Bracket 1: Exhibition
Players expect:
- Decks to prioritize a goal, theme, or idea over power
- Rules around card legality or viable commanders to have some flexibility depending on the pod
- Win conditions to be highly thematic or substandard
- Gameplay to be an opportunity to show off your creations
Generally, you should expect to be able to play at least nine turns before you win or lose. Most importantly, given this bracket’s emphasis on theme, players should feel like they have the time to showcase their decks.
Bracket 2: Core
Players expect:
- Decks to be unoptimized and straightforward, with some cards chosen to maximize creativity and/or entertainment
- Win conditions to be incremental, telegraphed on the board, and disruptable
- Gameplay to be low pressure with an emphasis on social interaction
- Gameplay to be proactive and considerate, letting each deck showcase its plan
Generally, you should expect to be able to play at least eight turns before you win or lose.
Bracket 3: Upgraded
Players expect:
- Decks to be powered up with strong synergy and high card quality; they can effectively disrupt opponents
- Game Changers that are likely to be value engines and game-ending spells
- Win conditions that can be deployed in one big turn from hand, usually because of steadily accrued resources
- Gameplay to feature many proactive and reactive plays
Generally, you should expect to be able to play at least six turns before you win or lose.
Bracket 4: Optimized
Players expect:
- Decks not to adhere to the cEDH metagame reserved for Bracket 5
- Decks to be lethal, consistent, and fast, designed to take people down as fast as possible
- Game Changers that are likely to be fast mana, snowballing resource engines, free disruption, and tutors
- Win conditions to vary but be efficient and instantaneous
- Gameplay to be explosive and powerful, featuring huge threats and efficient disruption to match
Generally, you should expect to be able to play at least four turns before you win or lose.
Bracket 5: cEDH
Players expect:
- Decks that are meticulously designed to battle in the cEDH metagame, with the ability to win quickly or generate overwhelming resources; often built using existing cEDH knowledge, tools, and/or decklists
- Win conditions to be optimized for efficiency and consistency
- Gameplay to be intricate and advanced, with razor-thin margins for error; players prioritize victory over all else
These games could end on any turn.
The more I think about it the more it makes sense, not all tutors are at the same power level. There’s a world of difference between [[Demonic Tutor]] and [[Trinket Mage]]