Tolarian Terror and Cryptic Serpent both cost {1} less for each instant and sorcery card in the opponent's graveyard, so Faerie Macabre is premium here — discarding it to exile up to two graveyard cards directly taxes their key threats back up in cost, or it can be cast as a flying blocker if needed. Darkness provides an instant-speed way to prevent all combat damage, buying crucial time against their massive Tolarian Terrors and Cryptic Serpents while holding up mana. We cut Architects of Will and Repository Skaab since their card selection is too slow against a deck with Counterspell and Dispel backup, and we need to be proactive rather than grindy.