Snapcaster Mage also enables you to sneak out unexpected counterspells, or flash a blocker onto an empty board and then buff it with a combat trick to destroy an attacker
Here is a permanent that can buy some value every turn
Controlling decks often use it to win counterwars to keep from dying to opponent's combos, while combo decks use it to protect their combos and force through their game-winning play
Since my Palantir was spoken for, Crystal Ball will stand in for a Palantir, though to be honest I don't recall Elrond actually having one in the story
Persist reads: When this creature dies, if it had no -1/-1 counters on it, return it to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter. Because +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters cancel out, you can create a loop with: Any free sacrifice outlet Two Persist creatures You need two because Long Fengs trigger requires a target as it goes on the stack before the Persist creature returns
However, in many metagames people will swing at her to force damage or trades so that she'll be more expensive with Commander Tax