Magic: The Gathering - What Are The Commander Brackets?

Magic: The Gathering's Commander format now has a new power level system: Commander Brackets. This system replaces the ambiguous numerical ranking (1-10) with a five-bracket system (1-5), each with specific criteria. This clarifies deck power levels and facilitates more balanced gameplay.

Wizards of the Coast's Commander Format Panel developed this system to provide concrete guidelines. It addresses common issues with the old system, where decks of vastly different power levels were often grouped together.

What are Commander Brackets?

The new system defines five brackets, each representing a distinct power level. From casual, thematic decks to highly competitive tournament decks, the brackets offer a clearer understanding of a deck's strength. The system considers five key factors: two-card combos, extra turn generation, mass land destruction, tutor count, and the number of "Game Changer" cards included.

The "Game Changer" Cards

A "Game Changer" list functions similarly to a restricted list, identifying cards powerful enough to drastically alter game outcomes. The number of allowed "Game Changer" cards varies by bracket. Brackets One and Two prohibit them, Bracket Three allows three, while Brackets Four and Five have no restrictions. Crucially, a "Game Changer" commander counts towards the deck's total.

Game Changers
White
Drannith Magistrate	Enlightened Tutor	Serra's Sanctum	Smothering Tithe
Trouble in Pairs	Blue	Expropriate	Force of Will	Fierce Guardianship
Rhystic Study	Thassa's Oracle	Urza, Lord High Artificer	Mystical Tutor
Jin-Gitaxias, Core Augur	Black	Demonic Tutor	Imperial Seal	Opposition Agent
Tergrid, God of Fright	Vampiric Tutor	Ad Nauseam	Red	Underworld Breach	Green	Vorniclex, Voice of Hunger	Gaea's Cradle	Multicolor	Yuriko, the Tiger's Shadow	Winota, Joiner of Forces	Grand Arbiter Augustin IV
Colorless
Ancient Tomb	Chrome Mox	The One Ring	The Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale
Trinisphere	Grim Monolith	Lion's Eye Diamond	Mox Diamond
Mana Vault	Glacial Chasm

Bracket Breakdown

Bracket One: Exhibition

Bracket One focuses on thematic decks prioritizing fun and creativity over winning. Games often run longer, emphasizing enjoyment over cutthroat competition. This is ideal for unconventional or casual decks. Key features: No Game Changers, no extra turns, no two-card combos, no mass land destruction, minimal tutors.

Bracket Two: Core

Bracket Two represents the power level of preconstructed decks. Games are longer but offer opportunities for impactful plays. This bracket allows for some flavorful inclusions alongside functional cards. Key features: No Game Changers, no chained extra turns, no two-card combos, no mass land destruction, few tutors.

Bracket Three: Upgraded

Bracket Three contains more powerful decks capable of consistent wins within six turns. These decks utilize strong cards without relying heavily on Game Changers or tutors. This represents the power level of many typical Commander decks. Key features: Up to three Game Changers, no chained extra turns, no early-game two-card combos, no mass land destruction.

Bracket Four: Optimized

Bracket Four allows for highly optimized decks with few restrictions beyond the banned list. Early-game combos and mass land destruction are permitted. Games can end quickly, but the high power level creates dynamic interactions.

Bracket Five: cEDH

cEDH (Competitive Commander) is the highest bracket, designed for tournament play. While deckbuilding rules are similar to Bracket Four, deck construction considers metagame factors and tournament strategies.

The above is the detailed content of Magic: The Gathering - What Are The Commander Brackets?. For more information, please follow other related articles on the PHP Chinese website!