Commander Bracket System Updates and Unbans - April 2025

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baylen, the Haymaker" href="#" target="_blank">Baylen, the Haymaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>|Art by <a href="https://www.ryanpancoast.com/">Ryan Pancoast</a>)</h6>
<p>Friendly greetings and welcome to <em>Bracketeering</em>, the series about sideboarding for Commander Brackets. I'm John Sherwood, here to make hay while the sun shines.</p>
<p>This month, I'm Bracketeering an average deck from one of the top 100 commanders on EDHREC: <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Baylen, the Haymaker" href="#" target="_blank">Baylen, the Haymaker</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Baylen, the Haymaker"></div></div>
<h2>The Contender</h2>
<p>Baylen is the most popular commander from <em>Bloomburrow</em> by a margin of about 1,400 decks over <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ms. Bumbleflower" href="#" target="_blank">Ms. Bumbleflower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. This beast mode bunny is punching above its weight class, with power ahead of curve and a text box that reads like a fight movie training montage.</p>
<p>From the first line, it keeps getting better, with mana acceleration, card draw, and a knock-down blow. The token-tapping costs of Baylen's abilities are easily payable in Naya colors. <a href="http://www.archidekt.com">Archidekt</a> estimates the bracket for Baylen's average deck is an Upgraded (3) because of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smothering Tithe" href="#" target="_blank">Smothering Tithe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Taking a strict view of the brackets, one game changer is the difference between Core (2) and Upgraded (3). Undoubtedly, Baylen's ability to use Treasures without sacrificing them is game-changing. Looking at the rest of Baylen's average deck, I think Upgraded (3) is a fair bracket estimate.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Baylen Average 4/4/25" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Baylen, the Haymaker
[/Commander]
[Creatures]
*1 Academy Manufactor
*1 Anim Pakal, Thousandth Moon
*1 Arasta of the Endless Web
*1 Birds of Paradise
*1 Burrowguard Mentor
*1 Cadira, Caller of the Small
*1 Charismatic Conqueror
*1 Drumbellower
*1 Enduring Vitality
*1 Farmer Cotton
*1 Finneas, Ace Archer
*1 Gilded Goose
*1 Hare Apparent
*1 Jacked Rabbit
*1 Jaheira, Friend of the Forest
*1 Jetmir, Nexus of Revels
*1 Mondrak, Glory Dominus
*1 Ocelot Pride
*1 Ojer Taq, Deepest Foundation // Temple of Civilization
*1 Peregrin Took
*1 Queen Allenal of Ruadach
*1 Rhys the Redeemed
*1 Rosie Cotton of South Lane
*1 Scute Swarm
*1 Seedborn Muse
*1 Tendershoot Dryad
*1 Tireless Provisioner
*1 Warren Warleader
*1 Wildfire Awakener
[/Creatures]
[Enchantments]
*1 Anointed Procession
*1 Caretaker&#039;s Talent
*1 Dazzling Theater // Prop Room
*1 Doubling Season
*1 Felidar Retreat
*1 Impact Tremors
*1 Parallel Lives
*1 Smothering Tithe
*1 Warleader&#039;s Call
[/Enchantments]
[Artifacts]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Halo Fountain
*1 Idol of Oblivion
*1 Lightning Greaves
*1 Skullclamp
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Swiftfoot Boots
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Arid Mesa
*1 Bountiful Promenade
*1 Canopy Vista
*1 Cinder Glade
*1 Clifftop Retreat
*1 Command Tower
*1 Exotic Orchard
*8 Forest
*1 Jetmir&#039;s Garden
*1 Jungle Shrine
*1 Mountain
*10 Plains
*1 Sacred Foundry
*1 Stomping Ground
*1 Temple Garden
*1 Windswept Heath
*1 Wooded Foothills
[/Lands]
[Instants]
*1 Artifact Mutation
*1 Aura Mutation
*1 Beast Within
*1 Dawn&#039;s Truce
*1 Grand Crescendo
*1 Heroic Intervention
*1 March of the Multitudes
*1 Path to Exile
*1 Second Harvest
*1 Secure the Wastes
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instants]
[Planeswalkers]
*1 Elspeth, Sun&#039;s Champion
[/Planeswalkers]
[Sorceries]
*1 Cultivate
*1 Farseek
*1 For the Common Good
*1 Hop to It
*1 Hour of Reckoning
*1 Nature&#039;s Lore
*1 Rampant Growth
*1 Season of the Burrow
*1 Three Visits
[/Sorceries]"></span></div>
<p>It's important to note some issues in the deck, stemming from the fact that EDHREC average decks are aggregated from data, not built by a single player. Unfortunately, Baylen's average mana base is malnourished, with a scant thirty-three lands.</p>
<p>Please, if you're one of the Baylen players skewing that average: play more lands. There's also a single copy of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Hare Apparent" href="#" target="_blank">Hare Apparent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> in Baylen's average deck. I'm challenging that inclusion as a product of dedicated Hare Apparent decks in the data pool.</p>
<h2>Sparring Partners</h2>
<p>First, we're going to sideboard for more speed and power. This rascally rabbit is going to float like a butterfly and sting like a bee. Our existing list includes 28 cards that make tokens. I prefer a deck's main theme to be around 30 cards, which means this sideboard needs a few more token-producers.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Call the Coppercoats" href="#" target="_blank">Call the Coppercoats</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Song of Totentanz" href="#" target="_blank">Song of Totentanz</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Springheart Nantuko" href="#" target="_blank">Springheart Nantuko</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Arachnogenesis" href="#" target="_blank">Arachnogenesis</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>Baylen wants to tap all those tokens for value. Untapping effects will be a force multiplier in this deck. It already has repeatable untapping from cards like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedborn Muse" href="#" target="_blank">Seedborn Muse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but I think we can improve this with more instant untapping.</p>
<ul>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="To Arms!" href="#" target="_blank">To Arms!</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vitalize" href="#" target="_blank">Vitalize</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Benefactor&#039;s Draught" href="#" target="_blank">Benefactor&#039;s Draught</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Great Train Heist" href="#" target="_blank">Great Train Heist</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
<li><span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Savage Beating" href="#" target="_blank">Savage Beating</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span></li>
</ul>
<p>As a combat deck that wants to tap things for reasons other than attacking, a little vigilance will go a long way. There's a lot of creatures in this deck that would love to get in for damage and tap to pump Baylen. Beylen itself is itching to swing, and every attack is better if you can leave up blockers. To that end, I'm sideboarding <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Brave the Sands" href="#" target="_blank">Brave the Sands</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Brave the Sands"></div></div>
<h2>Hitting the Heavy Bag</h2>
<p>Siding in some more Game Changers and tutors will give this deck a strong boost toward Optimized (4). <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Enlightened Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Enlightened Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> is an extra copy of many of this deck's force multipliers, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Doubling Season" href="#" target="_blank">Doubling Season</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p>Meanwhile, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Worldly Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Worldly Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> can find the <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Seedborn Muse" href="#" target="_blank">Seedborn Muse</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> or <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Drumbellower" href="#" target="_blank">Drumbellower</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and increase opportunities for Baylen's activated abilities.</p>
<h2>The Training Diet</h2>
<p>Technically, this deck becomes Core (2) by taking out <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Smothering Tithe" href="#" target="_blank">Smothering Tithe</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, but we want to honor the spirit of the bracket system, not just the letter of it. A Core (2) version of Baylen should be less bare knuckle and more padded sparring.</p>
<p>Replacement effects that increase token creation are great for Upgraded (3) and Optimized (4) games. However, Core (2) is precon level, so we should side out some of those pushed cards, like <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Anointed Procession" href="#" target="_blank">Anointed Procession</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. The question, then, is what to sideboard in?</p>
<p>While Baylen itself has strong synergy with Food tokens, Foods are the least threatening of the many token options. Food tokens are also thematic for a commander with an agricultural pun its name.</p>
<p>There're only six Food cards in Baylen's average deck, leaving lots of Food options we can side-in for a tasty subtheme. My vegan friends might not approve, but I couldn't resist the irony of <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Stew the Coneys" href="#" target="_blank">Stew the Coneys</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit" href="#" target="_blank">Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Stew the Coneys"></div><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit"></div></div>
<p>With about a dozen more Food-producers in the lineup, we're ready to play this deck for fun at Core (2) or rumble in an Optimized (4) pod. Check out this sideboard:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Bracketeering Baylen Sideboard" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Instants]
*1 Arachnogenesis
*1 Benefactor&#039;s Draught
*1 Call the Coppercoats
*1 Enlightened Tutor
*1 Great Train Heist
*1 Pawpatch Formation
*1 Savage Beating
*1 Stew the Coneys
*1 To Arms!
*1 Vitalize
*1 Worldly Tutor
[/Instants]
[Creatures]
*1 Apothecary White
*1 Sam, Loyal Attendant
*1 Springheart Nantuko
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Giant Opportunity
*1 Late to Dinner
*1 Revive the Shire
*1 Song of Totentanz
*1 Spider Food
[/Sorceries]
[Enchantments]
*1 Brave the Sands
*1 Killer Service
*1 Night of the Sweets&#039; Revenge
*1 Of Herbs and Stewed Rabbit
*1 Welcome to Sweettooth
[/Enchantments]
[Lands]
*1 The Shire
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>Betting on a Second Round Knock-Out</h2>
<p>I hope you enjoyed the Commander Brackets Beta as much as I did. For me, the first round of Commander Brackets injected some interesting deck brewing considerations. My bracket-centric interactions with other members of the community were mostly positive, and it really helped my game selections on Spelltable.</p>
<p>I'm personally excited for the Bracket action to heat up in Round Two, and curious to see how potential changes will affect this series. I'm planning to Bracketeer one of my personal decks next month, so stay tuned. In the mean time, tell us about your bracket experiences in the comments, especially if you're experimenting with sideboards for Commander.</p>


Bracketeering - Baylen, the Haymaker

<h6 style="text-align: right;">(<span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rhet-Tomb Mystic" href="#" target="_blank">Rhet-Tomb Mystic</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> | Art by <a href="https://nord-sol.com/">Irina Nordsol</a>)</h6>
<p>Friendly Greetings, and welcome to the premier issue of <em>Bracketeering</em>! I'm John Sherwood, Commander Bracket convert. When Wizards of the Coast first teased the idea of Commander Brackets, I was a skeptic.</p>
<p>I seriously doubted a bracket system would ever work. The announcement of the Commander Bracket Beta and the subsequent discussion in the Commander community changed my mind.</p>
<p>I felt inspired to think differently about deck building, and I'm sharing my refreshed perspective in this new series about using sideboards to play a Commander deck in multiple brackets.</p>
<h2>Commander Brackets</h2>
<p style="text-align: left;">Let's briefly review the Commander Brackets. The Commander Bracket Beta is a two-part method of grading and talking about Commander Decks.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Part one is the five brackets, which define deck levels on a spectrum of social to competitive gameplay.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">Part two is a list of Game Changers; cards with major impacts on the Commander ecosystem.</p>
<p style="text-align: left;">The chart below was posted by Rachel Weeks of the Commander Format Panel. In my personal opinion, this is the best summary of the Commander Bracket Beta.</p>
<h6 style="text-align: right;"><a href="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bafkreifsw4y2lhndbag3mm27a7wvik66kqetueh6ujxksmvkac7igxydmi.jpg"><img decoding="async" loading="lazy" class="aligncenter size-full wp-image-145514" src="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bafkreifsw4y2lhndbag3mm27a7wvik66kqetueh6ujxksmvkac7igxydmi.jpg" alt="Gradient chart of the Commander Brackets. Chart created by Rachel Weeks." width="600" height="400" srcset="https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bafkreifsw4y2lhndbag3mm27a7wvik66kqetueh6ujxksmvkac7igxydmi.jpg 600w, https://edhrecstatic.com/articles/wp-content/uploads/2025/02/bafkreifsw4y2lhndbag3mm27a7wvik66kqetueh6ujxksmvkac7igxydmi-300x200.jpg 300w" sizes="(max-width: 600px) 100vw, 600px" /></a><a href="https://bsky.app/profile/rachelweeks.bsky.social/post/3liaihvemes2m">Commander Bracket Beta Chart from Rachel Weeks</a></h6>
<p>These brackets provide a framework for expressing a desirable Commander gameplay experience. Since the announcement of the bracket system, many Commander players have been excited to rate their existing decks, and build new decks within the parameters of a given bracket.</p>
<p>For those of us leaping into bracketeering: These new brackets also give us an opportunity to import a deckbuilding concept from other formats: sideboarding.</p>
<h2>Why Sideboard?</h2>
<p>For those who are unfamiliar, <em>Magic</em> formats that play best-of-three matches use a sideboard to tune a deck between the games of a match.</p>
<p>Now, I'm far from the first person to suggest sideboards for Commander, however I believe the new bracket system presents a perfect opportunity to adapt the concept for our format. A sideboard can fit in your deck box, taking up less space than multiple decks when you're traveling to play.</p>
<p>Building a sideboard can cost less money than building another deck. Maybe you have one commander or one theme that you really love, and you want to be able to adapt to the power of your pod.</p>
<p>Commander continues to be a dynamic format as the card pool expands outward and upward. A sideboard could be a great way to keep a deck's original feel, while also keeping up with new toys and power creep.</p>
<h2>Ground Rules</h2>
<p>Before we jump into the meat of the series and start Bracketeering our first deck, I'm going to lay out two guidelines for the series going forward.</p>
<p>First, our sideboards will not exceed twenty-five cards. This is consistent with other eternal formats in which a sideboard of fifteen cards equates to 25% of the deck.</p>
<p>Second, our sideboards will contain cards to enable a deck to shift up or down one bracket. This also means most of the decks in the series will begin in the Core (2), Upgraded (3) or Optimized (4) brackets.</p>
<h2>Eternal Might</h2>
<p>The recent release of <em>Aetherdrift</em> featured a preconstructed Commander deck themed around the undead of Amonkhet. <em>Eternal Might</em> is a Zombie theme deck seated firmly in the Core (2) Bracket.</p>
<p>The deck contains no combos, no Game Changers, and there is only one non-land tutor. Here's the whole deck list for reference:</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="(DRC) - Eternal Might" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Commander]
*1 Temmet, Naktamun&#039;s Will
[/Commander]
[Creature]
*1 Angel of Sanctions
*1 Archfiend of Ifnir
*1 Binding Mummy
*1 Cemetery Reaper
*1 Champion of Wits
*1 Corpse Augur
*1 Corpse Knight
*1 Cryptbreaker
*1 Eternal Skylord
*1 Fleshbag Marauder
*1 Forgotten Creation
*1 Gempalm Polluter
*1 Gleaming Overseer
*1 God-Eternal Oketra
*1 Grave Titan
*1 Gravecrawler
*1 Hashaton, Scarab&#039;s Fist
*1 Lazotep Chancellor
*1 Lord of the Accursed
*1 Lost Monarch of Ifnir
*1 Midnight Reaper
*1 Murderous Rider // Swift End
*1 Plague Belcher
*1 Priest of the Crossing
*1 Prophet of the Scarab
*1 Rhet-Tomb Mystic
*1 Rot Hulk
*1 The Scarab God
*1 Timeless Dragon
*1 Twisted Abomination
*1 Undead Augur
*1 Vizier of Many Faces
*1 Wayward Servant
*1 Wizened Mentor
*1 Zombie Master
[/Creature]
[Enchantment]
*1 Cast Out
*1 Dreadhorde Invasion
*1 On Wings of Gold
*1 Renewed Solidarity
[/Enchantment]
[Land]
*1 Accursed Duneyard
*1 Adarkar Wastes
*1 Arcane Sanctum
*1 Ash Barrens
*1 Caves of Koilos
*1 Command Tower
*1 Desert of the Glorified
*1 Desert of the Mindful
*1 Desert of the True
*1 Drowned Catacomb
*1 Evolving Wilds
*1 Exotic Orchard
*1 Fetid Pools
*1 Glacial Fortress
*1 Irrigated Farmland
*4 Island
*1 Isolated Chapel
*1 Orzhov Basilica
*1 Path of Ancestry
*5 Plains
*1 Prairie Stream
*1 Sunken Hollow
*5 Swamp
*1 Temple of Deceit
*1 Temple of Silence
*1 Terramorphic Expanse
*1 Underground River
*1 Unholy Grotto
[/Land]
[Instant]
*1 Commence the Endgame
*1 Despark
*1 Pull from Tomorrow
*1 Swords to Plowshares
[/Instant]
[Sorcery]
*1 Damn
*1 Dread Summons
*1 Dusk // Dawn
*1 Never // Return
[/Sorcery]
[Artifact]
*1 Arcane Signet
*1 Bontu&#039;s Monument
*1 Commander&#039;s Sphere
*1 Crowded Crypt
*1 Dimir Signet
*1 Gate to the Afterlife
*1 God-Pharaoh&#039;s Gift
*1 Maskwood Nexus
*1 Orzhov Signet
*1 Sol Ring
*1 Talisman of Dominance
*1 Talisman of Hierarchy
[/Artifact]
[Planeswalker]
*1 Liliana, Death&#039;s Majesty
[/Planeswalker]"></span></div>
<p>Being centered in one of the most supported creature types, it should be easy to sideboard up into the Upgraded (3) Bracket. The real challenge for Bracketeering a Zombie deck will be stepping it down into the Exhibition (1) bracket.</p>
<h2>Upgrades</h2>
<p><a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/author/andy-zupke">Andy Zupke</a> published a great <a href="https://edhrec.com/articles/eternal-might-precon-upgrade-guide-aetherdrift">Upgrade Guide</a> for this deck, which was very handy for preparing this article. I'm going to shamelessly borrow some of his ideas for our sideboard.</p>
<p>Three of Andy's picks are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cleaver Skaab" href="#" target="_blank">Cleaver Skaab</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Endless Ranks of the Dead" href="#" target="_blank">Endless Ranks of the Dead</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Rooftop Storm" href="#" target="_blank">Rooftop Storm</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Rooftop Storm"></div></div>
<p>Endless Ranks of the Dead and Cleaver Skaab are both strong synergy pieces for <em>Eternal Might</em>'s token subtheme. Rooftop Storm is an archetypal pillar for Zombies; powerful as an engine or combo piece.</p>
<p>Speaking of combo pieces, let's talk about a couple cards that are already in the deck. We've already got <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Gravecrawler" href="#" target="_blank">Gravecrawler</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, a one drop that loops like a teenage summer soundtrack.</p>
<p>The precon also comes with <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Corpse Knight" href="#" target="_blank">Corpse Knight</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> as a combo payoff. Plugging Gravecrawler into <a href="http://www.commanderspellbook.com">Commander Spellbook</a> yields some winning cards for the upgrade portion of our sideboard. <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Ashnod&#039;s Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Ashnod&#039;s Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Carrion Feeder" href="#" target="_blank">Carrion Feeder</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Grimgrin, Corpse-Born" href="#" target="_blank">Grimgrin, Corpse-Born</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Phyrexian Altar" href="#" target="_blank">Phyrexian Altar</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are all sacrfice outlets for looping that Gravecrawler.</p>
<p>Combos become more prevalent as we move up from Core (2) to Upgraded (3), and inluding multiple sacrifice outlets will help this deck consistently field a combo.</p>
<p>Another way we can make our combos more consistent is to tutor for the combo pieces. As an Esper deck, Eternal Might has access to the best tutors, but <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Demonic Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Demonic Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>, <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Imperial Seal" href="#" target="_blank">Imperial Seal</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Vampiric Tutor" href="#" target="_blank">Vampiric Tutor</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> are Game Changers.</p>
<p>Sideboarding too many Game Changers would push this deck into Optimized (4) instead of our target Uprgraded (3) bracket. To accurately hit that Upgraded (3) target, let's look at some <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Entomb" href="#" target="_blank">Entomb</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> effects dump our Gravecrawler in the bin.</p>
<p>Two of my favorites are <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Buried Alive" href="#" target="_blank">Buried Alive</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lively Dirge" href="#" target="_blank">Lively Dirge</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. Buried Alive is outstanding value for mana, entombing three cards for one mana each. Lively Dirge does double duty as an entomb effect or reanimation spell.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lively Dirge"></div></div>
<h2>Game Changers</h2>
<p>Since we're sideboarding this deck into the Upgraded (3) Bracket, we're allowed up to three Game Changers in this sideboard. One easy pick in this category is <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Bolas&#039;s Citadel" href="#" target="_blank">Bolas&#039;s Citadel</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<p><div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Bolas&#039;s Citadel"></div></div>This card provides card advantage, a sacrifice outlet and pressures our opponents' life totals while matching the deck's Egyptian-inspired aesthetic.</p>
<p>A deck that goes wide like <em>Eternal Might </em>should be able to leverage <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Cyclonic Rift" href="#" target="_blank">Cyclonic Rift</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> for a win. Flooding the battlefield with Zombies and Rifting blockers out of the way is a tried and true recipe for victory. <div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Cyclonic Rift"></div></div></p>
<h2>Mana Base</h2>
<p>Eternal Might follows the precon pattern of slow, clunky lands. This is fine for an Exhbition (1) or Core (2) deck, but we want better tempo when we're bracketeering for Upgraded (3) game.</p>
<p>The precon contains six lands with cycling, and five of them are deserts that enter tapped. The deserts are thematic, but the deck doesn't have enough discard payoffs to justify their downsides at higher power tables. If you have the means to sideboard premium lands, then go for it.</p>
<p>Regardless of budget, a basic land is almost always better than a land that enters tapped. I would side out those deserts for basic lands, plus a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Contaminated Landscape" href="#" target="_blank">Contaminated Landscape</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Lazotep Quarry" href="#" target="_blank">Lazotep Quarry</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Contaminated Landscape"></div></div>
<div class="edhrecp__cards"><div class="edhrecp__card-container" name="Lazotep Quarry"></div></div>
<p>These lands are budget friendly, produce mana without entering tapped and they can fix colors in a pinch.</p>
<h2>Downgrades</h2>
<p>I'm hesitant to call this section Downgrades, but I don't know what else to call it. I'm open to suggestions. Drop your positive-spin Downgrade synonyms in the comments please.</p>
<p>In the meantime, I'm going to sideboard some cards that will increase this deck's thematic consistency; possibly at the expense of strategic consistency.</p>
<p>I'm a sucker for set mechanics, and I fell hard for Amass drafting War of the Spark. The original Amass mechanic thematically represented the army Nicol Bolas raised on Amonkhet.</p>
<p>There are eleven Amass cards that are not in the Eternal Might precon, and that gives us an avenue to double down on the deck's flavor. A lot of these cards were balanced for limited play, which should help the deck let off the gas and bask in warmth of Amonkhet's suns.</p>
<p>I'm adding all of them except <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Toll of the Invasion" href="#" target="_blank">Toll of the Invasion</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> and <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Crush Dissent" href="#" target="_blank">Crush Dissent</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span>. I personally feel targeted hand destruction like Toll of the Invasion doesn't belong in the social-forward atmosphere of an Exhibition (1) game.</p>
<p>Before <em>The</em> <em>Lord of the Rings</em> set improved Amass, I had a <span class="edhrecp__link"><a class="edhrecp__link-a" content="Kess, Dissident Mage" href="#" target="_blank">Kess, Dissident Mage</a><span class="edhrecp__link-image"></span></span> Amass deck. Even in that jank pile, Crush Dissent was frequently a dead card, and I don't wish dead cards on anyone. Fortunately we still have nine other Amass Zombies cards for Exhibition (1) gold.</p>
<h2>The Sideboard</h2>
<p>Archidekt's card packages are a great tool for building and upgrading decks. I created this <a href="https://archidekt.com/decks/11772093/bracketeering_eternal_might_sideboard">Eternal Might Sideboard</a> as a Card Package, so anyone can add it directly to their deck without searching for the individual cards.</p>
<div class="edhrecp__deck mtgh"><span class="edhrecp__deck-s" name="Bracketeering Eternal Might Sideboard" site="edhrec" archidekt_link="" cards="[Enchantments]
*1 Endless Ranks of the Dead
*1 Mindless Conscription
*1 Rooftop Storm
[/Enchantments]
[Creatures]
*1 Aven Eternal
*1 Carrion Feeder
*1 Cleaver Skaab
*1 Grimgrin, Corpse-Born
*1 Lazotep Reaver
*1 Vizier of the Scorpion
[/Creatures]
[Sorceries]
*1 Bleeding Edge
*1 Buried Alive
*1 Callous Dismissal
*1 Enter the God-Eternals
*1 Lively Dirge
*1 Relentless Advance
[/Sorceries]
[Instants]
*1 Cyclonic Rift
*1 Lazotep Plating
[/Instants]
[Artifacts]
*1 Ashnod&#039;s Altar
*1 Bolas&#039;s Citadel
*1 Phyrexian Altar
[/Artifacts]
[Lands]
*1 Contaminated Landscape
*1 Lazotep Quarry
*1 Island
*1 Plains
*1 Swamp
[/Lands]"></span></div>
<h2>What did the mummy say to the editor?</h2>
<p>"That's a wrap."</p>
<p>Bracketeering will be back next month with another deck and another sideboard. In addition to precons, Bracketeering will sometimes feature average decks from EDHREC's top commanders.</p>
<p>Comment below there's a deck you'd like to see featured in this series. Bracketeering a reader-submitted deck is also a possibility. Until next time, may your brews be fresh and your games be fabulous.</p>


bracket

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