Removal is king! Let's look at some of the removal cards I always reach for when constructing a deck.
Lightning Bolt is an underrated removal spell. If you look through the list of relevant commanders available to build around, Lightning Bolt kills a large number of them! The downside is that to get a black border version with retro frames, you have to have a trust fund. Hopefully it will get a reprint to make it a little more accessible at some point in the future. Shenanigans is a fun one that can be dredged back if needed while filling the graveyard. Path & Swords make it into every single deck I build that has white in it. Defile scales really well as a game progresses but it is somewhat limited in that you have to be playing mono black or a deck that is very heavily skewed towards black. Black is a color that is typically known for strong removal options, but honestly I prefer almost every other color for removal as black is usually restricted by something. Nature's Claim is a very popular option to remove artifact and enchantments for one mana at instant speed. It does come with a downside of allowing your opponent to gain 4 life but that is negligible in a game of commander. I think bounce spells tend to be under rated a little bit when it comes to removal options, but Boomerang can get rid of any pesky permanent type at instant speed for two mana. Sure they can replay it but usually at a tempo loss. Most of blues single target removal options involve removing it from the stack which can be frustrating for your opponents and sometimes for you because you are making decisions based off of limited knowledge of what else your opponents are holding. I play counter spells but I am pretty stingy about when I cast them and I recommend doing the same. Chaos Warp, Generous Gift, & Beast within are three of my favorites to play as they can target every permanent type, including lands. I place a premium on this and for that reason, I don't mind spending a little extra mana on them and giving my opponents something in return. If you are worried about what your opponent will flip with a Chaos Warp, you're playing it wrong. Only cast it on something that could end the game or will let an opponent run away with the game if it were to remain on the battlefield. The next three all have an overload cost and are most often played as board wipes. But, do remember, they can also be played on single targets! Spine of Ish Sah is expensive to play but in the applications where it is is good, it is great!
When selecting removal spells, I try and always stay with Instant speed unless it is a Vandalblast or Damn that I will play more often than not as a board wipe. For this reason, I do not play cards like Vindicate despite the broad uses it provides. I also always try and select "modal" removal spells or spells that can target multiple permanent types. Always be stingy with your single target removal spells and don't remove something just because the table wants it gone. Remember, what is a threat to one person, may not be a threat to you necessarily! Even if it may be a little later, it could be pointed at your opponents first. Use your removal politically to see if you can leverage allowing the permanent to stay on the table if it is not pointed your way. For more removal options, check out the posts I did highlighting some of what each color has to offer. I typically try and run close to 10 single target removal spells in each deck.
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