Running Commander Tournaments

TopDeck.gg is the premier choice for running Commander/EDH tournaments of any kind.

Running a Commander tournament is as simple as running a regular tournament. This article will guide you through the special intricacies of running multiplayer events and the options available to you.

For basic tournament features, please refer to Running a Tournament.

Commander Specific Point Modes

Commander has special points modes that function a bit differently than regular tournaments:

• Standard: Winners are awarded 5 points per win by default, and 1 per draw.
• Point Wager: Players start with a set score and "wager" a percentage of their points per game, with the winner taking all.
• Score Based: Instead of assigning winners, you enter "scores" for each player. Perfect for victory point games like Settlers of Catan.
• Custom: Need a custom solution? Custom allows you to enter points per player, points per bye, and more. This lets you do things like assigning points for placement.

In addition, Commander and other multiplayer pod based games have an additional Bye Mode option in the configuration. By default, the matchmaking algorithm will try to pair as many tables of four as possible. In the event of uneven numbers, you can select the Bye Mode:

• Allow Byes: Give the extra players a bye for the round.
• Pair Low Standings into 3 Pods: Pairs the lowest standing extra players into pods of three. In the event of uneven numbers, more than 1 pod of three can be paired.
• Pair Low Standings into 5 Pods: Same as above, but creates pods of 5 instead of 3.
• Pair High Standings into 3 Pods: Same as above, except it will try to pair the highest standing players into pods of 3 instead.
• Pair High Standings into 5 Pods: Same as above, but creates pods of 5 instead of 3.

Specialized Commander Pairing Systems

TopDeck.gg has developed proprietary algorithms to pair multiplayer tables. Our system is the best representation of Swiss for multiplayer and tries to avoid as many re-pairs as possible.

When creating a new round, you have several options available to you:

• Swiss Pods (recommended): This will pair players by Swiss. As rounds progress, it will convert to a more circular pairing system to avoid top tables from intentionally drawing into top cut.
• True Swiss: Use true Swiss pairings to always pair every round as a Swiss round, with similar-pointed players playing against each other.
• Power Pods: This is a top down pairing method, useful for final rounds of long tournaments.
• Bubble Pods: This pairing method will pair standings 1, 2, 3, 4 together, continuing in standing order all the way down.
• Random Pods: This will assign players at random to play with each other, with no regard for record.

Managing Pods

Managing pods is similar to managing regular tables in a tournament, with a few caveats.

Assuming the Standard system, you can simply mark players as the winner at a table, rather than inputting any scores. Additionally, you can mark a table as a draw using the Draw option.

Finally, you can Assign Game Loss to anyone at the table from the triple dot menu. This means the player will not receive points in the event of a draw at the table. This is perfect for situations where you don't want eliminated players to gain points.

Everything else is the same as running a regular tournament, which you can read about here.

Running a Top Cut

Commander has different Top Cut options available than traditional 1v1 games and formats.

• Top 4
• Top 10
• Top 13
• Top 16
• Top 40
• Top 64

In regards to Top 10, 13, and 40, here's how they work:

In Top 10, the top 2 players get a bye into the finals, while the other 8 play out for their spot in the finals.

In Top 13, the top 1 player gets a bye into the finals, while the other 12 play out for their spot in the finals.

In top 40, the top 8 players get a bye into the semifinals, while the other 32 play out for their spot in the top 16.

We use the following snake pairings method to create top cut pods:

Frequently Asked Questions

How do Commander Swiss pairings work?

Commander Swiss pairings group players into 4-person pods based on similar win records. Our algorithm prioritizes fair matchups while avoiding repeat opponents, ensuring balanced multiplayer gameplay throughout the tournament.

What's the best scoring system for Commander tournaments?

The Standard point system (5 points for wins, 1 for draws) works well for most Commander events. For more competitive play, consider Point Wager systems where players risk points each game, or Custom scoring to reward specific achievements.

How many rounds should a Commander tournament have?

For optimal tournament structure, plan 3-4 rounds for events under 32 players, and 4-5 rounds for larger events. This ensures enough games for meaningful standings while keeping the event to a reasonable length.

Can I run Commander tournaments with different pod sizes?

Yes, TopDeck.gg supports flexible pod sizes. You can configure the system to create 3-player or 5-player pods when player counts don't divide evenly into 4s, with options to pair high or low standings into alternate pod sizes.