Accurately assessing the power level of a Commander (EDH) deck can be highly subjective. This calculator provides an objective, weighted average score based on five critical deck attributes, helping you determine where your deck sits on the 1-10 power scale.
Commander Deck Power Level Calculator
Enter values and click Calculate to see the steps.
Commander Deck Power Level Calculator Formula
The power level is determined by calculating the average score across five weighted categories, yielding a final result on a 1.0 to 10.0 scale.
Formula:
Power Level = $\frac{C + S + I + T + M}{5}$
Where:
- C = Consistency Score
- S = Speed Score
- I = Interaction Score
- T = Tutor Score
- M = Mana Base Score
Formula Source: TappedOut MTG Community, MTG Goldfish.
Variables Explained
A score of 1 represents very weak or non-existent capability, while 10 represents absolute cEDH (Competitive EDH) optimization.
- Deck Consistency (C): Measures the reliability of card draw, sequencing, and ramp. A score of 10 indicates high-density tutors and powerful card advantage engines.
- Win Condition Speed (S): Assesses how quickly the deck can achieve a definitive win, usually measured in turns (e.g., Turn 4 wins = 9-10).
- Interaction Depth (I): Reflects the number and quality of defensive/offensive spells (e.g., counterspells, removal, hate pieces).
- Tutor Density (T): The total number of cards that can search the library for specific pieces. Higher scores mean greater access to the best cards.
- Mana Base Optimization (M): Score based on the quality of lands and fast mana (e.g., original dual lands, fetch lands, Mana Crypt).
Related Calculators
- MTG Card Value Estimator
- Competitive EDH Budget Analyzer
- Deck Goldfishing Turns Simulator
- Optimal Mana Curve Planner
What is Commander Deck Power Level?
The Commander (EDH) format power level refers to the overall strength and competitive potential of a 100-card singleton deck. It’s a spectrum, typically ranging from a casual Precon (Power Level 3-4) to highly optimized Competitive EDH (cEDH) decks (Power Level 9-10). The goal of power level determination is to facilitate enjoyable games by matching players with similarly powerful decks, avoiding “power mismatches” where one deck consistently dominates.
A deck’s power level is not just about having powerful cards; it’s about synergy, consistency, and resilience. A well-built deck can have a high power level even without a high budget if it maximizes the efficiency of its card interactions and focuses on a single, reliable game plan. Conversely, a deck filled with expensive “staples” can still be low power if it lacks focus and a defined win condition.
This calculator breaks down the subjective feeling of a deck’s strength into quantifiable metrics, allowing builders to identify weaknesses (e.g., low Interaction Depth) and make targeted improvements.
How to Calculate Commander Deck Power Level (Example)
Let’s calculate the power level for a mid-range optimized deck:
- Assign Scores: The user rates the deck attributes: Consistency (C) = 7, Speed (S) = 6, Interaction (I) = 8, Tutor Density (T) = 5, Mana Base (M) = 7.
- Sum the Scores: Add all the category scores together: $7 + 6 + 8 + 5 + 7 = 33$.
- Count Categories: The total number of categories is 5.
- Calculate the Average: Divide the total score by the number of categories: $\frac{33}{5} = 6.6$.
- Final Result: The estimated Power Level is 6.6. This places the deck firmly in the “High-Mid Casual” category, bordering on high power.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQ)
A Power Level 7 deck is highly optimized for casual play, often wins consistently in its group, but relies on vulnerable main-strategy pieces. A Power Level 9 deck is cEDH-adjacent; it uses high-efficiency combo lines, perfect mana, and redundant tutors, aiming to win before Turn 5 and interacts with the competitive meta.
Decks that score 9.0 or higher are generally considered cEDH. The calculator can affirm this, but competitive play usually assumes all decks are 9s or 10s. Its primary utility is for levels 4 through 8, which cover the vast majority of casual EDH playgroups.
Budget is a strong correlation, but not a direct measure of power. We use “Mana Base Optimization” and “Tutor Density” as better proxies, as these are the components most frequently restricted by budget but directly affect gameplay efficiency.
You should recalculate whenever you make significant changes—typically when adding or removing 5 or more cards, or when updating your mana base. Minor changes do not usually shift the score by more than 0.1.