So while Counterspell might be able to deal with any threat, most times you'd be better off drafting Dark Banishing or Incinerate so you could drop early creatures, and then use the removal to mop up afterwards instead of having to wait for your gracious opponent to walk into your untapped Islands
Replicate (When you play this spell, copy it for each time you paid its replicate cost.) 13/21 Mortaros, Cow of Wall Legendary Creature Cow Wall Defender (This creature cant attack.) : Mortaros, Cow of Wall loses defender until end of turn
Hey, you cant be good at everything
Horn of Greed is a great solution in this deck
He single handedly allows blue decks to forgo equipment and make full use of Phantasmal Creatures and Kira, the Great Glass-Spinner should you wish to go down that route
Items can, however, be used immediately