Deflecting Swat gives red Commander decks protection that can work even when their lands are tapped. If you control a commander, you may cast it without paying its three-mana cost. It changes the targets of a spell or ability, letting you redirect a targeted threat or interfere with an opponent’s interaction.
A common use is moving an opposing Swords to Plowshares away from your commander and onto another legal creature. You can also redirect targeted activated or triggered abilities, which gives Swat applications beyond answering removal spells. New targets must obey the original targeting restrictions; an effect limited to something a particular player controls may offer fewer useful choices.
It pairs well with commanders such as Prosper, Tome-Bound, where keeping the commander in play preserves a continuing source of resources. In an Equipment deck, protecting the creature carrying your investment can save both the threat and the mana already spent developing it. Swiftfoot Boots provides ongoing protection from opposing targeting, while Swat can cover a critical moment before the Boots are attached or protect something else.
Swat is not a universal counterspell. It cannot redirect a spell with no targets, such as an overloaded Cyclonic Rift, and it does not change the modes or other choices already made for the spell. You also need a commander on the battlefield for the free casting option; having one in the command zone is insufficient. Its best home is a deck that reliably deploys its commander and needs to protect important turns.
Unofficial proxy card for casual play and testing where your group permits it.
