benthic_druid 46 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
Battle on Big Bridge
Created by: Pirowolf
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"5 color control deck focused on running as many towns as possible and literally all of the battles. The creature selection is to gain optimal efficacy from all our battles. The commander helps our otherwise slow mana base be more efficient and also pump out a few chump blockers here and there.\n"}]}
No deck tags
szarel burn
Created by: Aege85
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"burn life gain and landfall\n"}]}
No deck tags
bobbleheads galore
Created by: JoyKill52
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck is a clone spell slinging deck that focuses on copying bobbleheads and getting as many of them one the board so they can activate for more then they were supposed to. I have cards that copy my bobbleheads, cards that copy my commander to then make more bobbleheads, and cards that return the bobbleheads to my hand to then make even more bobbleheads. One of my favorite decks I ever built, one my first time with 30 total bobbleheads and finally rolled the right amount of six's to win with luck bobblehead highly recommend.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Healing Wounds From Decay
Created by: ElanTheBrewer
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"On the surface this deck appears to be quite the mess, but it actually works quite well. I have this deck in paper and been playing it non-stop to get a good feel for it. \n\nOriginally the idea for this came from a YouTube video by"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://youtu.be/b97tvVjHKao?si=GrMzNA_gE5v0XmMS"},"insert":" Out of the Box EDH"},{"insert":" for "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Betor, Ancestor's Voice"}},{"insert":", I took a large portion of his list, but cut most of spirit tribal plan from the original video for the sake of making the deck more consistent.\n\nThe commander of this deck is very high maintenance, Betor requires you to have: life gain, "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"another creature"},{"insert":", life loss and graveyard with creatures. That's 4 almost entirely separate effects that often don't have anything to do with each other. So how about just making Betor a good card to have on the battlefield but not entirely the key piece. Which is why the core of this deck is enchanteress theme. I've never played enchantments before mavking this deck so I can't tell if this actually works well, or enchantments are that powerful to the point of carrying the rest of the deck. \n\nNow lets get into the playstyle. In all the games I've played, I've noticed a pattern where I went from being seen to the archenemy threatening to attack with very large creatures and gaining a ridiculous amount life. It's not uncommon for this deck to just get to above 40 life in midgame from a single attack or a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wall of Reverence"}},{"insert":" trigger. Just having Betor and playing "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lathiel, the Bounteous Dawn"}},{"insert":" along side it immediately put a target on me from all 3 other players. Lathiel puts counters on Betor, Betor puts counters on Lathiel and both have lifelink. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Spike Feeder"}},{"insert":" is an absolute all-star and a great way to take advantage of Betor, and is even more powerful with Lathiel because it triggers at the beginning of "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"EACH "},{"insert":"end step. Please do keep in mind that Lathiel's trigger is an \"intervening if clause\" meaning that you have to gain life BEFORE the end step occurs, otherwise the trigger simply wont happen. While we're on the topic of spike feeder, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nykthos Paragon"}},{"insert":" is also incredibly powerful with it but makes less counters than Lathiel in return for putting counters on each creature you control. And to cap off the topic of +1/+1 counters we have "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kami of Whispered Hopes"}},{"insert":", extra counters and taps for a lot of mana, especially of you curve into "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Unspeakable Symbol"}},{"insert":" on early turns. \n\nWe've covered life gain, now lets cover life pay effects. With these you have to be a little more careful because most of them do a decent amount of damage, so keep an eye for any aggro decks in the pod. Most of them are pretty self explanatory, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Black Market Connections"}},{"insert":" is just very powerful, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Greed"}},{"insert":" is a good mana sink if you run out of cards, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Beledros Witherbloom"}},{"insert":" is also very powerful. While on the topic of Beledros, Betor doesn't need to be on the battle field when the life loss or gain happens, so if you play Beledros and use its ability to play Betor, you can reanimate something that's 10 mana cost. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Doom Whisperer"}},{"insert":" to just constantly surveil to clear dead draws and put creatures in the graveyard to reanimate with Betor. Now onto an absolute over performer for the life pay plan, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Priest of Fell Rites"}},{"insert":". It can reanimate anything at the cost of 3 life, then Betor reanimates the priest and you can keep repeating that. If you really need something in the moment, just unearth the priest. And this deck runs the three talismans ("},{"insert":{"card-link":"Talisman of Resilience"}},{"insert":" and such) along with lands that deal 1 damage to tap for mana "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Brushland"}},{"insert":" ,"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Nurturing Peatland"}},{"insert":" and the rest, most of them can tap without dealing damage. A lot of the times after a boardwipe I was able to replay Betor with the talismans/ping lands and immediately reanimate something with it, allowing the deck to be quite resilient.\n\nWhat if winning through combat is not possible for some reason? No problem, this deck has an a way to win without combat and it involves 3 cards. First card: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Lich's Mastery"}},{"insert":". Gain a lot of life, draw a lot of cards. Second card: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cadaverous Bloom"}},{"insert":", exile cards not needed from your hand to keep playing cards that you drew with Lich's Mastery. And final card: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Exsanguinate"}},{"insert":". Use all the cards drawn to exile them from hand with Cadaverous Bloom to cast a massive exsanguinate and win the game.\n\nOpening hands should usually contain around 3 lands, 1-2 ramp pieces and an enchantress effect or any of the pay life to draw cards. The rest of the deck is pretty simple, almost all ramp is enchantments meaning that any ramp draws in mid game turn in draws with enchantress effects. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sythis, Harvest's Hand"}},{"insert":" is the best effect because it draws and gains life and only 2 mana. Second to Sythis is "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Eidolon of Blossoms"}},{"insert":" because it replaces itself and draws in enchantments ETB effect. You can keep cycling enchantment creatures with Betor and draw cards that way. "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shigeki, Jukai Visionary"}},{"insert":" is another secret powerhouse of this deck, it ramps, fills the graveyard and can return non creature cards back to your hand. After using Shigeki's channel ability, simply reanimate him with Betor to repeat the loop next turn.\n\nAnd that's the deck, overall it quickly became my number 1 favorite deck. Overtaking my previous abzan +1/+1 counters deck. If you have any comments or suggestions, feel free to leave a comment.\n9/9/2025 note: Been playing this list and tweaking it for the entire summer of 2025 and its by far my most favorite deck I've ever made.\n"}]}
Oviya, The Real Steel Automech Artisan
Created by: Ltwthero
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Oviya creates large artifact creatures and with an arsonal of tools and magics modifies them. She uses them to eliminate her opponents by destroying opponents creatures and attacking through them with direct damage.\n\nGreen is not a color known for supporting artifacts or for battlefield control. This deck combines The commanders ablility to cheat big creatures into play, buff them with +1/+1 counters, eliminate opposing creatures with direct damage effects, and if possible go wide with large threats. \n\nDo you want to play the archenemy? Be \"The\" threat at the table with a unique deck.\n\n\n"}]}
No deck tags
Runo (vampire seasoned)
Created by: thedarkurge
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"self-indulgent vampire sea creature soup (my favorite things are vampires and da ocean :3)\n"}]}
No deck tags
Gifts of Power
Created by: SkooturBoi
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"A deck meant to see what everyone has to offer. Boost whoever is performing the least at the table. Make sure everyone has a good hand and lands without overdoing it. Even the scales.... while, still possibly even coming out on top.\n"}]}
I'm Colorblind, Is This Blue?
Created by: PitaDude
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Ever since Kamigawa Block's Swirl the Mists and Invasion Block's Shifting Sky I have been enamored with color and color word manipulation. When Ravnica Block added more ways to change land types, and Conflux brought in Domain, the concept of repeatedly changing land types and colors/color words became a deep-seated need of mine. \n\nThis deck has been on my profile for some time, hopefully this doesn't disqualify me. But either way, on to the deck itself.\n\nThe bulk of the early game plan is to set up our land type manipulators. Tolaria West and Urza's Cave are in the list to help us find Yavimaya and Urborg to achieve a passive Domain count of 3. This turns Collective Restraint into a stronger Propaganda, and will (likely) turn on Mask of Intolerance for all other players. Granted, that may also paint a target on our back. There are a number of Color word changing effects in the deck, all of which are permanent so that, if Swirl the Mists is somehow removed, we still have some options. Our land manipulators can be activated on our turn to strengthen Sphinx of Clear Skies or Allied Strategies, or on opponents' turns to disrupt their plans, improving Evasive Action and Collective Restraint in the process.\n\nI long ago accepted that Domain was never going to win a Commander game on its own, and I really wanted to avoid this just being a Sword of X and Y Voltron deck, though several of those swords are present. To that end, we've added an Investigate/Clue package, which also ties us into our commander selection. We will rarely, if ever, cast James, Wandering Dad. Instead we generate large quantities of clues and use Clock of Omens and Five Hundred Year Diary to draw through our deck and generate a massive board, turning them into 6/6 fliers with Tangletrove Kelp and Archetype of Imagination. We run Timestream Navigator to allow us to sneak a turn in if an opponent looks like they're going to win.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Untap / Mana Cheating: Unusual Deck Combo Entry
Created by: Ceramic_Duck
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This is one of Spiderman's new cards, and the idea is to draw two cards ever turn until you can cheat things that have hefty mana value for free. The untap comes in because the commander's cheating ability is a tap ability, so by playing cards that untap creatures when you play artifacts or draw cards when you play artifacts, this deck can go wild! Enjoy!\n"}]}
No deck tags
Anhelo Spellslinger Aristocrats
Created by: caiusdura
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This decks goal is to play out recursive creatures and token generators which then get sacrificed to Anhelo's casualty 2 ability to copy big value spells.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Aristo-Cats
Created by: Dommm
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Use your mass of cats as fuel in this half cat tribal, half aristocrats deck. Make large amounts of cats with token generators as well as cheap cat-trips like helpful hunter only to sacrifice for mass damage and lifegain. After your opponents think they've seen the last of it, use mass revive spells as well as Lurrus to bring all of your cats back, proving that they have 9 lives.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Gale/Scion: Infect Slinger
Created by: HankSolo
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This is an infect spell slinger deck! The goal is... you guessed it! Get our opponents up to 10 poison counters as fast as possible! In order to do so we have instants and sorceries that proliferate or even better, give each of your opponents a poison counter. These unfortunately aren't huge in number so we are running a handful of toxic/infect creatures, all of which have some sort of evasion or additional effect, to ensure we can get those initial counters on. When we do use our proliferate/poison spells, we can play them again from the graveyard with our commander, Gale! The rest of the deck helps us either remove threats, protect our board, or dig for our effects. Since this deck needs the infecting creatures plus lots of instants and sorceries, we are running a very low curve to allow for fewer ramp spells and running a number of mdfc's that count as spells and lands, whichever we need most at the time. This deck has the ability to win pretty quickly, which is a good thing because we will typically be archenemy right out of the gates! I hope you enjoy the deck!\n"}]}
No deck tags
Glissa, The Traitor not alone
Created by: bantero.facofilmes@gmail.com
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"Glissa out of box\n"}]}
No deck tags
Improvise,Adapt,Overcome
Created by: NekoNation
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"This Bear Grylls inspired has some interesting play where in a perfect world you would improvise out adaptable creatures, put a bunch of counters on them and overcome the opponent. The partner commanders give you some easy counters and unblockability. \n"}]}
No deck tags
Spellswing life gain
Created by: LInusman
40 days
{"ops":[{"insert":"you cast white spells and gain life it can't be to hard\n"}]}
No deck tags