How Do I Know What Power Level My Commander Deck is?

A Commander deck is a unique and exciting way to play Magic: The Gathering. In this format, players pick a legendary creature as their commander. The commander stays in the command zone throughout the game. The deck has 100 cards. Each card (except basic lands) needs a unique name for diverse gaming. The commander sets the tone for your deck, influencing its strategy and style.

Understanding the power level of your Commander deck is crucial for various reasons. To ensure balanced and enjoyable games, make sure your deck matches your playgroup. It helps you make changes and upgrades to be competitive. We’ll start our journey into Commander power levels by defining what they are.

Defining Power Levels

There is a range of power levels for Commander decks, from casual to highly competitive. Each deck falls on a spectrum. Identifying where your deck stands is the first step in gauging its power level.

At the casual end of the spectrum, decks are often created for fun and thematic play. These decks prioritize interesting interactions and theme-driven choices over raw power. Competitive decks try to win quickly with strong combos and strategies. Commander decks are usually both competitive and fun to play with.

Objective vs. Subjective Assessment

There are two primary methods for assessing a Commander deck’s power level: objective and subjective evaluation.

Objective assessment involves quantifiable criteria, such as the number of powerful cards, mana acceleration, and combos in the deck. This method relies on tangible metrics and is more suitable for competitive playgroups.

Subjective assessment, on the other hand, considers the perceived power level based on personal experience and group dynamics. It takes into account the playgroup’s expectations and preferences. Subjective evaluation is often more relevant for casual and social play.

Let’s find out your deck’s power level using these assessment methods.

Identifying Your Deck’s Power Level

To assess your Commander deck’s power level, start by evaluating it yourself. This involves taking a closer look at your deck, its strategies, and its overall game plan. Some key factors to consider during self-assessment include:

• Win Conditions: How does your deck win the game? Is it through combat damage, combo chains, or alternate win conditions?
• Do your cards include strong and efficient ones or mostly weaker ones?
• Mana Base: How well does your deck manage mana? Does it have consistent mana sources and a ramp?
• Combo Potential: Are there any game-breaking combos or synergies in your deck?
• Does your deck have ways to deal with threats from your opponents? How well can it deal with problematic permanents?
• Consistency: How often can your deck execute its primary strategy?
• You can understand your deck’s power level by answering these questions. However, self-assessment is not always sufficient, as it may lack objectivity. Seeking input from others can provide a more well-rounded perspective.

Seeking Input from Others

Ask other Commander players in your group for feedback on your deck’s power level. It’s a helpful way to evaluate your deck. Discuss your deck with friends, and ask for their opinions. They might have insights and suggestions that you haven’t considered. When seeking input from others, keep in mind that different players may have varying expectations regarding power levels.

When you play with different groups or go to different stores, power levels may vary. Adapt decks and have multiple power levels to suit diverse environments.

Online Power Level Tools

Online tools can assess the power level of Commander decks for players in the digital age. These tools have quizzes and checklists to assess various deck aspects. Online tools can give your deck a rating, making it easier to share its strengths with others.

Use up-to-date online power-level tools that reflect the current Commander metagame. Format evolves. Additionally, consider the tool’s credibility and user reviews to determine its reliability.

By combining self-assessment, feedback from others, and online tools, you can establish a more accurate understanding of your Commander deck’s power level. The next step in our journey is to comprehend how the metagame affects power levels.

Understanding the Metagame

In Commander, the metagame is the decks and strategies you see in your local playgroup. Understanding the metagame is crucial for gauging your deck’s power level effectively.

Your local playgroup’s metagame can vary significantly. Some playgroups use fun decks, others use competitive decks. Your deck should match the playgroup’s style for balanced and fun games.

If your playgroup mostly plays casual Commander, don’t bring a highly competitive deck. It may frustrate other players during the games. Explanation: The original sentence was long and used complex language. If your playgroup is competitive, playing a casual deck might make it hard for you to keep up.

Archetypes and Strategies

The Commander metagame is also influenced by popular archetypes and strategies. Understanding these archetypes helps you grasp the metagame and adjust your deck. Some common Commander archetypes include:

• Aggro: Aggro decks aim to win through combat damage quickly. They play aggressive creatures and focus on attacking opponents.
• Control: Control decks excel at managing the game by countering spells, removing threats, and disrupting opponents’ plans.
• Combo: Combo decks seek to assemble specific card combinations that lead to game-winning sequences or infinite loops.
• Stax: Stax decks use cards that hinder opponents’ resources and slow down the game, making it challenging for others to execute their strategies.
• Voltron decks boost and safeguard their commander, making it a powerful threat.
• Group Hug: Group hug decks offer benefits to all players, creating a friendly and cooperative atmosphere.
• Different deck types have varying power levels. Knowing which strategies are commonly used can help you decide how to build your deck.
• The social contract is crucial in Commander. It affects how players approach the format. Let’s explore this concept further.

The Social Contract

In Commander, players have a social contract that guides how they play and what they aim for. It shapes the balance between playing to win and playing for fun. Understanding and respecting the social contract is vital for a harmonious Commander experience.

Playing to win means improving your deck to win, sometimes at the cost of others’ enjoyment. This approach is suitable for competitive environments where everyone is striving for victory.

Playing for fun is all about enjoying the game and socializing with others. In this situation, players might skip certain strategies to keep the game friendly.

Balancing competitive and casual play within the social contract is essential. The social contract can vary from one playgroup to another, so it’s crucial to discuss and align expectations with your fellow players.

Deck Tuning

If you evaluate your deck and think about the metagame and social contract, you may want to upgrade it. Upgrade your cards, optimize your mana base, and improve your deck’s performance. Here are some tips for upgrading your Commander deck:

• To improve your deck, study similar archetypes and strategies to find strong cards.
• Investing in powerful cards is important to enhance your deck’s strength.
• Include cards to search for specific cards in your strategy for consistency.
• Improve your game plan by adding more spells to remove threats and counterspells.
• Improve your mana base by using better lands, mana rocks, and ramp spells for a smoother curve.
• Testing: Playtest your upgraded deck to ensure it performs as expected and that you’re comfortable with its new power level.

Downgrading Your Deck

If your deck is too strong for your playgroup or the environment, you might need to lower its power level. In this case, you might consider downgrading your deck. Downgrading involves removing powerful cards and replacing them with less impactful alternatives. This can be done to align your deck with a more casual metagame or to make the game more enjoyable for all players.

• Card Substitution: Replace powerful cards with less impactful or thematic alternatives.
• Win Condition Adjustments: Modify your deck’s primary win conditions to be less competitive.
• Reduce counterspells and removal spells in your deck for a calmer environment.
• Remove game-breaking combos from your deck for a more casual play experience.
• Simplify your mana base by swapping costly lands with simpler ones to slow down your deck.

Remember that downgrading your deck doesn’t mean making it weak or ineffective. Instead, it involves making intentional choices to align with the desired power level.

Sideboarding and Adjustments

Sideboarding can be used in Commander too, not just in formats like Standard and Modern. Adding a sideboard lets you switch cards in and out to adjust your deck’s power level as needed.

You can have a main deck for your usual group and a sideboard of different cards. Before a game, talk to your opponents. Decide if you want to use your main deck or make changes from your sideboard.

Be adaptable, play Commander in any setting, no need for multiple decks.

Evaluating Your Playgroup

Good communication is vital for a fun Commander game with your playgroup. Discussing power levels openly and honestly can help align expectations and avoid misunderstandings. When talking about power levels in your playgroup, consider these points.

• Express your desired power level for your decks clearly.
• Metagame Assessment: Discuss the prevalent strategies and archetypes in your playgroup.
• Adapt and adjust your decks to match the group’s power level. Be open to building new ones if needed.
• Balance: Strive for a balanced metagame where each player has an equal opportunity to enjoy the game.
• Encourage feedback and criticism to improve your decks and the gaming experience.

Adjusting Decks for a Balanced Meta

Keep the metagame balanced by adjusting decks and strategies to match power levels. Balance is key: all players must feel competitive and have opportunities to win.

• Adjust your deck for a balanced meta:
• Create decks of different power levels to accommodate the diverse group.
• Talk to your playgroup and adjust your deck choices to match what they like.
• Encourage different deck types to avoid one strategy dominating the game.
• Be flexible in your deck-building approach and willing to make adjustments as needed.

The discussion about power levels isn’t just about your local playgroup. It’s also important in the wider Commander community and online play. To have a balanced experience, you need to know about different deck types in Commander.

Commander Deck Tech

Building a Commander’s deck is an art that combines creativity and strategy. Different strategies can make it easier to build a deck that fits how you like to play and the power level you want.

• Theme Decks: Theme decks focus on a specific narrative or concept. They prioritize storytelling and flavour over raw power.
• Combo Decks: Decks built around card combos that win games. They often require precise card interactions to achieve victory.
• Aggro Decks: Aggro decks aim to win through combat damage. They deploy creatures with haste and focus on attacking opponents.
• Control Decks: Control decks excel at managing the game by countering spells, removing threats, and disrupting opponents’ plans.
• Midrange Decks: Midrange decks strike a balance between aggression and control. They aim to outvalue opponents in the mid-game.
• Stax Decks make it hard for opponents to execute strategies by hindering resources.
• Voltron Decks: Enhance and protect the commander to make it a formidable threat.

Understanding these strategies can help you choose the right approach for your deck. Your deck’s chosen strategy will significantly influence its power level.

Essential Cards for Various Power Levels

Some cards are vital for most Commander decks, no matter their power level. These cards provide fundamental utility and are staples in the format. The cards you pick within these categories can change based on your deck’s power level.

1. Ramp Spells:
   • Casual: Signets, Cluestones
   • Competitive: Sol Ring, Mana Crypt
2. Card Draw:
   • Casual: Divination, Harmonize
   • Competitive: Rhystic Study, Consecrated Sphinx
3. Removal:
   • Casual: Beast Within, Swords to Plowshares
   • Competitive: Cyclonic Rift, Toxic Deluge
4. Tutors:
   • Casual: Diabolic Tutor, Ring of Three Wishes
   • Competitive: Demonic Tutor, Vampiric Tutor
5. Lands:
   • Casual: Guildgates, Bounce Lands
   • Competitive: Fetchlands, Shocklands
6. Counterspells:
   • Casual: Cancel, Negate
   • Competitive: Counterspell, Force of Will

These categories represent the backbone of a Commander deck. Adapting the cards within these categories to your deck’s power level is crucial. Competitive decks use strong cards, casual decks focus on theme and weaker options.

Commander Bans and Restrictions

The Commander format is managed by the Commander Rules Committee (RC), a group of dedicated individuals who oversee the format’s rules and maintain the ban list. Knowing the RC’s decisions is crucial to assessing your deck’s power level.

The RC has a list of banned cards for the Commander format because they’re too strong or disruptive. To make sure your Commander deck is legal, check the ban list before building or upgrading. Avoid using any cards that are prohibited.

How Bans and Restrictions Affect Power Levels

Bans and restrictions set by the RC directly impact the power level of Commander decks. When a powerful card is banned, decks that use it may have to adapt and become less competitive. When a card is taken off the ban list, it can greatly boost the strength of specific decks.

The ban of “Primeval Titan” and “Sylvan Primordial” changed the green ramp decks’ power. The return of a card like “Protean Hulk” caused new combo strategies to emerge.

To understand your deck’s power level fully, stay informed about the current ban list and any updates made by the Commander Rules Committee.

Combo Decks vs. Aggro vs. Control

Commander decks come in various archetypes, each with its strengths and weaknesses. Recognizing these archetypes is essential for understanding the power dynamics in a game. Let’s explore some of the key deck archetypes in Commander.

• Combo Decks use specific card combinations to win the game with powerful effects. Decks aim to find combo pieces and safeguard them for executing the strategy.
• Aggro Decks: They focus on quick aggression to lower opponents’ life totals rapidly. They deploy creatures with haste and prioritize combat damage.
• Control decks manage the game by countering spells and removing threats. They also disrupt opponents’ plans. They aim to control the pace of the game and protect their resources.
• Midrange Decks: Midrange decks strike a balance between aggression and control. Midrange decks try to get more value than opponents in the middle of the game. They use strong cards and adapt their strategy.
• Stax Decks: Stax decks use cards that hinder opponents’ resources and slow down the game. Stax decks make it hard for opponents to execute their strategies.
• Voltron Decks: They boost and safeguard their commander, making it a powerful threat. They focus on commander damage as their primary win condition.

Know the strengths and weaknesses of archetypes to gauge and adapt your deck.

Adapting Your Strategy

When evaluating your deck’s power level, it’s essential to consider its chosen strategy. Strategies vary in power and can affect your deck’s competitiveness.

A fast combo deck has higher power than a thematic, storytelling-themed deck.

Adapting your strategy to fit your desired power level can involve changing your deck’s focus, win conditions, and the level of interaction it has with other players. The commander format is adaptable, letting you create a deck that suits your taste.

Commander Staples

Certain cards are staples in Commander decks due to their universal utility. These cards play important roles in any Commander deck, no matter its power level. Here are some of the must-have Commander staples:

• Sol Ring is a powerful card that speeds up mana and is essential for Commander decks.
• Command Tower generates any colour of mana, vital for multicoloured decks.
• Swords to Plowshares: A premium removal spell that exiles target creatures, providing an efficient solution to threats.
• Rhystic Study gives you more cards when an opponent casts a spell, giving you an advantage.
• Cyclonic Rift: An instant-speed board wipe that can clear away troublesome permanents and opponents’ creatures.
• Eternal Witness returns any card from your graveyard to your hand for recursion.
• Swiftfoot Boots: An equipment that grants hexproof and haste to your commander, ensuring their protection and immediate impact.
• Sensei’s Divining Top helps manipulate cards and access the top of your library.
• Demonic Tutor: A top tutor spell to search your library for any card needed.
• Mystic Remora is an enchantment. It draws cards when opponents cast non creature spells, giving you an advantage.

These staples are important for Commander gameplay. They help with ramping, removal, card draw, and recursion. Including these cards in your deck is a great way to start building a strong Commander deck.

Budget vs. Premium Staples

Staples come in both budget and premium versions, and your choice will depend on your deck’s power level and your budget. Budget staples are affordable and work well for casual and theme decks. Premium staples, on the other hand, are often more expensive but offer enhanced power and efficiency, making them ideal for competitive decks.

• When deciding between budget and premium staples, consider the following factors:
• For a budget or casual deck, use cheap staples in line with your theme and power.
• Invest in premium staples for top performance and consistency in your decks.
• Local Metagame: Consider the metagame in your local playgroup when choosing staples. If your playgroup prefers casual play, budget staples may be sufficient.
• As you improve your deck, aim for higher power levels. Replace budget staples with premium versions for better performance.

Tailor your deck to match your preferences and desired power level.

Assessing Threats and Answers

In Commander, evaluating threats is a critical skill. Identify threats and know their impact to make informed decisions in the game. Here are some aspects to consider when evaluating threats in Commander:

• Commanders: Legendary creatures often serve as commanders and can have powerful and unique abilities. Understanding their strengths and weaknesses is crucial.
• Combos: Identify potential combos and game-ending interactions that your opponents might assemble.
• Stax Effects: Watch out for tax effects that hinder your resources and game plan.
• Assess the board state and watch out for problematic creatures or permanents.
• Keep an eye on opponents who draw extra cards regularly. They can gain an advantage.
• Prioritize handling threats that impact your game plan or pose an immediate danger.

Evaluate threats. Allocate resources wisely. Make strategic decisions to protect your game plan.

Building Your Deck’s Answers

It’s important to have answers in your Commander deck to deal with threats and stay in control of the game. Use cards to remove or counter problems, and stop opponents’ strategies. Here are some types of answers you can include in your deck:

• Use “Swords to Plowshares,” “Path to Exile,” and “Beast Within” to remove threats.
• Counterspells disrupt opponents’ spells in blue decks. Use “Counterspell” and “Swan Song.”.
• Artefact and Enchantment Removal: Cards like “Naturalize” and “Disenchant” can deal with problematic artefacts and enchantments.
• Board wipes, like “Wrath of God” and “Cyclonic Rift,” clear creatures and threats.
• Include cards like “Tormod’s Crypt” or “Relic of Progenitus” to stop graveyard strategies.
• Protect your commander or key cards to avoid targeting or removal.
• Tutors: Use tutor spells to search for specific answers when needed.

Include various answers to adapt, and control the game, regardless of your power level.

The Power of Politics

Commander is a multiplayer format that encourages social interaction and diplomacy. Engaging in politics can significantly influence the outcome of a game. Here are some diplomatic strategies to consider:

• Create alliances with other players to tackle threats or achieve shared goals.
• Engage in table talk to make good trades and actions that benefit everyone playing.
• Offering resources to opponents can benefit your game.
• Persuasion: Use persuasive communication to influence the decisions and actions of other players.
• Threat Assessment: Share your evaluations of threats with other players to coordinate responses.

The power of politics is not limited to casual play; it can be a valuable tool in competitive games as well. Diplomacy helps you handle tough situations and form alliances to reach your goals.

Related Article: Does Player 1 Draw a Card in Commander?

Commander Gameplay Tips

The choice of an opening hand is a critical moment in Commander. Here are some tips for making the most of your mulligans and opening hands:

• To build a good mana base, make sure your starting hand has enough mana and the right colours for your spells.
• Curve: Aim for a balanced mana curve to have plays at different points in the game.
• Consider the synergy of your opening hand’s cards to form a strong game plan.
• Card Advantage: Look for cards that provide card advantage in your opening hand.
• Removal: If possible, include removal or answers to potential threats in your hand.
• Playable Cards: Avoid hands with too many high-cost cards that you can’t cast early in the game.

Mulligans are helpful in the game, so take one if your hand won’t let you play effectively.

Priority and Stack Management

Commander often involves complex board states and interactions. Knowing the priority system and the stack is vital for navigating effectively. Here are some tips for priority and stack management:

• Active Player vs. Non-Active Player: The active player has priority to cast spells and activate abilities. Priority passes to the next player in turn order.
• Stack: Spells and abilities resolve in the reverse order they were put on the stack. Be aware of how this impacts interactions.
• Use response windows to counter or respond to your opponents’ actions effectively.
• Announce Actions: Clearly announce your actions and be explicit about your intentions to avoid misunderstandings.
• Know the game rules well, especially the complex interactions.

By mastering priority and stack management, you can make optimal decisions and navigate complex situations in Commander games.

The Impact of Commander Sets

The commander format keeps changing with new cards and sets. New cards can introduce exciting strategies and interactions, reshaping the Commander metagame. Make sure you stay updated with new releases and think about how new cards can affect your deck.

• Review new sets, see how the cards fit into your decks, and get inspired for new deck ideas.
• Metagame Shifts: Be aware of metagame shifts caused by new cards and strategies.
• Adapt your decks to match the changing Commander landscape.

The impact of Commander sets is not limited to power level; it also influences the diversity and innovation within the format.

Budget vs. High-End Decks

Commander is an inclusive format that accommodates players with various budgets. Find affordable or high-end cards that match your desired power level and budget.

• Budget Decks: They compete well with cheap cards and clever deck-building.
• Midrange Decks: They use budget and premium cards to create competitive decks.
• High-End Decks often use costly cards and premium staples to boost competitiveness.

Keep budget and power level in mind when building or upgrading your Commander deck. Remember that skill and strategy also play a significant role in achieving success in the format.

Evolving Your Deck

Commander is a format that encourages deckbuilding experimentation and evolution. Your deck is not set in stone, and you should be open to making changes and improvements over time. Here are some tips for evolving your deck:

• Regularly playtest your deck to evaluate how it performs and find ways to improve it.
• Research: Stay updated with new cards and strategies that can enhance your deck.
• Get feedback from your playgroup and other Commander players to gain new insights.
• To improve your deck, be flexible and willing to adjust it based on the metagame.
• Experience: Learn from your gameplay experiences and adapt your deck accordingly.

To have a better Commander experience, track and refine your deck regularly. This helps make it more competitive and enjoyable.

Deck Building Apps and Resources

The digital age has brought forth numerous tools and resources to aid Commander players in deck construction and evaluation. These resources can help you optimize your deck for your desired power level. Here are some online tools and resources:

• Deck-Building Apps: Apps like Decked Builder, MTG Goldfish, and TappedOut offer deck-building features, card databases, and community sharing.
• EDHREC and similar sites rate Commander decks by user feedback and data.
• Join Commander forums and communities. Exchange ideas, get feedback, and stay updated with deck trends.
• On YouTube and podcasts, creators share deck techs, strategy talks, and gameplay tips.
• Social media platforms, such as Facebook and Reddit, have Commander groups. Players use these groups to share decklists, seek advice, and discuss the format.

By utilizing these resources, you can enhance your deck-building skills, gain inspiration, and optimize your deck for your desired power level.

Building for Fun vs. Building for Victory

Commander lets you get creative and have fun in many ways. When building your deck, think about balancing fun and victory. Striking the right balance can lead to a more enjoyable Commander experience.

• Fun-Focused Decks: Thematic and fun-focused decks prioritize storytelling, flavour, and unique interactions. These decks aim to create memorable and enjoyable games.
• Victory-Focused Decks: Competitive and victory-focused decks aim to optimize strategies and maximize the chances of winning. These decks prioritize efficiency and power.
• Hybrid Decks in Commander find a balance between fun and victory. They combine themes and strategies.

In the end, how you make your Commander deck depends on what you like and what others in your group expect.

Conclusion:

Assessing your Commander deck’s power level is an ongoing journey. It evolves with every game and deck adjustment. Commander is a format that offers endless opportunities for creativity and strategic depth. Whether you prefer casual and thematic decks or highly competitive strategies, the format accommodates a wide range of play styles and power levels.