benthic_druid 13 days{"ops":[{"insert":"Hello brewers,\nA new month means a new Archidekt Deckbuilding Contest! This time around, we want to see how creative you can be in combining themes in your commander decks.\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 September's deck building contest - build a Commander-legal deck that combines two themes or archetypes you don't normally see together. These could be themes defined by card types, such as artifacts and enchantments, or themes defined by strategy, like aristocrats and spellslinger. Decks will be judged on their creativity, originality, and how well they combine two unexpected themes."},{"insert":"\n\nThere are nearly unlimited ways to play Magic. Whether you like small creatures, big creatures, controlling the game, or racing to its conclusion as fast as possible, there's an archetype that supports what you want to do. In many cases, these archetypes also overlap, especially in Commander. Elf decks are often also ramp decks, token decks, and sometimes even storm decks. Zombie decks are usually aristocrats, artifact decks usually sacrifice their stuff. But what happens when you try to combine two archetypes that don't normally go together?\n\nBuilding an archetype you know well with an unusual twist is a great way to keep your decks feeling fresh without having to abandon your favorite cards. Enchantress is known for being storm-adjacent, but could also support a reanimator strategy with Animate Dead effects. Or there are powerful artifacts to support planeswalkers, so what if you added a little more artifact support to your Super-friends deck? Like Voltaic Key to untap The Chain Veil and make more mana from Chromatic Orrery.\n\nCombining themes is also a great way to experiment with an archetype you're not familiar with yet. Supporting artifacts with another archetype can help determine if you want to invest in some of the expensive artifact synergy cards like Krark-Clan Ironworks or Mycosynth Lattice. Alternatively, this can be a fun way to modulate your play experience. If your playgroup is tired of your lands deck comboing off every game, you can replace some of those combo pieces with Death Baron and Hordewing Skaab to win with Field of the Dead in a different way.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"How To Participate"},{"insert":"\n 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":"\nAs of last month we've also revamped the submission process.. Decks must now be submitted on Archidekt via a button on this 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, September 10, 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, September 17, 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"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://cardsphere.com/"},"insert":" cardsphere.com"},{"insert":". 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, September 24, 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"}]}
Edited 9/11/2025, 1:10:24 AM
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Friend or Foe
Created by: Humphrey_Boggart
6 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"We've all asked ourselves one time or another, \"hug or slug?\" Today, I've decided why not both? \n\nWelcome to \"Friend or Foe,\" piloted by Tivit, collector of secrets. They are here to kick ass and take names. You can manipulate the political goings on on the board by deciding not who votes that counts, but who counts the votes. Cast cards that vote and eke out value regardless of the results with synergy pieces such as \"grudge keeper\" to deal damage. Psychic possession lets you leech off of theoretically symmetrical effects like \"secret rendezvous\" to help play out political stuff more consistently. Benefit no matter how elections shake out and always come out on top.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Orvar Aristocrats
Created by: xenom0n
6 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck uses Orvar's signature copying ability to combine the playstyle of a spellslinger deck with an aristocrats win condition. The most critical card in the 99 is Relic Vial, which can be tutored, duplicated by Orvar, activated by Clerics (or Changelings), and brought back from the graveyard if necessary. Orvar's ability can also be used to duplicate creatures, or even other permanents through the many instant and sorcery spells in the deck with low CMC and flexible targeting. \n\nThe deck includes some sacrifice outlets to trigger Relic Vial, and Aetherflux as another win con to take advantage of the life gain from the Vial. Orvar's ability can also be used to address issues that may arise in the game, such as having too few lands, in addition to driving the primary win condition.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Dead no More - Lost Precon
Created by: Planeswalker_Josh
6 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This mixes Convoke and Web-Slinging in a Bracket 2 Stompy/Voltron Deck. Want to fully utilize the Commander's Web-Slinging Ability and combine it with Counter Doubling and Artifact Equipment. \n"}]}
Walls of Lies
Created by: OrigamiCycloneFan
6 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck is a combination of two concepts: walls and curses.\n\nNow you may be thinking, \"Walls? So they lose Defender and swing sideways, right?\"\n\nNah, they're just walls. Their sole purpose is to defend YOU while you curse thine opponents. This deck allows you to play politics with your opponents by saying, \"Don't target me, I just have walls. It'd be a waste of resources to try to hit me. Go target the dragon deck. Here's a curse that lets you get a bonus for attacking them.\" And once you have successfully convinced your enemies to take each other out, that is when you use the rest of your curses and enchantments to burn your last enemy to the ground. You are the wicked witch in her tower smiting those that are trying to ruin you from the safety of your walls. Cackle as your opponents fall one by one.\n\n\n\n\n\n"}]}
No deck tags
Gotta get back, back to the past, Samurai Stax!
Created by: subhuman
6 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Don't let the smile fool you, this is one mean cat!"},{"insert":"\n\nWhile Samurai tribal might be one of the fairest and most underpowered archetypes in Commander, this deck weaponizes it by fusing it with one of the most oppressive and controversial strategies in Magic: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"stax and resource denial"},{"insert":".\n\nLed by "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Kentaro, the Smiling Cat"},{"insert":", this deck ensures Samurai hit the battlefield early and often — "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"ignoring color requirements"},{"insert":" and cutting through the fog of war with tactical precision. Using cards that reduce mana costs such as Urza's Incubator, it can bypass the stax mechanics and keep adding pressure to the battlefield.\n\nWhat makes this deck particularly dangerous is how well it balances oppression with inevitability."},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" You don’t need to combo off or storm out."},{"insert":" You just need to survive the early turns, deploy a couple of resilient threats, and then flip the switch. Once your stax pieces are in place, your board continues to grow while your opponents’ gameplans fall apart piece by piece. By the time they realize the board is slipping away, they’ll be too taxed, tapped, or torn apart to do anything about it.\n\nIf you like decks that look fair on the surface, but slowly turn the game into a one-sided siege — and you enjoy the idea of Samurai battling under a blizzard of mana denial, tax effects, and scorched-earth land destruction — then Kentaro is your commander. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"He’s smiling because he already knows how this one ends."},{"insert":"\n"}]}
No deck tags
Exiled Zombies
Created by: LoxodonOfTheStars
6 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Normally in a zombie deck, the goal is to fill up the graveyard, then reanimate things, and there's a little of that in this deck, but instead of reanimating, mainly these zombies get exiled, practically the reverse! I've rarely seen/made a graveyard deck want to exile their own graveyard, but this deck is one of the few! And there's a surprising amount of zombie cards that care about exiling cards in the graveyard!\n"}]}
No deck tags
Blink Token Deck
Created by: The_Lizzard_Wizzard
6 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"No one wants to Blink their own tokens, so how does one make a deck that is both a blink deck and a token deck?\n"}]}
No deck tags
Clues and vehicles
Created by: Fearlesspotato1
6 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"The goal is to investigate and sift through my liberary. \n\nMy plan is to animate my clues to crew vehicles \n\nMaybe turn my clues into big stompers\n\nOr if that plan fails combo out for the win\n\nThe orgional combo I came up with involves pactdoll terror. Nick valentine Dross scoripan and a blue source from a aritfact.\n\n( If the deck isnt very flushed out its because I had 1 HOUR to come up with the list) happy deckbuolding \n"}]}
No deck tags
Cat and mouse
Created by: Lorenofthethirdpath
6 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Cute cats and mice working together in this fun to play themed deck. \n"}]}
No deck tags
Flickwalkers
Created by: Dwegon
6 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This is a flicker planeswalker deck, usually you want to stack up counters and flickering a planeswalker would reset your progress. And normally you can only activate a planeswalker once per turn. However, by flickering planeswalkers you can use their minus ability the first time around, flicker to reset their loyalty, and then tick them up or activate another potent minus ability.\n\nThis deck uses a lot of control abilities to make sure brago can get through combat allowing you to keep the value going.\n\nEnjoy!\n"}]}
Aegar-anteed Kill (Contest Sept 2025)
Created by: SimicDragon
6 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Aegar-anteed Kill [UR Deathtouch Wizards]"},{"insert":"\n\nAegar, the Freezing Flame usually surrounds himself with big giants and bigger burn spells. Here, however, he's helping his small Wizard friends destroy and draw with the power of deathtouch.\n\n(1) Pinger\nThese Wizards either tap or enter to ping for a small amount of damage, as low as 1. Either Niv-Mizzet pairs well with Aegar to wipe a field if the dragon's pings can become excess damage.\n\n(2) Deathtouch\nThese Equipment artifacts grant deathtouch. Now even 1 damage is considered lethal, and any amount of damage after is excess. Some boost power, so even 1/X Wizards block for excess when equipped.\n\n(3) Damage Increaser\nMost of the pingers deal 1 damage, which makes them lethal with deathtouch but not excess damage. These cards increase the damage each ping does, so even 2 damage with deathtouch triggers Aegar.\n\n(4) Artifact Tutor\nThe deathtouch equipments are the only artifacts in the deck so that Artificer Class and Shape Anew will always find one.\n\n(5) Copy Artifact\nWith only seven deathtouch equipments available to Izzet colors, some Wizards might not get to arm themselves. These spells copy these artifacts so everyone can get deathtouch.\n\n(6) Draw Matters\nWizard Class grows your team when you draw cards, allowing you to close out the game. Laboratory Maniac can also win you the game if your draw engine is strong enough, especially when both are combined with Benthic Biomancer.\n\n(7) Wizards Matter\nIf your Wizards run out of targets to snipe, these Wizards continue your draw and removal abilities.\n\n(8) Ping Fodder\nGive your opponents tokens that your Wizards can kill, in case they don't have any creatures left or it is politically advantageous not to antagonize them. Rite of the Raging Storm makes 5/1s that can either be pinged directly or cause excess damage in battle, the latter of which your Wizards can contribute to by pinging the blocker before the Elemental deals its combat damage to it. \n\n(9) Lose Abilities\nIf your opponents' creatures have pesky abilities like indestructible, you can remove them or replace the entire creature. Arcane Lighthouse and Detection Tower can help with hexproof and shroud. Note that the spells set toughness to at least 2 so that it is possible to ping them for 1 damage during combat before the damage step and cause excess damage. (An X/1 would die to the 1 damage ping and not be around to receive additional damage.)\n\n(10) Combat Manipulation\nThese cards incentivize or force your opponents' creatures into combat so your pings are more profitable. Trove of Temptation and others allow your opponents to attack you, which isn't a problem when you have deathtouching Wizard blockers.\n\n(11) Ramp\nWithout mana rocks, the ramp in this deck either create Treasures (which can be Shaped Anew) or untap permanents. Some of the former grant first strike, which helps make deathtouch matter even more. The latter has extra utility as well: in the early game you untap your lands for more mana, and in the late game you untap your pingers for extra damage. \n\n(12-13) Draw, Lands\nIn addition to the lands appearing in other categories, several of these lands sacrifice themselves to trigger Aether Revolt's revolt.\n\nI'd love to hear what you all think, thanks for reading this far!\n"}]}
No deck tags
Millristocrats
Created by: sicknasti
6 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck combines the architypes of Mill and Aristocrats, taking away their resources and their health one step at a time.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Marchesa face-down/theft
Created by: ArchangelAlchemist
6 days
{"ops":[{"insert":{"card-link":"Marchesa, the Black Rose"}},{"insert":" is a well known commander. The ability to reanimate any creature that dies while under your control has led many players to build decks about stealing, and then sacrificing, creatures. But, isn't that too narrow? What if you could steal and reanimate "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"anything?"},{"insert":"\n\nIn the Theft section we see cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thieving Amalgam"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Orochi Soul-Reaver"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cybership"}},{"insert":"; things that can take cards from your opponent's decks and put them on your side of the field as creatures. When they die while face-down Marchesa will bring them back at end of turn face-up as long as they had a counter on then when they died. This will allow you to take artifacts, enchantments, and even lands! Other cards that are great at stealing creatures are "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gisa, Glorious Resurrector"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grave Betrayal"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ghastly Conscription"}},{"insert":".\n\nFace-down has lots of cards that put in a lot of work to fill our board with our beloved 2/2s. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Qarsi High Priest"}},{"insert":" allows for sacrifice shenanigans. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scroll of Fate"}},{"insert":" can provide us with an instant-speed blocker, protect a card in our hand, or make sure our card can't be countered. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"They Came from the Pipes"}},{"insert":" does wonders by giving us creatures and letting us draw for each face-down that enters for the rest of the game.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thassa, Deep-Dwelling"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Deadeye Navigator"}},{"insert":" are in the Interaction category as cards that can flicker at instant speed and, like Marchesa, return them to your side of the board permanently. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Warstorm Surge"}},{"insert":" triggers on each of the 2/2s we get allowing us to manipulate life totals to get Marchesa's dethrone trigger.\n\nSince Life Manipulation is so important we have an entire section devoted to it. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Unspeakable Symbol"}},{"insert":" is an all-star by letting us directly trade life for +1/+1 counters. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Reckless Spite"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dismember"}},{"insert":" are great pieces of interaction that can lower our life total. And I have used "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jorubai Murk Lurker"}},{"insert":" to give an opponent's creature lifelink in order to get dethrone on them the next turn. \n\nSince face-down creatures are normally 2 power or makes them work well with Tunnelers. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Break Through the Line"}},{"insert":" grants haste if needed, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Apocalypse Runner"}},{"insert":" gives lifelink, and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Subira, Tulzidi Caravanner"}},{"insert":" can be used to refill your hand in some cases.\n\nI have found that manifesting normally gives me options for what to do on my turn but that doesn't mean I can completely ignore Card Advantage. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grim Haruspex"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jeska's Will"}},{"insert":" are pillars of advantage but the MVP here is "},{"insert":{"card-link":"River Kelpie"}},{"insert":". Since Marchesa will be reanimating more than creatures Kelpie can trigger quite a bit to keep the fun going. \n\nEven though Marchesa wants to reanimate creatures she has no issue bringing cards back as long as they're willing to pretend to be creatures for a bit. Steal cards from your opponents and have them be surprised at what is really lurking underneath!\n"}]}
No deck tags
Stuck blinking cause my eyes burn
Created by: LastRights93
6 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Stuck blinking cause my eyes burn"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nCreated for the September 2025 Deck Building Challenge \n\nThe deck is intended to blend the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"blink and burn deck types together"},{"insert":". I targeted a Bracket 2-3 space. \nThe main focus of the deck is to get a few burn cards on to the battlefield and use blink effects to get additional value either through ETB burn triggers or even just casting noncreature spell burns. \nI found this a fun architype to build, I found that blink decks either struggle to close out a game or just have to combo off sometimes leading to a less than satisfactory ending for some while burn decks are often fragile and eliminated first because everyone gets a common enemy. I think combining the two leaves a very toolbox deck that lets you answer some of the threats at the table while also turning up the heat. Your constant burning means you aren't waiting for the combo blink turn of 15 minutes and the blinks let you save your important burn cards and keep the engine rolling forward. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Win Cons:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The Intensifying the Burns cards of City on Fire, Solphim Mayhem Dominus, and Ojer Axonil, will help even small amounts of burn to lower your opponents health total quickly. \nGetting a few creature ETB burns ready with a blink or two of Master of the waves or Abdel should be able to pull even close to full life totals down very quickly. \nOtherwise general burning the table as you blink and play cards will eventually run the table out. Hopefully you burn them out before they take you out\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Toolbox:"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Most of the ETB (especially with multiple categories enabled) section can be used to multiple uses, recursion, etc\nThe benefit of blinking and most \"power up\" effects like Solphim and Elesh Norn can also be protected just with the same strategy that enables much of your deck. \nThe imperial recruiter and recruiter of the guard let you pull out many of the burn creatures from your deck. Blinking them lets you get even more prepared and likewise helps with the burn strategy. \n\nGeneric Good Blink Cards: "},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Peregrine Drake - Useful to give bursts of mana, can be an infinite with a bit of set up but shouldn't appear till fairly late in the game and requires 3-4 cards to do \nAngel of Ruin - double exile, can also plains tutor. Most of the time will likely be a tutor for lands but the occasional double exile is powerful too. \nSunTitan - Most of the burn cards are 3 mana or less creatures so sun titan works great here. Likewise you can get a double recursion by swinging then blinking \n\nWhy the Commander of Shiko and Narset, Unified: "},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"I wanted a commander that could help the general gameplan of the deck without warping it around itself. Shiko and Narset, Unified, did just that, gives a chance for double blinks, gives an opportunity for card draw but also could go a full game without being cast. She likely is best in the 5-6 mana area where you could cast her then immediately blink something else for the value. She works alongside the deck as a generic moderate value engine but doesn't warp the deck around herself. The deck easily could be powered up by replacing her with the Narset, Enlightened Exile however I felt the Enlightened Exile Narset is too much of an engine alone and would be more similar to putting a Ferrari engine in a standard 4 door sedan. \n\n"}]}
No deck tags
Aggro Turbofog
Created by: Bitskunk_
6 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck splits the difference between selesnya turbofog and aggro.\nAlmost every creature in the deck has a strong evasion ability to make sure the damage goes through."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Anthems and pump spells make sure the creatures hit harder."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The commander generates card advantage when a bulked-up creature does combat damage so:"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"You'll always have a fog in hand to stop your opponent from hitting back. Who needs blockers?"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"A perfectly paired combination of polar opposite strategies.\n"}]}
No deck tags