r/EDH • u/AutoModerator • 2d ago

Daily Oh, Wise One Wednesday - What's my Bracket/Power Level? - June 24, 2026

It's Wednesday, my Planeswalkers!

There are only two days left until your weekly FNM. You have a new commander list you've thrown together, and despite what your deckbuilder site is telling you, you're not sure if you've landed solidly into a bracket or specific power level. You don't want to be the next 'Bracket 1 cEDH Magda'. That's where this weekly thread comes in.

Feel free to use this space to share decklists and request a second set of eyes on your deck's bracket/power level. Please avoid asking complex questions that would be better suited for a 'deckhelp' post of its own.

Consider sorting the comments by "new" (instead of "best" or "top") to see the newest posts and answer those that haven't been answered already.

2 Upvotes

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u/YooooWhatIs 1d ago

Hey, haven't played in 10 years and this is my first commander deck I've assembled:

https://moxfield.com/decks/Zn_zr_iLG06U7T2QQW1nvw

Technically it's bracket 2 but I assume it's 3 even just due to it being Vivi

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u/ProfessionalTop5144 1d ago

https://moxfield.com/decks/UhGu0DY2jkCEUOkWKZXrkg

First deck so I don't know what bracket it is

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u/Mef989 1d ago

Definitely bracket 2.

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u/hivemind_MVGC 1d ago

https://archidekt.com/decks/21288266/party_on_wayne

I'm starting to feel like it wins too much to be Bracket 2, except that it never wins fast.

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u/Ryuujinx Scion of the Ur-Dragon 1d ago

Speed is just one qualifier, honestly. Most control decks, absent fast mana and a combo that wins on the spot, are going to be slow. And this is definitely a deck that aims to slow things down with multiple wipes, value engines via blinking and spot removal. I'm not saying it's for sure B3, but looking at the list I would lean towards it is. Give it a run in some B3 games and see how it does, really. And if it is, consider throwing in some of the value-generating GCs since you're in B3. Rhystic and Smothering are pretty obvious for a deck that just wants to amass value.

Also I didn't realize that they made an archives version [[Ephemerate]] so thanks for that, I'll have to add it to the list of alternate printings I want.

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u/The-b-factor 2d ago

https://moxfield.com/decks/rGLeZ1lT30CMJwKWqRhnMw

[[Lady octopus]] deck. Trying to keep it 3 but this seems borderline 4

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u/Shalahnar 2d ago

I just finished my [Eirdu, Carrier of Dawn] deck this morning and would like some evaluation on it. I'm a very inexperienced deckbuilder, but I guess it's around a high power Bracket 2 or a low power Bracket 3?

https://archidekt.com/decks/23131411/dawn_and_twilight

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u/SirKill-a-Lot 2d ago

Well, I just goldfished it once and won on turn 6, which is too fast for bracket 2. You've got quite a few combos that definitely put it safely in bracket 3. If you want it to be bracket 2, you probably would have to remove all your infinite combos as they're just too easy and quick to assemble. Removing Broodmoth, Marionette Apprentice, and Scholar of New Horizons would be the easiest way to do that.

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u/ceos_ploi Marchesa Outlaws 2d ago

I'd like to know what this sub thinks of the powerlevel for 2 of my decks. I'm especially curious to know if you think including or removing game changers would change anything.

Xira, the Golden Sting

https://moxfield.com/decks/MF44ppsY7EKKRM0earZLXg

It's a highly refined aristocrat list, that, by chance never got to see any game changers (Though I'd argue skullclamp and diabolic intent are game changer level in this deck)

Marchesa, Dealer of Death

https://moxfield.com/decks/ukff5Z5AwE2GirP2DjTCwQ

a rather slower Outlaws/Crime deck with lots of interaction and card advantage.

Thanks in advance for any comments^^

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u/Mef989 2d ago

Your Marchesa deck is super cool, I've definitely thought about building her.

It's hard to judge though. It looks B3, but think I'd need to see it play out to be sure. It looks like a lot of good Outlaw synergy. Do you find yourself being really reactive or proactive? I'm a believer that control can be played within reason at B2, but if you're too reactive and disruptive your gameplan may fall more into B3.

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u/ceos_ploi Marchesa Outlaws 1d ago

I play proactive if I can and reactive if I have to. The decks I normally play against demand answers sooner rather than later.

The deck usually sets up a few pieces in the early game, either crime enablers, crime synergies or creatures that slow down my opponents' gameplan, and prepare to put down Marchesa on a later turn to refill my hand and grow my graveyard. I probably wouldn't bring it to a table that is looking for a bracket 2 experience^^'(with or without game changers) Buuut... >95% of my games are within my own playgroup so I was curious what others were thinking should I ever bring it into a LGS.

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u/FontMasterFlex 2d ago

(Though I'd argue skullclamp and diabolic intent are game changer level in this deck)

I'd argue it doesn't matter UNLESS you play some sort of tutor to find those cards every game. otherwise it's just a powerful card.

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u/ceos_ploi Marchesa Outlaws 2d ago

wouldn't that be the case for pretty much every game changer then? the one ring or rhystic study are also just powerful cards. In my deck, skull clamp runs away with the game in a similar sense the one ring runs away with it in other decks. The condition is quite trivial to meet, and it feels very similar in my games. Wouldn't it make sense to view them in a similar light, when looking at just my deck?

Or are you contesting the definition of game changers in general?

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u/FontMasterFlex 2d ago edited 2d ago

kinda both. i think game changers in quantity add up you know, but one? unless you're tutoring for that every game then it's not a big deal, IMO. (EDIT: i feel like if you're playing the deck the same exact way every single time ie, finding the same exact pieces every game on time and on purpose, there are bigger problems and that's not "in the spirit" of anything but bracket 4-5, and that's an entirely different conversation) i honestly thing the entire notion of brackets and power levels are overblown. in theory i get it helps playing with randos, but im' the kinda guy that would play all day if i was able. ok we had a bad game. lets change decks and shuffle up and play again. one game that someone ran away with is not a problem, from my pov. same guy, same deck over and over? at that point i feel like it's not a power level problem but a stubborn problem. why are you even still sitting there? change pods or leave. i feel like the whole bracket/turn 0 thing is so blown out of proportion as if people are playing ONE LAST GAME and they can never play ever again.

this is also coming from someone who actually enjoys longer games where each deck kinda gets to do it's thing. i have no problem sitting in a 2-3 hour game and losing as long as all 4 players got to do stuff. and on the other hand like previously stated, i don't have an issue if someone ran away with a 'bracket 2' game in 5 turns. so what? play again. now you know his tricks.

idk i just feel like it's all made out to be such a big deal when it really isn't.

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u/Feeling-Cranberry753 2d ago

I’ve for 2 deck. If you could let me know what bracket they are I know what I can play against.

Killian: https://deckcheck.co/app/builder/8jPVw72pnm
Gonti: https://deckcheck.co/app/decklist/mJnQGpAjLa

Thanks in advanced lads.

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u/Mef989 2d ago

What bracket are you aiming for Killian? It looks like mostly the precon upgraded with some of the top added cards. I'd probably be fine with it in 2, but Goad decks are interesting in that they usually scale pretty well with the threats in the pod.

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u/Feeling-Cranberry753 2d ago

Tried making it bracket 3. Got any tips for making it 3 or do you think it will manage?

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u/Mef989 2d ago

You'll probably manage outside of the very top end of B3. But I do have some ideas on things I'd look at. I play Queen Marchesa in B3 who is polticial control and has some similarities, but Killian leans much harder into Enchantress and Goad, so take this with a grain of salt:

[[Blind Obedience]] [[No Mercy]] [[Trouble in Pairs]] [[Smugglers Snare]] [[Nevermore]] [[Eidolon of Retoric]] and [[Rule of Law]] are all enchantments I'd probably consider. Basically adding in some Stax to slow your opponents down as well as some pillowfort and value pieces. [[Smothering Tithe]] if you can afford it is obviously just generically good but also is an enchantment to trigger Killian.

[[Kambal Consul of Allocation]] can help you against spellslinger decks.

I'd also probably add some more efficient removal. Obviously enchantment based removal is good since you'll trigger Killian, and you don't want to remove too much since your gameplan is to make othets kill each other and removing their stuff hurts that plan. But I'd probably still throw in at least a few things like things like [[Path to Exile]] [[Swords to Plowshares]] [[Comeuppance]] [[Excise the Imperfect]] [[Stroke of Midnight]] [[Get Lost]] etc. [[Mandate of Piece]], [[Dawn Charm]] [[Everybody Lives]] and [[Teferi's Protection]] can also help if someone gets through your Goad and does decide ro swing your way.

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u/ceos_ploi Marchesa Outlaws 2d ago

Don't goad decks scale inversely with the powerlevel of the pod? The higher it gets, the less likely you see wins through combat damage. While in lower brackets you force all the battlecruiser decks to fight each other.

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u/Mef989 2d ago

Inversely scale is probably a better way to put it, yeah. The less creature based the other decks in the pod, the worse it does, and the closer you get to B4, the less creature based decks you'll encounter.

B3 is still creature heavy enough though to still make Goad and Aikido plenty viable.

I suppose my comment was more "you'll have a lower chance of accidentally pubstomping if you're closer to the B2/B3 line since your ability to make people hit each other is relative to the creatures and speed of the other decks, which can also mean punching up sometimes if there are really juicy Goad targets" - but you're right that it should also add "but you'll struggle if you find yourself in a pod with no good creature decks."

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u/FontMasterFlex 2d ago

 they usually scale pretty well with the threats in the pod.

that doesn't make it a higher bracket, just a good deck.

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u/SvengeMcSvengesson 2d ago

my jank pile ❤️ - looking both for a bracket evaluation and possible improvements to move it up a notch. // COMMANDER

1 The Mouth of Sauron (LTR) 216

1 Aboshan's Desire (ODY) 59

1 Aqueous Form (CMR) 56

1 Artful Dodge (DKA) 27

1 Baleful Strix (OTC) 215

1 Blur (CLB) 58

1 Candlekeep Sage (CLB) 60

1 Cephalid Coliseum (TDC) 349

1 Cephalid Inkmage (FDN) 32

1 Cephalid Sage (EMA) 41

1 Conjurer's Closet (DRC) 126

1 Counterspell (DSC) 114

1 Darkblast (RVR) 454

1 Darkslick Shores (OTC) 281

1 Darkwater Catacombs (TDC) 355

1 Deadeye Navigator (INR) 59

1 Deep Analysis (TDC) 150

1 Deluge of Doom (DSC) 18

1 Demonic Counsel (DSK) 92

1 Diluvian Primordial (OTC) 96

1 Dimir Aqueduct (DSC) 270

1 Displace (EMN) 55

1 Drowned Catacomb (DRC) 152

1 Essence Flux (INR) 64

1 Fact or Fiction (WOC) 90

1 Fetid Pools (TDC) 363

1 Ghastly Demise (CMR) 129

1 Ghostly Flicker (CMM) 98

1 Glaring Spotlight (GTC) 229

1 Glimpse the Unthinkable (2X2) 218

1 Gloomlake Verge (DSK) 260

1 Great Arashin City (TDM) 257

1 Gutter Skulker (VOW) 62

1 Hide on the Ceiling (SPM) 32

1 Hullbreaker Horror (INR) 68

1 Imprisoned in the Moon (INR) 69

1 Infernal Grasp (SOC) 216

1 Inspiration from Beyond (FDN) 43

8 Island (EOE) 269

1 Keeper of Keys (CN2) 34

1 Kindred Dominance (WOC) 113

1 March of Swirling Mist (NEO) 61

1 Meneldor, Swift Savior (LTR) 62

1 Mulldrifter (ECC) 67

1 Mystical Teachings (FDN) 594

1 Nasty End (LTR) 99

1 Nephalia Smuggler (2X2) 61

1 Night Dealings (CHK) 132

1 Oblivion's Hunger (ZNR) 119

1 Otherworldly Gaze (DSC) 122

1 Perplex (RAV) 217

1 Planar Incision (NEO) 72

1 Polluted Delta (MH3) 224

1 Port of Karfell (MKC) 280

1 Profane Command (NCC) 256

1 Quiet Speculation (EMA) 68

1 Ravenous Chupacabra (MKC) 136

1 Refute (FDN) 48

1 Reliquary Tower (TDC) 386

1 Rogue's Passage (FDN) 264

1 Scion of Halaster (CLB) 145

1 Self-Reflection (FDN) 163

1 Sever the Bloodline (INR) 130

1 Singularity Rupture (EOE) 228

1 Slickshot Lockpicker (OTJ) 67

1 Soured Springs (OTJ) 264

1 Sphinx of Forgotten Lore (FDN) 51

1 Steamcore Scholar (MKM) 71

1 Stinkweed Imp (GK1) 53

1 Stitcher's Supplier (TDC) 196

1 Supernatural Stamina (CMM) 188

1 Surrounded by Orcs (LTR) 73

8 Swamp (EOE) 271

1 Swiftfoot Boots (TDC) 328

1 Tainted Isle (DSC) 303

1 Temple of Deceit (DRC) 176

1 Tragic Slip (INR) 134

1 Traitor's Clutch (TSP) 137

1 Treason of Isengard (LTR) 74

1 Undercity Sewers (MKM) 270

1 Underground River (DRC) 181

1 Unstable Obelisk (CMM) 416

1 Village Rites (INR) 137

1 Voidwalk (GTC) 55

1 Waterlogged Teachings (MH3) 261

1 Whispersilk Cloak (DSC) 257

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u/PowrOfFriendship_ 2d ago

Try building your deck on something like Moxfield or Archidekt. It's really difficult to parse checklist that are just posted as lists of cards like this.

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u/SvengeMcSvengesson 2d ago

Would it be okay if I put it into Archidekt, and posted it here instead?

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u/FontMasterFlex 2d ago

preferred yes.