CommandeerCommandeer | Art by John Matson

As cEDH tournaments continue to fill up with more and more resource-intensive deck lists — be it just the dominance of midrange or the arrival of slop — so too are decks of all shapes and sizes running more and more pieces of interaction in order to keep up. Turbo, to defend early turns before engines come down. Midrange, to defend those very same engines. And slop, to close it all out once the table's exhausted. So, beyond the classic roster of FlusterstormFlusterstorms and Force of WillForce of Wills, what are players adding in these days? Let's take a look!

#5 - Sudden SubstitutionSudden Substitution

Starting off our list is one of the most interesting — albeit least adopted — pieces of interaction, and that's Sudden Substitution.

For , Sudden Substitution is an instant with split second that swaps control of target noncreature spell and target creature, then that spell's new controller may choose new targets for it.

First off, this card's mana cost is undeniably difficult to stomach, particularly in cEDH. Four mana for interaction is a pretty high bar, especially when you consider that you can only snag a spell if you've already resolved a creature at some point in the game, the dominance of noncreature spells in the format right now — both the engines and the outright win-conditions — is enough to make the big-mana decks (Kinnan, Bonder ProdigyKinnan, Bonder Prodigy, Thrasios, Triton HeroThrasios, Triton Hero, etc.) consider this card more and more seriously. Add on split second, which guarantees that Sudden Substitution will get its job done, and you've got yourself a piece of premier — albeit mana-intensive — interaction.

#4 - DispelDispel

Here at number four is essentially the opposite of Sudden SubstitutionSudden Substitution, and that's Dispel. For , this instant counters target instant spell. That's it — no ifs, ands, or buts about it. Nonetheless, in a format where Red Elemental BlastRed Elemental Blast is a staple, it's easy to see how valuable Dispel can be simply as a card that counters other counterspells...and also tutors...and Ad NauseamAd Nauseam, and so much more.

#3 - Disrupting ShoalDisrupting Shoal

Now that we're at the halfway point, we've reached the cards that all can be cast without paying their mana costs...the de facto sign of "maybe this is playable" in competitive formats. So, without further ado, our first pitch spell of the list is Disrupting Shoal.

For , Disrupting Shoal is an instant that counters target spell with mana value X. Alternatively, you may exile a blue card from your hand with mana value X rather than pay Disrupting Shoal's mana cost.

Disrupting Shoal is an incredibly precise counterspell, one that benefits substantially from the homogenization of mana curves across cEDH's meta. While it will rarely hit an Ad NauseamAd Nauseam or an opposing Force of WillForce of Will, there are so many one- to-two mana cards in cEDH that Disrupting Shoal can pretty reliably hit everything from Underworld BreachUnderworld Breach to Mystic RemoraMystic Remora.

#2 - MisdirectionMisdirection

Here as our penultimate pick is one of the more recently established picks on our list, a card that seemingly exploded in popularity over the past few months and hasn't faded since. Let's look at Misdirection.

For , Misdirection is an instant that changes the target of target spell with a single target. Alternatively, you can exile a blue card from your hand to avoid paying Misdirection's mana cost.

Practically, Misdirection is a lot like blue's version of Deflecting SwatDeflecting Swat, albeit with two real limitations. First and foremost, Misdirection can't target abilities. All in all, spells are a much more valuable thing to target with cards like Misdirection, but that's not to say that abilities are entirely absent from cEDH. Secondly, Misdirection can only target spells with a single target — no multi-target Mindbreak TrapMindbreak Trap, no Fire CovenantFire Covenant, etc. Again, like abilities, these multi-target spells are far from a dominating force in cEDH, but they do come up from time to time.

So, what does that leave us with? A spell that, like Deflecting Swat before it, is really good at countering counterspells for the low, low mana investment of...nothing!

#1 - CommandeerCommandeer

Last but not least, one of the most important pieces of interaction running around cEDH today: Commandeer.

For a whopping — or the alternate cost of exiling two blue cards from your hand — Commandeer is an instant that lets you gain control of target noncreature spell. You may choose new targets for the spell you gain control of.

Commandeer does everything Sudden Substitution does, just easier. No four mana investment, no creature on board, just pitch two blue cards. Balancing this power, however, is the lack of any sort of defense — no "can't be countered" line, no split second, nothing. This makes Commandeer one of the highest-risk, highest-reward plays in cEDH right now. Pitching two blue cards usually means pitching at least one other piece of interaction, which means that Commandeer is prone to blowouts if not timed correctly. However, when it does resolve, that means you've paid zero mana to snag anything from Rhystic StudyRhystic Study to Ad NauseamAd Nauseam.

Wrap Up

Currently, cEDH decks are running more and more interaction with each tournament that goes by. And with these five cards by your side, now you've got a better idea of what to watch out for.