Image courtesy of Scryfall.com
Deckbuilding Contests That Spark Community Creativity
Magic: The Gathering has always thrived when players share their latest twists and themed builds. When a single card becomes the seed for a whole contest, the results can be wildly imaginative. Kindred Charge, a rare red sorcery from Commander 2017, invites you to dream big with tribal tokens and tempo to spare. For those who love big moments, the catalyst of this spell is simple: choose a creature type, then flood the board with copies of every creature you control of that type. Those copies sprint in with haste, only to be exiled at the start of the next end step. It’s spicy, chaotic, and oddly elegant in its constraints—perfect for a community showcase that celebrates both plan and tempo. 🧙♂️🔥💎
The card’s mana cost is a hefty {4}{R}{R}—six mana to unleash a potentially game-ending attack. In the Commander format, where six-mana plays are common and ramp is celebrated, Kindred Charge becomes a spectacular late-game pivot. Its red coloration and tribal flavor team up with the art’s goblin-flavored flair—“For goblins, quantity is quality.” That flavor line isn’t just flavor; it’s a wink to players who love explosive board states and fast, fearless strategies. The artwork by Dan Murayama Scott captures that goblin exuberance, a perfect pairing for community-driven events that value personality as much as power. 🎨⚔️
What makes Kindred Charge such a community-friendly pick?
First, the scope is broad yet focused. You select a creature type, which means you can tailor your deck to the tribal identity you adore, whether that’s Goblin hordes, Dragon fleets, Knightly orders, or even more unusual choices like Phyrexian horrors if your group embraces quirky synergy. The effect scales with how many of those creatures you already have on the battlefield, turning a handful of well-timed critters into a chorus of copies that thunder onto the scene with haste. The tokens are temporary, which keeps contests from devolving into infinite loops; instead, you get a dramatic, finite payoff that tests timing, combat math, and post-swing planning. 🧙♂️🔥
“Kindred Charge feels like a fireworks show you build with your friends—bright, loud, and over all too soon, but the memory lingers.” — Community member, quoted in the showcase thread.
Strategies that shine in a community-themed contest
- Lean into a strong creature family: Goblin tribal decks are the classic one, but Dragon or Elemental themes can also yield thrilling, multi-token swings. Pick a type you already support with multiple reliable threats.
- Ramp to six mana smoothly: Since the spell costs six, a clear ramp package helps you cast it on a meaningful turn. Consider early mana rocks, dual lands, or creature sources that accelerate your board by turn five.
- Protect the moment of impact: Since the tokens exile at the end step, you’ll want ways to maximize impact immediately—buff effects, damage-based finishers, or ETB triggers that go off after you copy your army.
- Balance tempo and board state: The tokens’ haste is your friend for a one-shot alpha strike, but you’ll still need a plan to close if the board stabilizes. Include a few removal spells and ways to recast or re-create your key type later in the game.
- Theme-led fun over brute force: Contests often reward originality. Build your deck around flavor, story-telling, or synergy between the chosen type and your other permanents—glossy, thematic, and deck-builder friendly. 🎲
Build-around ideas that left juries spellbound
Here are some popular directions that show up in community showcases around Kindred Charge:
- Goblin Swarm: Embrace a goblin-heavy board with a few payoffs that reward a sudden surge of goblins, then let Twilight’s Call or similar effects temporarily refill your ranks as needed. The copies gain haste, turning a few creatures into a mini-army before they vanish. 🧙♂️
- Dragon Flight: If your type is Dragon, you’re aiming for big, flying threats. Copying your dragons can create a sky-clearing charge that’s hard to answer in a single turn.
- Evergreen Elves or Knights: For a less combative, more synergy-driven build, pick a type with a broad, resilient board presence and leverage buffs, anthem effects, and combat tricks to maximize what you copy each combat step.
- Unusual Types: Some players push the envelope by choosing less common creature types, turning Kindred Charge into a themed storytelling deck—think Merfolk in a landlocked environment or a Merfolk-based battle plan that’s as much about flavor as dice rolls. 🎨
Design insights: why the card design resonates
Kindred Charge is a love letter to the tribal subculture within MTG. Its ability to create copies of your own creatures—then grant them haste—offers a temporal victory path that rewards planning, synergy, and bold play. The tokens exile at the end step, which keeps the game moving and prevents long-term board stalemates, a thoughtful nod to the casual-friendly nature of Commander games. The rarity and print in Commander 2017 anchor it as a collectible and a favorite among players who love pithy, flavor-forward moments. The art, the flavor text, and the potential for community-led decks all align to celebrate the social fabric of MTG—where a shared theme can spark a neighborhood of new ideas. 💎⚔️
Practical tips for your next community showcase
- Start with a solid mana base that supports ramp into six mana reliably. It’s the backbone of any Kindred Charge turn.
- Choose a creature type you own in abundance. That choice makes the payoff feel big without requiring a dozen niche rares.
- Pair the build with protective or tutoring elements to ensure you can reach the payoff when the moment arrives.
- Engage your audience with a concise deck pitch: why this type, what your tokens will do on arrival, and how the contest’s theme plays into your strategy. 🧙♂️
From community to collection: a quick look at value and accessibility
Kindred Charge sits in a modest range for its era and archetype, with the Scryfall price data around the mid-range for rare Commander cards in rotation. The card’s dedicated play in Commander and Legacy ensures it remains a talking point for both budget-minded players and veterans chasing the next big swing. For fans who enjoy the social side of MTG, these contests are a reminder that the Multiverse shines brightest when people bring their own stories to the table. 🎲
In the spirit of sharing, many community organizers pair decklists with event recaps, art showcases, and little “how I built this” writeups so others can borrow ideas and remix them for their own games. If you’re itching to run your own Kindred Charge-themed event, start by selecting a favored creature type, gather your tribals, and invite your group to craft a narrative around those copies marching toward an epic, if brief, finale. 🧙♂️🔥
As you scout for inspiration, you might also find a practical companion for real-life game nights: a reliable phone case to keep notes and lists safe on the go. If you’re shopping around, consider this option: Slim Glossy Phone Case for iPhone 16 — ultra-thin, durable Lexan, and built for the long sessions of tournaments and friendly gatherings alike.