2026 Grand Contest Baltimore Top 8 Decklists
The 2026 Grand Contest Baltimore occurred on September 12-13. The event featured 65 players and a diverse Avatar meta. I landed in 27th place as the lone {Magician} player in the field. My Common Sense podcast co-host, Zac Clark, ranked 12th overall playing his trusty {Enchantress}.
Christian V. stood atop the podium, racking up gold with [fire][water] {Imposter}!
Christian played against Gideon M.'s [water][air] {Necromancer} and made one of the coolest plays in the event. On turn four, Gideon cast {Shapeshift} into a {Mester Stoor Worm} that killed a {Colicky Dragonettes} on arrival, and it already felt like it would be a fast final match.
A follow-up {Swap} put the {Mester Stoor Worm} on in front of {Imposter} and obliterated a {Lugbog Cat}. In a super creative line that even surprised Gideon, Christian used {Floodplain} to flood his {River of Flame} and then {Riptide}d the {Mester Stoor Worm} onto it. As a Waterbound minion, the {Mester Stoor Worm} was disabled.
The Common Sense podcast got video footage of every match in the top 8, so subscribe to the channel to see that footage soon!
Subscribe to Common Sense: Sorcery on YouTube!
2026 Grand Contest Baltimore Top 8 Decklists
First Place — [fire][water] {Imposter} by Christian V.
DECKLIST_START
Spellbook
2 {Dodge Roll} [0][water][water]
1 {Aquamarine Core} [1][water]
1 {Immolation} [1][fire][fire][fire]
1 {Key to the City} [1]
1 {Plague of Frogs} [1][water][water][water]
1 {Ring of Morrigan} [1]
1 {Ruby Core} [1][fire]
2 {Adept Illusionist} [2][water][water]
2 {Gift of the Serpent} [2][fire][fire]
2 {Pollimorph} [2][water][water]
2 {Redmane Hyena} [2][fire]
2 {Riptide} [2][water]
1 {Shrine of the Dragonlord} [2]
3 {Vile Imp} [2][fire]
3 {War Horse} [2][fire]
2 {Acid Rain} [3][water]
2 {Colicky Dragonettes} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Fey Changeling} [3][water]
3 {Lugbog Cat} [3][water][water]
2 {Minor Explosion} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Morgana le Fay} [3][fire][fire][fire]
3 {Quarrelsome Kobolds} [3][fire]
3 {Redcap Powries} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Sir Agravaine} [3][fire][fire][water]
2 {Swap} [3][water]
3 {Failed Mutation} [4][water][water]
1 {Mesmerism} [4][water][water][water][water]
1 {Ruler of Thul} [4][water][water]
2 {Sacred Stag} [4][water][water]
2 {Selfsame Simulacrum} [4][water][water]
1 {Archangel Raphael} [5][water][water][water][water]
1 {Atlantean Fate} [5][water][water]
3 {Poison Nova} [5][fire]
1 {Questing Beast} [5][water][water]
1 {The Inquisition} [5][fire][fire]
1 {Balor of the Evil Eye} [6][fire][fire]
2 {Infernal Legion} [6][fire][fire][fire]
1 {The Green Knight} [6][water][water][water]
Atlas
3 {Active Volcano} [fire][fire]
2 {Arid Desert} [fire]
3 {Babbling Brook} [water]
3 {Floodplain} [water]
1 {Mirror Realm}
3 {Oasis} [fire][water]
2 {Overflowing Court} [water]
1 {Red Desert} [fire]
2 {Remote Desert} [fire]
2 {River of Blood} [fire]
1 {River of Flame} [fire]
2 {River Rapids} [water]
3 {Troll Bridge} [water]
2 {Valley of Delight}
Collection
1 {Archimago}
1 {Deathspeaker}
1 {Enchantress}
1 {Flamecaller}
1 {Interrogator}
1 {Ironclad}
1 {Pathfinder}
1 {Sorcerer}
1 {Waveshaper}
1 {Witch}
DECKLIST_END
Second Place - [water][air] {Necromancer} by Gideon M.
DECKLIST_START
Spellbook
1 {Ring of Morrigan} [1]
2 {Adept Illusionist} [2][water][water]
1 {Pnakotic Manuscript} [2]
2 {Pollimorph} [2][water][water]
3 {Riptide} [2][water]
3 {Coy Nixie} [3][water][water]
4 {Grapple Shot} [3][air]
3 {Lugbog Cat} [3][water][water]
1 {Nelly Longarms} [3][water][water]
3 {Order of the Sacred Oak} [3][water][water]
2 {Ribble Boggart} [3][water][water]
1 {Sir Pelleas} [3][water][water][air]
3 {Swap} [3][water][water]
2 {Abaddon Succubus} [4][water][water]
1 {Algor Omphalos} [4]
1 {Dank Omphalos} [4]
2 {Hyperparasite} [4][water][water]
1 {Mesmerism} [4][water][water][water][water]
1 {Ruler of Thul} [4][water][water]
2 {Sacred Stag} [4][water][water]
2 {Selfsame Simulacrum} [4][water][water]
2 {Shapeshift} [4][water][water]
1 {The Black Plague} [4][air][air]
1 {Archangel Rafael} [5][water][water][water][water]
1 {Atlantean Fate} [5][water][water]
1 {Lilith} [5][water][water][water]
1 {Whirling Blades} [5][air][air]
2 {Call of the Sea} [6][water][water][water]
3 {Gnarled Wendigo} [6][water]
2 {Lord of Lies} [6][water][water]
2 {Mester Stoor Worm} [6][water][water][water]
1 {The Green Knight} [6][water][water][water]
2 {Dormant Monstrosity} [7][water][water]
Atlas
2 {Dark Tower} [air]
3 {Floodplain} [water]
1 {Gilman House} [water]
2 {Gothic Tower} [air]
1 {Innsmouth Dock} [water]
3 {Lighthouse} [air][water]
3 {Lone Tower} [air]
1 {Maelstrom} [water]
1 {Mirror Realm}
2 {Mismanaged Mortuary}
2 {River Rapids} [water]
1 {Tadpole Pool} [water]
3 {Thin Ice} [water]
3 {Troll Bridge} [water]
2 {Wuthering Heights} [air]
Collection
1 {Disenchant} [2][air]
1 {Geyser} [2][water]
2 {Lightning Bolt} [2][air][air]
1 {Drown} [3][water]
4 {Horrible Hybrids} [3][water]
1 {Anui Undine} [5][water][water]
DECKLIST_END
Third Place - [earth][air][water][fire] {Elementalist} by Professor V.
DECKLIST_START
Spellbook
1 {Key to the City} [1]
1 {Ring of Morrigan} [1]
2 {Torshammar Trinket} [1]
2 {Arjaro Exorcist} [2][earth]
2 {Blink} [2][air]
4 {Bosk Troll} [2][earth]
1 {Disenchant} [2][air]
1 {Geyser} [2][water]
4 {Gift of the Wolf} [2][earth][earth]
1 {Highland Princess} [2][air][air]
1 {Lady Iseult} [2][earth][earth]
3 {Redmane Hyena} [2][fire]
2 {Silver Bullet} [2]
1 {Sir Tom Thumb} [2][air][air][water]
3 {War Horse} [2][fire]
3 {Autumn Unicorn} [3][earth]
3 {Grapple Shot} [3][air]
2 {Onslaught} [3][earth][fire]
3 {Quarrelsome Kobolds} [3][fire]
1 {Sir Bors the Younger} [3][earth][air][air]
2 {Apply Alkahest} [4][fire][air][water][earth]
2 {Gargantula} [4][earth][earth][earth]
1 {King Arthur} [4][fire][air][water][earth]
2 {Pudge Butcher} [4][earth][earth]
1 {Sir Gawain} [earth][earth][water][fire]
1 {Sir Ironside} [4][water][water][earth]
1 {Sir Lamorak} [4][fire][air][air]
1 {Sir Priamus} [4][fire][earth][earth]
1 {The Black Plague} [4][air][air]
1 {Archangel Michael} [5][earth][earth][earth][earth]
1 {Atlantean Fate} [5][water][water]
1 {Book of the Dead} [5]
2 {Daperyll Vampire} [5][air]
2 {Hound of Ondaros} [5][air][air]
Atlas
1 {Blessed Village} [earth]
1 {Dark Tower} [air]
2 {Fertile Earth} [earth][earth]
1 {Forlorn Keep} [earth]
1 {Garden of Eden} [earth][water]
1 {Gothic Tower} [air]
1 {Haystack} [earth]
4 {Humble Village} [earth]
2 {Lighthouse} [air][water]
1 {Lone Tower} [air]
1 {Mirror Realm}
1 {Peculiar Port} [water]
1 {Pillar of Zeiros} [earth]
2 {Rustic Village} [earth]
1 {Simple Village} [earth]
2 {Sinkhole}
1 {The Colour Out of Space} [earth][fire][water][air]
1 {Tintagel} [water][earth][air]
1 {Town}
2 {Windmill} [air][earth]
2 {Wizard's Den}
Collection
1 {Geyser} [2][water]
1 {Begone!} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Blaze} [3][fire]
1 {Horrible Hybrids} [3][water]
1 {Onslaught} [earth][fire]
1 {Penitent Knight} [earth]
1 {Scatter} [air][water]
1 {Swap} [3][water][water]
1 {Poison Nova} [5][fire]
1 {Whirling Blades} [5][air][air]
DECKLIST_END
Fourth Place - [fire][earth] {Necromancer} by Joe G.
DECKLIST_START
Spellbook
1 {Ring of Morrigan} [1]
3 {Torshammar Trinket} [1]
3 {Exhume} [2][earth]
3 {Gift of the Serpent} [2][fire][fire]
1 {Jihad} [2][fire][fire]
2 {Sinterfee} [2][fire]
3 {Toolbox} [2]
4 {Vile Imp} [2][fire]
3 {War Horse} [2][fire]
3 {Barging Barghest} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Blaze of Glory} [3][fire][fire]
2 {Bury} [3][earth][earth]
3 {Colicky Dragonettes} [3][fire][fire]
2 {Mazuj Ifrit} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Morgana le Fay} [3][fire][fire][fire]
3 {Onslaught} [fire][earth]
3 {Quarrelsome Kobolds} [3][fire]
3 {Redcap Powries} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Boudicca} [4][fire][fire][fire]
2 {Infiltrate} [4][fire]
3 {Rolling Boulder} [4]
3 {Saracen Raiders} [4][fire][fire]
3 {Siege Giant} [4][fire][fire]
2 {Betrayal} [5][fire][fire][fire]
2 {Earthquake} [5][earth][earth]
Atlas
3 {Active Volcano} [fire][fire]
2 {Boulevard of Bones} [earth]
4 {Common Village} [earth]
4 {Leadworks} [fire]
2 {Mobbed Court} [fire]
3 {Poisoned Well} [fire]
2 {Rift Valley} [earth]
1 {River of Flame} [fire]
3 {Rustic Village} [earth]
1 {Smokestacks of Gnaak} [fire]
1 {Temple of Moloch} [fire]
2 {Vast Desert} [fire]
Collection
1 {Detonate} [1][fire]
1 {Just a Rock} [1]
1 {Dispel} [2][earth]
1 {Entombed} [2][earth]
1 {Firebolts} [2][fire]
1 {Gift of the Serpent} [2][fire][fire]
1 {Boil} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Bury} [3][earth]
1 {Heat Ray} [3][fire]
1 {Minor Explosion} [3][fire][fire]
DECKLIST_END
Fifth Place - [earth][fire][water] {Sorcerer} by Tom H.
DECKLIST_START
Spellbook
1 {Amethyst Core} [1]
1 {Aquamarine Core} [1]
2 {Divine Healing} [1][earth][earth][earth]
1 {Key to the City} [1]
1 {Onyx Core} [1]
1 {Philosopher's Stone} [1]
1 {Ring of Morrigan} [1]
1 {Ruby Core} [1]
3 {Torshammar Trinket} [1]
3 {Frontier Settlers} [3][earth][earth]
4 {Gift of the Wolf} [2][earth][earth]
4 {Kettletop Leprechaun} [2][earth]
1 {Shrine of the Dragonlord} [2]
2 {Silver Bullet} [2]
2 {Acid Rain} [3][water]
1 {Aino} [3][water][water]
3 {Autumn Unicorn} [3][earth]
3 {Lugbog Cat} [water][water]
3 {Order of the Sacred Oak} [3][water][water]
3 {Order of the White Wing} [3][earth][earth]
2 {Abaddon Succubus} [4][water][water]
2 {Gargantula} [4][earth][earth][earth]
1 {Mesmerism} [4][water][water][water][water]
2 {Paladins of Bazia} [4][earth][earth][earth]
2 {Sacred Stag} [4][water][water]
1 {Sir Bedevere} [4][earth][earth][water]
1 {Archangel Michael} [5][earth][earth][earth][earth]
1 {Atlantean Fate} [5][water][water]
1 {Lilith} [5][water][water][water]
1 {Queen of Midland} [5][earth][earth]
1 {Vivien the Enchantress} [5][earth][earth][earth]
2 {Call of the Sea} [6][water][water][water]
2 {Lord of Lies} [6][water][water]
Atlas
3 {Aqueduct} [earth][water]
4 {Autumn Bloom} [earth]
3 {Deep Sea} [water][water]
3 {Fertile Earth} [earth][earth]
3 {Haystack} [earth]
1 {Mount Ussar Sanctuary} [earth]
3 {Pebbled Paths} [earth]
1 {Pillar of Zeiros} [earth]
4 {Pond} [water]
2 {Valley of Delight}
Collection
1 {Divine Healing} [1][earth][earth][earth]
1 {Demon Hunter} [2][water]
1 {Coy Nixie} [3][water][water]
1 {Heretics of Seth} [3][water]
1 {Root Spider} [3][earth]
1 [Swap} [3][water][water]
1 {Tragedy Worrywart} [3][earth][earth]
1 {Cave-In} [4][earth]
1 {Stormy Seas} [4][water]
1 {Poison Nova} [5][fire]
DECKLIST_END
Sixth Place - [water][air] {Necromancer} by Scott G.
DECKLIST_START
Spellbook
1 {Browse} [1][air][air][air]
1 {Key to the City} [1]
1 {Pnakotic Manuscript} [2]
4 {Riptide} [2][water]
2 {Toolbox} [2]
3 {Coy Nixie} [3][water][water]
1 {Drown} [3][water]
2 {Grapple Shot} [3][air]
3 {Lugbog Cat} [3][water][water]
1 {Nelly Longarms} [3][water][water]
1 {Sir Pelleas} [3][water][water][air]
3 {Swap} [3]][water][water]
2 {Abaddon Succubus} [4][water][water]
1 {Bane of Aventis} [4][air][air][air]
1 {Black Mass} [4][air]
1 {Dank Omphalos} [4]
1 {Evil Twin} [4][water][water]
3 {Failed Mutation} [4][water][water]
2 {Hyperparasite} [4][water][water]
1 {Mesmerism} [4][water][water][water][water]
1 {Ruler of Thul} [4][water][water]
2 {Sacred Stag} [4][water][water]
2 {Shapeshift} [4][water][water]
1 {Atlantean Fate} [5][water][water]
3 {Daperyll Vampire} [5][air]
2 {Gloam Toads} [5][water][water]
2 {Hounds of Ondaros} [5][air][air]
2 {Lacuna Entity} [5][water][water][water]
1 {Lilith} [5][water][water][water]
3 {Whirling Blades} [5][air][air]
3 {Gnarled Wendigo} [6][water]
1 {The Green Knight} [6][water][water][water]
1 {Yog-Sothoth} [7][water][water][water][water]
1 {Great Old One} [8][water][water][water]
Atlas
2 {Bottomless Pit} [air]
1 {Dark Tower} [air]
3 {Deep Sea} [water][water]
1 {Gilman House} [water]
1 {Innsmouth Dock} [water]
3 {Lighthouse} [water][air]
1 {Lone Tower} [air]
1 {Merlin's Tower} [air]
2 {Mountain Peaks} [air][air]
2 {Observatory} [air]
2 {River Rapids} [water]
1 {The Manor at Daperyll Hill} [air]
3 {Thin Ice} [water]
3 {Troll Bridge} [water]
2 {Wuthering Heights} [air]
Collection
1 {Lure} [1][water]
1 {Zap!} [1][air]
1 {Blink} [2][air]
1 {Disenchant} [2][air]
1 {Displace} [2][air]
1 {Drown} [3][water]
1 {Grapple Shot} [3][air]
2 {Horrible Hybrids} [3][water]
1 {Murder of Crows} [3][air][air]
DECKLIST_END
Seventh Place - [fire] {Pathfinder} by Robert G.
DECKLIST_START
Spellbook
1 {Ring of Morrigan} [1]
1 {Torshammar Trinket} [1]
2 {Firebolts} [2][fire]
2 {Gift of the Serpent} [2][fire][fire]
1 {Jihad} [2][fire][fire]
3 {Redmane Hyena} [2][fire]
3 {Sinterfee} [2][fire]
2 {Toolbox} [2]
3 {War Horse} [2][fire]
1 {Blaze of Glory} [3][fire][fire]
3 {Colicky Dragonettes} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Disintegrate} [3][fire][fire]
2 {Mazuj Ifrit} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Minor Explosion} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Morgana le Fay} [3][fire][fire][fire]
3 {Quarrelsome Kobolds} [3][fire][fire]
3 {Redcap Powries} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Angry Mob} [4][fire]
1 {Boudicca} [4][fire][fire][fire]
1 {Char Omphalos} [4]
2 {Firebreathing} [4][fire][fire]
2 {Hillock Basilisk} [4][fire]
2 {Infiltrate} [4][fire]
2 {Monstrous Lion} [4][fire][fire]
3 {Siege Giant} [4][fire][fire]
1 {The Great Famine} [4][fire][fire]
1 {Torrid Omphalos} [4]
2 {Askelon Phoenix} [5][fire][fire][fire]
2 {Betrayal} [5][fire][fire][fire]
1 {Balor of the Evil Eye} [6][fire][fire]
2 {Infernal Legion} [6][fire][fire][fire]
Atlas
1 {Accursed Desert} [fire]
1 {Active Volcano} [fire][fire]
1 {Arid Desert} [fire]
1 {Bonfire} [fire]
1 {Bower of Bliss}
1 {Cursed Land} [fire]
1 {Forge} [fire]
1 {Funeral Pyre} [fire]
1 {Garden of Eden} [earth][water]
1 {Horns of Behemoth} [fire]
1 {Kor Crematory} [fire]
1 {Leadworks} [fire]
1 {Mirror Realm}
1 {Molten Maar} [fire]
1 {Plague Pits} [fire]
1 {Poisoned Well} [fire]
1 {Red Desert} [fire]
1 {Remote Desert} [fire]
1 {River of Blood} [fire]
1 {River of Flame} [fire]
1 {Road to Perdition} [fire]
1 {Ruins} [earth][fire]
1 {Shifting Sands} [fire]
1 {Sinkhole}
1 {Smokestacks of Gnaak} [fire]
1 {Steppe} [air][fire]
1 {Vast Desert} [fire]
1 {Vesuvius} [fire]
1 {Vindictive Nation} [fire]
1 {Wizard's Den}
Collection
1 {Detonate} [1][fire]
1 {Critical Strike} [2][fire]
1 {Boil} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Hamlet's Ablaze!} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Heat Ray} [3][fire]
1 {Hellhounds} [3][fire]
1 {Joust!} [3][fire]
1 {Minor Explosion} [3][fire][fire]
1 {Angry Mob} [4][fire]
1 {Flayer} [4][fire][fire]
DECKLIST_END
Eighth Place - [earth][air] {Geomancer} by Chris B.
DECKLIST_START
Spellbook
2 {Arjaro Exorcist} [2][earth]
1 {Blink} [2][air]
2 {Common Sense} [2][earth]
1 {Dispel} [2][earth]
1 {Mover of Mountains} [2][earth][earth]
1 {Saint of Redemption} [2][earth][earth]
1 {Sister Stefania} [2][earth]
2 {Toolbox} [2]
3 {Autumn Unicorn} [3][earth]
2 {Bury} [3][earth]
3 {Grapple Shot} [3][air]
2 {Landmass} [3][earth]
3 {Root Spider} [3][earth]
2 {Sturmgeist} [3][air][air]
2 {Tombstone Warden} [3]
3 {Avenging Angel} [4][air]
2 {Dalcean Phalanx} [4][earth][earth]
2 {Gargantula} [4][earth][earth][earth]
1 {Gigantism} [4][earth][earth]
2 {Paladins of Bazia} [4][earth][earth][earth]
2 {Pudge Butcher} [4][earth][earth]
1 {Archangel Michael} [5][earth][earth][earth][earth]
2 {Atlas Wanderers} [5][earth][earth][earth]
3 {Daperyll Vampire} [5][air]
2 {Earthquake} [5][earth][earth]
2 {Hounds of Ondaros} [5][air][air]
1 {Sir Galahad} [5][air][air][earth][earth]
3 {Whirling Blades} [5][air][air]
1 {Returned King} [6][earth][earth]
1 {King of the Realm} [7][earth][earth][earth]
1 {Talamh Dreig} [7][earth][earth][earth]
2 {Wraetannis Titan} [7][earth][earth]
1 {Craterize} [8][earth][earth]
Atlas
4 {Autmn Bloom} [earth]
2 {Common Village} [earth]
1 {Dark Tower} [air]
1 {Gothic Tower} [air]
2 {Haystack} [earth]
1 {Humble Village} [earth]
1 {Lone Tower} [air]
2 {Mock Court} [air]
3 {Rustic Village} [earth]
2 {Simple Village} [earth]
2 {Sinkhole}
4 {Twilight Bloom} [air]
2 {Valley of Delight}
3 {Windmill} [earth][air]
Collection
1 {Zap!} [1][air]
1 {Blink} [2][air]
1 {Dispel} [2][earth]
1 {Exorcism} [2][earth]
1 {Scent Hounds} [2][earth]
1 {Tactical Move} [2][air]
1 {Bury} [3][earth]
1 {Grapple Shot} [3][air]
1 {Murder of Crows} [3][air][air]
1 {Smite} [4][earth][earth]
DECKLIST_END
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Featured image: {Imposter} by Séverine Pineaux