Creates a new empty deck. Will not overwrite an existing deck with the same name. Returns the ID of the created deck.
AI agents use createDeck to create or update resources in Anki — usually the action step of a workflow, after the agent has gathered context. Every call changes real data in your Anki environment.
This tool creates new data (a deck) in the Anki system, which is a reversible write operation. It does not execute arbitrary code, delete data, move money, or have destructive effects. The blast radius is minimal—a created empty deck can be easily deleted or ignored, and it does not affect existing decks or data structures (the description explicitly states 'Will not overwrite an existing deck with the same name').
From the tool's definition Tool description states it 'Creates a new empty deck' and 'Returns the ID of the created deck.' The verb 'Creates' indicates data creation, a write operation.
Documented attack patterns abuse exactly the kind of access createDeck gives an agent:
PolicyLayer is an MCP gateway — it sits between your AI agents and Anki, and nothing reaches the server without passing your rules. This is the rule we recommend for createDeck:
{
"version": "1",
"default": "deny",
"tools": {
"createDeck": {
"limits": [
{
"counter": "createdeck_rate",
"window": "minute",
"max": 30,
"scope": "grant"
}
]
}
}
}createDeck stays usable, but capped — an agent stuck in a loop can't make hundreds of changes a minute. Everything else on the server is denied unless you say otherwise.
Free to start. No card required.
Creates a new empty deck. Will not overwrite an existing deck with the same name. Returns the ID of the created deck. It is categorised as a Write tool in the Anki MCP Server, which means it can create or modify data. Consider rate limits to prevent runaway writes.
Register the Anki MCP server in PolicyLayer and add a rule for createDeck: allow, deny, rate-limit, or require approval. Point your MCP client at the PolicyLayer proxy URL and the rule is enforced on every call, before it reaches Anki. Nothing to install.
createDeck is a Write tool with medium risk. Write tools should be rate-limited to prevent accidental bulk modifications.
Yes. Add a rate_limit block to the createDeck rule in your PolicyLayer policy. For example, setting max: 10 and window: 60 limits the tool to 10 calls per minute. Rate limits are tracked per agent session and reset automatically.
Set action: deny in the PolicyLayer policy for createDeck. The AI agent will receive a policy violation error and cannot call the tool. You can also include a reason field to explain why the tool is blocked.
createDeck is provided by the Anki MCP server (ujisati/anki-mcp). PolicyLayer sits as a proxy in front of this server to enforce policies before tool calls reach the server.
Start from Anki, add the rest of your stack, and see everything your agents can call. Then put policy on all of it.
Free to start. No card required.
40 Anki tools catalogued and risk-classified — across an index of 43,000+ MCP servers.