Dumb Power-Level Q
Commander (EDH) forum
Posted on Sept. 19, 2020, 8:48 p.m. by Omniscience_is_life
I know this isn't something I need to focus on...
But how does one go about determining the power level of their deck? I want to go to many more FNMs and the like as soon as it's legal and safe, and for that reason I want to make sure I know where my lists land on a 1-10/1-100 scale.
Thanks internet
I read this comment on YouTube recently and I think it's one of the easiest/quickest ways to evaluate decks I've seen yet:
"
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Low: If you feel the need to ask if someone has a deck as weak as yours (Nissa tribal, random cards I had at home).
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Mid: If you feel comfortable bringing the deck to most tables (upgraded precons, most well built decks with budget restrictions or fun non optimal inclusions).
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High: If you feel the need to ask an unknown playgroup whether their decks are as powerful as yours (optimized decks with little budget restrictions or decks with a very strong wincon).
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Cedh: You wouldn't play this in a non competitive table.
Should work as an approach for unknown playgroups. Most important thing is to be sincere and willing to switch decks. If you trust the people you play with try switching decks with each other."
It was a commment on this video which is speicifically talking about commander power levels: Video (Hopefully that's not timestamped...)
September 19, 2020 9:47 p.m.
RNR_Gaming says... #4
Number scales are a terrible indicator. Just tell whatever/whoever you're playing with what you're deck is trying to do and how quickly it typically aims to do it.
September 19, 2020 10:31 p.m.
Omniscience_is_life says... #5
Appreciate you all, I think my deck is on the higher side of mid?... cool great
September 19, 2020 10:53 p.m.
TriusMalarky says... #6
I have large amount of variables I use when I'm getting deep. You have Average mana at turn X, average spells played on turn x, avg spells per turn over the course of the game, average p/t on turn x, optimal win turn, average win turn, average interaction on turn x, average interactable things on turn x(i.e. creatures, stuff they can destroy), and more.
I don't use em often, cos it's complicated, but it's fun to think about.
September 20, 2020 11:11 a.m.
RNR_Gaming says... #7
I should elaborate a tad more. So, the issue with using numbers is that grading your own deck can be subjective. Someone's 10 could be another person's 7. I'll always maintain the sentiment that tribal cannot be stronger than a 5-6 but someone else may think Sliver Tribal is the most powerful thing since Black lotus. Telling people the objective and game plan (probably leaving out key pieces) is good enough for them to be like "hey I'm cool with playing against that/nah sorry dude too strong for my tastes". I've literally powered down from a Wanderers Song Yisan deck to a King Maccar black good stuff/tap deck and had players think they were the same power level of deck just because I happen to win with it.
September 20, 2020 11:58 a.m.
GhostChieftain says... #8
RNR_Gaming is absolutely right, the numbering system is very flawed. That being said, to me 9-10 is cEDH and everything below is basically the wild west. Generally people will say their deck is a 6-7 regardless of the actual level unless it is cEDH or absolute jank.
I would suggest saying "my deck usually threatens a win by turn X" and say what your gameplan is (doesn't have to be exact, just a vague thing like 2 card combo or combat damage). As an example I would say "my deck has a lot of interaction and generally combos out turn 3 or after"
September 20, 2020 1:09 p.m.
RNR_Gaming says... #9
Even within the cedh community there is a constant debate as to what's strongest. Even is 90% of the community says its TnT there's always a faction advocating for kess/zur/urza. There's never a definitive answer due to there always being 3 other decks and disparities in either skill, money, or meta card selection.
September 20, 2020 2:31 p.m.
SynergyBuild says... #10
@RNR_Gaming As a TnT proponent, I've always felt that Kenrith, Najeela, and Kess were the clearest decks with such winrates that rival it. Zur, Tymna/Kraum, Gitrog, and Yisan are very close too, but the 4c Partner Mob Bosses of the format, its 5c henchmen, and its Grixis friend are just too efficient with Consult and Breach and Farm considered the highest games to play.
Hearing Urza considered better than TnT would make me laugh xD, and I love that card!
September 20, 2020 6:16 p.m.
RNR_Gaming says... #11
It's just amusing that all of those decks have a chance of being rolled by tasigur golden control or hack ball. They're just generically more powerful when looking at them in a vaccum versus how they perform when decks are specifically designed to hedge against them. Good ol' Cursed Totem and Null Rod warp games and typically give the under dog fringe decks a chance. I've piggybacked so many wins off of other people's stax I've seriously considered rescruturing my tempo turns edric with more locking pieces.
September 20, 2020 8:57 p.m.
Nightblad3 says... #12
From what I've seen and heard, it's not completely about speed, it's about consistency, and how often your deck does what it wants you to do. Going off of memory, a power level 1-2 is a janky build that likes doing one thing, but isn't necessarily powerful. A 3-4 is more consistent, but still isn't the most powerful deck. Many tribal decks fall in this category. a 5-6 is about average, is fairly consistent, but doesn't have many tutors or any infinite combos. A 7-8 has tutors, infinite combos, and the like, and is consistent, but isn't quite cEDH levels of powerful. A 9-10 build is consistent, has many tutors/infinite combos/locks and can set them up quickly. This is cEDH territory. Again, this is from memory so I may be wrong about some parts.
September 20, 2020 9:10 p.m.
SynergyBuild says... #13
RNR_Gaming Fr, Medium Green and Tempo Najeelas are my favorite anti-stax lists currently.
LordBlackblade says... #2
The best way I’ve seen (and obviously it’s far from perfect) is to goldfish your decks several times (I would say at least five) and average your turns to victory.
Converting to a 1-10 scale is more difficult. I toyed with some equations. Honestly though average goldfish-turns-to-victory is best in my opinion.
September 19, 2020 9 p.m.