Caw Gates grinds with small lifelink creatures (Sacred Cat, Outlaw Medic) and Prismatic Strands, which can prevent all damage from a color and blank a Fling or burn-based kill, so Flaring Pain is valuable insurance to make your damage stick through their Strands. Firebending Lesson (kicked for {4}{R}, 5 damage) can clean up an Outlaw Medic despite its 3 toughness to stop its lifelink. Origin of Metalbending answers a Journey to Nowhere holding one of your key creatures, freeing it back to the battlefield. Their Basilisk Gate pump is only relevant in combat, which you're mostly avoiding as a combo deck, so prioritize protecting your combo pieces and pushing through Prismatic Strands over racing on board.