MTG Salvation

I'm getting back into the game as a whole (but especially EDH), and I'm trying to understand strategy and game mechanics better than when I started.

Anyway, my deck is a mono-black commander with Ghoulcaller Gisa that focuses on getting big dudes, sac'ing some of them with Gisa to swarm the board with 2/2 zombies, and hitting hard with my zombies and demons. I've already improved my deck with a few zombie lords to increase synergy, but I'm trying to find more flaws to work on. I'm not sure if linking decklists is allowed here, but if it is I can.

I started tackling my frequent issue of running low on mana (especially early game), but all I really have is Cabal Coffers and Jet Medallion. I also bumped my total land count to 38, but I was wondering how else to make it more reliable. Are dual-colored scry / bounce lands a stupid idea in a monocolor deck? They both seem like they could help, but I haven't been able to find any solid opinions online yet.

Thanks.

You can’t play cards with coloured mana symbols on them that aren’t on your commander, as per the rules of commander. So it’s a moot point.

If you find your mana lacking, either run more lands or more mana-producing artifacts.

Only the Visions Karoo cycle and Zhalfirin Void would fit.

there are plenty of ways to ramp out a ton of mana in mono black. heres a small list of utility stuff to help out

• Cabal Coffers
  
• Cabal Stronghold
  
• Magus of the Coffers
  
• Crypt Ghast
  
• Black Market
  
• Extraplanar Lens
  
• Gauntlet of Power
  
• Caged Sun
  
• Revel in Riches
  

Ramp and card draw are always important. Aside from the ones Abel88 mentioned, I'd like to put a word in for the cheap mana rocks like Charcoal Diamond/Fellwar Stone/Coldsteel Heart/Star Compass/Thought Vessel, and even ones that scale a bit like Everflowing Chalice. Also a bit of land ramp is important such as Wayfarer's Bauble/Solemn Simulacrum - some use Burnished Hart, Walking Atlas, or Terrain Generator.

As far as card draw to make sure you don't run out of gas, I could list the staples but I'll wait to see what you've already included in your list.

Linking decklists is fine, so go ahead and do that so we can base suggestions on that. Or you can put the list in a comment in this thread using the [deck] tags, like the following (you can use the Quote link in the bottom-right of my comment to see how it's used):

As somebody who also plays Ghoulcaller Gisa, I can add to what Abel88 suggested:

Expedition Map to find Cabal Coffers or Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
Wayfarer's Bauble is a solid turn one play and turn two ramp for a basic swamp

Coldsteel Heart + Star Compass + Charcoal Diamond are solid 2cmc mana rocks which will add black mana for you.
Fellwar Stone can add black for you if your opponents can produce it, and if you use Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth, then you can guarantee it.

Mind Stone
Everflowing Chalice (set to 1)
Fractured Powerstone
Guardian Idol
Prismatic Lens
Thought Vessel

Worn Powerstone is the only 3cmc rock I would play. I think that Darksteel Ingot and Commander's Sphere are overrated, while other 3cmc rocks are more suited for decks with two or more colors.

There are better/faster/strong/more expensive to buy mana rocks like Mana Crypt, but I am trying to keep my recommendations casual and budget.

One of the reasons that I like a lot of 2cmc ramp is to set up turn three with four mana to cast the likes of:

Solemn Simulacrum - This gets your 5th land to cast Gisa and can be sacrificed for two tokens and draw a card. There is a lot of value here.
Liliana's Shade - This doesn't put the swamp into play, but it replaces itself and ensures you have that 5th land drop. It can also be pumped and then sacrificed to Gisa to get the token swarm going.
Thran Dynamo - Yes, ramp into ramp. This can result in a turn four with 7 or even 8 mana available to you.
Crypt Ghast - This was mentioned by Abel88 and is a solid way to start a game.
Lashwrithe - A nice little 3/3 to get things rolling.
Liliana of the Dark Realms - I only cast this into a board without threats to attack her. Otherwise, I hold her back until I have a little defense. Regardless of which turn she is played, she is a solid play. +1 into swamps until you can use her ultimate. She is often ignored by the table because you are only using her to find swamps, which does not seem scary until you can suddenly tap for BBBB or more with each land. Remember, Crypt Ghast and Caged Sun do not double the mana your land produces, they simply say when a swamp is tapped for mana, which means that when combined with Liliana's emblem, you swamps add 5 or 6 black each. You do not have to use an infinite mana combo in mono black to produce an insane amount of mana to close out games.

Also, if you spend turn one casting a utility spell, a turn two ramp spell can set up a turn three where you cast card draw to refill your hand with cards like Ancient Craving and Ambition's Cost. Assuming that you keep your opening 7, draw to 8 to start the game, play a land and utility card and go down to 6 cards in hand on turn one; draw up to 7 on turn two, play a land and a mana rock which takes you down to 5 cards; turn three draw up to 6, play a land and cast the card draw spell which puts you down to 4 cards, it resolves and brings you back up to 7. This sets you up on turn four with 8 cards after your draw step, four mana and potentially 5 if you drew into a land so you can cast your commander a turn early without having to use a card in hand. This sets up turn five with 5 mana, eight cards again, your commander in play without summoning sickness and you are ready to start playing magic. In play groups that are not trying to combo out a win by turn four, this is a very respectable start. You have lots of mana, a hand full of cards, your commander is online and what happens next is up to you.