Deckbuilding Contest - June 2023

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Jeremy avatarJeremy 17 months
{"ops":[{"insert":"Hello brewers,"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nOne of the toughest parts about getting new players into Commander– or any Magic format for that matter– is the cost. Sure, you can point them to a $40 precon, but seeing multi-hundred dollar price tags on custom decks can be super intimidating. With that in mind, we’re brewing budget decks for this month’s Card Kingdom-sponsored deckbuilding contest! 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 "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.cardkingdom.com/"},"insert":"cardkingdom.com"},{"insert":". \n\n"},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"It’s budget month! For June’s deckbuilding contest, construct a Commander-legal deck that costs $100 (USD) or less using Card Kingdom pricing (basic lands not included). Playability and uniqueness will earn additional consideration!"},{"attributes":{"header":3},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\nNote: Prices can fluctuate over the course of a week, so we’ll afford decks a little bit of wiggle room on the $100 limit when selecting finalists. Just make sure it’s at that mark or lower when you submit!\n\nHere’s how to participate:"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Brew an EDH/Commander legal deck on Archidekt that satisfies the prompt."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Any unreleased cards spoiled during the contest’s duration are allowed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Silver-bordered and acorn cards, while cool, are not allowed. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Digital-only cards (such as those designed for the Alchemy format on Arena) are not allowed."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Strictly one deck submitted per user."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Reply to either this newspost or "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://twitter.com/archidekt/status/1672326188318982144?s=20"},"insert":"the announcement tweet"},{"insert":" from the @archidekt account on Twitter with a link to your deck before "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"9:00 pm EDT (UTC -4, currently) on Friday, June 30"},{"insert":". Only one submission per user!"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"From 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":"Saturday, July 1, 2023"},{"insert":", we'll tweet out a poll for the community to vote on its favorite of the three selected finalists' lists. Any finalists who submitted their lists on Archidekt will be notified via the email associated with their account. We’ll also publish a newspost on Archidekt announcing the finalists and linking to the poll on Twitter. Each finalist will be awarded store credit to cardkindom.com. The value of the credit is in US dollars and depends on the finalist's placement in the community poll at the end of its two day duration:\n1st Place Prize - $50"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"2nd Place Prize - $30"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"3rd Place Prize - $20"},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Finalists will be contacted via Twitter or email (depending on where they submitted) regarding their winnings following the conclusion of the poll by "},{"attributes":{"bold":true},"insert":"Tuesday, July 4, 2023"},{"insert":". Please note, you must have a Card Kingdom account in order to receive your winnings. It's quick and free-- "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.cardkingdom.com/register"},"insert":"register here"},{"insert":" if you don't have an account already!\n\nAn important note:"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Unfortunately, due to wild variance in contest laws, eligibility is limited to residents of the United States and Canada (excluding Quebec). We’d love to allow all of our users to participate, but ensuring we are legally compliant with each country’s national laws is too great a barrier. For additional information regarding eligibility, check our official contest rules. \n\nSomething newish:"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"As you might have noticed, we added a new “"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/community"},"insert":"Community Stuff"},{"insert":"” tab to the homepage. In addition to a variety of curated decks and stats, we display contest winners on this page until new ones are selected. If you haven’t already, check out May’s winners before they’re replaced in a week!\n\nThank you!"},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"If you have any other 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/eZg3mvJd7v"},"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":"\nEdit: We have our finalists! Assuming Twitter will open for you (it's been uhh... pretty rough lately), please consider stopping by "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://twitter.com/archidekt/status/1675269614056402944?s=20"},"insert":"our poll"},{"insert":" to vote. Congratulations to KnightOfTheNorth, Pheresis and wade42! "},{"attributes":{"header":2},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
Edited 7/4/2023, 5:40:07 PM
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Ammutseba avatarAmmutseba 17 months
{"ops":[{"insert":"Themed decks are so much fun. I've been kicking this idea around for a go fast voltron deck for a bit so I decided to see if I could make it fit with this budget theme. \n\nSo I present everyone with about a deck with both low monetary value, and low CMC of the equipment:\n\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/4796699/humans_strong_together"},"insert":"Human's Strong Together"},{"insert":" comes in at a cozy $70 but floods your hand with equipment that love being equipped and used with Human and Warrior card types. Good thing Wyleth is both of those, and so are most of the creatures in this deck fun, fast, and exciting deck.\n"}]}
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{"ops":[{"insert":"I've been meaning to make one of these decks, thanks for giving me a start!\n"}]}
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TheFunnyMan avatarTheFunnyMan 17 months
{"ops":[{"insert":"I present the first magic that I have built myself! Its a \"Pop Culture\" deck in spirit, but also has some clue/investigate elements to it since the Stranger Things cards synergize well with them. I hope it satisfies anyone's curiosity who looks at the deck (More description in the decks' bio) (Ps it comes in at 94.72 minus lands at time of writing)\nhttps://www.archidekt.com/decks/4796411/pop_culture_under_100_for_contest\n"}]}
Edited 6/27/2023, 2:26:37 AM
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KyleHaleYeah avatarKyleHaleYeah 17 months
{"ops":[{"insert":"Love the contest theme this month!\n\nI've been looking for an excuse to make a budget Pramikon deck, so lets give this a shot!\n\nDeck: Wonder WALLS\nPrice "},{"attributes":{"italic":true},"insert":"(excluding basic lands)"},{"insert":": $96.43\n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/4793091/wonder_wall_commander_budget_build"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/4793091/wonder_wall_commander_budget_build"},{"insert":"\n\nThe equivalent of an Uno \"Reverse\" card sits in your command zone. What's not to love?\n\nThis walls tribal deck lets you control who attacks who. Turn your walls into scary attackers who deal damage based upon their toughness and slap your neighbor! Post combat, blink your commander so they can't retaliate. This deck is sure to make your pod second guess their seating arrangement for the next game.\n"}]}
Edited 6/29/2023, 7:21:39 AM
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flurbil avatarflurbil 17 months
{"ops":[{"insert":"Because maybe\nYou're gonna be the one that saves me\nAnd after all\nYou're my wonderwall...\n"}]}
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{"ops":[{"insert":"Here is my entry into this months contest. \n (https://www.archidekt.com/decks/4101559/poprocks) \nI wanted to make a deck with the idea around unassuming junk becoming the actual threat.\n"}]}
Edited 6/23/2023, 9:22:00 PM
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CasuallyDone avatarCasuallyDone 17 months
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/4801471/budget_brew_piru_the_volatile"},"insert":"Budget Brew - Piru, the Volatile • (Commander / EDH deck) • Archidekt"},{"insert":"\n\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Piru, the Volatile"}},{"insert":" Reanimator/Burn mixed together. Ramp into him then keep bringing him back with cheap reanimate spells like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Victimize"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Exhume"}},{"insert":" to wipe your opponent's nonlegendary creatures while gaining bogus amounts of life over and over to control the board state in the middle game, along with other strong value/control creatures to reanimate to hold out in the early game such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ashen Rider"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Athreos, Shroud-Veiled"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Kaervek the Merciless"}},{"insert":" , hoping to win off "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sanguine Bond"}},{"insert":" with the commander to start pinging opponents for the rest of their life.\n"}]}
Edited 6/27/2023, 10:16:59 PM
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MadMango69 avatarMadMango69 17 months
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/4296880/breeches_emberclaw_plunderer"},"insert":"Breeches, Emberclaw Plunderer • (Commander / EDH deck) • Archidekt"},{"insert":"\nThis was a fun budget deck I built a while ago I noticed that the wording on Breeches, Brazen Plunderer makes it so that breeches damage didn't need to use combat damage to have his ability trigger so that's where Kediss Emberclaw Familiar comes in. Kediss makes it so that when breeches deals damage to a player it deals that damage to each opponent activating breeches three times instead of once, so now instead of one opponent's library getting cards exiled for you to play you get cards off the top of each of your opponent's libraries. kind of a sudo-etali primal storm commander. but you still have to pay sadly but there are some cards that make it more worth it to use exiled stuff. Nalfeshnee lets you copy all the stuff you cast from exile. and Maskwood nexus turns all your extra creatures into pirates so that you can protect Breeches but still get his triggers need be. the whole idea of the deck is to make Breeches BIG and trample people stealing their cards in the process. BIG PIRATE ENERGY. \n"}]}
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{"ops":[{"insert":"Secret commanders? Been done before! A deck with an off-color theme? Even Osgir does that! Restrictions on that theme? So 2022! But what if we combined all these aspects?\n\nIntroducing a deck that will cause Rioting in the Streets and leave your opponents Trembling in their Sheets, Rienne's Ruination Renaissance!\nDecklist: "},{"attributes":{"background":"#232323","link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/4776231/rienne_rioter_budget"},"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/4776231/rienne_rioter_budget"},{"insert":"\nThis deck takes the Aristocrats theme and flips on its head many times over! Headed by "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rienne, Angel of Rebirth"}},{"insert":", this Naya Aristocrats deck with a focus on multicolor creatures will leave your opponents wondering when they stumbled into a Planar Chaos draft, and why there's a random MH1 Uncommon in it.\n\nUtilizing unique tools such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Gimli, Mournful Avenger"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Quintorius, Field Historian"}},{"insert":" to generate value off sacrificing creatures and returning them with Rienne, we can really show those black players how its done. Sweet sac outlets like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Brion Stoutarm"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Thermopod"}},{"insert":" give us plentiful ways of ditching our dutiful dummies, while "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Yeva, Nature's Herald"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Vivien, Champion of the Wilds"}},{"insert":" make our slower game plan a little more flashy!\n\nHowever, as I mentioned, this deck has more up its sleeve than just a grip of multicolor creatures. One in particular adds even more spice to this creative concoction. You might be asking \"Are you referring to Modern Horizons limited playable "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Ruination Rioter"}},{"insert":"?\" Actually, you probably aren't asking that but, if you are, you'd be right! This card, matched with a multitude of mill mechanisms, makes matches mince meat. Cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Golgari Grave-Troll"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Altar of Dementia"}},{"insert":", and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Foster"}},{"insert":" all work well with our aristocrats plan to dump many lands into our graveyard. At that point, all we need to do is churn and burn! Sacrifice the Rioter over and over, using Rienne's ability to get it back, and voila! Opponents, cooked to well done. Even if our secret commander turns out to be a dud, we can count on our buds, "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Spiteful Prankster"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Hissing Iguanar"}},{"insert":" to get the job done.\n\nThanks for reading! (And if you couldn't tell, I had a lot of fun writing this)\n\n\n"}]}
Edited 6/26/2023, 7:38:44 AM
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{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/4787254/combo_budget_build"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/4787254/combo_budget_build"},{"insert":"\n\nWhat's better than drawing cards? Nothing.\n\nWhat's better than making big creatures because you drew so many cards? Nothing.\n\nWhat's better than having a combo option to straight up win the game? Nothing.\n\nThis is a budget build of my personal favorite Unctus deck. The goal is to do typical blue things: control the board through board wipes and counter spells and keep our opponents at bay. We have plenty of creatures and enchaments who get bigger from the cards we draw or will make tokens when we draw and/or discard.\n\nThere are many cards who function as looters which, with our commander on the battlefield, means we get to draw twice as many cards. The ultimate goal of the deck is to create an infinite loop through our untapping creatures and present a win through either an Oracle or Lab Maniac. \n\nThis is an incredible deck and super fun to play because, like the Spanish Inquisition, no one expects this "},{"attributes":{"background":"var(--light-background)","color":"var(--color)"},"insert":"deck. "},{"insert":"\n\n"}]}
Edited 6/27/2023, 5:14:29 AM
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MikeySosnow avatarMikeySosnow 17 months
{"ops":[{"insert":{"card-link":"Karn, Legacy Reforged"}},{"insert":" Retro Artifacts ($99.85 at the time of publishing excluding basic lands) \n"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/4787101/_budget_reserve_list_retro_artifacts"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/4787101/_budget_reserve_list_retro_artifacts"},{"insert":"\n\nThis deck is completely colorless and all cards are retro border themed. It also includes three reserve list cards.\n\nDescription of deck: Use the Unwinding Clock and a Mishra's Helix to prevent your opponents from casting spells, or pair the Unwinding Clock with a Keening stone to mill your opponents, or a Phyrexian Processor/Riptide Replicator to put out 10/10's every turn. With several mana rocks like Thran Dynamo and Gilded Lotus, and with the help of Karn, Legacy Reforged's ability to add colorless mana to your mana pool, copy your Scavenged Brawler with Mirrorworks or Lithoform Engine. The deck is also full of stax pieces to keep your opponents from out ramping you, and with Karn's ability you'll always have excess mana. Draw a ton of cards with Well of Discovery and use Strionic Resonator's for Karn's abilty. This deck has a few \"tutors\" and lots of card draw to help you find your puzzle pieces and come out with a win!\n"}]}
Edited 6/25/2023, 9:28:10 PM
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rwentzy avatarrwentzy 17 months
{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/3011638"},"insert":"Zada Spellslinger, Combat Overkill: https://www.archidekt.com/decks/3011638"},{"insert":"\nThis is a slight edit of my "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/2059507#Zada_Spellslinger,_Combat_Overkill"},"insert":"Zada Spell Slinger Deck"},{"insert":" to fit the monthly challenge.\n\"When in doubt, target Zada\"\nWhenever you target Zada with an instant or sorcery spell, that spell is coppied and targets each other creature you control. This ability can be exploited to turn draft rush spells into very powerful cantrip storms for under $85.\n\nDeck Strategy:\n-Ramp early while playing permanents that care about casting instants and sorceries like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Storm-Kiln Artist"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Smoldering Egg // Ashmouth Dragon"}},{"insert":" \n-Play "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zada, Hedron Grinder"}},{"insert":" and cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Young Pyromancer"}},{"insert":" that make tokens that will be the target of Zada's coppied spells\n-Target Zada with silly Instants and Sorceries that:\na: draw more cards like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Accelerate"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Renegade Tactics"}},{"insert":" \nb: boost creature power, give trample, double strike, etc for big combat damage through "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Brute Force"}},{"insert":", "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Rush of Adrenaline"}},{"insert":", or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Temur Battle Rage"}},{"insert":" \nEvery spell that targets Zada will be coppied for the rest of your board, pretty soon the small early game creatures will be overpowering your opponents.\n"}]}
Edited 6/25/2023, 2:03:52 PM
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ShubTakkorath avatarShubTakkorath 17 months
{"ops":[{"insert":"I'm new to EDH myself but might as well give it a shot. \n\nWhat's the best way to play all sorts of expensive cards without paying for them? Steal them off your friends with this budget "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/4730645/budget_xanathars_guide_to_robbery"},"insert":"Xanathar, Guild Kingpin deck"},{"insert":"! Basic lands excluded it comes in at $73.23, but I cheekily raised the price to $87.93 because I think Chibi Ashiok is too cute to pass up - you could probably use that budget leeway for some more expensive dimir control classics if you were so inclined. Because you're using your friend's cards, the power level is appropriate for any group that won't get mad at you too often. It does have one infinite combo and a few ways to close out the game on its own, but for the most part it's intended to be a fun way to fool around and play cards you normally wouldn't be able to afford. \n"}]}
Edited 6/25/2023, 7:56:06 AM
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PrinnyOh avatarPrinnyOh 17 months
{"ops":[{"insert":"https://archidekt.com/decks/4655868/butts_matter\n\nWith the theme of New Player friendly in mind why not something that affords a good defense that can then turn that defense into lethal power? Also while you're at it you can taunt your Pod with Mark Henry's Theme \"The Wall\", this deck provides all you need to learn the format providing interaction boardwipes tutors and ramp in an easy to pick up and play but rarely utilized style of play Toughness Matters.\n\nAll of this said it does what any new player of a format needs, it teaches you how to play the game and leaves you room to upgrade it your way.\n"}]}
Edited 7/1/2023, 2:53:19 AM
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evolution1988 avatarevolution1988 17 months
{"ops":[{"insert":"Greasefang's Gang:"},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/4781567/greasefangs_gang"},"insert":" https://archidekt.com/decks/4781567/greasefangs_gang"},{"insert":" ($98/$91 excluding at submission)\n\nGreasefang is a fast deck that punches much higher than its budget would suggest. The strategy is simple - get important vehicles in the yard, recur them with Greasefang, win.\nParhelion, Reaver Titan, Knight Paladin are priority targets. But lots of flexibility with vehicles depending on the situation."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Oriq Lore Mage, Vile Entombers, Unmarked Grave tutor cards to the yard."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Lots of sacrifice effects for card draw and tutoring to help keep important vehicles going to the yard to recur with Greasefang while adding value."},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"Discard effects for value and draw keep important vehicles in the yard. "},{"attributes":{"list":"bullet"},"insert":"\n"},{"insert":"\n"}]}
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{"ops":[{"attributes":{"link":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/4782252/zirda's_tricycle"},"insert":"https://www.archidekt.com/decks/4782252/zirda's_tricycle"},{"insert":"\n\nIf having three commanders is something that appeals to you, then this deck is for you! These three legends are the perfect trio, and having three of them plus lots of card draw makes for a very resilient strategy.\n\n"},{"insert":{"card-link":"Shabraz, the Skyshark"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Brallin, Skyshark Rider"}},{"insert":" synergize nicely with the cycling mechanic, which "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zirda, the Dawnwaker"}},{"insert":" reduces the cost of, fueling great big turns that add tons of counters to them all at once. Cycling cards are pretty inexpensive, so there's plenty of room inside the budget to play powerhouses like "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Teferi, Master of Time"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Windfall"}},{"insert":" too. \n\nI even managed to sneak in a little "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Sunforger"}},{"insert":" package, since equip costs are reduced by Zirda. You can use it to find removal and protection, or even wheels, such as "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Heartwarming Redemption"}},{"insert":" and "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Channeled Force"}},{"insert":". Or, once you've cycled a bit, grab a big "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Zenith Flare"}},{"insert":"!\n\nThis deck won't be using cheesy infinites like basalt monolith, and almost always wins through commander damage and Brallin triggers. It takes a surprisingly short amount of time to bring Shabraz to 20+ counters, especially if you equip it with a "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Robe of the Archmagi"}},{"insert":" or "},{"insert":{"card-link":"Mask of the Schemer"}},{"insert":".\n\nOh yeah and half the mana base enters tapped because it lets you cycle more. Thanks for coming to my TED talk.\n"}]}
Edited 6/25/2023, 3:03:35 AM
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certainly avatarcertainly 17 months
{"ops":[{"insert":"If I'm perfectly honest, this $100 restriction applies to many (many) (very many) of the decks I build.\n\nHence, I offer a deck that at least lets me use niche cards that wouldn't have a home elsewhere.\n\nBehold: "},{"attributes":{"link":"https://archidekt.com/decks/4350779"},"insert":"Rona got the Rona"},{"insert":", a deck that finally lets me play all the mono-blue pingers from early magic to great effect.\n\nSame goes for the force-attackers and several other big payoff cards, with the deck totaling $69 as of June 24th.\n"}]}
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