Lotus ScanHow to Import Scanned MTG Cards to Archidekt
A step-by-step guide to help you import scanned mtg cards to archidekt quickly and accurately.
Archidekt is a feature-rich deck-building platform favored by many Commander players for its visual layout tools and collection tracking features. Manually entering your cards into Archidekt is painfully slow, especially for large collections or multiple decks. By scanning your cards with Lotus Scan and exporting the data, you can populate Archidekt in a fraction of the time. This guide walks you through the full workflow from physical cards to a fully loaded Archidekt account.
Step-by-Step Guide
Scan your cards into Lotus Scan
Begin by scanning the cards you want to bring into Archidekt. Whether it is a single Commander deck or your entire collection, Lotus Scan's continuous scanning mode lets you move through cards rapidly. Hold each card in frame, wait for the automatic capture, and move to the next. For large sessions, scan in batches of 100-200 cards with short breaks to maintain accuracy and avoid fatigue. Make sure the set edition is correct for each card since Archidekt supports printing-specific tracking and you want your digital list to match your physical cards exactly.
Tip: If you are scanning specifically for an Archidekt deck, pull out just the 100 cards in that deck and scan them as a dedicated collection group in Lotus Scan.
Clean up your scan data
Review the scanned cards in Lotus Scan before exporting. Look for any misidentified cards, incorrect set assignments, or missing foil designations. Cards that have been reprinted heavily, like Sol Ring or Command Tower, are the most common sources of set mismatches. Correct any errors now because fixing them in Archidekt after import adds unnecessary steps. Also verify your quantities are right, particularly if you scanned cards that you run as four-ofs in a constructed deck. A clean export makes for a smooth import.
Export the collection as CSV
Use Lotus Scan's export feature to generate a CSV of the cards you want to import. Choose just the relevant collection group or deck to keep the file focused. The exported CSV will contain card names, set identifiers, quantities, and other metadata. Save the file somewhere accessible from the device where you will be using Archidekt, such as a cloud drive or your email. If you are preparing multiple decks, export each one as a separate CSV file to make the import process cleaner on Archidekt's side.
Tip: Archidekt can import plain text lists as well. If the CSV format causes issues, open the file and copy just the card names and quantities as a simple text list.
Import into Archidekt
Log into Archidekt and either create a new deck or open an existing one. Look for the import or paste option in the deck editor interface. Archidekt accepts card lists in several formats including CSV upload and plain text paste. Upload your file or paste the contents and let the platform process the list. Archidekt will attempt to match each entry against its database and will flag any cards it cannot resolve. The import usually takes just a few seconds, even for lists with hundreds of entries.
Verify imported cards and organize categories
After import, check the deck summary to make sure all cards came through correctly. Archidekt has powerful categorization tools, so take a few minutes to organize your imported cards into categories like Ramp, Removal, Card Draw, and Win Conditions if you imported a deck. For collection imports, verify the total card count against your Lotus Scan data to ensure nothing was lost. Fix any incorrect printings by clicking on the card and selecting the right set version from Archidekt's database. Once everything is confirmed, save your deck and it is ready for playtesting or sharing.
Tip: Use Archidekt's "Collection" feature alongside the deck builder. Mark which cards you own so the platform can tell you what you still need to buy for any future deck.
Make It Easier with Lotus Scan
Lotus Scan for iPhone simplifies this entire process with AI-powered card recognition, real-time price tracking, and intuitive collection management. Just point your camera and scan.
Pro Tips
- Archidekt supports commander and companion designations, so after importing, set your commander manually since the CSV import does not carry that information.
- If you play multiple Commander decks, import each one as a separate Archidekt deck and use the collection overlay to see which cards are shared across decks.
- Re-export and re-import whenever you make significant changes to your physical collection to keep Archidekt in sync with your actual cards.
- Take advantage of Archidekt's "Owned" toggle after importing your collection. This lets you filter any deck by cards you own versus cards you need to acquire.