The example I have had recently is that I have ways to draw cards in my deck at instant speed, but I at least need a card to be physically in the deck to even have a chance at preventing what opponent might do.
Sure the odds of drawing it as part of the top cards of the deck are slim, but it's a fun element of playing Magic, where you are desperately trying to survive and every so often you actually manage to pull it off. In many ways this can feel more like a victory..than a victory.
In my last experience I had added a Repudiate // Replicate to a deck and found myself trying to find it in response to game winning triggers. I've failed a few times, but when I did get it, it just feels incredible to find your only out. Blessed.
So my question is do you prioritize individual cards that can answer particular plays that might win or lose a game, just on the chance of being able to draw into it?
If so what might those cards be and how does the color identity of your commander influences this?
Sure if you are in blue then a simple Counterspell is going to answer a lot, so I'm not interested in this. Cryptic Command might be the better example, but still kind of obvious.
What are game winning plays from opponents? What else can I add to this list?
- Lethal attack.
- Combo win with permanents.
- Combo win with stack.
- Combo win with graveyard.
- Trigger or activation on stack for win.
- Massive draw leads to inevitable win.
Keen to hear if you have any cards that you like to play based on this "I want to have at least one answer in the deck for what you might do".
Maybe you can recall a time when you had to scramble to find it and through whatever means you got there in the end.