diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/deck_editor/deck_editor_deck_dock_widget.cpp b/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/deck_editor/deck_editor_deck_dock_widget.cpp
index 626a1586f..30fde1595 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/deck_editor/deck_editor_deck_dock_widget.cpp
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/deck_editor/deck_editor_deck_dock_widget.cpp
@@ -49,6 +49,7 @@
 #include <QPushButton>
 #include <QSet>
 #include <QSharedPointer>
+#include <QSignalBlocker>
 #include <QSize>
 #include <QSizePolicy>
 #include <QSplitter>
@@ -187,10 +188,17 @@ void DeckEditorDeckDockWidget::createDeckDock()
     formatLabel = new QLabel(this);
 
     formatComboBox = new QComboBox(this);
+    formatComboBox->setObjectName("deckFormatComboBox");
     formatComboBox->addItem(tr("Loading Database..."));
     formatComboBox->setEnabled(false); // Disable until loaded
 
     commanderBracketWidget = new CommanderBracketWidget(this);
+    connect(formatComboBox, QOverload<int>::of(&QComboBox::currentIndexChanged), this, [this](int index) {
+        formatComboBox->setPlaceholderText(QString());
+        formatComboBox->setToolTip(QString());
+        deckStateManager->setFormat(index >= 0 ? formatComboBox->itemData(index).toString() : QString());
+        commanderBracketWidget->setDeck(deckStateManager->getDeckListShared());
+    });
 
     commentsLabel = new QLabel();
     commentsLabel->setObjectName("commentsLabel");
@@ -355,6 +363,9 @@ void DeckEditorDeckDockWidget::initializeFormats()
 {
     QStringList allFormats = CardDatabaseManager::query()->getAllFormatsWithCount().keys();
 
+    // Rebuilding the list is a view update, not a user edit. In particular,
+    // clear() emits currentIndexChanged(-1), which must not clear the deck.
+    const QSignalBlocker blocker(formatComboBox);
     formatComboBox->clear(); // Remove "Loading Database..."
     formatComboBox->setEnabled(true);
 
@@ -364,28 +375,25 @@ void DeckEditorDeckDockWidget::initializeFormats()
         formatComboBox->addItem(formatName, formatName); // store the raw key in itemData
     }
 
-    QString format = deckStateManager->getMetadata().gameFormat;
-    if (!format.isEmpty()) {
-        formatComboBox->setCurrentIndex(formatComboBox->findData(format));
-    } else {
-        // Ensure no selection is visible initially
-        formatComboBox->setCurrentIndex(-1);
-    }
-    connect(formatComboBox, QOverload<int>::of(&QComboBox::currentIndexChanged), this, [this](int index) {
-        QString formatKey;
-        if (index >= 0) {
-            formatKey = formatComboBox->itemData(index).toString();
-            deckStateManager->setFormat(formatKey);
-        } else {
-            deckStateManager->setFormat(""); // clear format if deselected
-        }
-
-        commanderBracketWidget->setDeck(deckStateManager->getDeckListShared());
-    });
+    syncFormatSelection();
 
     commanderBracketWidget->setDeck(deckStateManager->getDeckListShared());
 }
 
+void DeckEditorDeckDockWidget::syncFormatSelection()
+{
+    if (!formatComboBox->isEnabled()) {
+        return;
+    }
+    const QSignalBlocker blocker(formatComboBox);
+    const QString format = deckStateManager->getMetadata().gameFormat;
+    const int index = format.isEmpty() ? -1 : formatComboBox->findData(format);
+    const QString unavailable = index < 0 && !format.isEmpty() ? tr("Unavailable: %1").arg(format) : QString();
+    formatComboBox->setPlaceholderText(unavailable);
+    formatComboBox->setToolTip(unavailable);
+    formatComboBox->setCurrentIndex(index);
+}
+
 ExactCard DeckEditorDeckDockWidget::getCurrentCard()
 {
     QModelIndex current = deckView->selectionModel()->currentIndex();
@@ -596,9 +604,7 @@ void DeckEditorDeckDockWidget::syncDisplayWidgetsToModel()
     updatePlaymatLabel();
     updateHash();
 
-    formatComboBox->blockSignals(true);
-    formatComboBox->setCurrentIndex(formatComboBox->findData(deckStateManager->getMetadata().gameFormat));
-    formatComboBox->blockSignals(false);
+    syncFormatSelection();
 
     commanderBracketWidget->setDeck(deckStateManager->getDeckListShared());
 
@@ -1042,6 +1048,7 @@ void DeckEditorDeckDockWidget::retranslateUi()
     commentsLabel->setText(tr("&Comments:"));
     activeGroupCriteriaLabel->setText(tr("Group by:"));
     formatLabel->setText(tr("Format:"));
+    syncFormatSelection();
     commanderBracketWidget->retranslateUi();
 
     hashLabel1->setText(tr("Hash:"));
diff --git a/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/deck_editor/deck_editor_deck_dock_widget.h b/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/deck_editor/deck_editor_deck_dock_widget.h
index fe03f02ae..02910e390 100644
--- a/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/deck_editor/deck_editor_deck_dock_widget.h
+++ b/cockatrice/src/interface/widgets/deck_editor/deck_editor_deck_dock_widget.h
@@ -110,6 +110,7 @@ private:
     DeckListModel *getModel() const;
     [[nodiscard]] QModelIndexList getSelectedCardNodeSourceIndices() const;
     void offsetCountAtIndex(const QModelIndex &idx, bool isIncrement);
+    void syncFormatSelection();
 
     void addMoveToZoneMenu(QMenu *menu, const QModelIndex &sourceCardIndex, const QString &currentBoardName);
     void addChangeBoardMenu(QMenu *menu, const QString &zoneName);