In order to tackle this problem, we have to do away with this system as it is assumed. There are no strata, no levels, no clearly defined thing that will tell you everything you need to know because of the variance that comes into play every game. When two creatures engage in combat, their power and toughness values determine the outcome. For example, if a creature with 3 power and 2 toughness battles another creature with 2 power and 3 toughness, the first creature would deal 3 damage to the second creature, while receiving 2 damage in return. If it isn’t fun and you run away with the game – be a decent table mate and thank everyone for letting you play the deck before you switch down to something weaker. I’m much happier these days looking at decks as being low-powered, mid-powered, high-powered and cEDH.
A preconstructed Commander deck (Precon) is typically considered to be at a lower power level compared to fully optimized and tuned decks. Precons are designed to provide a playable and relatively balanced starting point for players new to the format. They often have a mix of powerful cards and synergies, but are not as focused or optimized as decks built from scratch. There is no definitive answer to this question as the power level of Commander decks can vary and is subjective. Examples include decks centered around commanders like Korvold, Fae-Cursed King, Kozilek, The Great Distortion, and The First Sliver.
Many players, especially ones newer to the Commander format, will have a preconstructed deck, maybe with a few cards swapped, as their Commander deck. As a result, when I tend to have a Rule Zero conversation with a pod of players, I use the “is this better than a precon? If it is well above a prebuilt Commander power level, the following question gauges how the deck would stand up at a cEDH table. That said, even among prebuilt decks, there is a wide range of power level differences.
Raw power refers to the power level of individual cards in a deck. Aetherize gets upgraded to cyclonic rift, Terramorphic Expanse to Fabled Passage, Tap lands to Shock Lands. Original Dual Lands are strictly better than Snow Duals from kaldheim. Which is why some playgroups try to have a cost limit on decks to restrict power and encourage creative deckbuilding.
Make sure to compare your decks to easily identifiable power levels, like a prebuilt deck, an upgraded prebuilt deck, a high power deck, and a cEDH deck, to give more context. To avoid this, Commander players engage in a ‘Rule Zero’ conversation where a deck’s ‘power level’ is assessed. Here, we will suggest a guide to determine your deck’s power levels in the context of a Rule Zero conversation. That said, there is no perfect way to do this since it’s highly subjective. At the highest levels of play (cEDH) you should have players who accept that anything can happen and that everyone is playing to win. They are going to play their best deck and it’s up to you to try to match it.
Additionally, the frequency of a card’s appearance in booster packs and its availability in the secondary market can influence its perceived power level. While I did not provide a great example of a deck that differentiates between a 7 and 8, I do have a deck that is definitely at an 8 in comparison to the 7 provided in the Esika Planeswalker tribal deck. As MTG news begins to slow down for the holidays, there is a good chance that I will do a deck tech for that particular strategy (it’s a pretty common one). Hopefully, you can use this article as a reference point to have clearer Commander power level conversations. I see the attraction of being able to quantify your deck’s strength, speed and resiliency and I appreciate that smart people like complicated solutions to things. I just think the temptation to label your deck a 6.5 and then upgrade it to a 7.0 or 7.5 if it’s been doing well is just a little unrealistic.
If a player doesn’t know what that means, they probably can’t lock the game at all, but if they are on a stax or control deck they should understand. Most of these power level scales are looking at the turn your deck can consistently win by. Starting your games with a pod of roughly equal decks is an important part of trying to have games where everyone starts with a roughly equal chance of winning. Entering the realm of higher power levels requires careful consideration.
Power Level 3
It also means I have to commit to attacking and plan for my opponent’s to attack back or preventing my attack altogether. If a player can use their deck to protect and/or recur their important pieces, you can usually begin to tell what the deck is doing with what cards. Usually, this involves combining many cards for greater combined effects and value. Synergy across these cards, or lack thereof, is something to consider when evaluating the potential of your or someone else’s deck. Often a deck will have a card that has an effect and another card that does a similar thing better, or worse, as a backup or primary piece. This leads us into redundancy; how many times can a deck do a thing even if a card is removed.
What is the maximum span for a deck?
The first thing I’d suggest is that we simplify our approach to power levels. The middle levels of play are where power level issues most often arise. We’ll discuss strategies for overcoming deckbuilding challenges specific to Power Level 7, ensuring a smoother and more enjoyable process. While sideboarding is not a traditional aspect of Commander, Power Level 7 decks can benefit from strategic sideboarding.
This turn can be when the deck wins or when it establishes complete or near-complete dominance. A Commander deck must contain exactly 100 cards, including the commander. If you’re playing a companion, it must adhere to color identity and singleton rules. While it is not part of the deck, it is effectively a 101st card. With the exception of basic lands, no two cards in the deck may have the same English name. Power Level 7 cards span across multiple MTG sets, each bringing its unique flavor and mechanics to the game.
Are 40K cards legal in Commander?
There’s a time and a place for a high powered deck, but do pauper decks remember that for most people this is a casual format, and maybe that’s a good thing. Identifying Power Level 7 cards for your deck involves careful evaluation of card attributes, abilities, and potential impact on gameplay. Players should prioritize cards with powerful effects, efficient mana costs, and versatile abilities that align with their deck’s strategy.
From iconic creatures to game-changing spells, these cards have left an indelible mark on MTG history. Examples of notable Power Level 7 cards include “Black Lotus” from the Alpha set, “Jace, the Mind Sculptor” from Worldwake, and “Uro, Titan of Nature’s Wrath” from Theros Beyond Death. These cards showcase the diversity and potency of Power Level 7 cards across different sets and formats. These things matter in terms of managing expectations even though there’s no promise that you’ll be drawing into those cards. You might not play a single Praetor in your game, but it’s wise to make sure your table knows if you’ve got every single one of those salt-inducing Praetors in your deck before you start the game. There is just too much that goes into evaluating a deck to be able to accurately represent a deck’s power level with a number.
If you win with a power level 1 deck, it’s likely that your opponents just left you alone long enough for you to squeak out a victory once they’d finished taking each other out. Power level in Commander is shorthand for how likely a deck is to win a game. It is a measurement of the deck’s overall strength and effectiveness. The higher the power level, the more likely the deck is to win consistently.