Hydroblast is excellent here, countering or destroying red spells and permanents like Kessig Flamebreather and Guttersnipe before they snowball damage. Dispel protects our tempo plays from Lightning Bolt and Fiery Temper while being cheap enough to not lose the race. We cut slower, non-proactive cards like Harrier Strix and Essence Flux that don't pressure life total fast enough against this hyper-aggressive plan. Prioritize racing with evasive Faeries and Ninjutsu while using cheap interaction to blunt their reach spells.

This is a control mirror where protecting our threats and countering their removal (Snuff Out, Cast Down) or card advantage (Lorien Revealed) is paramount. Dispel cheaply protects our Ninjas and Spellstutter Sprite from their instant-speed removal, while Envelop stops their Lorien Revealed or Dread Return-adjacent sorceries cold. We trim Harrier Strix and Snap since they're the weakest tempo plays against a deck that isn't racing us. Land Spellstutter Sprite and Ninja of the Deep Hours early to apply pressure before they stabilize with card advantage.

Steel Sabotage from our board is our premier tool here since its main value is flexible cheap interaction, countering artifact spells or bouncing opposing artifacts, alongside Envelop to counter their card-advantage sorceries like Thoughtcast. We cut the weaker tempo pieces since Affinity floods the board fast and we need answers, not just bodies. Focus on countering their key enablers like Refurbished Familiar or Utrom Monitor before they get out of hand with cheap artifact synergies.