and often to win the game as well. Omnath, Locus of Rage, Field of the Dead, and Valakut, the Molten Pinnacle are all much less impressive when you don't have any lands to play. Decks with many expensive spells, like Dragons or Eldrazi, usually also want more lands to ensure they can cast their big spells. You might also play more lands than usual to take advantage of creatures like Cavalier of Flame and Multani, Yavimaya's Avatar, which grow more powerful the more lands you have in play or in your graveyard.\n\nHow To Participate"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"  Brew an EDH/Commander legal deck on Archidekt that satisfies the prompt."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"  Any 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":"\nThis month we're also revamping the submission process. Decks must now be submitted on Archidekt via a button on the newspost. This will make it easier to view all submissions in a single place. Additionally, it will simplify the process of writing a description by sharing the same text on the submission page and the deck page itself. You can also comment on individual decks directly from the submission, making those discussions easier to find and track later.\n\nTo submit a deck, select the orange button labeled \"Submit a deck to this contest\" and follow the form prompt. Submissions are accepted until "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"9:00 pm EST"},{"insert":" (UTC -4, currently) on "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wednesday, August 13, 2025"},{"insert":".\n\nOnly one submission per user! If you change your mind and want to submit a different deck before submissions close, you may do so by first deleting your submission. To edit your description, you can do so from the deck page itself. From 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, August 20, 2025"},{"insert":", we’ll announce three finalists via the Archidekt Discord and a brief article on EDHREC highlighting each deck.\n\nEach 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  1st 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 regarding their winnings within roughly 24 hours following the conclusion of voting on "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wednesday, August 27, 2025"},{"insert":".\n\nPlease note, you must have a Cardsphere account in order to receive your winnings. It's quick and free-- register "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.cardsphere.com/signup?referrer=archidekt_contest"},"insert":"here"},{"insert":" if you don't have an account already!\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/contestRules"},"insert":"Official contest rules."},{"insert":"\n\nIf you have any questions, feel free to ask here, or join our public "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://discord.gg/rYDFFVCmGr"},"insert":"Discord server"},{"insert":". We look forward to seeing what you all come up with!\n"}]}