Esper Control's Solitude and sweepers (Supreme Verdict, Wrath of the Skies) are the main threats to our board, so Stubborn Denial is a cheap way to protect a key equipped threat or counter one of their removal/sweeper spells, especially once we have a 4-power Colossus Hammer creature online for Ferocious. Pithing Needle can name Teferi, Time Raveler to stop its -3 bounce-and-draw loyalty ability, or hit Jace, the Mind Sculptor's activated abilities. We cut the lowest-impact equipment since this matchup is decided by resolving a threat and protecting it through their interaction rather than accumulating small value pieces. Metallic Rebuke remains valuable to fight through their counterspells and Solitude.