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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Terra, Magical Adept (Saga Spam)
Created by: Sir_Knowsalot
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"I created a WUBRG deck about Saga's and enchantments, it's all about combining card draw with ramp to fill my side of the table with creatures that have expiration dates only to bring them back on a later turn and If I'm lucky play "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rise of the Dark Realms"}},{"insert":" and watch my opponents blanch as I start playing out 10 saga effects\n\nI limited myself to cards I actually have and no tutors as consistency isn't all that fun\n"}]}
Indoraptor perfect hybrid
Created by: Bristly-Grist
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This Deck burns down your Opponents, makes a lot of Commander Damage, Cycles quite fast and Wins quickly by damaging your Opponents early with the Power of your Commander, wich takes the Damage that was dealt and removes a Creature or makes Damage when he gets damage throug the Enrage ability from Ixalan. It makes fun Playing with it and even my Opponents had fun.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Race to the Blind Eternity
Created by: TiberiusAudley
13 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Eldrazi Burn"},{"insert":"\n\nSamut, the Driving Force makes your Noncreature Spells cheaper to cast, based off your speed. Most people who looked at her, given the set she was in, thought \"Oh, okay, she's a Vehicles commander.\" Or they play her with Tokens.\n\nBut she actually has an incredible synergy with Mana Rocks. Mana rocks up to 4 mana can become Cheerios with her, giving a great return on investment. And that much ramp lends itself well to Eldrazi strategies, generally speaking.\n\nBut Eldrazi means casting Creatures, and Samut doesn't synergize as well with creatures. Which is why most of the 17 creatures in this Samut deck exist to amplify the actual strategy going on here: Eldrazi Burn.\n\nGlaring Fleshraker loves seeing colorless spells of any type cast. And even more than that, it loves seeing colorless creatures enter the battlefield. Combined with Echoes of Eternity (and other doublers like Panharmonicon, Elesh Norn, and Delney), a single colorless spell can turn into a lot of damage all at once. It becomes even more potent when that colorless spell is something like a Skittering Invasion, bringing several more colorless creatures onto the battlefield for Glaring Fleshraker to burn the field.\n\nMyriad Construct and Triplicate Titan become waiting spellbombs. Echoes doubles the triggers of either that put new colorless creatures onto the field...turning 1 creature into 6 or even 12 colorless creatures entering the battlefield...which Glaring Fleshraker then turns into 12 or 24 damage to all players. (And god help you all if Agate Instigator is present, or Taii Wakeen has amplified the Noncombat Damage on the board).\n\nThis Bracket 2 deck relies on draw to get its pieces in play, and hints at its Eldrazi inclinations with the mass amount of lands that tap for colorless, but relies on people misunderstanding the actual threat to get to the point that it just burns everyone all at once on a turn...combining three weird archetypes all in one: Speed, Eldrazi, and Burn, in a way that doesn't really see much use.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Y'shtola's Legendary Slumber Party
Created by: Ghostrxnnxr
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Y'shtola invites all of her friends over for a sleepover. You will gain life and draw cards and remove any uninvited guests from the party. \n"}]}
Teenage Mutant ninja ninja
Created by: jam122
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck is inspired by the TMNT in the sense that it's all about mutating ninjas and using the Ninja's to bounce mutate cards back to hand. \n"}]}
No deck tags
Evil Deck Of Doom and Discard
Created by: Drakuseth_Maw_Of_Flames
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"The most evil deck out there.\nThis deck makes your opponents choose how the game will work out, but the other part of the deck is to choose for them.\nI use Eggman to cheat out big creatures while I use my mana to remove the opponents hand.\nWithout a hand, they must choose to let me cheat a creature.\nThey have no cards, and I have a 11/11 Artifact robot ready to attack.\nThe perfect plan for World Domination!!!\nThe Schnarling Worph strikes back.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Nights blessed nightmares
Created by: deckguy
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck is a spellslinger / control deck that burns your opponents life total with every spell you cast while keeping them in check as you gain life to spend casting removal and counter spells making you the real threat on the board.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Terra, Herald of Hope (Dungeon Mechanic)
Created by: ArunaLaFleur
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This Deck combines the Dungeon and Party Mechanic with the Recursion of Terra, Herald of Hope as it's Commander. \nIt may just be a bracket 2 friendly deck, and it is one of my very own first decks that i've built after I found out about the Dungeon mechanic from a friend. \n\nIt is extremly fun to play with and i am very happy how it turned out!\n"}]}
Cast Spells, Sacrifice Tokens, BURN!!!!!
Created by: TheRaginMellow
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck is all about casting spells and having token-making spell-slinger effects to fund the aristocrat strategy of sacrificing tokens to the blood god! Then cast the blood god to activate the BURN!!! This deck is full of instants and sorceries that make tokens, creatures that have magecraft or spell casting effects, sacrifice and death trigger synergies ,and burn and damage dooublers all in one cute and bloody package!\n"}]}
Oops All Creature Voltron????
Created by: ProArcherz
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Most voltron decks take advantage of different artifact or enchantment synergies to protect their big guy and overwhelm their opponents. Other decks may take advantage of instant speed pump spells instead to catch their opponents off guard. But what if we had none of that? What if we had no artifacts, no enchantments, no instants, and even no sorceries. \n\nI present to you, my oops all creatures voltron deck. Helmed by the one and only, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Raiyuu, Storm's Edge"}},{"insert":". \n\nRaiyuu's big shtick is that he can generate an extra combat step if he attacks alone. Luckily for him, that's exactly what we want to do. Every single other creature in this deck only cares about making him stronger. A lot of this comes in the form of \"at the beginning of combat\" triggers, which will allow them to trigger twice in one turn due to Raiyuu's ability. Cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Luminarch Aspirant"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Raging Battle Mouse"}},{"insert":" do this pretty well.\n\nSo get creature ramping, get creature pumping, then get creature beating. Or... player beating I guess, idk. \n"}]}
Ardenn and Nadier - Equipmocrats
Created by: alexmorris092
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Ardenn & Nadier combine two themes you don’t typically see together: Equipment and Aristocrats (Equipmocrats?)\n\nThis deck is all about resiliency. If someone wants to board wipe or remove our threats, that’s perfectly fine with us.\n\nNadier and a host of other creatures will each give you a big upside when they are killed. The more you pump them up, the bigger of a payoff you get when they die. With most of these creatures (including Nadier), the payoff is creating a bunch of creature tokens.\n\nThe fastest, easiest way to pump one of these guys up is using Ardenn and some classic equipment like Colossus Hammer. For example, Nested Shambler + Colossus Hammer can come into play as early as turn 3, making him an 11/11 creature that will leave behind eleven 1/1 squirrels when he dies.\n\nNaturally all this stuff dying pairs perfectly with aristocrat effects. Cards like Mirkwood bats, Teysa Karlov, and Pitiless Plunderer are very effective here.\n\nNadier himself has a high mana cost, but he is the best aristocrat in the deck because his ability triggers anytime he “leaves the battlefield”. For this reason the deck also includes a couple blink cards in Teleportation Circle/Conjueror’s Closet.\n\nThe deck has multiple win conditions. Simple combat damage with big equipment and tons of tokens is one way. Draining your opponents life with a bunch of death triggers is another. And there is also the infinite using Nim Deathmantle + Ashnod’s Altar (or Phyrexian Altar) + Nadier (or another aristocrat like Elenda the Dusk Rose).\n\nThis deck is a solid Bracket 4 choice. It’s by no means at cedh level, but it is powerful and uses quite a few game changers. I have played with this many times, and it is a fun deck that is hard to stop.\n"}]}
Unblockable Draw
Created by: Kyronkhan
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Themes of unblockable creatures and massive bonus card draw. \n"}]}
No deck tags
Hope Eternal
Created by: Vanpaia
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This Selesnya (Green/White) deck, helmed by Yuna, Hope of Spira, is a highly optimized Stax and Combo deck. Its primary game plan revolves around establishing powerful stax pieces to restrict opponents' actions, then leveraging efficient tutors and Yuna's unique recursion ability to assemble a game-winning combo or create an overwhelming board state. Yuna acts as a crucial engine, consistently returning key enchantment stax pieces or combo components from the graveyard to the battlefield, ensuring resilience and persistence in the deck's strategy.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Feywild Visitor//Safana, Calimport Cutthroat (Under $15)
Created by: FograwNYAM
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Date of creation:\nJune 2024"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nTheme:\nAn Initiative//Party deck with an underlining aristocrat strategy."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nPower: [Bracket 3]\nYou can normally have both your commanders out and the ability to create faerie dragon tokens by turn 4 each game. After which you can start working on going through The Undercity while you are building up your resources in order to maximize your aristocrat strategy. This deck reliably starts closing out games around turns 10-12."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWin conditions:\nThe main win condition of this deck is through the accumulation of resources which allow you to win with you aristocrat strategy but every so often it'll sneak out a win through combat."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nRules and notes:\nDeck must remain under $15 value."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Deck only uses common and uncommon cards under 50 cents. (Unless it's a special birthday addition)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"No Sol Ring or Arcane Signet."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"There must be an even distribution of Party creatures (Clerics, Rogues, Wizards, and Warriors) at all times."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nBirthday Edition:\nCoveted Prize (7/22/25)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"}]}
Brokkos: Apex of Energy
Created by: ShoeWOOBERG
13 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Brokkos mutated onto "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Empyreal Voyager"}},{"insert":" makes a ton of energy, and now there are several cards that make energy equal to combat damage, so let's mutate them into huge Fatties and get WAY too much energy\n"}]}