This is a creature-light deck, hoping to survive by making things painful enough that the opponent has to hold off a moment (or think twice). A couple Dash Hopes can counter things or cost life, and a pair of Guul Draz Assassins could control smaller creatures. Most of the deck is designed to force discards for damage. Fewer cards in hand means fewer things to cast. The mane curve is 14/16/7/3, with an average cost of 1.98, though two at the four-spot are Leylines.