Archidekt Deckbuilding Contest - April 2025 (Locked)

{"ops":[{"insert":"Love Shrines but hate 5 color decks? I got you."},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/3956398/selesnya_shrines"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/3956398/selesnya_shrines"},{"insert":"\n\nI always loved the shrine cards ever since I started playing Magic. Enchantments are my favorite card type and I loved the idea of stacking the shrines to get huge effects. I also like playing less colors (preferably mono or duo colored decks) so when Go-Shintai came out and I realized I only needed green to cast him, the wheels started turning. I ended up settling on Selesnya because I wanted a two color decks and the green and white shrines both have tokens in common. Thus Selesnya Shrines was born.\n\nThe only cards in the deck that technically aren’t Selesnya is some of the filtering lands like World Tree and Crystal Quarry so I can still use my commanders ability. Basically the goal of the deck is get out my Honden of Life’s Web or Go-Shintai of Shared Purpose and flood the board with tons of spirit tokens. A typical game ends with 40+ spirits by using cards like Myojin of Blooming Dawn to pump out an unholy amount of spirits then slamming an Akroma’s Memorial style card to wipe out your opponents.\n\nOverall it’s a really fun deck and I’ve been playing it for about 3 years now and it’s always funny to show people my 2 color WUBRG deck, they usually get a kick out of it. Hope y’all enjoy :)\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"5C turned Mono Black Devotion?"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/12290339/mono_swamps_reaper_king\n\nTo go all in, we're not even including lands that produce anything other than black. \n\nTo really phone in the idea, I'm playing a slew of creatures that fit the same idea - anthem creatures, the avatars, and other hybrid mana pip cards. The caveat? They all are castable off of just black mana. \n\nSince these creatures do count towards our black devotion, we're also playing the best of the devotion to black creatures.\n\nSince we're in mono black, we can also include our standard Urborg + Coffers combo and several mana doublers to go with it. All the extra mana lets us use a couple of X spells as additional finishers.\n\nFinally, to round out some utility, we are playing Conspiracy and Maskwood Nexus to allow our creatures to actually turn on Reaper King's ETB ability.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"MY NAME IS KENRITH. I MADE THE MIMIC."},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nhttps://archidekt.com/decks/12273213/my_name_is_kenrith_i_made_the_mimic\n\nIt was difficult to put the pieces together.\n\nI made a decklist that seeks to conform to the rules of the challenge while simultaneously subverting them. What if I brewed a five color commander with only one commander, but its strategy revolved around a normally colorless true commander? Enter Mono-Blue"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kenrith, the Returned King"}},{"insert":" , a slow combo deck with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Marvin, Murderous Mimic"}},{"insert":" as a hidden commander. There is one hybrid card in the deck but it can be cast with only blue mana.\n\nThe goal of this conceptual Bracket 4 meme deck is to aggressively tutor for one of two Marvin comboes and win by activating abilities infinite numbers of times:\n\nCombo 1: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Marvin, Murderous Mimic"}},{"insert":" +"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ioreth of the Healing House"}},{"insert":" + A tappable legendary creature (Preferrably "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Azami, Lady of Scrolls"}},{"insert":" , "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Reveka, Wizard Savant"}},{"insert":" , or our commander plus "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Relic of Legends"}},{"insert":" ). Ioreth and Marvin can untap each other plus the other legend infinite times. With this combo, Azami or Kenrith and Relic can draw our deck, hopefully allowing us to win with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Laboratory Maniac"}},{"insert":" , and Reveka can shock our opponents to death. Kenrith and Relic can also make our three creatures infinitely large with trample and haste.\n\nCombo 2: "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Marvin, Murderous Mimic"}},{"insert":" +"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Pili-Pala"}},{"insert":" +"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Palladium Myr"}},{"insert":" /"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vhal, Candlekeep Researcher"}},{"insert":" . Infinite colored mana. This can win with a mana sink such as our commander, an infinitely large "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Walking Ballista"}},{"insert":" for damage , or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Urza, Lord High Artificer"}},{"insert":" to cast all the spells from our deck, winning with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Laboratory Maniac"}},{"insert":" .\n\nThe decklist loads up on as much lands, ramp, draw, tutors, protection, haste enablers, and recursion as it can fit in. Due to a lack of fast mana, the combo is fairly slow, usually winning by turn 6 - 8 in scenarios with little removal or aggression.\n\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Storm, Force of the Forest"},{"insert":","},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/12289539/storm_force_of_the_forest."},"insert":"An energetic hurricane of mono green."},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nHave you ever felt that what green was really missing was more more Ramp? Perhaps not, however if we go about it by supporting spell slinging interesting things may occur please consider, what if we storm off a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Wildsize"}},{"insert":" in between a double strike orperhaps a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rampant Growth"}},{"insert":" or even a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Viewpoint Synchronization"}},{"insert":" with a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mossborn Hydra"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scute Swarm"}},{"insert":" out. This deck plays with the a few of the classic green spell mechanics while giving them powerful support from the command zone with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Storm, Force of Nature"}},{"insert":" .\n"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Ladies and Gentlemen, introducing..... Mono black "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Scorpion God"}},{"insert":" !"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/12286001/mono_black_sluggies"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/12286001/mono_black_sluggies"},{"insert":"\n\nThe Scorpion God is a Rakdos Commander that loves when creatures die with -1-1 counters on it. But the problem is...not a lot of red spells do that, so we gotta resort to having red spells that just deal damage to a player. But me? I say no! So, I decided to make a deck revolving the Scorpion God, but with a twist. It is filled to the brim with mono black -1-1. With cards such a as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Massacre Girl, Known Killer"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shefet Archfiend"}},{"insert":", you have plenty of -1-1 counters to hand out to the entire class! And once you manage to give enough creatures -1-1 counters, and you give the Scorpion God indestructible with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Battle-Rage Blessing"}},{"insert":", you can use "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Damnation"}},{"insert":" to create a massive board wipe, and get a hell lot of card draw. And to make things easier, you can use "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Maha, Its Feathers Night"}},{"insert":" to make all opponents creatures toughness 1, making them easier to mirk.\n\nThat's all for today. Thank you for taking the time to read this\n\nVictory at all Costs!\n\nGiveMeValgavoth\n\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Mono Blue, but without the blue"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nDeck: https://archidekt.com/decks/12282250"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Commander: Sai, Master Thopterist"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\nI know everyone hates mono blue, so I decided to make a mono blue artifact deck where every card is colorless, besides the commander of course. The commander does have an activated ability with a blue pip in it, but while making the deck, I completely ignored it. So don't use it.\n \n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"underline":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Mono-Green Kibo. "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kibo, Uktabi Prince"}},{"insert":" has lost their flame! Instead of focusing on burn and the aggression that red provides, we are trying to focus more on counters and overrun. Without "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vandalblast"}},{"insert":" we can still wipe the board of bananas with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rampaging Yao Guai"}},{"insert":", and take advantage of our counters with "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hierophant Bio-Titan"}},{"insert":", and introducing Tarkir Dragonstorm's "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jade-Cast Sentinel"}},{"insert":" to the wild world of Ape Kindred.\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/12280034/monogreen_kibo"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/12280034/monogreen_kibo"},{"insert":"\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"She Never Wanted Red!"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Evelyn, the Covetous"}},{"insert":" \nSo this deck is one of my main ones and I purposely built this as Dimir. I originally had about 6 red cards in the deck and I realized it wasn’t worth having red in my mana base, especially since Evelyn has a hybrid red and black. \nThis is an ETB/LTB themed deck that aims to make all your creatures vampires with arcane adaptation and Leyline of transformation. I think it’s a 3, maybe even a 4. I hope you enjoy it!\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/2903590/ethereal_envy"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/2903590/ethereal_envy"},{"insert":"\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/12278314/monored_winota"},"insert":"Mono-Red Winota"},{"insert":" deck built around kobolds and humans, with some typical Winota stax, some copy shenanigans for fun ETB interactions as well as an infinite combat phase combo and impact tremors combo for win conditions. Guaranteed to make you the person everyone wants to sit down in their pod!\n\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Remember kids: 3 is a "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Magic"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":" Number."},{"insert":"\nhttps://archidekt.com/decks/12276443/april_2025_deckbuilding_contest_entry_saskia_the_unyielding_3_is_the_magic_number\n\nSeeing as this is my first time entering a contest like this and seeing as I wanted to have fun I decided to try something with a bonus limitation. Since we're cutting a color I decided to run a four color commander, Saskia, and then I took the three thing even further. Meaning the CMC, text box, or power/toughness contains the number three in some way. The result is a (in my opinion) kind of fun deck where we showcase just how many \"three's\" can be abused for some pretty mean combos.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"for this month's deckbuilding contest, i've built oona queen of the faeries! but only the blue faeries.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Oona, Queen of the Fae"}},{"insert":" \n\nas soon as i saw the topic of this month's deckbuilding contest, i knew i wanted to build oona. while black gives you access to plenty of spicey faeries (and faerie typal effects like bitterblossom), at their heart faeries have always felt more blue-aligned to me. flashing them in and disrupting your opponent's gameplan feels very on flavor for them.\n\noona also supports a mill strategy so i've included plenty of cards that will help boost the deck's chances of employing mill as an alternate wincon. i honestly probably would've included more of these effects if i was going for strictly the most powerful deck, but since i mostly play in the bracket 2-3ish space, i decided to keep it more in that neighborhood and include some flavor adds like some subpar faeries that have rebecca guay art on them because... rebecca guay art!\n\nstill, this is a very playable deck at casual tables, and i hope it's a fun approach to this prompt :)\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/12276728/april_deckbuilding_contest_oona_queen_of_faeries_but_only_the_blue_ones"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/12276728/april_deckbuilding_contest_oona_queen_of_faeries_but_only_the_blue_ones"},{"insert":"\n\n(edited because the hyperlink wasn't actually working as a link before, just plaintext, whoops!)\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"Here is my submission, a Mono Red Ognis, The Dragons Lash haste and treasure deck. \n\nhttps://archidekt.com/decks/11530372/ognis\n\nDeck is pretty straight forward, get hasty creatures on board, drop Ognis, swing to generate a pile of treasure. Can win via burn damage with Ingenious Artillerist/Reckless Fireweaver and Alchemists Talent, Hellkite Tyrant, kiki-jiki combos for infinite combats, or even just a giant Hellkite Igniter. Includes Professional Face-breaker, Xorn, and Goldspan Dragon to increase the amount of treasures you make or value of them, Devilish Valet combined with an Elemental Mastery on another decently powered creature can also potentially one shot a player\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"The Calm Before the Storm Count is a budget Red-Green storm deck built around "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Storm, Force of Nature"}},{"insert":". I have omitted blue, so no blue spells, no blue abilities — just red and green chaos, exile value, and elemental beatdowns."},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"This deck revolves around casting spells from exile and generating massive value from Storm’s triggered ability. With impulse draw, rituals, and recursion effects like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Jeska's Will"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Reckless Impulse"}},{"insert":" , and"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Underworld Breach"}},{"insert":" , it's easy to rack up a huge storm count before dropping the commander to flood the board with elemental tokens.\nWhile Storm is the finisher, the deck holds its own with a mix of mana-positive loops and infinite ETB combos. Key interactions include "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Birgi, God of Storytelling // Harnfel, Horn of Bounty"}},{"insert":"+ "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Grinning Ignus"}},{"insert":" for infinite mana and storm count, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cloudstone Curio"}},{"insert":" loops for infinite ETBs, and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kiki-Jiki, Mirror Breaker"}},{"insert":" + "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Combat Celebrant"}},{"insert":" for infinite combats. We pack six infinite combos total, all legal in red-green and fully within a $300 budget (not including the commander).\nWin conditions include "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Impact Tremors"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Terror of the Peaks"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Warstorm Surge"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Aetherflux Reservoir"}},{"insert":", and classic go-wide overrun finishers like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Overwhelming Stampede"}},{"insert":". The deck plays fast, explosive turns once set up, and rewards good sequencing and resource management.\n\nHere is the link to my decklist:\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/12274375/the_calm_before_the_storm_count"},"insert":"The Calm Before the Storm Count"},{"insert":"\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Deck Title: "},{"attributes":{"italic":true,"bold":true},"insert":"Atla's Giant-Sized Gamble"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Commander: Atla Palani, Nest Tender"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Deck Link: "},{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/12272528/atla_palani_april_deck_building_contest\n\n"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Deck Description:"},{"insert":"\n When most players crack an egg, they’re aiming for dragons or dinosaurs . I wanted something "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"bigger"},{"insert":". Something "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"scarier"},{"insert":". Something… "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Giant"},{"insert":".\n\nFor this build, I took Atla Palani in a bold new direction—focusing not on typical ramp strategies, but on unleashing a terrifying "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"tribe of colossal giants"},{"insert":". To raise the stakes, I removed "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"green"},{"insert":" (challenge modifier) from the equation entirely—trading ramp for resourcefulness, synergy, and clever sacrifice plays.\n\nTokens play a role, serving as both "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"fodder"},{"insert":" for Atla’s egg ability and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"fuel"},{"insert":" for game-ending plays. Cards like "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"Infantry Shield"},{"insert":" turn those sacrifices into a win condition of their own. Add in a suite of "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"anthem effects"},{"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"damage doublers/triplers"},{"insert":", and this deck can swing wide, swing hard, or just explode out of nowhere.\n\nIt’s a deck built to "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"surprise"},{"insert":", overwhelm, and most of all—"},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"entertain"},{"insert":". Crafting it without green made it a fun challenge and pushed me to find new ways to make Atla shine. It was an absolute blast to build, test, and play—and I hope it inspires others to crack eggs a little differently.\n"}]}

{"ops":[{"insert":"White Light/White Heat/White Burn:"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/12408348\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"Much thought has been dedicated to the question: what is mono white burn? Is it an aristocrats deck? No, though its early generation of tokens and burning of them for value may give that appearance. Is it a pillowfort deck? Not entirely, though many have said the pings from "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Crossbow Infantry"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" are a greater deterrent than any Ghostly Prison. Is it a combo deck? No, although "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Dingus Staff"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" +"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Taii Wakeen, Perfect Shot"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" +a board wipe has been called “the new Kiki combo” by many in the community. The truth must lie somewhere in between all of these. "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"What, then, is the game plan of this wholly new archetype between archetypes, you may ask? The early game is all about your card draw. Generate 1/1s, then ping them to get cards off of Taii. Can’t make the 1/1s for yourself? Just give a few to your opponents with a "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Forbidden Orchard"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" or even better "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"The War Games"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":", and then make them regift your gift back to you in the form of card draw. "},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"I should here address some of the slander mono white burn has withstood in the past: doesn’t your burn only hit attacking or blocking creatures? Yes, once upon a time this would have been a problem, but modern commander design has provided several solutions. First off, the monarch and the initiative. Sure, they can blank some of your burn if they don’t attack, but they leave you freely gaining your value if they do. Next, while white doesn’t have much goad, "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Bloodthirsty Blade"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" does a good job of it, and War Games an even better one. (Dropping a "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Smothering Tithe"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" can make everyone want to kill you too!)"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"The early game will be occupied by card draw, so there’s no need for early ramp. The deck does need mana for Taii, so transition into the late game with things like "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Caged Sun"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Gauntlet of Power"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":". And once you’re in that late game, all there is left to do is to win it."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"Wincons:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Stormwild Capridor"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" : While stuck inside during covid, I drafted a ton of Ikoria. One game, my opponent bodied me with a Capridor that they fired some white burn into. Now you too can feel the joy I’m sure they felt in that moment."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Stuffy Doll"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" and "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Phyrexian Vindicator"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" : These are pretty self-explanatory. "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Harsh Justice"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" : Sure, this can only really kill one player, but what a way to kill one player it is. As long as you don’t die to their attack, they’ll probably die to their attack+X times the number of creatures they attacked with."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"Dingus Staff: This is the big one, folks. Get the Staff out, sink mana into Taii, and then wipe the board. Just make sure that you don’t kill yourself with it. This also works with just pinging your opponent’s creatures down one by one."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"Pros of mono white burn: "},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"-never be attacked by a Ragavan again (that’s a relevant card in this format, right?)"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"-turn your one toughness tokens into card draw (there’s no better way to do that. "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"D'Avenant Archer"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" lives through "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Vandalblast"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" . Can "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":{"card-link":"Skullclamp"}},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" say the same?)."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"-You get to say “Dingus Staff”. ‘Nuff said."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"Cons of mono white burn:"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"-Maybe your friends won’t want to play against your new bracket 5 deck."},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"-Sometimes you don’t draw Dingus Staff. ‘Nuff said :("},{"insert":"\n\n\n"}]}