All Five Commander Brackets, Side by Side

One chart for the whole system: what each bracket allows, how fast its games end, and where the boundaries between neighboring brackets actually sit.

Up to date: verified June 10, 2026 against WotC’s February 9, 2026 update

1 Exhibition
Theme and fun over raw power

Game length turn 9+ Games go at least 9 turns

Game Changers None
2 Core
The classic casual Commander experience

Game length turn 8+ Games go at least 8 turns

Game Changers None
3 Upgraded
Tuned decks, beefed up beyond the precon level

Game length turn 6+ Games go at least 6 turns

Game Changers Up to 3
4 Optimized
The strongest deck you can build, no holds barred

Game length turn 4+ Games can end by turn 4

Game Changers Unlimited
5 cEDH
Competitive Commander, where winning is the point

Game length any turn Games can end on any turn

Game Changers Unlimited

What each Commander bracket allows: Game Changers, mass land denial, extra turns, and two-card infinite combos
Rule	1 Exhibition	2 Core	3 Upgraded	4 Optimized	5 cEDH
Game Changers	None Not allowed	None Not allowed	Up to 3 Limited	Unlimited Allowed	Unlimited Allowed
Mass land denial	None Not allowed	None Not allowed	None Not allowed	Allowed Allowed	Allowed Allowed
Extra turns	None Not allowed	Limited Limited	Limited Limited	Allowed Allowed	Allowed Allowed
2-card infinite combos	None Not allowed	None Not allowed	No early combos Limited	Allowed Allowed	Allowed Allowed
Banned list	Applies	Applies	Applies	Applies	Applies

The single Commander banned list applies in every bracket. Tutor limits were removed from all brackets in the October 2025 update.

Where the lines are drawn

Bracket 1 (Exhibition) vs Bracket 2 (Core)

Bracket 2 (Core) decks are still casual and unoptimized, but they are genuinely trying to win the game. Exhibition decks are built around a theme first; Core decks are built around a strategy first.

Bracket 2 (Core) vs Bracket 3 (Upgraded)

Bracket 3 (Upgraded) decks are carefully tuned, can include up to three Game Changers, and aim to end games around turn six or later. Core decks are looser, slower, and run zero Game Changers.

Bracket 3 (Upgraded) vs Bracket 4 (Optimized)

Bracket 4 (Optimized) removes the guardrails: unlimited Game Changers, mass land denial, early combos, and chained extra turns are all fair game. Bracket 3 keeps the casual social contract; Bracket 4 is "the strongest deck you can build."

Bracket 4 (Optimized) vs Bracket 5 (cEDH)

Bracket 5 (cEDH) uses the same card pool but is defined by the competitive metagame: decks are chosen and tuned against the expected field, and winning is the only goal. Bracket 4 is "my strongest deck"; Bracket 5 is "the format's strongest deck."

Dig deeper

Read the full rules and play expectations for each bracket: Bracket 1 (Exhibition), Bracket 2 (Core), Bracket 3 (Upgraded), Bracket 4 (Optimized), Bracket 5 (cEDH), or take the 2-minute quiz to find where your deck lands.