Decks that want to play counters are almost always control decks, and control decks would much prefer to gain life rather than cause opponents to lose life, so all things being equal they would have preferred to play with Absorb but there were other considerations that forced most of them down the black road instead
We mentioned reanimating Bahamut earlier, and this is probably the best way to do that in Standard
8 Helm of the Host Any card that can help you skirt the Legend rule is worthwhile, but Helm of the Host then takes it further by copying the creature for you
Ranging Raptors accelerates you and is the main reason you still have six basic lands here
Cards like Laelia, the Blade Reforged and Faldorn, Dread Wolf Herald see some play, but Gwen Stacy might be the one to really open the deck up
For $33.35, we have a great control-esque deck with some groovy sacrificing love