I'm going more Battlecruiser than you are KitsuLeif, but that's exactly why I added lifegain to my list because of times I've been painted in a corner and was at too low life to go off. Since then, I've put in:
And I still feel like I'm still off a little life-wise. I'm currently considering Twilight Prophet as my next card but as always with Sidisi I'm finding any swaps difficult because the deck list is so tight.
I can say that Miren, the Moaning Well probably isn't going to help as you are paying "4 mana" to gain 2 life from a Zombie. Miren works wonders in my Daxos the Returned deck because my fodder is easily 5+ toughness. High Market would be a better fit.
Hopefully DementedKirby is OK. PR sounds like a fiasco right now.
I stumbled across Rot Farm Skeleton and I'm thinking of trying it out in my Sidisi build. I'm going to replace Hell's Caretaker. I like Caretaker but considering my Sidisi 'pushes the limit' a lot and causes me to Reshuffle. There have been plenty of times when I had a fat Graveyard, ready for me to use the Caretaker and then have an Eldrazi Titan mill in and turn him into a overcosted 1/1. As far as I see it: If Rot Farm and Caretaker are in my hand, they're both safe there. If they're in play, the Rot Farm can be Birthing Pod or Ashnod's Altar while I wouldn't want to do that to my Caretaker, the Skeleton also swings pretty well. If they're both in my yard the Caretaker is just a body while the Skeleton is still black for Crypt of Agadeem but also provides me with another self-mill way.
I've been thinking of cutting Pod if I cut Caretaker, it's been on my Chopping Block for a little while. But if I add Skeletons, I might save Pod. I don't have too many 4 drops and very few I actually want to feed into the pod and less that provide value upon ETB. The Skeletons, who don't mind feeding Pod and can even come into play to do so, might be worthy.
I think it might not have room in Kirby's competitive build, but I think it may warrant testing in your budget build.
So the Green is a for sure, but I wonder if the Blue part of the cycle is worthwhile? Search for Azcanta is a good early setup card. You mill once or twice and then it turns into a land. I would put this in a ramp section and it gives you Blue instead of colorless on a utility land to helps you dig and use your mana late game.
Edit: After re-reading Azcanta, The Sunken Ruin I've answered my own question: no. I forgot it was nonland and noncreature; thought it was just nonland. This means in a deck that's 1/3rd Creatures and more than 1/3rd Land, at a minimum, there just isn't enough to go digging with.
I hear a second Gaea's Cradle is good. I guess we now got to find room for Growing Rites of Itlimoc. We easily flip it and the deck likes big mana. Plus it replaces itself. With the deck aiming to have 1/3rd Creatures, hitting a Creature on Rites' ETB should be easy.
I can understand your logic on running Ruin Raider and/or Dark Confidant. However, I don't run many creatures or spells or effects that just draw. I would rather sift through the top deck. That's how I "draw" with the deck. Are you keen on testing it though? Or is it just a thought on testing?
I slammed Ruin Raider into my Marchesa's wants list and then I looked at it with a Sidisi eye and thought that it was a more aggressive Dark Confidant, as you draw the card at end step instead of next turn. So I brought it to the largest Sidisi thread to see if anyone would run it but after seeing no one use Confidant I think that no one would. I guess there's too many expensive cards that no one wants to eat the life for; for example, Genesis doesn't even really factor into my average CMC because I never cast it but Bob would steal make me eat 5 for it. With the two Titans, that's a lot of damage as well. Plus it isn't a draw, so you can't even Dredge it.
So I was thinking about Ruin Raider and I was wondering if he was worth including in Sidisi? We attack frequently, as that's a steady way to mill for value and generate Zombies plus he's a Creature for our own self-mill. The issue I see is that we run quite a few expensive cards, even if the average CMC of the deck is quite low.
I didn't play competitively in the Dark Confidant days, so I'm not sure if a second one (or first even) is worth running.
I disagree with Kirby's pick of eliminating Stinkweed Imp. It's one of the few Dredge cards that are a solid play, because they block in the air and his 'deathtouch' means people don't want to make trades. On top of this, it's Dredge 5 which only gets outdone by Golgari Grave-Troll.
Taigam, Sidisi's Hand - Is this worth spending 5 mana on and skipping our Draw step? I'm a little conflicted. The upside is that it's a Creature and when I want to land those land drops, I can do so instead of milling them from Dredge. The problem is that he's a Creature. Also, you're almost never going to use his Activated Ability.
It's strictly better than any Tri-Land, especially if you have a 4+ colour Commander. I think Path will be a sleeper card and then skyrocket as people realize how damned good it is.
I'm thinking more along the lines of dumping a Creature with Dredge into the yard to guarantee Zombie action. If Wizards ever prints a Creature that Sacrifices Creatures at no cost and Discards at maybe a tap, I would go bananas.
One of things I've noticed with the deck is sometimes I want to Discard a card but I don't have too many options to do so. This spellshaper is something I can use. I'm not too sure if I would use it, but it's got me considering, especially since it is just a Common.
Seer of the Last Tomorrow just got spoiled and I've got to say that I'm contemplating adding this; it should definitely go in the budget build, but even non-budget. Some cards I want in my Graveyard, not in my hand and this spellshaper then mills me for even more value.
I can say that Miren, the Moaning Well probably isn't going to help as you are paying "4 mana" to gain 2 life from a Zombie. Miren works wonders in my Daxos the Returned deck because my fodder is easily 5+ toughness. High Market would be a better fit.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
I stumbled across Rot Farm Skeleton and I'm thinking of trying it out in my Sidisi build. I'm going to replace Hell's Caretaker. I like Caretaker but considering my Sidisi 'pushes the limit' a lot and causes me to Reshuffle. There have been plenty of times when I had a fat Graveyard, ready for me to use the Caretaker and then have an Eldrazi Titan mill in and turn him into a overcosted 1/1. As far as I see it: If Rot Farm and Caretaker are in my hand, they're both safe there. If they're in play, the Rot Farm can be Birthing Pod or Ashnod's Altar while I wouldn't want to do that to my Caretaker, the Skeleton also swings pretty well. If they're both in my yard the Caretaker is just a body while the Skeleton is still black for Crypt of Agadeem but also provides me with another self-mill way.
I've been thinking of cutting Pod if I cut Caretaker, it's been on my Chopping Block for a little while. But if I add Skeletons, I might save Pod. I don't have too many 4 drops and very few I actually want to feed into the pod and less that provide value upon ETB. The Skeletons, who don't mind feeding Pod and can even come into play to do so, might be worthy.
I think it might not have room in Kirby's competitive build, but I think it may warrant testing in your budget build.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Edit: After re-reading Azcanta, The Sunken Ruin I've answered my own question: no. I forgot it was nonland and noncreature; thought it was just nonland. This means in a deck that's 1/3rd Creatures and more than 1/3rd Land, at a minimum, there just isn't enough to go digging with.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
I slammed Ruin Raider into my Marchesa's wants list and then I looked at it with a Sidisi eye and thought that it was a more aggressive Dark Confidant, as you draw the card at end step instead of next turn. So I brought it to the largest Sidisi thread to see if anyone would run it but after seeing no one use Confidant I think that no one would. I guess there's too many expensive cards that no one wants to eat the life for; for example, Genesis doesn't even really factor into my average CMC because I never cast it but Bob would steal make me eat 5 for it. With the two Titans, that's a lot of damage as well. Plus it isn't a draw, so you can't even Dredge it.
I guess Ruin Raider is not Sidisi worthy.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
I didn't play competitively in the Dark Confidant days, so I'm not sure if a second one (or first even) is worth running.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Also, those Signets could probably be Creatures for Sidisi.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
I think that if your deck is Casual enough to run a ETBT Land, Path of Ancestry goes in first.
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs
Mid-Tier: Marchesa Aggro Rose Asmadi Get Dire Tymna Ikra Woke Women Tiana Aura Angel Ruric Thar SMASH Smasher Kraum Mana Positivity Zur Slides
Filthy Casual: WUBRG Jodah WUBRG WUBRG Fatties WUBRG Gahiji Vigilant Vengeance Ezuri Mysterious Morphs