Commander: Wizards Removes 10 Cards from Game Changers

Wizards of the Coast announced this Tuesday (21) major changes to the deck classification system for the Commander format, known as Commander Brackets Beta. The update redefines the power categories of the lists and alters the relationship of high-impact cards, called Game Changers.

The changes were unveiled during the Commander Summit. Designer Gavin Verhey stated that the goal is to clarify the definition of "deck power" and reinforce the importance of pre-game dialogue between players.

According to the company, the new version of the system was developed after nearly a year of testing at official events, such as MagicCon, and based on player surveys. The goal is to clarify what differentiates each deck level and facilitate the pairing of balanced tables.

Brackets now use the average number of innings in a match as the primary power indicator. The nomenclature and descriptions have also been revised.

One of the main adjustments was the removal of the criterion that limited the number of tutors to determine a deck's power. The company emphasized that the analysis will now focus on the impact of Game Changers.

The Game Changers list has also been updated. Wizards removed names that, according to the design team, no longer cause the same imbalance as in the past or that are expected to be powerful due to their mana cost, or legends whose inclusion on the game changers list hindered deckbuilding creativity for more casual audiences. Among the removed cards are:

The full list of updated Game Changers can be found below.

The update is effective immediately, while still in beta. Wizards has opened a feedback channel for the community to submit suggestions ahead of the next system revision.

Source: DailyMTG