Jeremy(Archidekt Moderator)
12 months{"ops":[{"insert":"We have our finalists! "},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"video":"https://www.youtube.com/embed/nMVKmIxzxbQ?showinfo=0"}},{"insert":"\n---"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nHello brewers,"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nHappy October! In the coming months, we've decided to start sprinkling in some reprises of popular contest prompts from years past. With how much the game changes even year to year, we're confident we'll see plenty of new takes on these themes. This month, we're circling back to one of our very first contest prompts: hidden commanders! Details below.\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":{"background":"transparent","italic":true},"insert":"For October's deckbuilding contest, brew a Commander-legal list with a “hidden” commander. In other words, your strategy should revolve around a card in the 99 (not necessarily a legendary creature) that you aim to consistently play each game but is not your chosen commander. Make sure it's clear to us what your hidden commander is!"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n\n"},{"insert":"Here’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, "},{"attributes":{"underline":true},"insert":"or"},{"insert":" the announcement tweet 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, October 9, 2024 "},{"insert":"(do not submit the same deck in multiple places). 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, October 16, 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 "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.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:\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 "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Wednesday, October 23, 2024"},{"insert":". 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 10/18/2024, 8:38:12 AM
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Ryanthechef 11 months{"ops":[{"insert":"So excited about this month's contest! I'm submitting a deck I've built around the secret commander Runo Stromkirk! He is in the 99 of Xavier Sal. I've got a story in my mind with this deck and Runo has executed a Mutiny to unleash all of the cool big scary sea monsters available in Sultai and copy them as much as possible! I hope you like it! \n\nI've put a fair amount of tutors and self mill into this deck to find Runo or get him out of the graveyard. Typically I only use the tutors for finding Runo and try to self mill to get more Sea Monsters into the graveyard to reanimate or get back on top of the library with Runo. \n\n\nhttps://www.archidekt.com/decks/9551790/xavier_sal_first_mate_runo_stromkirks_mutiny\n"}]}
Edited 10/8/2024, 7:21:37 PM
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MitrrilCyan 11 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Hello ! The challenge has been the push I needed to try and finish a deck I started and had in mind for a long time : A deck where "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Fynn, the Fangbearer"}},{"insert":" suddenly enters and shift the level of threats of our board. Here is "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/9481627"},"insert":"the final result"},{"insert":", Thank you !\n"}]}
0
bubblematrix 11 months{"ops":[{"insert":"This month I submit a deck "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/9511395/hidden_commander_follow_the_lady"},"insert":"\"Follow the Lady\""},{"insert":" named after the con trick where a person must track a playing card and work out which is the Queen to win\n\nTaking the hidden commander idea a little further, and accounting for how hidden commander decks often suffer from needing to be overly protective of the hidden card - I have chosen to hide all the cards, using the new manifest dread, manifest, cloak and morph to put most of my board out face down and make sure my opponent has no idea where my hidden commander is if they are in play at all, this should lead to a lot of fun but also so very suboptimal play from my opponents.\n\nUsing deck commander"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/card?name=Vannifar,%20Evolved%20Enigma&uid=f6d381eb-6cb6-4505-aebe-995c1ddc8527"},"insert":" Vannifar, Evolved Enigma"},{"insert":" so I can play my cards face down once a turn, many different manifest style cards and a board of creatures with reveal effects I can build up a load of hidden creatures. This is coupled with +1/+1 counter effects, also fuelable with Vannifar, so that all the hidden creatures are slowly stacking up +1/+1 counters.\n\nBut why?\n\nBecause the hidden commander is....\n\n "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/card?name=Sage%20of%20Hours&uid=8cb55caf-fc95-40dc-80af-5144f94333ee"},"insert":"Sage of Hours"},{"insert":" a creature you really don't want to let an opponent have lots of counters on, as they will just get into an indefinite number of turns situation, but when you don't know which is the sage how can you target it with the removal needed, and do that at a point that matters.\n\nThe rest of the deck feeds the +1/+1 theme and enables manifests, setting up enough effects that putting 5 counters on the sage once you reveal it per turn means you will effectively end the game when you do.\n\nA few design decisions chose theme over power here, I have not taken tutors as they would reveal the cards and so stop me from hiding my win, instead I have gone for strong card draw and manifest to burn through cards to get to the sage.\n\nPlaying off manifest dread I have tried to include some land graveyard recursion, so any decision between a non-land and land I can dump the land to play it back later, this also gives a few fun interactions with landfall and taking cycle lands and fetch lands and their variants ramp up the deck search.\n\nFinally, I have tended to mana dorks over rocks and flip effects over spells, this maximises the number of hidden threats on the board and disguised creatures, increasing the level of obscuring what I actually have available and letting me flip cards to protect the Sage when it is finally revealed\n"}]}
0
Leannuss 11 months{"ops":[{"insert":"I wanna submit my Scion of the Ur-Dragon Deck with Orva as the hidden commander as my first deck on a contest to try improve my building skills.\nThe plan is simple you wanna ramp, cast the Scion, make it a copy of Orva and start copy your lands most of the time. \nI also tried to fit some infinite combos in it with cards like Ghostly flicker, dualcaster Mage, Peregrine drake, harmonic prodegy and Archaeomancer.\n\nhttps://www.archidekt.com/decks/9549546/1st_contest_deck\n\nHave you submitted a Deck?\n"}]}
0
AssortedFlavors 11 months{"ops":[{"insert":"My first submission here: "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9548236"},"insert":"Big Cactus"},{"insert":"\n\nI decided that I wanted an animated land to hit people with so my hidden commander is "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Cactus Preserve"}},{"insert":" .\n\nThen I had to pick something big enough to really make the cactus hurt so the only real option was "},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Pride of Hull Clade"}},{"insert":" .\n\nThe game plan is pretty simple try to get Cactus Preserve as fast as possible, animate it into an 11/11 and smack people with it. Cast The Pride of Hull Clade for 1 green if you want a blocker.\n\nThe deck is just all non-basic/desert ramp, evasion (trample/flying), land recursion, and pumping the Cactus Preserve or keeping it untapped.\n"}]}
0
davulz 11 months{"ops":[{"attributes":{"bold":true,"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9486642/who_is_the_commander_you_say?sort=alpha&stack=custom"},"insert":"General Tazri"},{"attributes":{"header":1},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n\nThe main goal of this deck is to play it like a 5-color Zada, Hedron Grinder deck, but experience tells me to have backup plans if Zada is removed. That's where the secondary hidden commanders come in. Both of them make use of a wide board of tokens to press the win, and one of them also utilize a different angle of attack if combat is proven difficult. If all else fails Tazri can buff the entire team if we play Maskwood nexus.\n\n-Davulz\n"}]}
0
obashonga 11 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Whenever I play against decks that which focuses on "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Norin the Wary"}},{"insert":" , it’s usually to abuse of his enter the battlefield effect. I’m a Doctor Who fan and a bit of a melomaniac so I put this silly list together. I know you can make strictly better versions but this Mardu one is my favourite.\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9541355/youre_out_of_touch_im_out_of_time"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9541355/youre_out_of_touch_im_out_of_time"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
Edited 10/8/2024, 5:47:22 PM
0
sevenishmagpies 11 months{"ops":[{"insert":"My first entry to the deck building contest! I built a CLB "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"gates voltron deck"},{"insert":" when CLB came out, and updated it with a focus on "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Basilisk Gate"},{"insert":" as secret commander. Since it's inspired by the pauper Caw Gates deck and Nine-Fingers Keene is canonically in a romantic relationship with a woman, it's called "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9516141/caw_gays"},"insert":"Caw Gays"},{"insert":". \n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9516141/caw_gays"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9516141/caw_gays"},{"insert":"\n\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#ffff00","bold":true},"insert":"Commander: Nine Fingers Keene"},{"insert":"\n"},{"attributes":{"background":"#ffff00","bold":true},"insert":"Secret Commander: Basilisk Gate"},{"insert":"\n\nThis is a not-high power gates that that uses combat (preferably commander) damage instead of Maze's End as its wincon. In fact, Maze's End isn't even in this deck. Instead we rely on two things: a hard to remove, hard to block commander going in for damage and Basilisk Gate, an also hard to remove secret commander (because it's a land), providing our commander a massive boost. Since Nine-Fingers Keene plops down additional gates when she connects she slowly boosts her power as she hits your opponent with commander damage.\n\nHere's some highlights on the categories of cards:\n\nRamp: Almost every gate/land tutor in the legal colors are in here to make sure we always have gates (and other lands) in hand or, better yet, placed directly on the battlefield. While Basilisk Gate is the secret commander and our wincon, Gond Gate is a good first gate to tutor out to make sure guildgates and CLB thriving gates come out as true duals, and Baldur's Gate is a good gate mid- or late-game for massive mana (it takes 3 other gates on board for Baldur's to act as a Sol land) if mana is a problem.\n\nLand: Every single legal gate that can be played in this deck is in here (13). There's also Thepian Stage and Vesuva, which can pretend to be gates. We want gates to make Basilisk Gate as strong as possible! The NEO channel lands are in here to take advantage of the land tutors in case you need one of their channel abilities. Fetches are all here (and a triome as fetch target) to take advantage of Crucible of Worlds and similar cards.\n\nRecursion: We have tons of \"play lands from your graveyard\" cards in case someone actually Wastelands our key gates, they get milled by accident, or we chose to discard gates to looters or connivers to keep other cards. It's both protection and extra draw!\n\nEvasion: These help Keene connect. Vorrac Battlehorns is the most fun because it's a janky card that makes her unblockable and I love it.\n\nCounterspells / Protection / Alternate Voltron Heads: Despite the ward cost on Keene, when faced with lethal commander damage folks will pay it and try to kill her. Protection stops that. Fun fact: you can respond to them paying the ward cost with a protection or counterspell; nothing is funnier than someone paying 9 life to target your commander only for you to give her hexproof after. Just in case it doesn't work or you need to attack multiple people we also have several chonky creatures with other utility to use Basilisk Gate on, which brings us to...\n\nUntappers (Extra Activations): These guys are amazing for Baldur's Gate for mana and damage for Basilisk Gate, either doubling commander damage or letting you attack multiple people with large creatures.\n\nCard Draw: Ledger Shredder and Looter Il-Kor are also great Basilisk Gate targets since they have very good evasion.\n\nLand Copying Effect: Queen of Vesuva lets us turn basics into gates to pump all our gates matters cards, including our secret commander, of course. Copy Land gives us another Basilisk Gate, and Doppelgang, if we have the mana, can give us multiple extra Basilisk gates!\n\nMana Sink: Because our deck is so ramp focused (more gates = more damage) and Basilisk Gate is so efficient mana-wise we often end up with tons of mana late game. These cards are there to let us spend that mana for some massive benefits. Villainous Wealth is a Sultai mana sink all star. Tyvar's Stand can make a seemingly safe attack lethal with tons of mana (or can be used as a protection spell with a single mana). Sea Gate Restoration is not a gate but a great card draw spell. Vorpal Sword is a flashy kill spell with big mana, but also great for creating a small deathtouch blocker. Finally, Notorious Throng (which my playgroup calls the fairest extra turn spell) turns commander damage into a board of tokens and an extra turn.\n\nOkay that's all! My personal paper copy of this deck is a bit different but I've had a LOT of fun with it!\n"}]}
Edited 10/8/2024, 6:20:56 AM
0
Geek_mechanic 11 months{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/9483209/secret_calender"},"insert":"Secret Calendar"},{"insert":" \n\nThis was kind of an idea I've been wanting to build for a while and this gave me a great reason and after putting it together on here I will be putting it together in paper!\n\nThe true commander of the deck is The Millenium Calendar. Tutor it out and utilize Vorel and other counter doublers and some proliferation to get to 1000 time counters as quickly as possible. \n\n"}]}
0
joniuscaesar 11 months{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9546018/morophon_opens_the_dragon_hellmouth"},"insert":"Morophon opens the dragon hellmouth • (Commander / EDH deck) • Archidekt"},{"insert":"\n\nThe secret commander is "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Morophon, the Boundless"}},{"insert":" . The point of the deck is to search for Morophon with one of the many tutors in the deck (including "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Tiamat"}},{"insert":" in the command zone). Cheat Morophon into play using cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Didgeridoo"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sorin, Imperious Bloodlord"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Willow Priestess"}},{"insert":". Once Morophon is in play, Tiamat only costs 2 mana, and the most common dragon package to tutor up with Tiamat is below:\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Scion of the Ur-Dragon"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"The Ur-Dragon"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Niv-Mizzet Reborn"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Dragonlord Kolaghan"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Atarka, World Render"}},{"insert":" "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nOnce you have tutored for these 5 dragons, you can then open the dragon hellmouth by doing the following:\nPlay Scion of the Ur Dragon for free"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Pay 2 for it to become "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ramos, Dragon Engine"}},{"insert":" until end of turn"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Play Niv Mizzet for free (which nets 10 colored mana via Ramos abilities)"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Use 10 mana to help pay for Ur Dragon, Kologhan, and Atarka"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Kologhan gives all your creatures haste, so attack with all dragons. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Draw 7 off of Ur Dragon trigger, play a permanent card"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Deal around 62 in double strike damage"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"}]}
Edited 10/8/2024, 3:59:39 AM
0
DPanda007 11 months{"ops":[{"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/9545915/bunny\nRegal Bunnycorn is hidden commander\n"}]}
0
tokenhenchman13 11 months{"ops":[{"insert":"Link to deck submission\n\nhttps://archidekt.com/decks/9503217/token_time\n\nI token strategy mixed with a dran and gain effect. Thallisse creates a solid board state. But mirkwood bats are the star of the show draining my opponents life with each individual token made. Corpse knight is just meant to be a distraction and removal magnet.\n"}]}
0
GenGod 11 months{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9545348/sisay_of_the_guildpact"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9545348/sisay_of_the_guildpact"},{"insert":"\nCommander: Sisay, Weatherlight Captain\nSecret Commanders: Niv-Mizzet, Guildpact, Niv-Mizzet, Supreme and Niv-Mizzet Reborn\n\nWhy have a single hidden commander when you can have 3!\nSisay, Weatherlight Captain is a versatile commander that can accommodate all sorts of hidden commanders, provided you have multiple colors of legendary permanents in play.\nIncidentally, all three 5-color Niv-Mizzet creatures are well stated flying threats that reward you for playing a diversity of color pairs.\nThis deck is all about combining those two concepts: play an equal amount every color pair to help 3 big dragons and a bigger Sisay take big chunks out of your opponents' life totals.\n\nThe deck has exactly 30 2-color legendary permanents (3 per guild) to enable Sisay to call upon the wubrg dragons. Each permanent either provides value in the form of card draw/recursion, protects other permanents or supports the commanders in combat.\nThe 20 non-permanent spells (2 per guild) do similar things and offer versatile interaction to remove blockers or slow down the opponents' own plans.\n\nWhile the deck does require a few turns of setup to get Sisay and the dragons in play, it's strategy is undeniably aggro. You need to pressure slower synergy and combo oriented opponents before they inevitably out-value you.\n\nEnjoy!\n"}]}
0
CommanderStories 11 months{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/9543098/dredging_up_zombies"},"insert":"Dredging Up Trouble"},{"insert":"\n \nA hidden-commander deck where the hidden commander isn't a single creature but rather the combination of looting abilities plus dredge creatures. \n\nA dredge deck that gets value from having for having a big graveyard including a dredge creature along with many looting creatures/spells to maximize cards dredged. Win-cons include lots of flying zombie tokens from Tormod+Wonder along with possibly a big Psychcatog/Psychic Frog.\n\nZombie tokens are made with Tormod and/or Defiled Crypt using Tortured Existence, Titans' Nest, Psychatog, or Zombie Scavengers. Currency Converter and Containment Construct's exile trigger can also make lots of tokens from self-mill/looting with Tormod out. Opposition can help use the tokens and small creatures to tap opponents' threat creatures or blockers. \n\n\n"}]}
0
Skyguy9 11 months{"ops":[{"insert":"I wish to submit my brewed deck Quick Draw Mill edition (Hidden Commander Mind Moil). The core idea was built off of using the Quick Draw precon, using storm to power mill my opponent. Since the precon utilized drawing as a main stay it was perfect to utilize my favorite card in commander which is mind moil. Getting out is pretty consistent, and once it is out the other pieces such as psychic corrosion, keening stone and when in a promptly storming moment to dump in a brain freeze to clear the game quickly.\n"}]}
0