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Evaluation of plant competition is highly dependent on life stage and cycle. One of the largest problems the Great Basin faces is the competitive ability of the invasive Cheatgrass (Bromus tectorum). Advantages of cheatgrass are often attributed to large seed production (seed banks), Fall germination, and plasticity. However the measurement of a “successful” competitor is often biomass. Biomass represents the negative effect of competitor A on competitor B through resource limitations and thus judging competitor A as the winner. This relationship in the authors opinion is too often termed “suppression”. We limit the term “suppression” for use only at the population level for densities not individual plant biomass. The target goal for cheatgrass suppression is absence (zero seed production) not smaller plants. While biomass is related to seed production, annuals exist at high densities producing an excess abundance of seed. It is unfounded that decreased biomass would have significant effects on cheatgrass dominance. For a perennial grass we hypothesized that competing with cheatgrass at the seedling phase is best evaluated by survival (drought tolerance) not biomass or seed production. This research examines which indices of competitiveness relate to survival. We conducted a 3 year study measuring biomass, germination, emergence, drought tolerance, and seed production of cheatgrass, squirreltail, bluebunch and crested wheatgrass. Plants were seeded at high intra and inter specific competition densities in replicated soil boxes (9m3). Biomass was a poor indicator of cheatgrass dominance and determined crested wheatgrass as the dominant. Seedling drought survival and germination corresponded to cheatgrass dominance and the largest discrepancy between cheatgrass and perennials. Emergence did not differ between species. While all indices contribute to perennial failures, seedling drought survival was fundamental for evaluating success. Seeding perennials with the highest seedling drought tolerance should be paramount for management activities.