While each of these cards can be of use to multiple Izzet strategies, the latter two really tend to thrive in artifact-centric decks with big instant and sorcery payoffs
Unfortunately for Zirda, the Dawnwaker, theres a little creature called Solitude that has people playing Kaheera, the Orphanguard over Zirda
Life gain decks can occasionally falter because they are good at staying alive, but not great at killing the opponent
Still, this isn't the best removal in the set and I'd be more than happy only playing one or two of these in my limited decks
The design team didn't know what they wanted to do with this slot, but they knew it should be blue, for a little while the slot was just this: Blue Rare Hole (version #3)
Kona could also see some modern play, but Bolt being in the format makes it a bit more difficult