MTG Synergy Calculator
Building a strong Magic: The Gathering (MTG) deck is not just about adding powerful cards. The real strength of any deck lies in synergy—how well your cards work together to create consistent, efficient, and winning gameplay. This is where the MTG Synergy Calculator becomes an essential tool for both casual and competitive players.
This tool helps you objectively measure how cohesive your deck is by scoring multiple synergy categories and providing a clear total score, tier ranking, and improvement suggestions. Instead of guessing whether your deck is “good enough,” you can now rely on structured evaluation.
What Is the MTG Synergy Calculator?
The MTG Synergy Calculator is a deck evaluation tool designed to rate how well different components of your deck interact with each other. It breaks synergy into six critical areas and assigns each a score from 0 to 10. Based on your selections, the calculator:
- Generates a Total Synergy Score
- Assigns a Synergy Tier (Minimal to Elite)
- Provides a clear description of deck performance
- Suggests practical upgrades to improve synergy
This makes it ideal for Commander (EDH), casual formats, and even testing early competitive deck ideas.
Why Deck Synergy Matters in MTG
A deck full of powerful cards can still fail if those cards don’t support a shared strategy. Synergy ensures:
- Smoother gameplay and consistency
- Better use of mana and resources
- Stronger board presence over time
- More reliable win conditions
Whether you’re playing combo, midrange, control, or value-based strategies, synergy determines how often your deck does what it’s supposed to do.
Synergy Categories Explained
The calculator evaluates six key synergy areas. Understanding them helps you score accurately and improve your deck.
1. Combo Synergy
This measures how well your cards interact to create powerful combinations or game-ending plays. High scores indicate reliable combos or strong card interactions.
2. Ramp Synergy
Ramp synergy evaluates how effectively your deck accelerates mana and how well that acceleration supports your strategy. A high score means your ramp directly fuels your main plan.
3. Interaction & Removal Synergy
This focuses on how well your deck answers opponents’ threats while supporting your own strategy. Removal that complements your game plan scores higher.
4. Value / Payoff Synergy
Value synergy reflects how consistently your deck generates advantage—extra cards, tokens, damage, or board control—over time.
5. Card Quality Synergy
This category measures the overall strength and relevance of individual cards within your strategy. High-quality cards that support synergy score best.
6. Budget Synergy
Budget synergy evaluates how well your deck performs within financial limits. Efficient, low-cost alternatives that maintain strategy earn higher scores.
How to Use the MTG Synergy Calculator
Using the tool is simple and beginner-friendly:
- Review your decklist carefully
- Assign a score (0–10) for each synergy category
- Be honest and realistic with ratings
- Click Calculate
- Review your total score, tier, and suggestions
If you want to reassess or test changes, use Reset and try again.
Example: MTG Synergy Calculation
Imagine you’re evaluating a Commander deck:
- Combo Synergy: 7
- Ramp Synergy: 8
- Interaction & Removal: 6
- Value / Payoff: 7
- Card Quality: 6
- Budget Synergy: 8
Total Score: 42 / 60
Average Score: 7
Synergy Tier: Strong
Description: Very cohesive synergy
Suggested Upgrade: Add a few key payoff cards
This instantly tells you that your deck is solid but could improve by sharpening its win conditions.
Understanding Synergy Tiers
The calculator categorizes decks into five tiers:
Minimal
Little to no synergy. Cards feel disconnected, and the deck lacks direction.
Weak
Some synergy exists, but it’s inconsistent or underdeveloped.
Solid
A good foundation with room for refinement and better card alignment.
Strong
Well-structured and consistent. Performs reliably in most games.
Elite
Highly optimized synergy with powerful interactions and efficient execution.
Who Should Use This Tool?
- Commander (EDH) players refining deck balance
- Budget players optimizing performance without overspending
- New players learning deck-building fundamentals
- Content creators reviewing or showcasing decks
- Competitive testers analyzing early deck concepts
Tips for Accurate Synergy Scoring
- Rate based on real gameplay, not theory alone
- Compare with similar decks you’ve played against
- Recalculate after every major deck update
- Avoid overrating single powerful cards
- Focus on consistency, not just potential
Benefits of Using an MTG Synergy Calculator
- Saves time during deck refinement
- Removes guesswork from evaluation
- Helps prioritize upgrades
- Encourages balanced deck construction
- Improves overall win rate
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
1. Is this calculator only for Commander decks?
No, it can be used for any MTG format, including casual and experimental builds.
2. What is a good synergy score?
Anything in the “Strong” or “Elite” tier indicates a well-built deck.
3. Should every category be scored equally?
Yes, each category contributes equally to the final synergy score.
4. Can budget decks reach Elite tier?
Absolutely. Smart card choices can outperform expensive decks.
5. How often should I recalculate synergy?
After every major deck change or playtesting session.
6. Does high synergy guarantee wins?
No, but it significantly improves consistency and performance.
7. What if my deck has no combos?
Score combo synergy lower and focus on value or interaction strengths.
8. Is ramp always necessary?
Not always, but most decks benefit from some level of ramp synergy.
9. Can this tool help beginners?
Yes, it teaches core deck-building concepts clearly.
10. How honest should my scoring be?
Very honest—overrating reduces the tool’s usefulness.
11. What does “Suggested Upgrades” mean?
It highlights the most impactful area to improve next.
12. Can I compare multiple decks?
Yes, calculate each deck separately and compare scores.
13. Does card rarity affect synergy score?
No, only how well cards work together.
14. Is this useful for playgroup balancing?
Yes, it helps align deck power levels fairly.
15. Can I use this for theorycrafting?
Definitely. It’s excellent for testing deck ideas before building.
Conclusion
The MTG Synergy Calculator is an excellent tool to understand the strength and consistency of your deck. It not only helps you score various aspects of your deck’s synergy but also provides actionable suggestions for improvement. Whether you’re a beginner or an experienced player, this tool allows you to make your deck more efficient, balanced, and powerful.
Keep testing your deck, checking your synergy scores, and implementing suggested upgrades to increase your chances of winning.