The +1 helps to support our backup plan of hard-casting Ultimatums by making extra mana (more on this in a minute), while the 2 gives us some removal and helps to make sure that we don't flood out with expensive, hard-to-cast Ultimatums
It can target said spell or ability as often as you like, and that spell doesn't even need to have a targetyou could play Spellskite, then a Chrome Mox and pay your entire life total if that suits your needs
High-power (faster, tuned pods): 24 wipes You still need a reset button, but you cannot afford hands full of clunky sorceries
1 Vraan, Executioner Thane
Paragon will give other Blue creatures I control +1/+1, and he also has an interest in helping my zombies fly
As much as I dislike Pantlaza as the commander, its too good to ignore in the 99 of the deck