Commander is a multiplayer format with a large social focus, which is why it's very important to set the right expectations for a game. Power Levels can be used to give a rough idea of the decks that are being played, though determining a deck's Power Level is more like an art than a science. While the multiplayer aspect of the format can compensate for some differences between Power Levels, a large mismatch will often result in a poor experience for everyone.

The most commonly used templates describe decks as Jank (1-2), Precon (3-4), Focused (5-6), Optimized (7-8) and Competitive (9-10). While these can give a rough idea on the deck's Power Level, I have found that especially the Optimized category can be very misleading.

Because these templates don't fit that well with my decks, I decided to create an adjusted version that can provide more accurate context for evaluating these decks.

These decks are literally just a random pile of cards in the right colors. Imagine being given a random Commander, your LGS's "Draft Chaff" box and 5 minutes to build a deck. The resulting deck would probably have as much impact on a game as a goldfish.

These decks are usually weird theme decks. They rarely have any synergy between the cards, but they could still win if the stars align.

Jank decks are rarely created on accident, and they are specifically designed to either be played against other Jank decks or get stomped in normal matchups.

Almost all Precon decks fall into this Power Level, though some of the more powerful ones can go a bit higher. These decks have some synergy and a vague strategy, allowing them to hold their own in a game.

Many new decks built from smaller collections also fall into this Power Level. These are often rough prototypes that are either upgraded or dismantled after some playtesting.

These decks have a clear strategy, and they have the cards to support it. There's plenty of room for experimentation and self-expression, which creates a good environment for new players. Also, these decks often have a several "Pet Cards" that don't really contribute to the strategy, but are included for other reasons.

Games with these decks can easily last for more than 20 turns, and the atmosphere is usually very casual. Things like Stax, infinite combos and mass land destruction are highly frowned upon, and should be avoided at this Power Level.

This is the Power Level that every deck can achieve with the right cards. No matter what Commander, colors or strategy is used, it can find a home here. The Low Power Level has by far the largest variety of decks.

Some Commanders might need a lot of help to get here, while others can turn any random pile of cards into a functional deck. While all Commanders can be balanced to compete here, some of the more powerful ones require a lot of fine tuning in order to avoid stomping the weaker Commanders.

Games will often last for 15+ turns, giving all players plenty of time to get their decks working.

Mid-Low Power can describe anything from decks with a weaker Commander supported by an extremely optimized deck to decks where a powerful Commander is able to turn a pile of cards with minor synergies into a fully functional deck.

This is also an excellent Power Level for low-budget decks. With a few exceptions, all decks can be build effectively with very low budgets. A budget restriction can also help keep the more powerful strategies from becoming too strong for this Power Level.

This is also the Power Level where strategy and Commander selection starts to have an impact on the decks. Weaker archetypes can still reach this level, but they will require a lot more optimization than the stronger archetypes.

Games usually last for around 15 turns

Medium Power is used to describe the more powerful decks and strategies. This is the most common Power Level among experienced players. The weakest archetypes can no longer keep up with the rest of the decks. The variety of decks will be significantly reduced, but this also means that archetypes that are too strong for Low Power can be played here.

While Low Power offers variety, Medium Power allows players to use the more powerful Commanders without having to actively reduce their power. There are also several archetypes that are simply too strong for Low Power games, since these decks often lack the ability to properly interact with threats.

Games last for 12-15 turns

Most of the decks found at this Power Level are either highly optimized decks with a respectable Commander or powerful Commanders supported by moderately optimized decks. Higher optimization also often means higher budget, and one of the largest investments is the deck's mana base. Fast ramp becomes a lot more important than before since games are much faster in Medium Power, usually lasting around 10-15 turns depending on what decks are in play.

Building Medium Power decks with a low budget can be challenging, but it is definitely possible and can provide very good results. Setting budget limits at this Power Level can also greatly improve deckbuilding skills and help players discover many hidden gems.

Games usually last for 9-12 turns

High Power is the Power Level where some of the most powerful decks can be found. These decks combine powerful Commanders with high levels of optimization, creating fast-paced games with lots of interaction.

The games don't usually last for more than 10 turns, so a good mana base and powerful ramp are vital for keeping up with other decks. These decks usually have a high budget, but some Commanders can still be built effectively on a low budget.

Another key difference between Medium Power and High Power is tolerance for "unfair" strategies. Stax, infinite combos and mass land destruction might be frowned upon in the lower Power Levels, but pretty much everything below cEDH is fair game in High Power games. These decks are built to be able to handle a large variety of threats, and frequent access to efficient tutors will significantly

Games will last for 9 or less turns

Short and simple, this is cEDH Power Level. Optimized to the peak performance, budget be damned. Only the best strategies can exist here.

Also, it's worth mentioning that the gap between Competitive and High Power is massive. While some of the High Power decks could theoretically compete with slower and weaker cEDH decks, these two Power Levels should not be mixed unless everyone at the table is fully aware that one of the decks is a "lesser" cEDH deck and knows exactly what they are up against.

Competitive Commander brings very different expectations for games compared to all other Power Levels, and because of this it could even be argued that cEDH is almost a completely different format. These decks are extremely focused on the well-documented cEDH meta, and they should only be played against other cEDH decks. The games only last a few turns, and the decks are designed to end the games as fast as possible while also stopping the other decks from doing the same.

Other Power Levels settle the games on the battlefield, but in cEDH the battles are fought on the stack. While all Power Levels are part of the same Commander format, Competitive Commander is a world apart from the others in terms of deck building and social expectations.