Yeva, Nature's HeraldYeva, Nature's Herald | art by Eric Deschamps

Welcome back to the miniseries where I take existing Commander decks and see how they can fit into the Commander Brackets. Be sure to check out the previous articles in the series where I looked at adapting decks for the Upgraded Bracket (3) and Core Bracket (2).

This week, I'll be looking at two of my personal decklists and proposing some tweaks and substitutions to bring them up to the expected game experience of the Optimized Bracket (4) as described by Wizards.

For those of you who missed the announcement, the Commander Format Panel announced a beta trial of a new system to "create a common language to help people find well-paired games" consisting of five brackets.

Personally, I've had far too many "my deck is a seven" or "it's a lightly upgraded precon" Rule Zero conversations at my local game store, so these Commander Brackets offer a breath of fresh air.

While I don't think they're perfect by any means (I think it's really hard to quantify the power level of highly synergistic decks), it's good to see that the Commander Format Panel is giving us a new tool to aid in pregame conversations.

The Optimized Bracket (4)

I personally find the Optimized Bracket relatively easy to wrap my head around. In my mind, just about any commander can be taken to its extreme and end up in the Optimized Bracket (4) thanks to fast mana, combos, looped extra turn spells, etc.

For me, what distinguishes cEDH Bracket (5) decks from Optimized Bracket (4) decks is that cEDH commanders are the cream of the crop AND their decklists are built to combat an existing meta.

The announcement article has this to say about Optimized Bracket decks: "You can expect to see explosive starts, strong tutors, cheap combos that end games, mass land destruction, or a deck full of cards off the Game Changers list. This is high-powered Commander, and games have the potential to end quickly."

Notably, Optimized Bracket decks have no additional recommended deckbuilding restrictions beyond the banned list. While this removes any additional added layers from the Bracket System, having access to nearly every legal card in magic still allows for plenty of variance in power and gameplay experience.

Bracket 4 simplifies the Rule Zero conversation down substantially because anything goes, but the decklists aren't meta cEDH lists. I imagine myself building decks for Bracket 4 using plenty of online tools, but not necessarily copying another decklist as a starting point. I'd love to hear about your approach to deckbuilding for the Optimized Bracket in the comments below.

I can imagine a fair amount of my games will be played at the Optimized Bracket, so I'm looking for another option or two alongside my Jodah, the Unifier Legendary Humans and Karn, Legacy Reforged Colorless Combo lists.

With all the clerical work out of the way, let's dive into this week's decklists:

Deck #1: Yeva, Nature's Herald Mono Green Flash Stompy

For this week's first deck, I've chosen to take my personal Yeva deck and see just how far I can push it. It's worth saying that Yeva, Nature's HeraldYeva, Nature's Herald has been a fringe cEDH commander at times.

While there are some common overlapping lines between my upgraded list and Yeva lists that have placed in tournaments, I think they're distinct enough that my version wouldn't quite be able to compete at a cEDH table.

I don't run any proxies in my Optimized Bracket (4) paper decks, so some notable cards like Gaea's CradleGaea's Cradle, Mox DiamondMox Diamond, and Boseiju, Who EnduresBoseiju, Who Endures aren't in this week's decklist because I don't happen to own them.

By not running proxies, I'm personally able to better distinguish between decks that fall into the Optimized Bracket (4) and cEDH Bracket (5).

My personal Yeva, Nature's Herald list has always felt very powerful in casual games even though it doesn't run any Game Changers and even before the invention of the Bracket System.

As I began evaluating it in relation to the Bracket System though, it felt like a deck that fell into the gray area between the Upgraded and Optimized Brackets, so I thought it would be better to push it towards the Optimized Bracket.

While it's still going to include big, green stompy creatures like Craterhoof BehemothCraterhoof Behemoth, Shaman of Forgotten WaysShaman of Forgotten Ways, and TerastodonTerastodon and plenty of mana dorks to quickly ramp up to them, I did build in more alternative win conditions using Ashaya, Soul of the WildAshaya, Soul of the Wild, Geier Reach SanitariumGeier Reach Sanitarium, Quirion RangerQuirion Ranger, and friends to help the deck have more explosive wins.

In total, I swapped 22 cards from my original list out in creating the optimized list, and you can see the cards I removed in the maybeboard of the updated decklist. The cards I added have an orange flag added to them as well.

Eight of those changes were swaps to the manabase to make it more explosive with Ancient TombAncient Tomb, interactive with cards like Emergence ZoneEmergence Zone and Talon Gates of MadaraTalon Gates of Madara, or to create combo lines with Ashaya using Geier Reach SanitariumGeier Reach Sanitarium and Mikokoro, Center of the SeaMikokoro, Center of the Sea.

The bulk of the changes this week were to make the deck more interactive using things like Veil of SummerVeil of Summer, Beast WithinBeast Within, Destiny SpinnerDestiny Spinner, and Thorn of AmethystThorn of Amethyst since a mono-green deck won't have access to counterspells to interact or protect its wins.

Another area that I shored up was the suite of tutors so that the optimized list could more reliably do its thing. Specifically, I added Crop RotationCrop Rotation, Eldritch EvolutionEldritch Evolution, Shared SummonsShared Summons, and Worldly TutorWorldly Tutor. Since the deck revolves heavily around creatures and lands, a heavy dose of these green tutors will be important for us to hang at the Optimized Bracket.

While this upgraded list differs quite a bit from my original list, I think what it sacrifices in flare will be more than made up for in raw power level.

With the 20+ changes I made, this list feels like it distinctly belongs in the Optimized Bracket instead of existing in a gray area where it could be over or underpowered depending on the composition of the rest of the pod. Mission accomplished!

Here's the full decklist:

Deck #2: Kalamax, the Stormsire Spellslinger-Voltron

As the second deck this week, I'm taking a stab at pushing my Kalamax Spellslinger-Voltron Deck to its absolute limit. The Arcane Maelstrom list helmed by Kalamax, the StormsireKalamax, the Stormsire was my first ever precon, and I've spent the last few years building and adapting it into a list that looks to cast an instant and copy instants like Fists of FlameFists of Flame that will pump Kalamax and let me go for commander damage kills.

It's definitely more powerful than the out-of-the-box version (though I'm no longer running Deflecting SwatDeflecting Swat in my personal list), but I find it still hangs pretty well at casual tables.

Like many Voltron-style decks (where you're 'suiting up' your commander to try to knock your opponents out with commander damage), it can quickly become the threat and has a chance to fizzle out when the table teams up against it.

Usually, this is a deck that I bring out when playing in unfamiliar pods or when I'm looking to have a more casual game. It certainly has the ability to come from behind (like the time I countered my own spell to deal lethal damage with Charmbreaker DevilsCharmbreaker Devils which I wrote about here) and win, but it develops at a slower pace that allows for most decks to have a chance to do their "thing."

The optimized version of my list is the biggest departure from the original that we've seen yet on Bracketology: In total, I changed 36 cards and there are easily another 30+ that I could've added in between the original dual lands like TaigaTaiga and Volcanic IslandVolcanic Island, Game Changers I don't own like Rhystic StudyRhystic Study and Cyclonic RiftCyclonic Rift, and a handful of other cards like BerserkBerserk and Blazing ShoalBlazing Shoal that would've made sense.

I definitely think there is plenty more room to optimize this particular list, but it's definitely much stronger than the version I'm currently running.

One major addition was a robust free counterspell suite headlined by Force of WillForce of Will and Fierce GuardianshipFierce Guardianship. Between those and the return of Deflecting SwatDeflecting Swat, this deck has lots of ways to interact and use Kalamax's triggered ability to great effect.

While I'm not 100% sold on running a Voltron deck in an Optimized Bracket (4) pod, being able to pressure an opponent's life total quickly with Kalamax and protect our commander is at the core of this deck's gameplan.

Adding, InvigorateInvigorate alongside the best of the pump spells from the original deck should still allow us to pressure opponent's life totals and maybe go for a one-turn-kill on the biggest threat.

Adding The One RingThe One Ring and Mystic RemoraMystic Remora alongside Archmage EmeritusArchmage Emeritus and the more limited draw effects should help us keep our hand full, and we're less worried about tapping out with this version of the deck.

I'm sure we could replace some more 'incidental' card advantage spells like Wheel of MisfortuneWheel of Misfortune and Dig Through TimeDig Through Time as well if we really wanted to continue to push things.

Overall, I'm really happy with the revised list. Is it the best Optimized Bracket (4) deck ever? Absolutely not! But it is definitely stronger and better able to interact with the table when spells start flying around.

I'd love to hear from you in the comments below what other cards I should consider. Nexus of FateNexus of Fate? Underworld BreachUnderworld Breach? Chain of VaporChain of Vapor?

Here's the full, revised list:

How to Apply My Method to Your Own Decks

In going through this exercise, there were a handful of takeaways I came across that I'd recommend when upgrading your decks for the Optimized Bracket:

Add fast mana - In my experience, higher powered games of commander are frequently defined by which deck gets off to the most explosive start. Whether it's Mana VaultMana Vault, Elvish Spirit GuideElvish Spirit Guide, or even Lotus PetalLotus Petal, adding in fast mana to help your deck get off to an early start will help immensely.

Find the Game Changers that fit - In the Optimized Bracket, there's no recommended cap on how many Game Changers a deck should run, so take a look over the full list and see which ones best aid your strategy. While you shouldn't play every single one in your Commander's color identity, there are plenty like The One RingThe One Ring that will help just about any deck.

Plan out your free interaction - When you're playing high powered commander, you can't expect to tap out late in the game and be guaranteed to get an extra turn. Whether you're running Force of WillForce of Will, Deflecting SwatDeflecting Swat, or Force of VigorForce of Vigor, you should have a handful of cards that allow you to stop your opponents from winning without having to take a full turn off.

Consider tutors and redundancy - Most deck archetypes have a best-in-class win condition, whether that's Thassa's OracleThassa's Oracle combos, Worldgorger DragonWorldgorger Dragon loops, or even Craterhoof BehemothCraterhoof Behemoth. As you're tweaking your lists, find the best win condition in your list and consider adding in tutors or other redundant ways for you to execute your gampelan.

Card draw, card draw, card draw - Having reliable ways to draw a lot of cards (be it Rhystic StudyRhystic Study, NecropotenceNecropotence, or Esper SentinelEsper Sentinel) will cure most of what ails your deck. When you can reliably see more of your deck every game, you'll be able to do more broken things too.

Till Next Time

For the next article in this series, I'm looking to adapt decklists (or maybe build from scratch?) for the Exhibition Bracket (1). I have a couple of my own lists that I think can be turned into something silly and thematic, but I'd love to hear from you about how you're building or adapting decklists for the Exhibition Bracket (1) in the comments below!

Here's a quick recap of what decks in the Exhibition Bracket (1) look like: "Winning is not the primary goal here, as it's more about showing off something unusual you've made. Villains yelling in the art? Everything has the number four? Oops, all Horses? Those are all fair game!"

I hope you found this experiment in tweaking my decklists to fit the new Bracket System helpful! I believe it's really important to think through the choices we make in our decklists to help them fall into a particular bracket or power level, and that doing so can help us better describe what our decks due to enable better Rule Zero conversations.

Let me know in the comments below what tweaks you're making to either power up or power down your decks to fit them into the Optimized Bracket (4). I'm also curious to hear what other changes you'd make to the two decks I featured this week to help it fit into the new bracket system.