Ruby Storm is a combo deck looking to chain rituals and cantrips into a lethal Grapeshot or Past in Flames turn, so Sanctifier en-Vec's protection from red makes it immune to Grapeshot's damage (and Grapeshot can't even target it), and its entry trigger exiling red cards from graveyards can strip away a flashback target for Past in Flames if timed right. Pithing Needle is best held for a relevant activated ability, such as Ral's loyalty abilities once it flips or an opposing fetchland. Ornithopters and Forge Anew are too passive to matter against a combo deck that's trying to go over the top, so we cut them for proactive, protected threats that can also block their small creatures. Our Esper Sentinel and fast clock with Colossus Hammer remain key since Ruby Storm has little cheap interaction for an early equipped threat.