Jeremy(Archidekt Moderator)
5 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Voting has concluded!"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":"1st Place: Drakryttare"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"2nd Place: Antz0r"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"3rd Place:A3th3r3al"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":"Each winner has been contacted by the email associated with their Archidekt account. "},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":"Congratulations, and thank you to all who participated!"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n--"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nHello brewers,"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nHappy August! First of all, I'd like to extend a big thank you to Matt for covering all of the contest administrative work for the past few months while I was out on paternity leave. Matt will continue to host our finalist announcement video over on the "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.youtube.com/@EDHRECast"},"insert":"EDHRECast YouTube channel"},{"insert":".\n\nHere's a reminder for the new structure of the Archidekt Deckbuilding Contest that started in the spring:\nContest participation is no longer limited by region. We’re so glad to finally have our friends outside of the US and Canada involved as well!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Finalists are now awarded credit to "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.cardsphere.com/"},"insert":"Cardsphere.com"},{"insert":", a sister site to Archidekt. Cardsphere is a peer-to-peer marketplace for buying and selling Magic cards. If you’ve never used it before, Joey from the EDHRECast recently made a great "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oUc4-FnefrU&t=1s&pp=ygUKY2FyZHNwaGVyZQ%3D%3D"},"insert":"video covering the basics"},{"insert":"! Depending on their placement, finalists will receive either $250, $150 or $100 in credit."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"The "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.youtube.com/@EDHRECast"},"insert":"EDHRECast YouTube channel"},{"insert":" will now feature a video highlighting the finalist decks from each contest! Matt Morgan hosts along with a special guest filling in for our usual cohost, Olivia Gobert-Hicks."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"After the three finalists are announced, their placement is now determined by upvotes on the deck pages themselves. Be sure to vote for your favorite!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"We'll be following the same cadence as we have the past few months. (Wednesday-Wednesday-Wednesday-Wednesday). Details on that below."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nWith that out of the way, let's talk about this month's contest!\n\nWhat’s the contest all about?"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Working 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 cardsphere.com. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"For August’s deckbuilding contest, brew a Commander-legal list that you believe would serve as a good first deck for a new player. Things you may wish to consider include complexity, mechanic learning opportunities, and– of course– enjoyability. Please be sure to include an explanation of your approach in the deck description or along with the deck link wherever you submit!"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nHere’s how to participate:"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Brew an EDH/Commander legal deck on Archidekt that satisfies the prompt.\nAny unreleased cards spoiled during the contest’s duration "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"are"},{"insert":" allowed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Silver-bordered and acorn cards, while cool, are "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"not "},{"insert":"allowed. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Digital-only cards (such as those designed for the Alchemy format on Arena) are "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"not"},{"insert":" allowed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Strictly one deck submitted per user."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nReply to this newspost, the Discord submission post, or "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://x.com/archidekt/status/1821234764160102847"},"insert":"the announcement tweet"},{"insert":" from the "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://twitter.com/archidekt"},"insert":"@archidekt"},{"insert":" account on Twitter with a link to your deck before "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"9:00 pm EST (UTC -5, currently) on Wednesday, August 14, 2024"},{"insert":". Only one submission per user!\nFrom the eligible submissions, we'll select three finalists with lists that we believe best embody the spirit of the prompt. "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Deck descriptions are not required but certainly may provide valuable context!"},{"insert":"\n\nOn "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wednesday, August 21, 2024"},{"insert":", we’ll announce three finalists via Discord and a video on the "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.youtube.com/@EDHRECast"},"insert":"EDHRECast YouTube channel"},{"insert":". Each finalist will be awarded credit on cardsphere.com. 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:\n1st 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":"Finalists will be contacted via email, Discord or Twitter/X (depending on where they submitted) regarding their winnings within roughly 24 hours following the conclusion of voting on Wednesday, August 28, 2024. Please 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"},"insert":"register here"},{"insert":" if you don't have an account already!\n\nWe also now apply a “Contest Winner” role to all finalists, giving them a little trophy icon next to their username on deck tiles (the links that appear on places like the homepage). Prior contest winners have already had this role applied. \n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/contestRules"},"insert":"Official contest rules"},{"insert":".\n\nThank you!"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nIf you have any questions, feel free to ask here, reach out on "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://twitter.com/archidekt"},"insert":"Twitter"},{"insert":", or join "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://discord.gg/sctEc9Ru36"},"insert":"our public Discord server"},{"insert":". We look forward to seeing what you all come up with! \n\nThe Archidekt Team"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
Edited 8/29/2024, 2:25:24 PM
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andreas8 5 months{"ops":[{"insert":"The Most Dangerous Gamer, a budget deck with artifacts + counters:\n\nhttps://archidekt.com/decks/7788551/epic_gamer_moment\n\nA pretty straight forward budget deck that revolves around the simple strategies like rtifact synergy and +1/+1 counters synergy. The only \"complex\" mechanic is the attractions but they are easy and fun to use once explained how they work.\n\n\n"}]}
0
Snorticus 5 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Daryl, Maker of Friends\n\nhttps://archidekt.com/decks/8634935/the_walking_dead\n\nThis deck was designed for exactly this purpose, to introduce my wife to Magic with a character she already loves (it could be Hansk if anybody has a distaste for the universes beyond stuff, but Daryl is a selling point in my book) and a deck that is both easy to pick up and pilot the very first time, yet deep enough to enjoy for years. To accomplish this task, I thought about the things that people need to learn both in magic as a whole and in commander specifically:\nCard advantage"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Ramp/mana accessibility"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Threat removal"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Politics"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Closing games"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"All 5 of these aspects have both a basic level and an advanced level represented within the deck. The card advantage is pretty easy Daryl is a card draw engine on his own, he taps to kill a walker token and draws a card. Later on, cards that remove multiple walkers by doing 2 damage everywhere or other cards that untap Daryl allow for more of this same advantage with a little more effort. I may have lied about the depth to the ramp, it is Gruul after all, so that part just sorts itself out, but its there and they can use all those tools. The threat removal is where Daryl starts to get fun, as the game progresses the walkers and card draw they represent might not be as valuable as taking out key pieces and the damage doublers or ways to give Daryl deathtouch so the ability to remove key threats is just a small combo away, but the new player gets to learn for themselves what threats need to go and when they just want a card instead. Politics is one of the hardest parts of the game for some folks to warm up to, but who wouldn't take a new player under their wing in exchange for two 2/2 zombies a turn? Daryl still gets a card for killing the first and having a friend throwing those zombies at other players (and hopefully getting them blocked so those cards come out anyway) is a perfect way to ease into the daunting world of table politics. Finally closing games, of course players can swing with creatures and this deck is jammed full of damage doublers and triplers to make them HURT, but what if those doublers and triplers applied twice? Stuffy Doll and Brash Taunter represent opportunities to turn Daryl's 2 damage ping into lethal face damage once the combo gets set up and nothing reinforces that love of mastering a new skill than closing games out and taking home the W. \n\nPersonally, I find this deck very approachable and also very deep, if somebody would have handed this to me when I started, I may be a Gruul player for life. \n"}]}
0
Garsid 5 months{"ops":[{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8734200\n\nBig breakdown in the deck description but Uril is easy to understand, builds up to some big flashy plays, and can easily steal a game out from even more experienced players if he cannot be dealt with. Uril is a rare sight nowadays and lacks that early 2010's boogeyman status. The deck is set up to minimize blowouts, avoid analysis paralysis or knowledge checks, while still allowing for big numbers and slightly complicated plays and board states that a new player can piece together easily. Worst case scenario for the deck is you slap one person then get killed in retaliation, but most new players I have met will be elated just to get in that big 20 something dmage slap even if they do lose. \n"}]}
0
lxm 5 months{"ops":[{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8710870/hey_wait_this_isnt_frog_tribal\n\nThis is a budget bant value engine that mostly focuses on simic pieces.\nKeruga companion with Helga so everything in the deck is 3cmc or greater. Looking to throw down dudes and get milultiple helga activations a turn.\n"}]}
0
Barbarosa6874 5 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Calamity, Galloping Inferno ETB Cloning.\n\nhttps://www.archidekt.com/decks/8730199/calamity_cloning_fun_stuff\n\nThe deck is fast and fun and aims to turbo it's commander out, then play scary creatures to put inside the saddle and make copies of with Calamity's attack trigger. The deck is resilient to removal with how much ramping it is capable of doing with treasure generators and land rampers, and is strong enough to win pods against more experienced players.\n"}]}
0
honey.cake 5 months{"ops":[{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"I've recently put together a "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000","link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/7758980/masumaro_enchantress?sort=alpha&stack=custom"},"insert":"Masumaro Enchantress"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":" deck that goes all in on drawing as many cards as possible to make the biggest beater possible. Its commander Masumaro, First to Live can get exponentially out of hand very quickly, and offers a straightforward game plan of drawing "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000","bold":true},"insert":"a lot "},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"of cards and then beating down for lethal commander damage with the aid of some well-timed protection, removal, and evasion spells."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"The deck provides both mechanic and strategy learning opportunities. In addition to the obvious focus on card advantage, it also offers a primer on combat tricks, commander damage, haste and evasion. The enchantress sub-theme introduces some clear sequencing lessons and a few stacking triggers without getting too overwhelming. The deck also discourages always dumping your hand at sorcery speed during the first main phase, literally mechanically rewarding you for playing more optimally when keeping cards in hand."},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"transparent","color":"#000000"},"insert":"Most importantly, the deck almost always pops off. The density of burst card draw spells based on creature power and the reliable card advantage when casting enchantments means that you can expect to draw upwards of 20 cards in a turn reliably in the mid-game with little warning. I have come close to decking myself multiple times with this list, however the built-in win condition of trampling creatures with power determined by the number of cards in hand has closed out the game before this has ever happened. Being a mono-colour deck with several unlimited hand size enablers also minimizes the frustrations of not being able to cast your spells or keep them in hand."},{"insert":"\n"}]}
0
brodycmorris@gmail.com 5 months{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/7229363/trainer"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/7229363/trainer"},{"insert":"\nmy wife and I made this deck specifically to use for people that we introduce to magic. We chose 2 colors so they get a good feel for how mana works. We chose boros equipment and auras because it’s simple and effective. It also has a decent range of card types to experiment with. We left out planeswalkers because they can be difficult for new people and a lot of our other decks have them already l, so they’d still see them played. The deck has a minimalistic, straightforward win scenario and is VERY potent. We’ve had a lot of success with new people trying it out. Out of all of the nealry 100 decks we run, this one is almost as simple as Bruna or Solphim Burn, and can siddenly hit as hard as eldrazi or slivers. \n"}]}
0
SgtBalko 5 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Budget Starscream:\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8631759/starscream_budget"},"insert":"Starscream budget • (Commander / EDH deck) • Archidekt"},{"insert":"\n\nOriginally this Starscream list began as a budget challenge, but I feel that it also has legs as a fairly solid beginner's deck. Ignoring the cost of basic lands, this deck clocks in at just roughly $80, which is a steal. Mechanically the deck offers a nice variety of keywords and common abilities to help learn the game without being too complex or taxing mentally. There are also a number of upgrade paths that players can make by either going more all in on the monarch strategy, play more aggressively into the card draw engines, go full bore into building a voltron/aggro list, or whatever your heart desires.\n\nOur main goal is to draw cards while we have the monarch to deal out explosive and bursty levels of game ending damage and life loss with Peer into the Abyss, while also making it costly for opponents to attack us and ensure that we aren't overwhelmed too quickly with enchantments like Hissing Miasma or Revenge of Ravens. We have a simple selection of evasive creatures that allow us to steal the monarch back when we are ready for it, or we can swing in with lethal levels of damage with cards like Nightmare Lash. We also want to make sure our opponents are paying life for their own card draw, so we include cards like Fate Unraveller and Underworld Dreams to keep that playing field a bit more even.\n\nThere are a number of ways to win with this deck, with some ways being less obvious than other, which is great for creating teachable moments. For example: If Starscream has become too expensive to cast, forcing an opponent to draw half of their deck and lose half of their life with Peer into the Abyss while your Ob Nixilis the Hate Twisted is in play is also a valid way to win.\n"}]}
0
lamprocks 5 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Mayael, the Anima Budget\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/5386468/mayael_budget"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/5386468/mayael_budget"},{"insert":"\n\nI've used this deck a few times to teach new players. It achieves a few specific goals:\n\nSimplicity: Mayael herself is a pretty straightforward commander. The deck is centered around having big things enter the battlefield. Whether you hard cast or use her ability, you can just play whatever is in your hand and do well. The beauty of this deck is that, when using her ability, there aren't any really wrong choices. While there are a few soft combos in the deck, there is nothing that requires a degree from Richard Garfield University to figure out. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Fun: Many players start out Magic seeing all these big, fantastic creatures and that is the impetus, the "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"allure "},{"insert":"of the game. As dorky as it is, Ice Age's Scaled Wurm was a big draw for me. The art was cool and the thought of hitting someone for a third of their life had me pumped. Mayael works that well, as the entire deck is based around having big, cool creatures land on the battlefield. Add a splash of luck and chaos, and you have a good mix of play in the deck that can satisfy many different styles of player. "},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Teachability: This deck has several popular command mechanics contained within. I chose Landfall, Myriad, Persist and Cycling and Hideaway as keywords to introduce as they are both popular mechanics and relatively easy to understand. You'll find no Daybound/Nightbound here. There is a smattering of combat-oriented keywords that teach how creatures interact during combat (Vigilance, Trample, Flying, Reach). And, to round out the lesson, ETB effects, activations, and triggers are included but curated in a manner that, to follow the Professor's adage \"reading the card explains the card.\" Icy Cauldron, GO HOME."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Replayability: Because of the randomness element, no game plays out exactly the same. One game you're nuking opponents with Warstorm Surge. The next game you're pumping out Giant Adephages like you're starting an underground beetle fight club."},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Cost: When I originally made this deck, you could purchase it from TCGPlayer for around 30 dollars. The cost has inched up over time, but it is currently hovering at around $50.00. My intent with this is that if someone plays the deck and likes it, I could loan it out to them without any serious concern of lost value. I've even had some folks enjoy the deck so much that they simply bought it, and I made another one!"},{"attributes":{"list":"ordered"},"insert":"\n"}]}
Edited 8/8/2024, 3:03:33 PM
0
chinesejello 5 months{"ops":[{"insert":"This is the deck I would use as a first deck for a new player: "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8719966/how_to_train_your_beginners_dragon"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8719966/how_to_train_your_beginners_dragon"},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}
0
CZea 5 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Treasure/Token Rashmi and Ragavan\n\nhttps://archidekt.com/decks/6647777/treasuretoken_rashmi_and_ragavan_budget\n\nUses a lot of what the colors try to normally do, so would be good to introduce a newer player to those colors. \n\nPretty straightforward game plan of trying to make a bunch of artifacts in order to benefit off of hitting other people's bigger stuff from their decks.\n\nAnd just the right amount of jank :)\n"}]}
0
Jio 5 months{"ops":[{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/7137441/gas_gas_gas\nThis deck is a very simple one to pilot, as the goal is to swing hard and fast so you can get dragons, and the combo of breath of fury once explained to the player, allows them to understand what it means to have a combo win. There are no tutors and the price mostly comes from the landbase.\n"}]}
0
reAlex 5 months{"ops":[{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8728452/bro_you_are_not_the_thinker\n\nJasmine Boreal of the Seven (power-tribal)\n\nJasmine taps for 2 mana that can only be used to cast vanilla creatures, so I included vanilla creatures of at least 2 mana. Since Jasmine also gives them evasion, I only added vanilla creatures with power > cmc so you can stomp your way to victory as efficient as possible. To speed up this complex win condition, I included plenty of power-tribal card draw and some anthems. The final slots were filled by staples and cards to further support our power-tribal strategy. \n\nP.S. Swap some basic lands for fancy lands if you feel like your mind can handle it.\n"}]}
Edited 8/13/2024, 9:48:14 AM
0
GrimmesReaper 5 months{"ops":[{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/8728592/trelasarra_life_gaintokens\n\nTrelasarra Lifegain tocken.\n\nI believe this can be pretty fun deck for a starting player focusing on getting lots of life, creating lots of tokens and having multiple winconditions related to both mechanics of the deck. \n"}]}
0
SDPigeon 5 months{"ops":[{"insert":{"card-link":"Omnath, Locus of Mana"}},{"insert":" \nhttps://www.archidekt.com/decks/8727995/omnath_green_beginner\nRamp, draw cards and bonk\n\nThis is a great deck to get into commander, since the plan is fairly easy. Play a lot of mana dorks, ramp, draw some cards and finish the job with Omnath himself. Since the main wincon of the deck is your commander, it makes a deck like this easier, since you always have acces to your commander. Also, there are quite some protection spells in the deck.\n\nIf you cant swing with Omnath, there are some other ways to win, dumping your mana in "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Helix Pinnacle"}},{"insert":" or maybe buff the dorks with an "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Overwhelming Stampede"}},{"insert":". If that doesn't work, you can slowly buff your board using "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Avenger of Zendikar"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Defiler of Vigor"}},{"insert":" to buff a lot of small creatures to win.\n\nTo keep track of your mana I would recommend either dice or a piece of paper, since you can get a lot of mana which might be hard to track without any help, but since there aren't lot of mana doublers or Nykthos, it wont get too crazy and most people can track it.\n\nHopefully people might enjoy this deck!\n"}]}
Edited 8/8/2024, 12:19:53 PM
0