Symmetry (table-scaling)
More to explore · intermediate
A Commander table has three opponents. An engine that scales with the whole table is worth roughly three times one that only touches you. Symmetry scores how much of a deck's engine is table-scaling versus self-only.
The score is symmetric / (symmetric + weak) across the deck's engine cards: 1.0 means every engine card scales with the table, 0 means they are all self-only.
What reads as table-scaling (good)
Triggers and effects whose clause reaches the whole table:
- "whenever an opponent ..." / "each opponent ..."
- "whenever a player ..." / "each player ..."
- "each upkeep" / "each end step" (the table-wide step, not your upkeep)
- effects that count all permanents on the battlefield
- "until your next turn" board-wide effects
What reads as self-only (weak)
- "your upkeep" / "your end step"
- "only during your turn"
- sorcery-speed-gated value
- a triggered "when ~ attacks" clause (fires only on your combat)
- a value ability gated behind tapping the card itself
How to use it
A low symmetry score on a multiplayer deck means the engine is built for a duel. The flagged self-only cards are the first within-bracket swap candidates — look for a same-slot card whose trigger reads "each opponent" instead of "your upkeep."
Respect the archetype floor. Some color pairs (mono-white or GW go-wide) have an inherently low symmetry ceiling because their best payoffs are anthems and your-turn overruns. A low score there is the archetype, not a defect.