SOME OF THE HOTTEST CARDS ARE PIKACHU AND CHARIZARDS, ESPECIALLY EX, GX, AND FULL ART VERSIONS, AND CARDS FROM THE EARLIEST SETS, SUCH AS BASE, JUNGLE, FOSSIL, AND TEAM ROCKET
With a base cost of , this instant allows you to counter target activated ability, triggered ability, or noncreature spell
While each of these Commanders also has abilities that aren't live until you're on the battlefield, they're effective even if you don't get to cast them a whole lot during a match
Note on Counterspells: Removal needs to deal with things your opponents have already cast
This becomes completely nullified if you need to pay mana to keep them around
Even the threat of doing so was valuable, as no one could set up a combat where they would be crippled by facing a 7/7 instead of a 5/5