Mono-Red Sligh is a pure race — they want to deal 20 damage before you can resolve a Dreadnought or stabilize behind counters. Essence Flare is your best tool here: enchanting a Ball Lightning or Grim Lavamancer forces their key threats to trade away cumulative upkeep damage, dramatically slowing their clock. Blue Elemental Blast and Hydroblast come in as hard answers to their burn spells and red threats, doubling as counterspells that also deal with Cursed Scroll activations and Fireblast. Cut the situational card advantage spells (Flash of Insight, Peek) and the pitch counters that cost card disadvantage (Misdirection, Thwart), since you need every card and mana to survive the early turns — Foil and Counterspell are enough permission to protect your Dreadnought once you land it.