What is DeckCheck?
"So... what power level?" We've all asked it, often getting vague answers like "It's about a 7." This common friction point in Commander, a format built on fun, felt quite unfun at times because of this. My name is Anthony, and this is how that shared frustration, a passion for Magic rekindled, and a technological breakthrough led to DeckCheck.
The idea
Drawn back into Magic via Commander after intense years in Architecture school (though Arena kept the flame alive), I loved the social aspect but frequently had bad games becuase of mismatched power. As someone fascinated by tech, I wondered: could the all-so-powerful (supposedly) AI help? Early experiments were unsurprising and disappointing–AI often misunderstood Magic.
That changed with Anthropic's Claude 3 Opus. Asking it to analyze decks I knew well – how fast could they win? what were their strategies? – yielded surprisingly coherent answers. It seemed to understand. Not perfectly, but far better than before. That was the "aha!" moment: the potential to bring objective analysis to power levels.
Early days
Fueled by this, I researched power level concepts, developed a rating system, coded a basic site, and shared it on Reddit. The overwhelming response confirmed I was on to something. It lit a fire, channeling the iterative design process learned from Architecture into refining DeckCheck in every spare moment.
But DeckCheck wasn't built in a vacuum. Early feedback from Reddit and Magic Discords was vital, but the dedicated DeckCheck Discord server became the crucible. Passionate members became collaborators – testing, critiquing, and ensuring we met real player needs. We've built this together.
DeckCheck today
Objective Power Level Analysis
Tackles the power level problem with turn-based analysis, accounting for interaction via a rating system that gives each level a clear and universal meaning.
Smart Deck Building
A powerful deck builder with integrated AI tools: Power Up/Down (card suggestions), DeckTrim (cutting help), and Mana analysis.
Smarter Deck Searching
Easily find and understand decks built by others. Every deck on this site has a full analysis so that you can find exactly what you're looking for.
Endgame
The ultimate vision? DeckCheck as the best Commander companion – like an experienced friend helping navigate the format's complexities. Why? Because the frustrations we tackle aren't trivial; they can push players away. By providing better tools, DeckCheck aims to cultivate:
- More enjoyable & meaningful games, where expectations align
- A welcoming path for newcomers, reducing intimidation.
- A thriving community, keeping players engaged in the game we love.
It's about navigating Commander's challenges and triumphs with more confidence and enjoyment.
Support the future of DeckCheck.
When you choose a subscription, your support means much more than just unlocking features. It's an investment in the mission itself. It’s a statement that you believe in the vision: a healthier, more welcoming, and consistently enjoyable Commander format for everyone.
View our tiersExplore the tools, join our Discord community, and consider supporting the mission if you find value here.
"May your draws be good, and your games be great." -someone probably