Rating Guide
Use this guide to rate Magic: The Gathering cards clearly and consistently.
1. Power Level
Q: On a scale from 1 (Weak) to 10 (Broken), how powerful is this card?
Evaluate based on raw power and its effect relative to its casting cost. The exact baseline isn't important, just be consistent in your ratings.
2. Personal Preference
Q: On a scale from 1 (Strongly Dislike) to 5 (Strongly Like), how much do you like this card?
This rating is based purely on your personal preference.
3. Standard Playability
Q: How would you classify this card in Standard?
- Unplayable: Unlikely to appear in competitive decks.
- Playable: Has a realistic chance of appearing in 5-0 MTG Arena or MTGO decklists.
- Broken: Format-warping (negatively impacting the meta), likely to be banned, or significantly above average for its rarity or casting cost.
4. Commander Playability
Q: How would you classify this card in Commander?
- Unplayable: Does not fit effectively in any competitive or popular Commander deck.
- Playable: Could realistically fit into decks ranked at a Bracket level 3 or higher, providing competitive benefits.
- Broken: Could end up on the game changers list, ban-worthy, or creates an unfun environment due to high power.
5. Playability in Other Formats
Q: Could this card see play outside of Standard and Commander?
- Probably Not: Unlikely to appear in any competive Vintage, Legacy, Modern, or Pioneer MTGO decklists.
- Probably: Has a reasonable chance to appear in competitive MTGO decklists for Vintage, Legacy, Modern, or Pioneer. (Excludes Pauper and Penny Dreadful.)
6. Sideboard Inclusion
Q: Is this card intended primarily for the sideboard?
- Yes: Typically appears more often in sideboards than main decks.
- No: Typically used in main decks.
7. Deck Archetype Versatility
Q: On a scale from 1 (Very Few Decks) to 5 (Almost All Decks), how many archetypes can effectively use this card?
- 1: Extremely narrow use (e.g., only fits in a specific tribal deck like Hippogriff Tribal).
- 3: Moderate versatility (e.g., effective in most aggressive decks but not slower decks).
- 5: Highly versatile, easily included in nearly all decks able to use it (e.g., Lightning Bolt, Sol Ring).