Exalted Angel dodges Smother (which only targets creatures with mana value 3 or less) and races their disruptive, ground-based threats with a 4/5 flier gaining life. Meddling Mage naming Hypnotic Specter, Dark Ritual, or Cabal Therapy takes away their best explosive plays and hand disruption. Abeyance cast on the opponent's upkeep prevents them from casting sorceries like Cabal Therapy and Duress for that turn while replacing itself. Mana Leak is weak since their spells are cheap and they can easily pay the {3} cost post-Dark Ritual, so along with Intuition and Frantic Search it comes out for more proactive, resilient threats.