To determine the total cost of a spell, start with the mana cost or alternative cost you're paying (such as a flashback cost), add any cost increases (such as kicker costs), then apply any cost reductions (such as that of this ability)
Could have very easily added Colorless and called it a day, but instead this cool design will make Wizards less money from a lowered ubiquity
Reanimator is a good way to play him because of the connive and at the same time, it's rather easy to build him up with the +1/+1 counters for an evasive beater
Rhystic Study (blue, 3 mana): Taxes opponents' spells into free cards
As we cast our commander more, the buff stacks up and it can begin comparing to Dictate of HeliodDictate of Heliod and then Collective BlessingCollective Blessing
Your abundance of 1- and 2-mana instants and sorceries line you up to generate three or four 3/3s a turn, which you can follow up with a Nazgl or two and a cantrip to pump up the team and dish out hundreds of damage