Exsanguinate is not ideal because it's virtually useless unless I have infinite mana. Blue Sun's Zenith and Venser, Shaper Savant are suitable win conditions because they're playable as regular cards as well as finishers.

That is valid, thanks guys. I love the deck, by the way. I tend to play mono colored, because I don't have money, but Damia is my favorite of the precon generals. +1 from me.

Have you gotten around to testing Carpet of Flowers ? I've been running it in my Damia deck and it's been great. In 1v1 it can be a bit iffy, but I've rarely played a multiplayer game without an opponent having islands.

I assume that you've looked over the M14 spoilers by now. Have you seen anything worth adding?

A couple people have suggested testing Savage Summoning, but that's the only card from M14 worth considering in this deck.

I do want to add Carpet of Flowers for competitive games. I might have to drop Chromatic Lantern for it.

I'm sure you can safely cut the Chromatic Lantern . I almost never have mana issues in mine and I don't even have the nice mana base you have (no fetches, ABUR duals, or Reflecting Pool ... yet); I'd imagine you only have mana trouble once in a blue moon.

I see you also have Snuff Out in the maybeboard. I used to run it and I always found it to be disappointing. Creature-specific removal was the last type of removal I wanted to draw, and even the fact that I could play it for free wasn't enough to convince me to keep it. Still, you may find more use for it than I did.

Have you considered Reset ?

Or Drain Power as a ramp option?

Reset is kind of iffy. The effect would be good if I consistently found myself needing more mana on other players' turns. However, I usually have enough to cast one or two counterspells. I could just cast Counterspell itself instead of Reset .

I'm not sure if Drain Power would be effective. It is useless in the early game where most players are spending their mana during their own turns by ramping or establishing their field. On turns three through five, it could see varying degrees of usefulness, but I'm unconvinced that it will be consistently good.

Greetings there, I just had a quick question--how does this deck fare in general against five-color combo, where the game is won by turn three (Hermit Druid activated) almost every time unless disrupted, or against a tendrils-type deck where the combo usually gets off by turn two at the latest? Does this deck have enough to routinely disrupt these decks turn 1, 2, and 3? The deck looks so awesome, it'd be a shame if it was just a turn slow.

the thing is this deck is tuned for 4 player pods so in a vacuum against a 1v1 tuned Hermit Druid deck I think may be an unfair comparison.

It depends on the counter wars. I probably wouldn't have a great matchup against Hermit Druid combo, but it's so situational when you consider the countermagic and ramp that it's almost impossible to say for certain. I haven't even ever faced a Hermit Druid deck with this list.

Ya, I'm talking about four-player pods, sometimes three. I see. Would you know of any deck with a favorable matchup against decks that go off before turn three or four? Perhaps I'll test this list against some hd decks :-)

Sorry for the multiple posts, but I was thinking about Stifle , Trickbind , and Interdict . Against the Hermit Druid decks, if you had to guess, do you think putting these into this deck would be a good idea?

Those cards dont really stop the Hermit Druid deck. you still need another answer in hand because it is going off again next turn

True, but my theory was that you'd go off the turn after you stopped the combo. But that might not happen enough, probability-wise, to make those inclusions viable.

Any deck that runs a decent amount of tutors would be able to have an answer to Hermit Druid . If it was obvious someone was playing Hermit Druid combo, just need to tutor for a kill spell or something would disrupt the combo.

You need more then that since they play so many reanimation spells

Random idea. Would Vedalken Orrery give you any advantage? I only ask cuz of the instant speed thing. It's not as good as Leyline of Anticipation but it's functional.

Vedalken Orrery isn't worth playing because it's so slow. Leyline of Anticipation does the same thing, can start on the field for free, and can be exiled for Force of Will or Misdirection if I draw it later on.

Abundant Growth seems like a better replacement for Utopia Sprawl . Same cost, produce "any" mana, can equip to any land, and you draw a card to boot.

Utopia Sprawl accelerates whereas Abudant Growth is a fixer.

@DFall3n1: What coleman984 said. Utopia Sprawl actually produces an extra mana. Abundant Growth only allows me to change what color of mana the land itself can produce. It replaces itself, sure, but it's basically a cantrip. I would rather have the ramp.

What about:

Praetor's Grasp - Usually you can get another tutor, a counter, or even a combo peice at a 4-way table.

Scapeshift + Cabal Coffers - you play Skyshroud Claim , this makes alot more mana

Grim Tutor - I know it is in the maybe board, but I think it is really good

Also, Is the Green Sun's Zenith really worth the spot? It doesnt have a ton of targets

Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir seems weak

Defense of the Heart gets combo and puts it into play without tapping any mana, so you can hold up counterspell

Lastly, you dont seem to run much removal, how has that worked out for you.

i would suggest adding Beast Within , or Maelstrom Pulse or something

Maelstrom Pulse is not good for edh it is much better for standard