In this I'd do a split between the 2. Try 1 Dispel and 2 Negate. It's better regardless, but a fringe interaction you can do is Gifts Ungiven for Dispel, Negate, and Pact of Negation to get a guaranteed counterspell.

Solid point. Thanks tool!

Inquisition of Kozilek needs to be Thoughtseize so that if necessary, you can target yourself and put a reanimator target in the yard. Also, I think 20 lands is too low, I'd go up to 21 or 22. I also think this deck needs Gitaxian Probe for a number of reasons. 1), it'll help you check if your opponent has any disruption before you go all in on the combo. 2), it helps you dig for the combo by effectively running fewer than 60 cards. 3) You can use it without paying any mana to get the combo going right away, rather than waiting a turn (if you're using Unburial Rites, since Goryo's Vengeance gives him haste anyways).

Really cool deck, +1 from me.

I would agree on the Thoughtseize if it weren't for the fact that I'm usually fetch shocking my life away rapidly in this deck throughout playtests. I could be more conservative and use my basics but it would literally slow me down as I never know what color I'm going to draw into with all my digging so I need to have the flexibility in mana. I rarely win with more than 15 life. And that's why I've hesitated so much on using Thoughtseize. It may find a home in my sideboard in the near future, however I'm hoping all my counter-tech will be enough to hold me through.

And as with all great suggestions of what needs to go in (i.e. Gitaxian Probe), it still leaves the question of what comes out.

Thank you for your feedback! :)

The goal of modern isn't to win with as much life as possible, just to win. I really think it's worth the lifeloss to include Thoughtseize. 15 life is a lot.

Also, I only think you need one Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite, and I also don't think Izzet Charm is all that good. You could just replace some of those with lands, but Gitaxian Probe would definitely help out there as well.

Izzet Charm is the most versatile card I have in the list. Primarily for the dig function but it's ruined my opponent's day/kept me alive on more than one occasion using it's first and second mode.

But I will give your suggestions a lot of consideration and try trading out for Thoughtseize on Xmage.

It would make the deck cheaper too. (Never thought I'd have to say that about Thoughtseize.)

+1 for the name

Fun fact: This deck stomps all over Elves...

Have you thought about moving from Inquisition of Kozilek to Thoughtseize at all? The reasoning behind this would be twofold.

First off, you can actively disrupt some of the bigger decks. You can take those bigger cards from Tron, Scapeshift, Jeskai, and Titan Shift variants to stop their game plan. You have few ways of dealing with an active Nahiri, the Harbinger for example, Thoughtseize could grab it before it's an issue. You do on average take about three points of damage from your lands per game, so you can likely support one Thoughtseize per game. I'd say to do either 1 or 2.

Secondly, it allows your Gifts Ungivens to have a value gifts pile that includes good disruption. If you do a gifts for two discard spells and two counterspells, you can more easily resolve the Goryo's Vengeance in your hand. The value plan is real.

One other swap I would recommend is switching one Pyroclasm into an Anger of the Gods. First off, creatures can get bigger than 2/2s in a lot of the small creature matchups, especially the Zoo variants that are running the tables. Secondly, it messes with Abzan Company and their persist shenanigans. You will also gain points against those Kiki-Chord players since they can't Eternal Witness back some of those threats.

Overall, great deck!

How quickly do you usually go off?

This reminds me of my $5 budget Izzet combo deck using way too many pieces... It was surprisingly consistent, with even more of a glass cannon feel than this. XD

My self-loathing and pessimism tell me you've probably considered and rejected these for various reasons, but here goes:

-Meddling Mage to stop problem cards.

-Grand Abolisher or Silence for combo protection.

-Aven Mindcensor to possibly slow down toolboxes and mana bases.

-Iona, Shield of Emeria as a powerful reanimator target to stall/smash.

Thanks for the comments guys.

lemmingllama - I have considered the switch, many times. Many times I have been screwed and many times I have not by not having Thoughtseize in my hand. Honestly, in all my use of the deck I've seen myself fetch-shock what feels more like twice per game than once. I rarely win a game with more than 15 life where my opponent never actually touched me, so the damage hit from Thoughtseize has always made me hesitant, but there are times it would have changed the game dramatically. My second piece of logic in favor of Inquisition is that it will hit all the early game tech they may be holding, which gives me just enough time to hopefully hit the turn 3 or 4 combo.

I still have yet to actually try trading or blending them, so I will have to make that adjustment soon and see what it changes.

My argument for Pyroclasm is very similar in the idea that I've seen more often than not that it simply served me better than Anger of the Gods. Zoo players aren't as common around my meta anymore as well. But more often than not the limited mana I'm working with and the speed at which I need to respond to an aggressive threat (Elves and Affinity are fairly frequent showups at the Modern tournaments), I've seen where Pyroclasm is simply superior. I have yet to actually finish the deck in full and give it any real playtesting around here however so Anger is always something to consider for the future.

You gave great feedback and reasons for your suggestions. Thank you!

NotSquishedYet - While I see solid reasoning behind all your suggestions, I don't like the thought of relying more heavily on than I already am. It's why I've fundamentally left out of my sideboard (Obzedat doesn't really count), despite all the great sideboard cards available to me in the color. Silence is the only one I would most strongly consider. I have struggled with the idea of running Kataki, War's Wage or Stony Silence many times over already. I'm hoping my and tech will handle those threats however.

Thanks for your suggestions.

2-of Sigarda's Aid

or

2-of Izzet Charm

or

something else entirely?

GO!