Just remember that whichever mode you choose to cast becomes the mana value of the card on the stack and on the battlefield, unlike other, similar built-in cost reduction mechanics like Suspend or Miracle, s o a commander like Yuriko, the Tigers Shadow very much likes Prototype cards, while Vial Smasher the Fierce does not
As a general rule, pack your cards like you would expect to receive them
Note that you can exile zero cards with Cease / Desist and still gain two life and draw a card, and how far is that from Revitalize, which has always been marginally playable in white-based control decks
I could also imagine Lingering Influence playing a role
Creature - Beast Cat Color tag templates(None) Fiendish Panda Whenever you gain life, put a +1/+1 counter on this creature
He gave up his humanity and attacked his brother during the battle of Argoth