cEDH Decklist Database
Established competitive archetypes, maintained lists, deck descriptions, and primer links. Best for learning what serious decks are trying to do.
Browse decks →Caveat
This is a human-curated map, not a live endorsement engine.
cEDH changes quickly. Tournament results, ban lists, bracket guidance, and community resources can move. Treat this as a starting map, then check dates, current legality, event rules, and recent results before making claims about the metagame.
Start here
The seven tabs I would keep open first
These are the highest-signal resources for answering “is this actually cEDH?” Use them before Discord takes, tier lists, Reddit comments, or raw confidence.
EDHTop16
Top-performing commanders, recent tournaments, conversion rates, decklists, and staple data. Best for checking what is winning now.
Study the meta →TopDeck.gg
Tournament software, event listings, standings, decklists, leaderboards, and organiser infrastructure across tabletop games including Magic.
Find events →Commander Spellbook
Search combo pieces, outputs, colour identity, and commander legality. Essential for checking whether a win condition is compact and coherent.
Search combos →Scryfall Advanced Search
The precision tool for Oracle text, legality, colour identity, mana value, types, printings, and exact effect hunting.
Search cards →Moxfield
The most common home for cEDH lists and primers. Use tags, packages, primer sections, opening-hand tests, and public list comparisons.
Build lists →Source of truth
Official rules, legality, brackets, and tournament documents
Use these when the question is “what is actually legal?” or “what does an event have to follow?” Not all cEDH events are sanctioned, but official rules still define card function, game procedure, and format legality.
Wizards: Commander formatCurrent Commander overview, deck construction, format legality, and banned/restricted entry point.
Wizards: Banned & Restricted listThe legality checkpoint before testing or registering anything.
Comprehensive Rules hubThe canonical reference for rules, corner cases, definitions, and downloadable rules files.
Comprehensive Rules PDFDirect PDF of the February 27, 2026 Comprehensive Rules.
Magic Tournament Rules PDFSanctioned tournament procedures, responsibilities, shortcuts, and event infrastructure.
Commander Brackets Beta UpdateThe key official framing for brackets, Game Changers, and cEDH as Bracket 5.
Commander B&R announcement — Feb 9, 2026Recent Commander-specific banlist context, including Biorhythm and Lutri changes.
Wizards proxy policy articleThe basic distinction between casual playtest cards and sanctioned-event legality.
Reality check
Metagame, tournament results, and event infrastructure
This is how you prevent “my deck feels good” from becoming “my deck is good”. Check what people register, what converts, what wins, and how similar shells perform over time.
EDHTop16 commanders
Filter by time period, entries, and tournament size to see meta share and performance for commanders.
Open commanders →EDHTop16 tournaments
Recent events, player counts, winners, standings, and linked decklists where available.
Open tournaments →EDHTop16 staples
Card inclusion data from tournament lists. Use this to audit whether your flex slots are ignoring proven format pressures.
Open staples →TopDeck.gg Magic events
Find events, standings, decklists, tournament pages, and organiser tools.
Open TopDeck →MTGTop8 cEDH
Another lens on cEDH results, metagame breakdowns, and event decklists.
Open MTGTop8 →cEDH Power
A newer data-oriented power ranking/analyser ecosystem. Treat it as a useful signal, not a verdict.
Open cEDH Power →Deck study
Deck databases, primers, and list-hosting
Good cEDH study starts with lists that explain themselves. Look for win lines, mulligan rules, flex slots, matchup notes, and update history.
cEDH Decklist DatabaseMaintained competitive deck hub and best starting point for archetype discovery.
MoxfieldDeck hosting, primers, packages, playtest hands, and community list discovery.
ArchidektVisual deckbuilding, custom categories, stats, and playtesting.
EDHREC cEDH tagPopularity-driven commander/card discovery. Useful, but validate against tournament data.
MTGGoldfish Commander metagameAnother broad decklist/metagame surface. Use carefully for cEDH-specific conclusions.
Moxfield cEDH staple cards listA quick reference for common competitive cards and card-quality audits.
Learn the format
Beginner-to-intermediate guides
Use these if you know Commander but not why cEDH feels like a different game: faster mulligans, tighter stack fights, lower tolerance for pet cards, and more punishing threat assessment.
Learn cEDH resources
Curated resources covering deckbuilding, gameplay, card search, list hosting, and learning paths.
Open hub →EDHREC: Intro to cEDH
A broad guide to the texture of cEDH games, mulligans, brackets, archetypes, and staples.
Read guide →Commander's Herald beginner guide
A clear entry point for players moving from high-power Commander to cEDH.
Read guide →A cEDH Field Guide
Decision-making, format framing, and practical advice for improving beyond list changes.
Read field guide →Three for One: casual guide to cEDH
A recent plain-English overview of what cEDH is and how it differs from casual Commander.
Read overview →r/CompetitiveEDH
The main subreddit for questions, list feedback, meta discussion, announcements, and community resources.
Open subreddit →Archetype map
What you are really trying to beat
cEDH decks are not just “combo decks”. They sit on a spectrum of speed, disruption, inevitability, commander dependency, and table role. Use these buckets to describe your matchups more honestly.
Turbo / proactive combo
Fast mana, compact wins, aggressive mulligans, and protection for early windows. Ask whether your deck can present or stop a win before value engines matter.
Midrange value
Efficient engines, interaction, card advantage, and patience. These decks punish fragile all-in plans and reward tight resource trades.
Stax / prison
Rule-setting permanents, asymmetrical commanders, and constrained game states. You need to know which hate piece matters and whether you can win through your own disruption.
Control / draw-go
Permission, instant-speed plans, and wins selected after the table is exhausted. Your plan must beat not just counters, but patience.
Creature combo
Mana dorks, tutors, creature-based loops, and commander-centric engines. Board wipes, creature removal, and timing matter more than they do against spell-only combo.
Storm / breach shells
Graveyard use, ritual chains, cheap interaction, and deterministic finishes. Learn when graveyard hate matters and when it is only theatre.
Primer test
If your deck cannot describe its role against these buckets, it probably is not ready to claim Bracket 5. A cEDH list should know whether it is the fastest deck, the police deck, the grind deck, or the opportunist at a given table.
Combo research
Win-line lookup and rules checking
Use combo tools to understand requirements, outputs, colour identity, commander involvement, and how many dead cards each line forces into your deck.
Commander Spellbook searchLarge EDH combo search engine with advanced filters and commander legality tools.
Find My CombosPaste a list or URL and uncover combos already present in your deck.
Scryfall AdvancedFind redundancy, replacements, functional analogues, and exact Oracle wording.
GathererOfficial card database and rulings archive. Scryfall is nicer; Gatherer is still official.
Comprehensive RulesUse the rules when the combo depends on priority, replacement effects, state-based actions, or loops.
Judging in cEDHGood for multiplayer priority, APNAP order, tournament concerns, and stack sequencing.
Competitive edge
Mulligans, tablecraft, rules literacy, and decision quality
The same 99 cards can perform wildly differently depending on opening-hand discipline, seat position, threat assessment, shortcut clarity, and when you choose to fight.
Judging in cEDH
Priority, APNAP order, tournament structure, and multiplayer complications from a judge perspective.
Read resource →Competitive REL in multiplayer
Commander's Herald on multiplayer supplemental tournament and infraction procedures.
Read article →Politics and win rates
Sam Black on negotiation, multiplayer incentives, deals, and how politics can shape outcomes.
Read essay →How to play your seat
Turn order, tempo, mulliganing, and adapting plans to your position in a pod.
Read article →Tempo & Card Advantage
A classic Wizards theory article on spending cards, mana, tempo, and pressure.
Read article →Surviving cEDH
Long-form tournament notes and competitive Commander framing under event pressure.
Read notes →Video topics worth drilling
cEDH mulligansOpening-hand discipline is one of the biggest edges available to newer pilots.
Going last in cEDHSeat disadvantage, lower-agency starts, and when to conserve resources.
Political theory in cEDHDeals, incentives, information, and table leverage.
Competitive 60-card to cEDHHow strong 1v1 Magic habits translate, and where they mislead you.
Brewer bench
Tools for building, checking, goldfishing, and iterating
These help with structure, not validation. A tool can find combos or bad curves; only games against serious pilots show whether the deck belongs.
DeckCheck
AI-assisted Commander deck scans and power discussion. Useful as a second opinion, not a judge.
Analyse deck →Moxfield
List hosting, primers, playtest hands, tags, packages, and public comparisons.
Open Moxfield →Archidekt
Visual organisation, drag-and-drop packages, stats, and playtesting.
Open Archidekt →ManaBox
Mobile lists, scanning, collection tools, pricing, and quick iteration.
Open ManaBox →Moxfield collection tools
Track owned cards, deck needs, and lists while keeping primers public.
Open collection →Scryfall syntax guide
Learn exact syntax for finding narrow effects, legal cards, and package redundancy.
Learn syntax →Watch reps
Gameplay, podcasts, set reviews, and theory channels
Watch for mulligans, priority passes, threat assessment, and failed win attempts. The most useful part of a gameplay video is often the spell someone chose not to fight over.
Playing With Power MTG
Polished gameplay and discussion; good for seeing fast games, stack fights, and condensed decisions.
Watch →Play to Win
Gameplay, podcast discussion, deck updates, and accessible cEDH commentary.
Watch →The Spike Feeders
Gameplay, set discussions, and community-focused competitive Commander content.
Watch →Into the North
Long-form cEDH strategy, tournament talk, card evaluation, and metagame discussion.
Listen →The Mind Sculptors
Deck techs, set reviews, and competitive Commander discussion.
Watch →ComedIan MTG
cEDH analysis, deck discussion, card evaluation, and meta takes.
Watch →Lemora's Cards
Commander and cEDH-adjacent theory, card evaluation, and deckbuilding commentary.
Watch →cEDH TV
Gameplay, deck discussion, and data-oriented tournament commentary.
Watch →Moderately Anonymous MTG
Competitive Commander gameplay and discussion with a broad spread of pilots and decks.
Watch →Find people
Communities, local scenes, and feedback channels
cEDH is learned fastest against better pilots. Use communities to get reps, ask targeted list questions, and find local events.
r/CompetitiveEDHList feedback, meta discussion, community resources, and beginner questions.
cEDH UKUK-focused competitive Commander community, events, Discord, and local scene discovery.
TopDeck event finderSearch for events and organisers using TopDeck infrastructure.
Wizards Store & Event LocatorFind nearby stores that may run Commander, cEDH, or Magic events.
SpellTableRemote Commander play. Great for getting reps if your local scene is thin.
DiscordMany deck communities and event groups live on Discord; use DDB and community pages to find current invites.
Access
Proxy and playtest-card resources
cEDH testing is healthier when people test against decks, not wallets. Always check table and event policy before playing; never represent a playtest card as real.
Wizards proxy policy
Core official language distinguishing personal playtest cards from sanctioned-event legality.
Read policy →MTG Print
Paste a list, generate printable sheets, and sleeve in front of basic lands for testing.
Print sheets →TCG Stacked
Proxy-printing utility for specific cards or lists.
Open utility →Draftsim proxies in EDH/cEDH
Proxy etiquette, Commander norms, and cEDH accessibility context.
Read overview →Coastal Commander Chaos proxy guide
Example event language around readability, clarity, and consistency.
Read example →Scryfall
Use current card text and legible names so opponents can verify cards quickly.
Check text →Deck audit
A practical checklist before you call a deck cEDH
Use this as the final gate. If you cannot answer these cleanly, the deck may still be powerful, but it probably is not ready for a Bracket 5 claim.
Meta target
Name the decks you expect to face and the specific lines you must stop.
Win windows
State your common wins, fastest credible win, and protected win windows.
Mulligans
Define keepable hands by role: proactive, interactive, engine, or hate-piece hands.
Interaction map
Know which cards stop opposing wins, not just which cards are generically good.
Recovery plan
Explain what happens after the first win attempt fails.
Reason to exist
Say why this commander/shell deserves a seat over established alternatives.
Evidence
Track games into serious pods or tournament settings; do not rely on local pubstomping.
Flex slots
Every card should have a speed, resilience, matchup, or consistency argument.
Rules clarity
Be able to present loops, shortcuts, triggers, and priority passes cleanly.
The cruel standard
“It wins fast sometimes” is not enough. A cEDH deck needs a plan for fast wins, stopped wins, other people’s wins, bad seats, hostile mulligans, hate pieces, and the actual decks showing up in current results.