Bracket reference · Pregame template

A pregame template that actually says something

"My deck is a 7" doesn't tell anyone whether you're winning with combat, a protected combo, prison pieces, or fast mana. The bracket-aware pregame template names the features that actually decide the game.

Template

This is a Bracket [X] deck.
It is trying to win by:
  [combat / value engine / aristocrats / spellslinger / combo / commander damage / stax / reanimator / etc.]
It has:
  [N] Game Changers
  [yes/no] fast mana
  [yes/no] free interaction
  [yes/no] tutors for win pieces
  [yes/no] two-card infinites or lockouts
  [yes/no] extra-turn chaining
  [yes/no] mass land denial
It usually threatens to win around turn:
  [N]
The play experience is:
  [theme showcase / casual battlecruiser / tuned synergy / high-power / cEDH]

Bracket 3 Voja

"This is Bracket 3 Voja. It has 2 Game Changers, no mass land denial, no chained extra turns, and no early deterministic two-card combo. It can produce a huge combat turn after building a board, usually around turn six or later. It is tuned creature-combat snowball, not cEDH."

Bracket 2 Ghyrson Starn

"This is Bracket 2 Ghyrson Starn. Zero Game Changers, no MLD, no extra-turn chaining, no two-card win. It pings the table for damage with damage-doublers. It usually closes a winning game around turn nine. The play experience is casual battlecruiser."

Bracket 1 Weatherlight Crew

"This is Bracket 1 Weatherlight crew. Theme deck — every creature is a named Weatherlight character. No Game Changers, no MLD, no extra turns, no combos. Wins are slow and incidental. Asking the pod for one Rule 0 exception so I can run [thematic card]."

Bracket 4 Pantlaza

"This is Bracket 4 Pantlaza. 5 Game Changers including Mana Vault, Vampiric Tutor, and Smothering Tithe. Fast mana, free interaction, no MLD, no extra-turn chaining, no two-card immediate-win combo. Threatens lethal commander damage around turn five. Not cEDH-tuned."

Bracket 5 Thoracle Tymna/Kraum

"This is Bracket 5 cEDH Tymna/Kraum. Standard Thoracle/Consultation finish, Force of Will, Force of Negation, Fierce Guardianship, full fast-mana suite. Wins on any turn. Playing the standard cEDH metagame."

Pod prompt

When seating a pod, agree on the floor first: "We're playing a Bracket 3 game. Anyone bringing a deck higher than that, swap or be honest." Brackets work when they're agreed before hands are kept.