benthic_druid 40 days{"ops":[{"insert":"We have the September 2025 finalists! \n\nVoting has concluded!\n\n🥇 ratorasniki\n🥈 zephes\n🥉 helloM\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-september-2025"},"insert":"https://edhrec.com/articles/deckbuilding-contest-finalists-september-2025"},{"insert":"\n\nUser: ratorasniki\nDeck: 2/2s For Flinching\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9127641/22s_for_flinching"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9127641/22s_for_flinching"},{"insert":"\n\nUser: helloM\nDeck: Pirlems\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/6509505/dual_tribal_pirlems"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/6509505/dual_tribal_pirlems"},{"insert":"\n\nUser: zephes\nDeck: Titan of Mycosynth\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/15888283/titan_of_mycosynth"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/15888283/titan_of_mycosynth"},{"insert":"\n\nHello 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 9/25/2025, 3:07:23 PM
45
EnchantmentStorm
Created by: Farnswalllow
33 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Enchantment + Storm\n\nTry and hit long cascade chains to build a huge boardstate with stormscale scion or Aeve\n"}]}
No deck tags
Wandering Minstrel (Guildgate/Self-Mill)
Created by: Spaghetti_Balls395
33 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"The main strategy of this deck revolves around milling just the right amount of gates and maze's end to reanimate them and win the game. There are mass self-mill spells like Mirror-Mad Phantasm and Hermit Druid, and then there are some mass land reanimation spells like Splendid Reclamation and Aftermath Analyst. There's also Hedron Crab and Hedge Shredder in here, which can act as a near-infinite combo which triggers from a single land drop, milling your library and throwing all of the gates on the battlefield. Jace and Lab Man are both there as back up plans in case I mill myself out.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Captain America and His 25 Cids
Created by: SwansongMTG
33 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Captain America is going to take advantage of his \"Hero\" Creature type with a bunch of Cids in the deck. In fact, Sunforger shines here in order to dig out great spells that draw and discard those Cids to the Graveyard. It's a fun merger of Equips and \"Any Number of Copies\" cards. \n"}]}
Edgar is throwing rocks?
Created by: SometimesGoodMostlyBad
33 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"I built this artifact burn deck. The goal really is to burn people down for damage by playing and sacrificing rocks. The commander does get a boon for attacking but the intention isn't to attack with this deck. I built it to ultimately of having a them of playing rocks and then throwing them at people. Thus the reason this deck included cards like fling or thud. I also chose not to hyper optimize lands or use game changers because ultimately I wanted this deck to be fun to play and to play against. Using the best lands and gamechangers would make it too easy to make this a powerful deck. Thanks for reading and I hope you'll like this deck!"},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}
No deck tags
This Isshin't it
Created by: beakf
33 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Attack triggers + Pillow Fort? Most Isshin decks are based around attacking your opponents for huge triggers but this one is built around your opponents attacking you. It triggers loads of attrition based effects when attacked and can close out the game with Enduring Ideal stacking enchantment effects.\n"}]}
Zinnia, Valley’s Voice
Created by: Worldscribe
33 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This is a stax deck built around copying legendary creatures with offspring.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Goblins from the gates
Created by: LotlethTroll33
33 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Open the Gates and unleash hordes of goblins, Just to gain time until you reach maze's end win condition. Alternatively, you can give your tokens indestructible, while your child of Alara blw the entire creature's field.\n"}]}
The Ants Go to War
Created by: Knollend
33 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck idea spawned from my desire to create a token deck that had a resilient enough game plan to not immediately fold to a board wipe (or have to play a ton of protection). Similarly, I have also been workshopping decks for a while that could generate enough mana to really take advantage of some of the larger token creators such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Forth Eorlingas!"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#1f1f1f","background":"#ffffff"},"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"color":"#16161d","background":"#ffffff"},"insert":{"card-link":"Eiganjo Uprising"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#16161d","background":"#ffffff"},"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"color":"#1f1f1f","background":"#ffffff"},"insert":"and "},{"attributes":{"color":"#1f1f1f","background":"#ffffff"},"insert":{"card-link":"White Sun's Zenith"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#1f1f1f","background":"#ffffff"},"insert":" . By using "},{"attributes":{"color":"#1f1f1f","background":"#ffffff"},"insert":{"card-link":"Susan Foreman"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#1f1f1f","background":"#ffffff"},"insert":" as a key ramp piece, I was also able to free up quite a bit of deck space that would have been used primarily for early game ramp. The additional land-based mana also provided increased explosiveness in the early turns as well as endurance into the late game."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#1f1f1f","background":"#ffffff"},"insert":"Blending a token strategy with a ramp and control plan not only provided the deck with increased resilience, but also allowed it to take advantage of slower enchantments such as "},{"attributes":{"color":"#1f1f1f","background":"#ffffff"},"insert":{"card-link":"Assemble the Legion"}},{"attributes":{"color":"#1f1f1f","background":"#ffffff"},"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent"},"insert":{"card-link":"Outlaws' Merriment"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent"},"insert":". Similarly, incremental impulse draw worked well here as both a synergy piece with "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent"},"insert":{"card-link":"The War Doctor"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent"},"insert":" and source of continuous card advantage."},{"insert":"\n\nPrimary Themes: Big Mana, Tokens, Control\n\nPlay Pattern: Ramp early with Susan and 4 mana ramp spells. Use large amounts of mana to flood the board with tokens and powerful anthems. If the game goes longer, the deck can also control the board with one-sided boardwipes and gain value with incremental card draw effects. These effects also trigger The War Doctor which can be used as either another removal piece or secondary wincon. \n\nIf you would like some more insight into the deckbuilding process, the sideboard includes cuts while the maybeboard contains cards removed specifically due to price (I try not to spend more than $5 on a card if I can help it!).\n\n"}]}
Rage Baiting Elf Squad
Created by: GriffeRaven
33 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"Welcome to a deck with the unlikely mixture of Elf tribal and Goad in bracket 2."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"Here is the game plan…"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"Turn 1-3:"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":" Get out a bunch of cheap elves with either ramp or Lord effects to establish board presence and get into the later game."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"Turn 4-6"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":": Use Baeloth and Raised by Giants to eliminate blockers if ahead or to buy time for additional building if behind or wrecked by a boardwipe."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"Turn 7+"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":": Threaten life totals with a mixture of overwhelming value and use of goad effects to force unfavorable attacks and remove troublesome blockers."},{"insert":"\n\nWhy combine Elves and Goad?\n\nElves are famously a very fast tribe and can create quick starts and advantage. The hard part is translating that to any meaningful long term pressure outside of Craterhoof/Overwhelming stampede type effects. While this is sometimes effective, it's very all or nothing and very overdone. \n\nAdding goad provides multiple advantages for elves:\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"Taps down creatures that would otherwise cause problems to swing into (even with trample)."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"Ensures others are aiding in lowering life totals for KO hits."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"Saves me from having to decide if I should sacrifice my elves or life total by forcing attacks away from me. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"Even simple cards such as Bloodthirsty Blade can keep major threats away while I’m attempting to play out elves to eventually be able to chip away at my exposed opponents or drop a threat with Coat of Arms or Banner of Kinship. "},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000","italic":true},"insert":"Note: Different from Craterhoof/Overwhelming Stampede as they provide lasting stat buffs to Baeloth helping him catch more creature in his ability."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"Ignoring Clossification which I included because it's hilarious the deck sticks to the theme pretty strictly purposefully avoiding insurrection or crackle with power type of win effects although those could be included as late game wincons!"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#000000"},"insert":"Super fun to build and was fun to play test as well! Hope you like it :)"},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}
No deck tags
Contest
Created by: OffaToken
33 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Hydra Spellslinger — X Marks the Spot"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"When people think of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Hydras"},{"insert":", they picture big, stompy green creatures that scale with mana. When people think of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Spellslinger"},{"insert":", they picture cantrips, storm, and spell chains — not giant monsters.\nThis deck asks: "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"what if we combined them?"},{"insert":"\nWith "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Zaxara, the Exemplary"},{"insert":" at the helm, every X-spell becomes more than just a big splashy effect — it also makes a Hydra. Suddenly, draw spells like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Blue Sun’s Zenith"},{"insert":" or "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Stroke of Genius"},{"insert":" don’t just refill your hand, they grow your board. Finishers like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Exsanguinate"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Torment of Hailfire"},{"insert":" drain the table "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"and"},{"insert":" leave behind a token army. Even “off-theme” spells like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Villainous Wealth"},{"insert":" turn into Hydra-making engines.\nThe Hydras themselves provide a second axis of threat: scaling monsters like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Kalonian Hydra"},{"insert":", "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Managorger Hydra"},{"insert":", and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Primordial Hydra"},{"insert":" get out of hand quickly, especially with all the ramp and mana doubling the deck leans on.\nThe result is a mashup of two archetypes you rarely see together:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Hydra Tribal"},{"insert":" (go tall with scalable monsters)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Spellslinger/X-Spell Storm"},{"insert":" (go wide with spell-based payoffs)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Instead of choosing between stompy creatures or flashy spells, this list rewards you for casting big X-spells by giving you both. Hydras swing tall, spells sling wide — and Zaxara ties it all together.\n\n(yes i used AI to help write this due to not being good at putting words together properly all the time)\n"}]}
No deck tags
The Wakka Dream
Created by: Niforten
33 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This is the Wakka Dream. I first thought about this commander back in June when the final fantasy deck building contest was released, but didn't build it until now. Now it's turned into one of my favorite decks, my dream, one could say. And that dream is to go wide, put counters on my creatures, and then terrorize any artifact player in my way, and people who didn't realize they were playing artifacts. \nThis deck is a meld between tokens and counters. On my end step if "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wakka, Devoted Guardian"}},{"insert":" had a counter put on him, then every other creature gets a +1/+1 counter as well. So my cards help to either fill my board with creatures to put counters on, or help to put counters on Wakka. Some of my favorites interact with both, such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sanctuary Warden"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ranger Class"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Elspeth, Storm Slayer"}},{"insert":".\nIt is not uncommon to combine tokens and counters in this way, you typically want to buff the 1/1s your deck is making. However Wakka has another line of text which makes everything more fun. \"Whenever Wakka deals combat damage to a player, destroy up to one artifact that player controls and put a +1/+1 counter on Wakka.\" Now most players are probably going to have an artifact, maybe a treasure token or an arcane signet. But what if they don't have artifacts, or the person that has an artifact isn't safe to attack. Enter the fuel: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Liquimetal Coating"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Liquimetal Torque"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Myr Landshaper"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mycosynth Lattice"}},{"insert":". All of these can suddenly make our opponent's cards into scarp metal for Wakka to destroy, making the thing they thought was safe now very much in danger. And other cards in the deck synergize with this unique strategy. Turning our opponents lands into artifacts is fun with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tanglewalker"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Splinter"}},{"insert":" can blow up every basic land in our opponents deck (rip mono colored). "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Viridian Revel"}},{"insert":" is a great card draw engine. And some fun cards from the final fantasy set like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Commune with Beavers"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Delivery Moogle"}},{"insert":" help us to get one of the fuel pieces to make this work. \nI loved making this deck. Combining a familiar strategy of tokens and counters with a pretty unique one was very fun, and led to finding some cards I didn't know about but now really enjoy. I hope you enjoy and appreciate it's uniqueness as well. \n"}]}
No deck tags
Pirate Rock Radio
Created by: Atropha
33 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Rakdos Pirates make Landfall!\n\nLandfall is generally a mechanic that heavily encourages you to run Green to make the most of it. Here I've found a (hopefully) interesting way to combine it with Pirates and an Artifact sacrifice theme. The Land --> Rock --> Explore --> Land engine feeds into itself and missing on the exploration flip let you turn your pirates into more of a potential threat.\nBetween Landfall and Artifact sacrifice triggers it produces a surprisingly synergistic package while staying on a general theme. Pirates, treasures, ammunition and setting sail for new shores. EoE Lander tokens unfortunately weren't that prevalent in Black/Red and while mechanically synergistic it felt off-theme to add in one or two \"space\" flavored cards.\n"}]}
No deck tags
A Dance of Fire and Ice
Created by: N1kachu
33 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"What is more opposite than Hot and Cold, Volcanoes and Glaciers, Fire and Ice?\nA gentle balance of two extreme opposing forces performing to together to create an elegance Dance of Fire and Ice.\nUse the elegant passion of fire to burn away your opponents and their creatures en masse, while using the calculated precision of ice to stun the larger threats.\n\nThis deck idea literally came to me in a dream after spending 6 hours playing 'A Dance of Fire and Ice' (great rhythm game btw) and so I had to make it reality.\n\nThe commander, Aegar the Freezing Flame, is the best representation of red and blue with the perfect name for the deck. It wants you to burn away your opponents to grant more value in card draw if excess damage is dealt. Due to the commander there is chance for plenty of politics, as only need to have dealt damage. You don't need to do the excess. If an opponent uses Blasphemous Act, just cast Cinderclasm in response and draw for as many creatures on the board with less than 14 toughness. \nYour commander may die but you will be so far ahead in card advantage that it doesn't matter.\n\nNow what about all of those pesky creature with toughness greater than the damage your burn spells can deal? \nJust tap them down.\nThey can't hurt you if they are frozen in an Ice block.\n\nYou can use your targeted freeze and burn effects to make deals to benefit you in the future. Tap down a threat so that the other players will swing at them rather than you. Burn out an annoying combo piece so that you gain favour with the table.\n\nWhat about effect damage?\nThere are a few effects that remove abilities from opponents creatures and artifacts.\nYou aren't in colours that can deal with enchantments to that will require some politics with the rest of the table.\n\nNow what is cooler than Stax? \nFrozen Aether slows your opponents to assist you in reaching a state in which you can use a finisher such as Firestorm. Once you have built up an enormous hand due to Aegar drawing you cards you can pitch it all to deal massive damage to add many targets at possible. \n\nThis is a control deck with burn as the win con.\nIt is all about managing the careful balance between two deadly forces of nature.\n\nAlso because it is a dance to master both forms of magic, I had to include Rionya. She synergises very well with the almost spell slinger style and allows extra bursts of damage with Kessig Flamebreather, swing out harder with Kaldera Pyremaw or Tap out your opponents board with Ice Flan (if you don't cycle the Flan).\n\nTake hold of your inner Todoroki with this IcyHot control-burn deck.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Theatre Director
Created by: AzraelKartouch87
33 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Enchantress deck using Roles like Monsterous or Royal\n"}]}
No deck tags