benthic_druid 42 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
Jodah the Unifier of Stations and Legends
Created by: MelonyTheSixth
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck runs a lot of synergies with legendaries, as you would expect from a Jodah deck, and attempts to blend the synergies available for several legendary cards that want to tap with a few vehicles and some of the new EoE stations. It includes untap cards to make the most of the tapping synergies, as well as a handful of non-legendary cards that provide benefits when they tap. \n\nJodah helps get more cards out to tap with and grows them so they can station the ships and planet lands without having to tap down all blockers, and the decks high levels of card draw and ramp help keep the cards coming down turn after turn. \n\nSome card slots were dedicated to legendaries that provide incidental removal, and a few effect doublers and protection to keep the threats coming. \n\nMy pod runs pretty light on removal, so I was able to dedicate most of the slots to legendary cards to trigger Jodah's cascades. \n"}]}
No deck tags
Theft Burn
Created by: ultimatetrainer
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"The idea for this deck came to me when I first saw "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shadow of the Goblin"}},{"insert":" in Spider-man spoilers since its a really interesting card kinda like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Impact Tremors"}},{"insert":" but with casting but only for cards not in your hand and decided to base a whole deck on stealing your opponents noncreature spells. I used "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Don Andres, the Renegade"}},{"insert":" for mostly the slow treasure ramp after stealing a noncreature spell so I can cast more spells later. Ended up using the pirates as a theft package as a result. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shadow of the Goblin"}},{"insert":" definitely wasn't enough for a full burn strategy, so I also decided to use a lot of the Final Fantasy Wizards since they were all in Grixis colors as well. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dire Fleet Ravager"}},{"insert":" ending up melding the two kindred types together alright. If the game ends up dragging too long there is at least one infinite mana combo as well as infinite casting to blaze the opponents to victory.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Mutate, Assemble Voltron, Steal
Created by: AverageMage
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"The deck features pretty much all the mutate cards to try and add some value to trying to make "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kotis, the Fangkeeper"}},{"insert":" go crazy and steal all the cards! With a voltron and stealing strat, the deck is gonna be a lot of fun to play! Cause we all know it's more fun to play with someone else's cards!\n\nThe mutate cards are there to help generate value with cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sea-Dasher Octopus"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dreamtail Heron"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Trumpeting Gnarr"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Auspicious Starrix"}},{"insert":". It also features some controlling cards and removal to keep you ahead; "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pouncing Shoreshark"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gemrazer"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dirge Bat"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cavern Whisperer"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Chittering Harvester"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Archipelagore"}},{"insert":". Along with some recursion effects from "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Otrimi, the Ever-Playful"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Boneyard Lurker"}},{"insert":" to keep the good mutate goin!\n\nThis deck also has some good options for building up Kotis, with equipment and aura support. For aura's we've got some good options for getting in for damage with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aether Tunnel"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Favor of the Overbeing"}},{"insert":". Draw has "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Combat Research"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Helm of the Ghastlord"}},{"insert":". Rounding out is how to make Kotis bigger; "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Colossification"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Indomitable Might"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rancor"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Strong Back"}},{"insert":".\nEquipment is just as fun! "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Trailblazer's Boots"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Swiftfoot Boots"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dragonfire Blade"}},{"insert":" for protection. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thran Power Suit"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Power Fist"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Inquisitor's Flail"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fireshrieker"}},{"insert":" to just keep getting stronger and steal more cards\n\nThere's a small +1/+1 counter pile to help push your creatures just a bit further and make it to where even the non-suited creatures you play still have the power to hit hard! Most of the cards here are more situational with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Astarion's Thirst"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gift of the Viper"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Repulsive Mutation"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ruinous Intrusion"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Slip Out the Back"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Snakeskin Veil"}},{"insert":" help give the deck some interactions. The rest like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Drix Fatemaker"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Forgotten Ancient"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ouroboroid"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Herald of Secret Streams"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Thirteenth Doctor"}},{"insert":" are what's gonna add value to all the counters we put on out stuff \n\nFinally rounding everything out is the fun part of the deck the thing we built up Kotis for, THIEVERY!!!! We want to play with other peoples cards! We want to use their best stuff against them! There's a good bit of stealing cards and support to get value of the stolen goods! "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gonti, Canny Acquisitor"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gonti, Lord of Luxury"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gonti, Night Minister"}},{"insert":"! The Gonti gang is in the house! Each doing what Gonti loves doing."},{"insert":{"card-link":"Brainstealer Dragon"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Agent of Treachery"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blatant Thievery"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Bribery"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Confiscate"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Villainous Wealth"}},{"insert":", and thought not fully stealing cards "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Notion Thief"}},{"insert":" just to fit the theme\n\n"}]}
The Alpha Slime
Created by: BirdNestSoup
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Slime Against Humanity Voltron. Need I say more?\n"}]}
Untap Symbol, Control, Artifact, Mill
Created by: HydoMTG
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck combines the untap symbol, control, mill and artifact archetypes into one lovely soup.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Game plan"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mulligans"},{"insert":"\n\nThe main thing you want to be looking for to get you from early to mid game is a creature with the untap symbol, Puresight Merrow being the best one. All of them can come down before the commander and once the commander hits the board they really help to churn through the deck with the surveil mechanic tapping them, and their own ability untapping them. I call this a... Combination.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Early Game"},{"insert":"\n\nEstablishing a board early is key to this deck. The more creatures you can commit before your commander the quicker you can begin digging through the deck. Ideally a creature on both 2 and 3 will allow you to cast the commander on turn 4 and instantly get 2 surveils.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mid Game"},{"insert":"\n\nWe want to dig, dig and dig some more to get us to the late game, dump everything in our bin unless it directly contributes to one of our game winning combos, but to get there we need to control the board. All our creatures gaining vigilance is desceptivly powerful, as it won't leave us defenseless if we want to pressure our opponents.\n\nFurthermore, Opression and Glare of Subduel can control the board state completly with a creature with the untap symbol. This can be very mana intensive, but the deck is packed with creatures that can untap any permenant, which includes lands, boosting our mana.\n\nWe have a number of mass protection spells to maintain our board state against opposing wraths, which is essential to our mainly creature based game plan.\n\nTo compliment the creatures there are a number of planeswalkers that can be ultimated the turn they come down if we have an active Gilder Bairn waiting to double their loyalty.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Late Game"},{"insert":"\n\nOnce we have a bit of control we need to assert dominance, and transition into our mill win conditions. \n\nTo go along with these we have a trio of top deck revealing cards in Jace the Mind Sculptor, Wizened Snitches and Lantern of Insight. Seeing what our opponents will draw allows us to Mill them and remove anything that might be problematic to our game plan before it can even be cast.\n\nFor final finishers we have a trio of mill artifacts that work amazingly with all of our untappers. Keening Stone is expensive to operate, but can easily take a player out of the game. Folio of Fancies and Riverchurn Monument complete the trilogy and can lead to explosive mill wins with some untappers.\n\nFinaly, we have The Millenium Calender to finish games, which can easily get to 1000 counters and blast the table away, with just a few untaps.\n\nOh and if it all goes Pete tong and all our key artifacts get blown up, our commanders last ability can return the key ones straight to the battlefield.\n"}]}
Artifolk
Created by: olivender
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck tries to find "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Encroaching Mycosynth"}},{"insert":" so it can cast merfolk from the graveyard it will either try to win with a tribal finisher like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Coat of Arms"}},{"insert":" or with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thassa's Oracle"}},{"insert":" \n"}]}
No deck tags
Henzie has Skeletons
Created by: Janus-521
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Henzie has done many terrible things with his time on this plane and in his wake, has left many skeletons behind him. With this deck, I have decided to explore two archetypes, Skeleton Tribal and the Venture in to the Dungeon mechanic. While venturing through the dungeons, you will generate quite a few skeletons along the way. This deck capitalizes on that synergy with multiple anthem effects. Skeletons naturally don't stay put in the grave so there are quite a few tricks that will fetch the dead back out to join Henzie's devil dance.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Black Green Artifacts?
Created by: sseidel86
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"I asked my playgroup to rank the best colors for artifacts and black was 4th and green 5th. So I built a B/G artifact deck. Do the G cards mostly destroy artifacts? Yes, but I am hoping to use that to kill the enemy :)\n"}]}
No deck tags
a Copy a day Upkeeps the Doctor away
Created by: LLgamer
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck does two things: Get lots of Upkeeps and Copy Spells.\nThe main wincon for this deck is to utilize an Upkeep Engine, powered by copying key spells to power draw, ramp, and tutor, setting up a win by finally copying spells that have the Epic keyword. The Epic keyword perfectly combines extra upkeeps with copied spells because it prevents the caster from casting any additional spells, "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"but "},{"insert":"retriggers itself every upkeep. With this deck, making 2-3 copies of a spell is trivial - and so is getting 4-5 upkeeps a turn. With Epic spells, every turn you get 8-15 triggers of a spell that is designed to be relatively game ending. It get worse if you're able to get specific artifacts out (Twinning Staff for example doubles the amount of trigger every turn).\n\nKey Synergies are: \nRousing Refrain/Inspiring Refrain + any copy effect = every 3 upkeeps (potentially 2-3 times a turn), there is an additional trigger of the spell. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Extravagant Replication/Mechanized Production + Twinning Staff = Upkeeps multiply spell copy effects through multiple copies of the staff"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Any additional upkeeps + Mindsplice Apparatus = Colorless mana for Instants and Sorceries are discounted"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Leyline of Anticipation + Neverending Torment + Eternal Domination = Both Epic spells are on the stack at the same time"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Braids, Conjurer Adept + Epic spells = Creatures and artifacts can still be played after casting Epic spells"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"There's others, but those are the most important^^"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"}]}
No deck tags
Kenessos Scrompy (Scry-Stompy)
Created by: blmck30
35 days
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Gameplan"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Turn 1:"},{"insert":" Land"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Turn 2:"},{"insert":" "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kenessos, Priest of Thassa"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Turn 3:"},{"insert":" Scry effect, hopedully find a big threat on top of the deck"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Turn 4:"},{"insert":" Activate Kenessos to cheat that creature into play"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Turn 5+:"},{"insert":" Keep scrying and activating kenessos. Keep mana up for interaction."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nThe deck is pretty reliant on Kenessos surviving the early game, so "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"the goal is to act quickly while opponents are still setting up"},{"insert":" their mana rocks and aren’t prioritizing removal.\nRamp is intentionally light since the average mana value is low—most of the “big” creatures can be cheated in for just four mana. With so much scrying, consistently hitting land drops shouldn’t be an issue either.\nIf the main line falls through, use your card selection to dig for whatever is needed to transition into the late game.\n\nImportant note: since Cephalids were errata’d to Octopus, they're fair game to cheat in with Kenessos!\n\n"}]}
No deck tags
sliver T4
Created by: bladed2011@gmail.com
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"its my first build at a sliver deck\n"}]}
No deck tags
Let Me Help You Help Me
Created by: Jaegerman
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"With this deck you want to help your opponents draw cards and cast lots of spells so you can flash in some storm finishers to close out the game.\n"}]}
try and armagedoning this deck
Created by: RedFangSeven
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"no lands? no problem! was a previous entry to another contest but i still feel like this deck has potential for this contest as well! the idea behind this deck is there's no MDFs nothing over $100 plus. and actually requires you to think on how to get the mana you need. does it win games sometimes, might need to mulligan tho but that's OK its honestly a very fun deck.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Kros: Devotion and Convergence
Created by: Prototypetwo
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Kros, at face value, is a posh and polished commander who is prepared to play a safe and political game, giving beneficial counters to opponents' creatures to divert their attention. This is contrasted by his interest in experimentation and summoning powerful Gods and Elementals to claim victory through combat. With Kros at the helm, the deck includes ways to grant counters to creatures, and to proliferate those counters, to keep opponents at bay, as well as some standard ramp, draw, and interaction. \n\nThe two unusual mechanics in the deck are "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Converge"},{"insert":", which benefits from spending multiple colors of mana, and "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Devotion"},{"insert":", which in this deck rewards heavy investment in blue or green permanents. Handily, some of the Converge and Devotion effects relate to counters and can tie in to the Proliferate sources Kros keeps close at hand. The deck includes ways to generate any color of mana, to potentially reach values of 4 or 5 for some Converge cards, and features a number of high mana permanents to allow for flashy endgame plays.\n\nA few of my favorite or key cards of the deck are the Sheltering Ancient, which places more and more counters on opponents' creatures; Experiment Kraj, which provides blue and green devotion and activates Kros's ability; and Bounty Board for its ability to activate Kros and play a bit of politics.\n"}]}
Spellslinging Planswalkers
Created by: SoulSword84
35 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"A spellslinging, planswalker deck with mostly Ral Zerek based cards. Clashing themes of Planeswalkers and Spellslinging with a card draw and proliferate subtheme, it's a unique take because I rarely see anyone build around all the Ral cards in the game. A few infinite combos and game changers make this deck a monster to deal with. Who better to lead a deck with so many non creature spells other than Vivi!\n"}]}
No deck tags