benthic_druid 41 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
Huckin rocks
Created by: ducktective
34 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"A prowess/spell slinger deck with no instants or sorceries using artifacts instead to trigger prowess \n"}]}
No deck tags
Blink Tokens
Created by: Drijunior
34 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This is a cool idea I had to use the Brago, King Eternal to build an agressive token deck where you get your tokens from bliking permanents that make tokens when it enters, and it felt as a cool engine instead of the usual combo focus that Brago typically have.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Hesitation is Defeat
Created by: Mithrias
34 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"While the regular Isshin Deck would send wave after wave of creatures at your opponents this one leads by example while the rest of the team stays at home. Meanwhile "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Isshin, Two Heavens as One"}},{"insert":" collects the benefits of the additonal attack triggers - from equipments like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pip-Boy 3000"}},{"insert":" and creatures like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Raiyuu, Storm's Edge"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sublime Archangel"}},{"insert":" .\n"}]}
Job Summoning
Created by: DarthLocutus
34 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Combines the Summon Sagas and Job Select Equipment to ramp up and overwhelm the opposition. Uses Terra, Magical Adept to bring the Summons out faster and turn them into tactical nukes, Gilgamesh to throw the Equipment into play, and more than a few ways to cheat massive bombs into play.\n"}]}
Can it Spellsling and Strengthen?
Created by: SensuBeanManiac
34 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"The idea is a Spellslinger deck in Orzhov with the intention of +1/+1 counters. Essentially make counters while targeting creatures and actively killing them. \n\nHonestly out of my usual playing field in the color pie of commander especially with \"Spellslinger\" thrown into the mix. \n\nOur commander "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shay Cormac"}},{"insert":" is a more fancier version of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Horobi, Death's Wail"}},{"insert":" that adds counters to our commander. It also helps with getting rid of pesky evasive static protection of commanders so we can kill that 10/10 indestructible eldrazi titan with easy. \n\nA work in progress still but growing on me for sure on the idea of how this deck would work.\n"}]}
Grave Gains
Created by: JustarandomMTGplayer
34 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This is my submission for the September 2025 Deck challenge. I just decided to mix self-mill graveyard synergies with lifegain. This deck does not hinge on just one card to bridge the gap between the archetypes. These archetypes have both had synergy created over time because there are many cards that have dealt with counting the amount of cards in graveyards to either gain power or gain life.\n\nWe will be following a very typical graveyard shenanigans package. However, we will be using it to make either side of the strategy flourish. I have omitted cards that would trivialize the synergies between the two archetypes such as an infinite life win con or a Jarad to sacrifice large creatures powred up by our graveyard. We are attempting to show off what can occur when both archetypes work together and I believe I have done my best at doing so.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Tough Times Never Last, But Tough Creatures Do
Created by: Damage_Inc-16
34 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Tough times never last, but tough creatures do... Especially in a deck where you take these two styles that have never crossed paths before. Graveyard with Toughness Matters. \n\nMy commander for this deck is "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Alesha, Who Smiles at Death"}},{"insert":". Alesha allows me to pay 2 mana to bring back a creature from my graveyard with power 2 or less. Instead of bringing back a bunch of 1/1s or 2/2s, this deck is designed to cheat out expensive high toughness creatures like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Unhallowed Phalanx"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Indomitable Ancients"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Palisade Giant"}},{"insert":" any time my commander attacks. Where this deck gets nasty is when you are able to graveyard someone like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Baldin, Century Herdmaster"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rasaad yn Bashir"}},{"insert":" who assign your creature's combat damage equal to their toughness rather than their power, and bring them onto the battlefield. \n\nLoad up the graveyard using cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Incarnation Technique"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mesmeric Orb"}},{"insert":", and also pin point those certain creatures with graveyard tutors like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Buried Alive"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vile Entomber"}},{"insert":". Some tough guys to target early other than Baldin or Rasaad who make absolute monsters in this deck would be "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tree of Perdition"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Malignus"}},{"insert":" who have the potential to be a 40/40 and a 20/20 in a commander game. Once you have a good layer of toughness spread out over your board you can cast cards to make your army even tougher with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Stoneskin"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Solidarity"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Slagwurm Armor"}},{"insert":". Now it's time to clear the way for you to attack with all your 1/10s, 1/15s, and 1/18 creatures using "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Behind the Scenes"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Break Through the Line"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thieves' Tools"}},{"insert":"... They will be dealing damage equal to their toughness and you will be unstoppable... literally.\n\nThere are creatures you will use up then sac or let die in combat, only to bring them back fully loaded and ready to wreak more havoc. You can cast "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hexavus"}},{"insert":" from your graveyard for 2 and immediately give 6 of your creatures flying letting it drop to 0 toughness, only to bring it back later on down the road when you need to give more creatures flying or just to have a 6/6 flyer. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bill the Pony"}},{"insert":" brings food tokens along when he enters. Those food tokens let a creature deal combat damage equal to its toughness. Once you're out of food tokens, take Bill out to the pasture only to bring him back the next turn with more food tokens. \n\nIf things aren't going your way and your opponents are trying to overpower your toughness deck, simply cast something in the likes of "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wave of Reckoning"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Slaughter the Strong"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tip the Scales"}},{"insert":" that will use their own power to hurt them or your lack of power and high toughness to save you. Plus the creatures you do lose will most likely just be able to be brought back using your commander. \n"}]}
No deck tags
Fire dancing
Created by: Zgawd
34 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Rionya brings her own version of storm."},{"insert":"\n Instead of stacking a storm count, every instant or sorcery you cast copies a creature. That means a single "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Terror of the Peaks"},{"insert":" becomes a "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"storm of Terrors"},{"insert":", each one blasting opponents as they enter.\nThe deck balances two paths:\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Dragon’s Approach"},{"insert":" either storms out to burn opponents directly or cheats in finishers like Terror and other damage-dealing dragons."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Rionya"},{"insert":" copies value creatures like "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mindclaw Shaman"},{"insert":", ripping hands and stealing spells. With "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Harmonic Prodigy"},{"insert":", those copies double their triggers, scaling from “cute” to devastating in a single turn."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"For grindy games, there’s a secret weapon: "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Dragon Mage"},{"insert":". As both a wizard (synergizing with the subtheme) "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"and"},{"insert":" a dragon, he turns Rionya’s copying power into a backup mill win—forcing every player to draw through their deck when life totals are too high to burn out.\nAnd hey—there "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"is"},{"insert":" one storm card in here. Of course it’s the "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"dragon with storm"},{"insert":". Why would I leave it out? Rionya already told you: "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"the dragons approach."},{"insert":"\n"}]}
No deck tags
Spellslinger/Eldrazi
Created by: M4THI3U
34 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"A game built on a draw base but which seeks to cast big mana spells. The more you draw, the more mana you produce, the more chance you have of casting a big Eldrazi.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Hessian Slivers
Created by: IllyriaSirene
34 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"For years, I played against friends with slivers 60 card decks, everyone in my commander pod has a sliver deck, each helmed by a different commander but all doing the same thing- put out a bunch of slivers that all buff each other, dominate opponents by hitting hard. So when thinking if I should make sliver deck, I thought, what if I put out slivers and gave them to the highest bidder? Mercenaries in the great sliver battle. Thus, the Donate-Slivers deck was born.\n\nThis deck works by creating a bunch of sliver tokens and then donating them to your opponents... featuring slivers that pump the table, and then encouraging your opponents to beat each other up with them.\n\nThis deck features all of your old favourite mercenaries like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cateran Overlord"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rathi Assassin"}},{"insert":", who can pop out any applicable creature in the deck if commander "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rukarumel, Biologist"}},{"insert":" is on the field. Most of the slivers in the deck are either universal buff slivers, so that when your opponents get them, everyone's slivers are equally impacted, or a few that make it harder to interact with our board. Then, we have ways to supply our opponents with sliver soldiers ready for battle; "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jon Irenicus, Shattered One"}},{"insert":" is by far the best one, because it requires the least politicking, as the donated slivers can't attack you or be sacced, but there are other options. Optimally Rukarumel's ability, along with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thrumming Hivepool"}},{"insert":" will create sliver tokens for the forces to be donated. By the time people want to attack us, our own board will be formidable, and we have ways of protecting ourselves and returning everyone back home when needed.\n\nThis is a budget list (not super low budget, but the most expensive cards are "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The First Sliver"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sliver Legion"}},{"insert":" which were both readily available in secret lairs, etc, and removing them removes almost a third of the cost), in particular featuring a budget manabase, because I built this for real and I don't own a lot of expensive cards. The mana base as listed functions great, but if you want to upgrade to a less budget version of the deck, changing the lands out for real fetches and/or triomes, etc, and including "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sliver Overlord"}},{"insert":" would be the first non-budget upgrades I would consider.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Group Hug Burn
Created by: Shamallamadong
34 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This is something I've been brewing around. Ever since one of my friends built Alexios, I realized I liked watching my friends kill each other. The whole idea of the deck is pretty simple, make everyone at the table eliminate each other for me while I help give them the tools to do so. \n\nI'm running [[Baeloth Barrityl, Entertainer]] in the Command Zone and [[Noble Heritage]] as my background. I'm running some quick ramp like [[Axgard Artisan]], [[Treasonous Ogre]] along side some stacks pieces like [[Smothering Tithe]], [[Smuggler's Share]], [[Curse of Opulence]] to help ramp out my commander and background as soon as possible.\n\nI'm also running a lot of protection to help keep me out of the fight incase the table tries to leave the party early like [[Riot Control]], [[Silence]], [[Windborn Muse]], [[Grand Abolisher]], [[Lightening Greaves]], [[Flawless Maneuver]], [[Deflecting Swat]], [[Deflecting Palm]], [[Boros Charm]], [[Angelfire Ignition]], [[Mother of Runes]]. The fun part is that I can also use some of these protection spells on my opponent's creatures to make sure they're dealing as much damage as possible for me. They also provide some added pump to for [[Baeloth Barrityl , Entertainer]] so I keep my opponent's creatures goaded. \n\nThere's 12 pieces of removal in this deck to keep any answers to my board at bay. [[Spurnmage Advocate]] is one of my favorite Group Huggy removal cards, giving two cards back from their graveyard to remove something more important. We'll be putting lots of counters on the board so I threw in [[All Will Be One]] to get double value. [[All Will Be One]] also has some great synergy with [[Spectacular Showdown]] , [[Agitator Ant]], [[Immortal Obligation]], [[Norn's Decree]]. Then we have some of the classics that go in every white deck [[Swords to Plowshares]] and [[Path to Exile]]. [[Loran of the Third Path]] has been a great add for removal and shared card draw with opponents. \n\nI've added in [[Promise of Loyalty]] and [[Blasphemous Act]] as board wipes. Who doesn't love a hard choice to chose one creature to keep on the board.\n\nI also don't want to just rely on [[Baeloth Barrityl]] to keep my opponent's creature's goaded so I have cards like [[Vengful Ancestor]], [[Agitator Ant]] , [[Nelly Borca, Impulsive Accuser]], [[Disrupt Decorum]], [[Spectacular Showdown]] to keep everyone attacking each other. \n\nThere's some Group Hug cards like [[Wedding Ring]], [[Cut a Deal]], [[Ox Drover]], [[Combat Calligrapher]], [[Agitator Ant]]. Who doesn't like drawing cards together? Who doesn't want +1/+1 counters? Who doesn't want free creatures?\n\nThen as a call back to the creature who gave me this idea in the first place, I wanted to add in some creatures that hand out to my opponents. So, I included [[Alexios, Deimos of Kosmos]], [[Rite of the Raging Storm]], [[Combat Calligrapher]].\n\nFinally, to close out the game cards like [[Insurrection]], [[Norn's Decree]], [[Gisela, Blade of Goldnight]], [[Fiendish Duo]]. After everyone's done fighting each other and we're the last at the table, We can easily clean up by taking the creatures we've been pumping the whole game, double the damage our opponents are doing to each other, or slowly bleeding them out as we throw up protection spells like [[Windborn Muse]], Ozhov Advokist]], [[Nils, Discipline Enforcer]]. \n\n"}]}
No deck tags
Gruul Elf Burn
Created by: shadowfrog
34 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Usually elves protect the forest and stuff but i thought it could be interesting if they used the forest as ammo for burn spells. This deck is mostly mana dork elves and stuff to give them hexproof, deathtouch, etc. There's a decent amount of deal x damage cards, some mana rocks to do more damage with, and some land/artifact/enchantment destruction. The whole goal is to summon elves, play some mana rocks and ways to protect/augment the elves (hopefully deathtouch+ combat damage protection+ hexproof), then attack with the elves to generate mana with the commander. Use the extra mana for red deal x damage spells. It seems to have to potential for some decent consistent damage.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Krydled millk
Created by: Hlidskjalf
34 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"I know this was last month's submission but I may replace it. Start with milling to have a slight scare. Then jump in with infect and proliferate quickly for a jump scare finish. \n"}]}
No deck tags
Red Death, ShipwreckerRed Death, Shipwrecker
Created by: Necro286
34 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck just came together while i was putting together a Liberty Prime deck. i thought this would be a fun goofy deck that can be fun in its own way. The goal of the deck is really to play with your opponents' enemies while you keep yourself protected. Mixing goad,card draw and burn to finish opponents off after everyone has beaten each other down, its a silly mix of group hug. I also decided to avoid any mana rocks to add some spice and fun to it.\n"}]}
No deck tags