Battle of the Bards: Pick the Bard to Lead the Deck

<a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcum&#039;s Astrolabe" href="#" target="_blank">Arcum&#039;s Astrolabe</a> | Art by <a href="https://www.artstation.com/igorkieryluk" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Igor Kieryluk</a>
Hello, and welcome back to the Archidekt Deckbuilding Contest.
This is a monthly contest with a different theme each month. Your goal is to build a Commander-legal deck that fulfills the prompt in a creative or unique fashion, and at the end of each month, three finalists will be selected for you to vote on.
Whoever gets the most votes will be crowned the winner, although all three finalists will receive a prize.
This month we're embracing the icy, cold reality of the month of January and challenging you to build a deck around the snow mechanic.
<h2>What’s the Contest All About?</h2>
Working within the parameters of the provided prompt, construct a deck list with your own creative spin. Three chosen finalists will be awarded <a href="https://www.cardsphere.com/?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">store credit to use on Cardsphere</a>.
For January's deck building contest - Build a commander-legal deck that aims to utilize the snow mechanic as a large part of the deck's theme or game plan in a significant yet creative and interesting way.
Decks will be judged on the creativity and originality of their brew. For example, a deck doing nothing else beyond running snow-covered basics simply to power <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Scrying Sheets" href="#" target="_blank">Scrying Sheets</a> for value probably won't cut it.
Here's a link to the EDHREC page for <a href="https://edhrec.com/tags/snow" target="_blank" rel="noopener">Snow themes</a> for a list of sample decks to get you started.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Snow-Covered Forest"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Scrying Sheets"></div></div>
Snow has been a part of Magic since way back in Ice Age in 1995, though the mechanic didn't really get fleshed out until Coldsnap in 2006. Modern Horizons and Kaldheim marked the sets where design really began to explore what could be done with the supertype, up to the point where <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arcum&#039;s Astrolabe" href="#" target="_blank">Arcum&#039;s Astrolabe</a> had to be banned in Modern, Legacy and Pauper.
This mechanic has surprisingly found itself featured in one of my decks, and working as a supplemental theme in another. The first is a <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Jorn, God of Winter" href="#" target="_blank">Jorn, God of Winter</a> list built around untapping lands to fuel <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Helix Pinnacle" href="#" target="_blank">Helix Pinnacle</a> as my win condition. Because Jorn untaps all snow permanents when he attacks, this lets my deck use my snow lands twice per turn to feed the Pinnacle. When coupled with mana doublers like <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Mana Reflection" href="#" target="_blank">Mana Reflection</a> and <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Zendikar Resurgent" href="#" target="_blank">Zendikar Resurgent</a>, the impact of tapping those lands a second time is compounded.
My second deck that runs snow is an <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Athreos, God of Passage" href="#" target="_blank">Athreos, God of Passage</a> build that utilizes <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Withering Wisps" href="#" target="_blank">Withering Wisps</a> along with other <a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Pestilence" href="#" target="_blank">Pestilence</a> effects as the deck's main win-condition.
Those are just a couple of ways snow as a mechanic can be integrated into your list.
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Glacial Crevasses"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Marit Lage&#039;s Slumber"></div></div>
<h2>How To Participate</h2>
<ul>
<li>Brew a Commander-legal deck on <a href="https://archidekt.com/?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Archidekt</a> that satisfies the prompt.</li>
<li>Any unreleased cards spoiled during the contest’s duration are allowed.</li>
<li>Silver-bordered and acorn cards, while fun, are not allowed.</li>
<li>Digital-only cards (such as those designed for the Alchemy format on Arena) are also not allowed.</li>
<li>Strictly one deck submitted per user.</li>
</ul>
As of a couple months ago, we've also revamped the submission process. Decks must now be submitted on Archidekt via a button on the <a href="https://archidekt.com/contest/17942324?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">newspost</a>. This will make it easier to view all submissions in a single place. Additionally, it will simplify the process of writing a description by sharing the same text on the submission page and the deck page itself.
You can also comment on individual decks directly from the submission, making those discussions easier to find and track later.
To submit a deck, select the orange button labeled "Submit a deck to this contest" and follow the form prompt. Submissions are accepted until 9:00 pm EST (UTC -4, currently) on Wednesday, January 14, 2026.
Only one submission per user! If you change your mind and want to submit a different deck before submissions close, you may do so by first deleting your submission. To edit your description, you can do so from the deck page itself.
From the eligible submissions, we'll select three finalists with lists that we believe best embody the spirit of the prompt. Deck descriptions are not required but certainly may provide valuable context!
On Wednesday, January 21, 2025, we’ll announce three finalists via the Archidekt Discord and a brief article on EDHREC highlighting each deck.
<div>
<a href="https://www.cardsphere.com/sets?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">Each finalist will be awarded credit to use on Cardsphere</a>. 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:
<ul>
<li>1st Place Prize - $250</li>
<li>2nd Place Prize - $150</li>
<li>3rd Place Prize - $100</li>
</ul>
Finalists will be contacted via email regarding their winnings within roughly 24 hours following the conclusion of voting on Wednesday, January 28, 2026.
</div>
Please note, you must have a Cardsphere account in order to receive your winnings. It's quick and free - <a href="https://www.cardsphere.com/signup?referrer=archidekt_contest&amp;utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">register here</a> if you don't have an account already!
Here are the <a href="https://archidekt.com/contestRules?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">official contest rules</a>. If you have any questions, feel free to ask here, or join the Archidekt <a href="https://discord.gg/sctEc9Ru36?utm_source=edhrec" target="_blank" rel="noopener noreferrer">public Discord server</a>. We look forward to seeing what you all come up with!

edh deck

Battle of the Bards: Pick the Bard to Lead the Deck

Archidekt Deckbuilding Contest - January 2026