If you're looking to get into Commander but worried about the expense or competitive atmosphere, look no further than our Budget Commander League!

There will be a $10 entry fee to join the league, which will last six weeks with a game taking place each week. Participants must provide a reliable method of contact when signing up so that games may be scheduled. Players will have a list of objectives during each game (see Scoring below) that can earn points to go toward their overall score. In this way, the league is focused more on creating fun, memorable games than strictly winning.

Any player who purchases a pre-constructed Commander deck from us for the purpose of playing in this league will have their entry fee waived.

Preregister here:
https://shoptoptiergaming.com/budget-commander-league-preregistration/

Deck Construction and Escalation

Deck construction rules for this league will follow the normal Commander rules except the changes outlined here. Each deck will operate with an escalating budget, starting at $50 and going up $10 each week until it reaches $100 for the final week. This budget does not include the deck's commander or commanders, for which there is a $25 static cap. If a deck is running multiple commanders (e.g. Partners), their combined total cannot exceed this cap. Players may change the composition of their deck as much as they wish within the confines of each week's budget, but cannot change their deck's commander for the duration of the league.

Note: for the purposes of this league, the lowest TCGPlayer Market Price for any version of a particular card may be used to determine the price as it counts toward the budget, regardless of the specific version that is present in the deck. In addition, basic lands do not count toward the budget.

If the TCGPlayer Market Price of the individual cards in a pre-constructed Commander deck bought to play in this league exceeds the starting budget, the deck is considered budget-legal up until the point the budget surpasses the deck's Market price.

Schedule

Each round will last one week, with a total of six rounds. Each round players will be placed in a pod of 3-4 players of a similar point total. Monday night during or after our Commander Night is the preferred time to play games, however if that is not possible for one or more players in a pod they may schedule another time. It is the players' responsibility to ensure they find a time that works for everyone. Pairings will be available in our Facebook group TTBG Commander and Brawl as well as our Discord server (DM for invite) on the #budget-commander-league channel. Round one begins Monday, Feb. 28th.

Round One - $50: Feb 28 - Mar 6
Round Two - $60: Mar 7 - Mar 13
Round Three - $70: Mar 14 - Mar 20
Round Four - $80: Mar 21 - Mar 27
Round Five - $90: Mar 28 - Apr 3
Found Six - $100: Apr 4 - Apr 10

All results will be due in by Sunday of round end at close. Scores must be reported to the employee on staff directly after the match has ended.

NOTE: There will be no make-up rounds in this league. All matches must be completed and reported by the Sunday of round end. If a player is unable to play in their pod during a round, they will receive zero points for the round and the rest of the pod will play without them.

Scoring

Players may gain or lose points during a game by the following means:

Once Per Game
Eliminate all opponents in one turn: +2
Win the game with an alternate win condition (e.g. Biovisionary, Helix Pinnacle, Laboratory Maniac): +3
Be the first player eliminated while having lowest pod ranking: +1
Control 10+ creatures: +1
Control an unequipped, unenchanted creature with power 10 or greater: +1
Control a permanent with 10 or more counters on it: +1
Control a creature equipped with 3 equipments and/or enchanted with 3 auras: +1
Control 10 or more artifacts/enchantments: +1
Control 15 or more lands: +1
Have 50 or more cards in your graveyard: +1
Remove 10 or more creatures your opponents control from the battlefield in a single turn: +1
Cast your commander 3 or more times: +1
Be the first player to inflict combat damage: +1
First place*: +4
Second place*: +3
Third place*: +2
Fourth place*: +1
Eliminate yourself: -2
Generate infinite mana, creatures, turns, damage, etc.**: -10

Unlimited Per Game
Eliminate an opponent with Commander damage: +1
Eliminate an opponent with their own card: +2
Eliminate an opponent by means other than loss of life (e.g. Poison, Mill, Door to Nothingness): +2
Eliminate a player without having cast your commander this game: -2
Take more than one extra turn: -1
Destroy 3 or more lands controlled by a single opponent: -3
Take control of an opponents turn: -2

By Vote
Player who created the most enjoyable experience: +1 for each vote received
(Players may not vote for themselves)

*In the event players are eliminated simultaneously, they will split the appropriate combined points evenly between them, rounded down. E.g.: in a pod of four, one player wins with Helix Pinnacle and gets +4 points for First place. The other players combine the points for 2nd-4th place and split them evenly for two points each.
**This includes technically non-infinite combos such as Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind + Curiosity, Demonic Consultation + Thassa's Oracle, or the like

Players will be given a score sheet each week that they must mark as they earn or lose points during the game. Players must announce each time their points are affected so that the rest of the pod can confirm. After the game is over, score sheets must be handed in to the employee on staff for recording.

Prizes:

Weekly
Every week, the player in each pod who gets the most votes for creating the most enjoyable experience will receive one past promo pack of their choosing. In the case of a two-way tie, both players will receive a promo pack. In the case of a three- or four-way tie, none of the players in that pod will receive a promo pack.

At League End
Players will earn store credit and a past foil promo pack of their choosing for the following categories:
1st most points
2nd most points
3rd most points
Paragon of the Game (most votes earned across the entire league for creating the most enjoyable experience)

In addition, every match a player completes will earn them one "ticket" towards a drawing for a free Secret Lair.

Entry: $10
Start: Monday, Feb. 28th
Format: Commander / Budget Escalation
Prizes: Described Above