How to Build a Magic: The Gathering Deck on Archidekt

You build a deck on Archidekt by adding cards to a new deck in the editor, then saving and naming it. The editor lets you search for cards, add them by drag-and-drop or text input, and see stats, prices, and recommendations without leaving the page. This works for any format you want to build, and you can import an existing list from Arena, MTGO, or another deck list if you already have one.

Before you start

You don't need to install anything — Archidekt runs in the browser. Decide two things first:

• What you're building. A Commander deck (100 cards, one commander) behaves differently from a 60-card constructed deck, so pick your format before adding cards.
• Whether you're starting fresh or importing. If you already have a list in Arena or MTGO, importing saves you the manual entry.

Step 1: Start a new deck

Create a new deck in the editor. From there you can add cards in two ways, and you can mix them freely.

Search and add cards

Use the card search to find cards by name. As you add cards, they appear in the deck list in the editor. This is the normal path when you're building from scratch and want to browse.

Drag and drop, or text input

• Drag and drop: drag cards into the deck area to place them.
• Text input mode: paste or type a deck list directly into the text deck editor. This is the faster route when you already know your list.

Import an existing list

Archidekt imports from Arena, MTGO, and other deck list formats into the text deck editor. If your list lives somewhere else, import it rather than retyping it.

Step 2: Use the editor's built-in tools while you build

The editor is where Archidekt differs from a plain list. While you're adding cards, you can:

The recommendation data is useful when you're short on cuts or want a second opinion on a theme. The price display is useful when you're deciding between similar cards at different costs.

Step 3: Save, name, and manage your deck

Give the deck a name and save it. Once saved, it's a deck you can return to, edit, and share. Deck names, card names, and usernames are all searchable on the site, so a clear name helps if you want others to find it.

If you want feedback, Archidekt has a Deck help requests section where builders post decks and ask for input. Recent examples show the format: a deck title, the creator, when it was updated, when help was requested, view count, card count, comment count, and tags. For instance, a Commander deck listed as "Bracket: Upgraded (3)" with tags like Mill, Self-Mill, and Reanimator, or a Standard deck tagged Tokens, Ramp, and Midrange. Posting there is how you turn a finished list into one that gets reviewed.

Step 4: Test the deck before you commit

Archidekt includes a playtester (also described as Fishbowl or Solitaire). Use it to draw hands and run through your deck's early turns. This catches problems that look fine on a list — too few lands, a curve that stalls, or a theme that doesn't actually come together.

Common snags

• Format mismatch. A Commander deck and a 60-card deck have different rules for deck size and copies. Set the format before you build, or you'll redo work.
• Importing the wrong format. If an import looks wrong, check that the source list matches the format you selected.
• Building past your collection. If you want to build only from cards you own, turn on collection tracking first; otherwise the editor will happily suggest cards you don't have.
• Ads. The site notes that supporting their Patreon removes ads. If ads bother you during long build sessions, that's the stated option.

What you end up with

A saved, named deck you can keep editing, export back out to Arena, MTGO, or other formats, and share for feedback. The build itself is the same loop throughout: add cards by search, drag-and-drop, text input, or import; watch stats, prices, and recommendations as you go; then playtest and revise.