danaroach {"ops":[{"insert":"Hello, and welcome to August's Archidekt Deckbuilding Contest.\n\nThis is a monthly contest with a different theme each month. The goal is to build a Commander-legal deck that fulfills the prompt in a creative or unique fashion, and at the end of each month, three finalists will be selected for you to vote on. Whoever gets the most votes will be crowned the winner, although all three finalists will receive a prize.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"August's challenge is to brew a creative and interesting Commander-legal deck using a legal non-reprint Commander from the just-previewed Mystery Booster Commander Edition set."},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nIntroduced at Gen Con several days ago, Mystery Booster cards are acquired at MagicCon events or through Festival in a Box, and this newest group of Commander-legal legends (and Vehicles, planeswalkers, and spells) features deep callbacks to past Magic lore as well as obscure mechanics from the game's past. Whatever you brew up, it should be an innovative, novel, and attention-getting take on a deck using one of these new Commanders.\n\nWhat’s the Contest All About?"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWorking within the parameters of the provided prompt, construct a deck list with your own creative and compelling spin. Three chosen finalists will be awarded "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.cardsphere.com/?utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"store credit to use on Cardsphere."},{"insert":"\n\nFor August's deckbuilding contest: build a deck featuring a commander from the new Mystery Booster Commander Edition. Decks will be judged on the creativity and originality of their brew. For example, plenty of people will probably want to build a "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://edhrec.com/commanders/whtz-the-bibliophile"},"insert":"Whtz, the Bibliophile"},{"insert":" deck running "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://edhrec.com/cards/battle-of-wits"},"insert":"Battle of Wits"},{"insert":", but since Whtz was clearly designed for that purpose, a straightforward take on that win condition probably isn't going to cut it.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/24997544?utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"A complete list of these legal commanders can be found here."},{"insert":"\n\nAs we noted in previous contests, we have so far been very forgiving regarding picking finalists with meager deck descriptions, but moving forward we're going to be a lot more discerning. Every month this contest gets larger, and that makes sorting through entries more and more of a time commitment. If you don't have a decent description, we're going to find ourselves a lot less willing to try to connect those dots, because we simply cannot do so.\n\nHow to Participate"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nBrew a Commander-legal deck on "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/?utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"Archidekt"},{"insert":" 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 fun, are not allowed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Digital-only cards (such as those designed for the Alchemy format on Arena) are also not allowed."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Strictly one deck submitted per user."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nA couple months ago, we also revamped the submission process. Decks must now be submitted on Archidekt via a button on the 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.\n\nThere's also a new, easy-to-remember landing page for anything contest-related, found at "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/contest?utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"archidekt.com/contest."},{"insert":"\n\nYou 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 p.m. EDT (UTC -4) on Wednesday, August 12, 2026."},{"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.\n\nFrom the eligible submissions, we'll select three finalists with lists that we believe best embody the spirit of the prompt. Deck descriptions are now required, and the more detailed the description the better; we just have too many submissions to try to put together what your deck is doing without some commentary and context.\n\nOn "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wednesday, August 19, 2026"},{"insert":", we’ll announce three finalists via the Archidekt Discord and an article on EDHREC highlighting each deck.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.cardsphere.com/sets?utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"Each finalist will be awarded credit to use on Cardsphere"},{"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\n1st Place Prize - $250\n2nd Place Prize - $150\n3rd Place Prize - $100\n\nFinalists will be contacted via email regarding their winnings within roughly 24 hours, following the conclusion of voting on "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wednesday, August 26, 2026."},{"insert":"\n\nPlease note, you must have a Cardsphere account in order to receive your winnings. It's quick and free — "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.cardsphere.com/signup?referrer=archidekt_contest&utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"register here"},{"insert":" if you don't have an account already!\n\nHere are the "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/contestRules?utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"official contest rules"},{"insert":". If you have any questions, feel free to ask here, or join the Archidekt "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://discord.gg/sctEc9Ru36?utm_source=edhrec"},"insert":"public Discord server"},{"insert":". We look forward to seeing what you all come up with!\n"}]}
22
Results: 319
Order By: -createdAt
The Riddle of Steel
Created by: john.lunden97@gmail.com
109 secs
{"ops":[{"insert":"As an Equipment enjoyer when I saw the Mystery Booster Commanders slowly start trickling out I knew I had to build "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ekthi, Contaminator Priest"}},{"insert":" . Often my biggest problem when brewing an equipment deck is trying to balance the equipment to creature ratio. But with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ekthi, Contaminator Priest"}},{"insert":" there is no need to have any other creatures even in the deck. \n\nAs a result I was able to cram in as many of my favorite white and colorless artifacts as possible. Cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scytheclaw"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Quietus Spike"}},{"insert":" , and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Caduceus, Staff of Hermes"}},{"insert":" represent the best equipment win conditions in the deck. I also included many protection spells to make sure "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ekthi, Contaminator Priest"}},{"insert":" stays on the board. If she is removed you risk losing any germs that may be unequipped or not receiving a toughness boost from their equipment. There’s also a handful of other token generators to help make sure your board is a bit stickier in case "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ekthi, Contaminator Priest"}},{"insert":" is removed. \n"}]}
Madcap Jester (Pako Reskin)
Created by: MagMB13
6 mins
{"ops":[{"insert":"As the title suggests, this is just a Pako Reskin.\nDidnt even try to hide the plagerism, its the same with exile or combat triggers!\nThis decks goal is just to steal cards and possibly a win. \nLooking for entertaining cards to steal hearts, like the source material.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Shandalar's Rightful Ruler
Created by: FlareCraft
35 mins
{"ops":[{"insert":"Is mostly a planeswalker tribal combo deck, but there's some fun interactions with Arzakon's abilities rather than just being a Black Lotus on legs.\n"}]}
The Treemendous Autumn Willow, Harmony
Created by: Chocolate-Frog9
62 mins
{"ops":[{"insert":"\"Autumn Willow, Harmony\" in this deck leads an army of Treefolk / Saplings / Dryad Forests kindred, in a cultivated and organic way. One might say, its Treemendous.\n\nGameplan\n\nRamp, Ramp again, and then Ramp some more."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Autumn Willow and her Treefolk, Forest Dryads, and Saplings get wide and large, quickly."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Multiple synergystic payoffs for Treefolk or lands entering"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Multiple wincons, either through traditional attacks with Big tramplers, or through cards like Genesis Wave, Epic Struggle, Squall Line, or Primal Bellow."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Fantasy scenario is having Maskwood Nexus, Parallel Lives and Virtue of Strength in play, dropping a big Awaken the Woods and watching Dauntless Dourbark, Battlewand Oak or Cultivator Collossus get huge."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Lifegain payoffs in the form of Orchard Warden, or triggered effects like Quickbeam, Upstart Ent, or Sapling Nursery also get out of hand."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"}]}
Chira, Lets go Gambling!
Created by: ElShuris
74 mins
{"ops":[{"insert":{"card-link":"Chira, All In"}},{"insert":" , the random deck, if you lose don´t blame the deck blame your luck.\nThe main focus of this deck is to relax and leave everything to chance (most of it, you still have to play) and make "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Chira, All In"}},{"insert":" bigger and bigger, the deck includes several cards that make you discard at random and draw, some burn enablers when you discard and some of the most random beloved cards such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gamble"}},{"insert":" and our friends "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Okaun, Eye of Chaos"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Krark, the Thumbless"}},{"insert":" , we also have his thumb, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Krark's Thumb"}},{"insert":" , that will make us flip a lot of coins to make "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Chira, All In"}},{"insert":" and themselves even bigger, the deck also includes ramp to make our casts easier, we have beneficts from the card discard with the monument to endurance and bag of holding to recover the cards we discard, this deck also includes my favourite type of recursion, random recursion with surreal memoir, we also have upkeep triggers that will make "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Chira, All In"}},{"insert":" bigger with wild evocation, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Witch Hunt"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Elkin Lair"}},{"insert":" .\nYou need to counter stuff, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tibalt's Trickery"}},{"insert":" will make your casts easier, you need a board wipe, don´t worry we have the best board wipe in this deck "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Blasphemous Act"}},{"insert":" ,\nThis deck relies on combat damage dealt by "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Chira, All In"}},{"insert":" to win, but while "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Chira, All In"}},{"insert":" is getting bigger we can burn our opponents with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cool but Rude"}},{"insert":" ,"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Maddening Hex"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Advanced Reconstruction"}},{"insert":" to make Chira´s work a lot easier.\n"}]}
The Ninth Gate
Created by: Atropha
89 mins
{"ops":[{"insert":"I themed the deck around the idea of a Black pseudo group-hug deck. Since Black doesn't quite have the tools for that it ended up as more of a Faustian bargain, deal with the devil kind of theme even if it doesn't actually run that many demons specifically. There are some potential back-up commanders that all work well with what the deck does, just putting a slightly different spin on it. For the sake of the contest Kuroki is the main commander though and the deck is designed around him. The 8 backups were more of a happy little accident. \n\nThe main plan is to force people to accept Kuroki's card draw by making it too dangerous to let him grow. To that end there are ways to protect him from interaction and making him unblockable (see Category 3). Since we don't know what kind of cards our opponents will be providing us I designed the rest of the deck to be value oriented and to take further advantage of the plan of ensuring select creatures will deal combat damage and cause further mayhem. In the spirit of grouphug I've tried to put in a decent amount of cards that can give my opponents things and either give me something better, comes at a great cost or generally works to my advantage (see Category 1).\n\nTo ensure that we don't take too much heat from handing our opponents things I put in a number of goad effects and a sprinkling of effects I can offer opponents for the sake of table politics. This should also increases our odds of pushing creatures through and helpfully encourage everyone to attack people who aren't me. Naturally some draw (Category 4) and removal (category 6) are needed as well as some ramp (Category 7). I tried to keep them to cards that also give people bad choices and gifts rather than just strictly better options.\n\nI also tried to make the deck synergistic without having to rely on getting any single specific combo out. With cards like Miss Highwater and Zenos yae Galvus we can take advantage of trying to kill a single opponent to either snowball or win straight up. To that end I've also included cards that threaten to take someone out very quickly if not dealt with like Unstoppable Slasher and Summon Primal Odin. Peer into the Abyss can deal a lot of damage and set that opponent up to either have a huge hand for us to pluck a card from or be threatened by a growing Kuroki, if not outright killed by Black Vise or Vislor.\n\nAnd of course I included a number of cards that just plain steal cards from our opponents (Category 5), some of which again do so by dealing combat damage, which gets enabled by the same tools that make our commander dangerous. Between handing people things, goading their creatures and generally encouraging/forcing people to not attack me the deck ultimately seeks to be opportunistic and accelerate the game state. Creatures dieing can feed Istvan or Baron Sengir, Cauldron of Souls can ensure they can come back to die again or use it as a negotiating tool to save opponent's creatures we want to stick around to threaten our opponents.\n\nI don't think the deck stands a chance against decently powerful decks, hence putting it at Bracket 2. It's more about having fun being a menace and shaking up the table rather than winning hyper-efficiently.\n"}]}
Local Merchant Introduces Wolves To Negotiation Tactics V2
Created by: Borgso
118 mins
{"ops":[{"insert":"Jandor, Fortuned Traveler has alot of seperate strategies printed right on him that make him a deeply interesting commander to build. For this I tried to find a nice balance with all of those seperate game plans. The first and most prominent of which is wolves, wolves who are already sitting at the perfect power of 2/2 make for not only a wonderful mount but also rider if times are tough, this is supported further by kudos who will make our 2/2 army the biggest around when they get on eachothers shoulders. \nAs with any go-wide strategy boardwipes are terrifying, and so I put in alot of ways to avoid specifically that and focussed on one sided board wipes that only affect untapped creatures or create me even more mounts. \nTapping all my creatures to ride off into the sunset is an essential step in my strategy, as keeping my creatures tapped is vital in keeping them alive with support from The wandering rescuerer and Adept watershaper with Masako in the wings ensuring I am not punished for being tapped down. \nMultiple combats aswell as doubling attack triggers are going to be the main avenues to victory for this deck as the +2/+2 affect from being twice as many wolves per wolf will stack and stack.\nFood generation is important for pumping my board as it is not only an important piece for ramping with cards like Bilbo and inspiring statuary, but important for big swings with Campsite Cuisine, Yotian Dissident, andThopter Architect all activating on attack per creature saddled giving me evasion and big power boosts to secure victory.\nAll in all I've had alot of fun building Jandor and trying to find a balance in the 15 seperate directions he takes himself but I'm hoping even if not the most conceptually creative it will definetly be a strong deck using every ounce of what Jandor, Fortuned Traveler can offer in the commander slot. \n"}]}
No deck tags
Mother natures Wrath
Created by: DumpyPompano
2 hrs
{"ops":[{"insert":"The deck mostly works around landfall. with a gueranteed trigger when the commander is on the field and many ways to gain extra triggers.\nSince opponents can also get lands from the commander i added in some spells to punish them based on their lands.\nLast up since we will have a lot of mana I added in expensive powerfull spells to help us win games. \n"}]}
No deck tags
Here play my cards (Chaos Control)
Created by: good.archer72@gmail.com
2 hrs
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck lets your opponents play your cards as much as possible though with some chaotic effects throughout as well. Copy opponents spells to advance your game plan and pillow fort to survive long enough to make sure you can enact it. Lab maniac and Dance with Calamity is the main win con. As well the deck highlights Current MTG through numerous reprint, bonus sheet, or original cards from UB sets.\n"}]}
No deck tags
Maular, Reanimator
Created by: elliotttilbury@hotmail.com
4 hrs
{"ops":[{"insert":"Maular is a big green commander, which can mean only one thing - card draw and reanimation.\n\nThe gameplan is as follows:\nTurns 1-4: Ramp to the moon, hopefully securing utility lands such as Cavern of Souls to avoid Maular being countered.\nTurn 5: Drop Maular with a few spare mana to protect him.\nTurn 6: Attack with Maular and use one of the 9 draw spells based on power to draw 20 cards. Chances are you will draw one of the wincon cards and can plan accordingly. \nIf you drew March of the Ents, Green Myojin or Ghalta, then you keep big creatures in hand and slam them down all at once.\nIf you drew Bringer of the Last Gift or Black Myojin, you load up the graveyard with big creatures when you discard at the end step.\nTurn 7: Reanimate all creatures from your graveyard, recast Maular, and swing for the fences!\n\nThere are various utility spells included to protect the game plan and otherwise interact with your opponents. There are a few haste enablers and cards to give Maular trample, which will swing for lethal commander damage if not adequately blocked. \n\nAltar of Dementia and Stalking Vengeance provide alternate wincons where losing your high power creatures either mills or damages your opponents. \nPsychosis Crawler can also devastate opponents when you are power drawing 20 cards at a time.\n"}]}
No deck tags
strange friends
Created by: Greasysteam
4 hrs
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck takes advantage of the commanders ability to put +1/+1 counters onto cats and zombies respectively, some changelings for some double triggers, a doubling season for more counters and more tokens, triggering more +1/+1 counters. Some cards to tap creatures for mana, take life away from an opponent every time \n"}]}
No deck tags
Attack of the 50 foot insects
Created by: Freakshiw
4 hrs
{"ops":[{"insert":"This deck is all about getting the most out of making your opponent’s sacrifice alittle of everything. While we’re at at why not be toxic.. no I mean literally. With Karumonix and marrow gnawer in the 99 rats can be alittle overwhelming. \n"}]}
No deck tags
the madcap jester combat mill
Created by: darkrai324
4 hrs
{"ops":[{"insert":"Hello, so for this contest I found this commander to be quite silly. the main goal of this deck is to mill out our opponents with its exile effect.\n\nnow how we will achieve this is by using infinite combos using cards like combat celebrant and helm of the host. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#e3e3e3"},"insert":"At the beginning of your combat phase, Helm of the Host triggers, creating a token copy of Combat Celebrant with haste."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#e3e3e3"},"insert":"Declare the token Combat Celebrant as an attacker choosing to exert it as it attacks."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#e3e3e3"},"insert":"The Combat Celebrant copy triggers, untapping all other creature you control and causing you to get an additional combat phase after this one."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"color":"#e3e3e3"},"insert":"Repeat."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nthere is a slight issue with this deck. and that being combat damage since the madcap jester requires us to attack with it we'll be using one of the few fog cards grixis has access for example we are using darkness to prevent all combat damage we would deal so we can focus on the mill aspect of the commander\n\nhow we'll find our cards is mainly through an obscene amount of card draw and mill along with a few tutors. \n\nideally we'd like to find and assemble an infinite mana combo first. for example warren soul trader and grave crawler along with pitiless plunderer. \n\nnext we'd want some of our draw or mill spells or combos. for example we could use altar of dementia to sacrifice carrion feeder if we also have that out during the warren soul trader combo, we also use cards like bolas's citadel, necropotance, ad nauseam, wheel of fortune, windfall etc. \n\nafter that we can play the combat celebrant combo and the commander as well as any of the haste enablers we are running such as kratos god of war.\n\n \n\nin other words\n\nTake infinite combat phases.\n Deal no combat damage.\n Delete everyone’s libraries with a clown.\n\nhope you guys find this as silly as I did.\n\n"}]}
No deck tags
Mechanized Dyfed
Created by: JakHaI
5 hrs
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mechanized Production – Dyfed Artifacts"},{"insert":"\nThe main win condition is "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mechanized Production"},{"insert":". \n "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mycosynth Lattice"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Encroaching Mycosynth"},{"insert":" are included to make the artifact tutors more effective and to make it able to Tutor "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Mechanized Production"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
No deck tags
Worst Family Road Trip Ever
Created by: Faetan
5 hrs
{"ops":[{"insert":"After decades of waiting, Uncle Istvan had at last achieved the status of 'legendary.' To celebrate, he packed a picnic basket full of shitty food, shoved his unwilling family into a couple of cars, and set off down the murky road for a fun-filled trip to Legendopia! \n"}]}
No deck tags