The DeckCheck Threat Index (DTI)

"Change is annoying, but certainty is absurd." — Voltaire

You Had A Good Run

Today, CRISPI officially retires. Its replacement is the DeckCheck Threat Index (DTI), a new framework for evaluating Commander decks and helping you find the right bracket. I covered the philosophy of the new system and the flaws of CRISPI in I Was Wrong About CRISPI. If you want that deeper dive into this change, start there.

This post is reference material on how the finished system works and what your results mean.

Overview

When you scan a deck, you get three connected results: twelve benchmark ratings that translate into a Threat Index score and a recommended bracket. Together, they describe what your deck can do and the Bracket you likely need to play it in.

The twelve benchmarks measure resources, access to needed cards, threats, interaction, and resilience. Each benchmark receives a rating from S down through A, B, C, and F, with an explanation tied to the rating.

Importantly, not all benchmarks are equal. Speed and the ability to execute your plan carry the most weight. Finding cards, answering opponents, and protecting the plan also contribute substantially. Recovery and backup plans contribute less.

DeckCheck assigns your deck a bracket using these three things:

• Construction requirements. The rules of the official Bracket system. A low score cannot erase those requirements.
• Overall capability. Score thresholds help place decks according to the combined strength of their twelve ratings.
• Specific checks, called Gates. These catch decks whose speed or ability to restrict opponents are dialed way up relative to their other stats, often referred to as "min-maxing."

You can inspect and understand the reasoning behind your result. Open any benchmark to see its explanation and Card Ledger, which lists the cards supporting that rating. The same card can appear in several places when it serves several roles. 

If a result seems off, the explanations let you identify what needs attention: a missed interaction, an unrealistic setup, or a recovery plan the deck cannot actually afford. You can use those details when submitting feedback—and when explaining your deck to the people you are about to play with.

Current DeckCheck thresholds and gates

Last updated: September 18, 2026

I’ll keep this reference updated as the framework changes.

Overall score thresholds

A deck scoring 29 is 3 points below the Bracket 3 score threshold of 32. It may already qualify for Bracket 3 or higher through another rule. Likewise, 51 is 1 point below the Bracket 4 score threshold of 52.

Other scores that raise placement

• Velocity: mana (R1) + assembly (A2) + threat onset (P1) + completion (P2) + protection (S1).
• Suppression: mana (R1) + restriction (I2) + reactive answers (I1) + threat onset (P1) + backup plans (S3).

Points per benchmark

All twelve weighted values add up to the Threat Index, out of 96. 96 is S-tier on every benchmark.

Important Update Note: September 20, 2026

It's clear to me now from the feedback I received from multiple sources that Eco mode for the DTI scan itself just can't exist. It's not smart enough and it's confusing and problematic and so I've disabled Eco mode for the Threat Index scans.