Preventing players from using life to cast spells or activate non-mana abilities is likely to become more relevant in Standard as The Brothers War, Phyrexia: All Will Be One, and March of the Machine release
Shes able to counter this weakness with an incredible ability
He can potentially hit the field as a 10/10, and if he attacks alone, you can double his power
Theyre more color intensive and cant combo as reliably, but theyll accomplish a similar level of value generation as you blink permanents
This being said, opening Counterspells, Brainstorms, and Relentless Rats at a rate of more than two per box (on average) is a nice bonus for players and helps make sure you come away with a little something even when your rares and mythics are poor
Another card that you might want to play around if your opponent seems to be acting suspiciously