The only reason chalice was so good was due to how ridiculously aggressive the meta became, with Delver at the forefront. With Pod gone, the meta is going to shift back to Junk, Kikki/Twin and UWR control once more (perhaps with a little Vengevine and some zoo in the mix). Against those decks, Chalice just doesn't offer enough stopping power to be worth anything. Heck, the most you can reasonably cast it for in a game is 4 (thereby stopping 2CMC spells), but that doesn't even stop Abrupt Decay (which you will be seeing a lot more of.) I may keep 2 in the SB to screw over Burn/Affinity (chalice for 0, anyone?) but I believe the meta is shifting away from it being a major player.

Some cards to replace those ugly Chalice of the Void:

Shadow of Doubt, Aven Mindcensor, Nihil Spellbomb

Any thought towards something like Leyline of Sanctity since discard will be back with a vengeance?

awphutt: I think it'll get a spot in the SB again for a lot of decks. It's almost 100% guaranteed a slot in MM2, in my opinion, so expect to see it a lot more.

I love gifts and the deck along with the attention and feedback you're providing especially as the meta shifts. I'm currently trying to enter mtgo for modern, i want to keep my costs down and have noted the substitutes for lilli but by no means aim to be budget.In regards to the manabase could it be adjusted to use the reprinted ktk fetches while still being competitive?

mozziebreh: Thanks, man. MTGO can be very fun for Gifts, as many people can get confused as to whether the cards they choose go in the graveyard or the hand, and accidentally give you the very cards they were trying to keep you from having. There's no take-backsies on MTGO. :P

In regards to the mana base, It could indeed be adjusted, although Verdant Catacombs is a must. However, you may not have that problem once Dragons of Tarkir comes out, as I'm 100% sure that the other fetches will be featured there.

I actually use 2x Flooded Strand instead of Misty Rainforest in paper atm, and it's worked out for me.

I run 0 catacombs in my list Sloves, It hasn't proven to me much of an Issue to make up with Overgrown Tomb + Polluted Delta's

It's really only super necessary when you want to hit that double black for Liliana. It also helps manage your life total, as you can nab basics earlier if you need them.

slovakattack what's your thoughts on Knight of the Reliquary?

mozziebreh: I think she's good, but in a Midrange build.

I like your list. I have a fairly similar one (private of course), and I just wanted to run a couple things past you.

No Slaughter Pact? I don't see mention of it in the updates, so I can only assume you haven't considered it. I'd say throw one in instead of having 2 PtEs. It gives you an incredibly cheap kill, and with 3 pieces of instant speed removal at 1 mana or less, it'll make the emergency Gifts Ungiven more consistently effective. Unless the creature is black. Then you're boned. Still, something to consider.

I like the Resolute Archangel idea. I use Sun Titan in mine for fun with Snapcaster and Lili, but I never find myself tutoring for it. I use it if I draw it though, because it does all sorts of stupid stuff with the aforementioned cards, as well as lands. I'll consider the archangel though, especially if burn is still a thing.

4 Liliana of the Veils? Does that seem to help? Typically 3 is the amount to run, but maybe I'm missing something.

I have an out-there idea that I use in my deck. Its pretty sketchy, but hear me out. Mystical Teachings. This deck just durdles without Gifts. The lack of draw doesn't allow you to really guarantee you'll draw into it. I've had so many hands just go nowhere because gifts never came. So I run a 5th! Only as a 1-of. So far, its been pretty baller. Its a little better than gifts in certain situations (needing a killspell/Snapcaster), and is reusable. Its only reusable in the long game obviously, but the fact that it has so much flexibility really has me intrigued. I'd like to get your opinion on that.

Last thing, I see you have 3 Thoughtseize and no Inquisition of Kozilek in there. With Dismember as well as fetches, that's a lot of lost life, especially in a deck that needs to survive for so long.

Anyway, nice deck! Glad to see Gifts is still popular without our favorite Deathrite Shaman

Unforgivn_II: Ey dude. Slaughter Pact was in this deck up until recently, when it was traded out for Darkblast due to meta reasons. Now that the meta is going to shift back to Kikki/Twin, I expect Slaughter Pact is going to find it's way back in.

Resolute Archangel has been seeing use lately due to how difficult it is for Gifts to historically stabilize. If the meta shifts to slower decks, then she may be sidelined for a more powerful win-con. However, with Siege Rhino seeing a ton of play, she provides valuable flexibility to bounce back from the double-rhino beatdown.

4 Liliana of the Veil has worked very well for me. Hitting her on T3 is excellent, and having another one handy to keep the grind going through a swing is always nice. I do not run Sun Titan, so Liliana recursion is not a factor for me. This warrants the inclusion of the 4th Lili.

I personally have never really had a problem getting ahold of a Gifts, but that's just a personal thing. Mystical Teachings isn't a bad card as a 1-of, although it's cost means that, slaughter pact aside, it is not particularly useful for the majority of the game.

3 Thoughtseize is indeed difficult. I will probably go down to 2, and bring in Slaughter pact, putting 1 more in the SB and 1 Inquisition of Kozilek in the SB.

I am still reconstructing my SB (a difficult thing, as the meta is in a current state of flux), and will make a full update when I do.

I was interested to see Sylvan Caryatid in the control version of this deck. Acceleration in Midrange variants seems really good, but Caryatid/Birds seems like kind of a nonbo with sweepers--though, admittedly you aren't super wrath-heavy pre-board.

mattr2013: Wraths are really only FUBAR buttons. All the deck needs to do is stabilize the board, and have enough mana to cast/animate Elesh Norn and search. Typically when I wrath, I already have about 6 mana in play. Losing the 2 or so to wipe a full board clean is usually worth it.

@slovakattack, How do you think Goryo's Vengeance +Griselbrand would be for some SB bomb tech?

I think it'd take away from what the deck is all about, honestly. Why run that combo when you could just run Gris and Unburial Rites? (if you want the Gris).

Your opponent is going to be SBing GY hate against you in G2-3, I guarantee it. Why play into his or her plan by making your deck -more- GY dependent?

Makes sense. I was just curious what you thought about that in the mix.

Still debating testing out Griselbrand in the deck, Could be good to load up the hand.

He's good, but I never liked him, just as a personal preference. Test him out; see what you think.

I vill do zat.

Why Resolute Archangel? How has it been working out for ya? Also have you considered Spellskite on SB

klone13: Resolute Archangel was a reaction to the extremely aggressive meta that followed the TC era. With that era falling behind, and it being easier to stabilize, she may be put out for the more traditional Iona.

Spellskite doesn't really do much for this deck. Typically, I only throw the win-con out when the opponent is top-decking, so it's not really needed to ensure it's survival.

Wurmcoil Engine would fill her spot easily.

Considered Tasigur, the Golden Fang? He has put in some work for me recently

Sloves I found this on reddit in case you didn't.

GlistenerAgent: Interesting. I was just playtesting Tasigur for my deck as well. It's looking like a shoo-in, honestly. He's just too good, especially for my gameplan.