Types of interaction
- Spot removal — answers one threat, ideally at instant speed.
- Board wipes — reset the board when you are behind.
- Counterspells — stop a key spell before it resolves.
- Graveyard hate — shuts down reanimator and recursion strategies.
- Protection — keeps your own key pieces alive.
A practical baseline
Many mid-power decks aim for roughly 8–12 pieces of targeted interaction and 2–4 board wipes. Higher-power tables often push interaction higher and favor cheaper, instant-speed answers. Very casual tables may need less, especially if games are long and threats are slow.
Count flexible answers higher than narrow ones. A spell that removes any nonland permanent is worth more than one that only hits creatures.
Match interaction to your strategy
If you go wide with tokens, one-sided wipes help, but symmetrical ones may hurt you more than opponents — lean on spot removal instead. Control decks want more counters and wipes. Voltron decks often prefer protection over removal, because keeping one creature alive matters more than answering everything else.
Read your table
The best interaction suite depends on what your friends play. If one opponent leans on artifacts, flexible artifact removal earns a slot. If someone reanimates, a little graveyard hate goes a long way. The Commander Pod Analyzer compares your playgroup's decks and points out which answers matter most.
Signs you have too little
You often say “I had nothing to stop that.” One permanent wins games against you. You lose to the same deck repeatedly. Signs you have too much: you rarely affect the board yourself, and games end with answers rotting in your hand.
Find your interaction gaps
Deck Doctor shows what you can and cannot answer — and what to add.