Bracket Estimates

TableCommander automatically estimates a bracket (2-4) for Commander, Brawl, and Oathbreaker decks based on the cards in your deck. This helps players find games at a similar power level.

Bracket Levels#

The estimate only produces Brackets 2-4. Brackets 1 and 5 are statements of intent that a decklist can't reveal: an Exhibition deck is choosing theme over power, and a cEDH deck is committing to tournament-style play. Many Bracket 4 card pools could be piloted either way, so both ends of the scale are yours to set manually from the deck page.

How It Works#

The estimate combines card flags tagged during our Scryfall data import with two-card combo data from Commander Spellbook:

Two-Card Combos

Pairs of cards in your deck that form an infinite combo, sourced from Commander Spellbook. A combo counts as "early" if it is cheap enough to assemble and fire in the first few turns.

Game Changers

Cards on the official Game Changers list, updated with each card import.

Mass Land Denial

Cards that destroy all lands or all nonbasic lands, plus a curated list of known MLD cards (e.g., Armageddon, Ravages of War).

Fast Mana

Zero- and one-mana rocks and rituals that accelerate ahead of the table. Sol Ring is exempt, since it's in virtually every deck.

Free Counterspells

Counterspells castable without paying mana (Force of Will, Fierce Guardianship).

Extra Turn Cards

Cards that grant extra turns. Cards that prevent or skip extra turns (like Stranglehold) are excluded.

Alternate Win Conditions

Cards that say "you win the game."

Tutors are deliberately not counted. The October 2025 update to the official bracket system removed tutor restrictions, relying on the Game Changers list to catch the most efficient ones, and our estimate follows suit.

Bracket Thresholds#

The estimate follows these rules, highest bracket wins:

Bracket 4 if any of:

• Any early two-card combo
• Any mass land denial cards
• 4+ game changers
• 6+ fast mana
• 3+ free counterspells
• An alternate win condition backed by 4+ fast mana

Bracket 3 if any of:

• Any two-card combo
• Any game changers (fewer than 4)
• 3+ extra turn cards
• Any alternate win condition
• 4+ fast mana
• Any free counterspell

Bracket 2 — everything else. Core is the floor: a deck with no flagged effects estimates here, and a couple of extra turn cards is still Core (they're listed in the breakdown for transparency).

Why Is My Deck Bracket Lower Than Expected?#

The estimate only looks at the categories above. It does not account for:

• Card quality or price — efficient staples don't affect the estimate unless flagged
• Tutors — per the official October 2025 update, tutor count no longer affects brackets
• Interaction density — counterspells (other than free ones), removal, and stax pieces
• Mana base quality — fetch lands, dual lands, etc.
• Overall strategy — a focused synergy deck with no flagged cards will estimate low

A deck can be very strong and still estimate at Bracket 2 if it doesn't run flagged cards. Likewise the estimate never goes below 2 or above 4: Exhibition (Bracket 1) and cEDH (Bracket 5) are about intent, not contents.

Manual Override#

You can always set your deck's bracket manually from the deck page. Your manual bracket takes priority over the estimate. If you know your deck plays at a higher level than the estimate suggests, set it yourself — your playgroup will appreciate the honesty.

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