You’ve been there. It’s 2:00 AM, and you’re staring at a pile of bulk from Lorwyn Eclipsed and Avatar: The Last Airbender, wondering if there’s a way to actually make these cards work together without spending four hours on Scryfall. We were promised the future, right? We were promised that by 2026, we’d just click a button and a perfectly tuned, high-synergy list would pop out.
The truth is a little messier.
If you search for a magic auto generate deck with current cards, you’ll find plenty of tools claiming to do the heavy lifting. Some are basically just search engines with a fancy coat of paint. Others use genuine machine learning to "hallucinate" cards that don't exist. But if you know where to look, there are actually a few ways to let the machines take the wheel—provided you know how to steer.
🔗 Read more: Stellar Blade Unforgettable Fish Dish: How to Actually Catch It and Why It Matters
The "Superbrew" Problem
Most players think "auto-generate" means the AI understands that Ashling, the Limitless needs a very specific density of Elementals to function.
Honestly? Most algorithms aren't there yet.
A lot of the "auto" features in big-name sites like MTGGoldfish (specifically their Superbrew tool) or Archidekt work on a "completion" logic. They aren't "thinking" about your deck; they're comparing your uploaded collection against a database of thousands of existing tournament and community lists.
It’s less "AI Genius" and more "Advanced Spreadsheet."
This is actually great if you want to play a Meta deck. If you have 85% of a Standard Jeskai Control list sitting in your binders, these tools will find that 85% and tell you exactly which three Mythics you’re missing. But if you’re trying to build something truly unique with the new Blight mechanic from the latest sets, the "auto" part usually breaks down.
Where the Real Automation is Happening
If you want something that feels like actual magic, you have to look at tools like Arena Tutor by Draftsim or the newcomer CardCodex.
Arena Tutor is probably the closest thing to a "set it and forget it" tool for Arena players. Because it has a direct line into your MTGA account, it knows exactly how many Wildcards you have. It doesn't just suggest decks; it ranks them by "Craftability."
- It scans the current 2026 metagame.
- It cross-references your collection.
- It calculates the win rate of the resulting "budget" version.
Then there’s the niche stuff. Have you heard of DeckCheck.co? It’s been making waves recently because it uses a "Power Level Scale" and automated "Tuning" tools. Instead of just giving you a list, it looks at your draft and says, "Hey, you have zero interaction, and your mana curve looks like a mountain range. Add these three cards."
It’s essentially a digital second-opinion.
The Rise of LLM Deckbuilding
Lately, people have been trying to use ChatGPT or Claude to build decks.
Don't do this blindly.
I’ve seen LLMs confidently suggest Black Lotus for a Standard deck or invent a card called "Solar Flare Dragon" that costs three mana and wins the game instantly. They are notorious for "hallucinating" card text. However, if you feed a tool like Mana from the Machine a specific set of parameters, it can actually generate a cohesive theme. It’s better at ideation than optimization.
Why Your "Auto" Deck Probably Sucks (And How to Fix It)
Automation fails when it ignores the "Golden Ratio" of deckbuilding. Even the smartest AI sometimes forgets that you need to actually play the game.
Most auto-generated lists fail because they over-prioritize synergy and under-prioritize "boring" cards. You get a deck with 40 cool creatures but zero ways to kill a Fire Lord Azula on the other side of the board.
- The Mana Base Gap: AI is notoriously bad at building mana bases for 3-color decks. It’ll give you 24 basics and call it a day. You have to manually swap in the duals.
- The "Win-More" Trap: Algorithms love cards that are great when you’re already winning. They rarely pick the "stablizers" that keep you alive when you’re behind.
- Format Legality: Make sure your tool is actually updated for the January 2026 legality changes. There's nothing worse than auto-generating a deck and realizing three of your key pieces were banned last Tuesday.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Build
Stop trying to find one button that does everything. Instead, use a "Pipeline" approach.
First, use a collection tracker like ManaBox or MTG Arena Pro to get your cards into a digital format (JSON or CSV). This is the most boring part, but it’s the most important.
Second, take that file to Moxfield or Archidekt. Use their "Suggestions" or "Recs" engines. These are powered by community data—which is often smarter than a raw AI. It looks at what other people playing your Commander are using.
Finally, use a tool like DeckCheck to "stress test" the build. Look at the goldfishing simulators. If the "auto-generated" deck can't cast a spell before turn four in 30% of your simulated hands, you need to manually lower the curve.
Automation is a tool, not a replacement for a brain. Use the tech to find the 90% of the deck that is "obvious," so you can spend your energy on the 10% that actually makes the deck yours.