Braids is one of my favorites to play. You can check out my list for ideas: Big Bottoms - Braids EDH A couple of the budget, non-eldrazi options you should consider: Arena, AEtherplasm, Nullstone Gargoyle, Reef Worm, Sphinx of Magosi, Arcane Laboratory and the phasing package of Vodalian Illusionist, Teferi's Veil and Vanishing.

Beautiful! Thanks so much!

A couple of those were already in my Maybe list but that Nullstone Gargoyle is exactly the type of creature I hadn't heard of but was looking for. <3

Fun-looking deck!

Some suggestions of creatures with high converted mana costs: Great Whale (not budget, but amazing for this deck), Jokulmorder, Mage-Ring Responder, Goliath Sphinx, Beast of Burden, Quicksilver Dragon, Icefall Regent, and Rishadan Brigand.

Some suggestions of cards that work nicely with the high converted mana costs of cards in this deck: Puca's Mischief (not budget, but could be a lot of fun), Energy Tap, Ratchet Bomb, Dispersal Shield, Dragon Wings, Hedron Matrix, Ugin's Insight, and Psychic Battle.

As usual, excellent suggestions DaringApprentice! Thanks so much. I genuinely appreciate your insight and willingness to comment and share. I have no doubt your input will improve my decks' efficiency and power while remaining purchasable.

No problem, I enjoy seeing interesting designs like this one and searching Gatherer for cards I didn't know about before!

DaringApprentice mentioned Energy Tap, and stole my thunder!

I'd probably try to get something like Unstable Obelisk in here, in order to ramp and shore up mono-blue's removal deficiencies.

Chromeshell Crab is a fun bait-and-switch sea creature.

Otherwise, I think you have all your bases covered. Another great deck you have here!

I want to add Empress Galina so bad. I'm splurging on a Cyclonic Rift so her $3.50 price tag isn't so bad. And she acts like a siren!! It's too perfect

scumbling1, I was thinking about perhaps obtaining a Lux Cannon for removal too. I have the Spine of Ish Sah and Argentum Armor in, along with Cyclonic Rift I thought that would be adequate. I own a Boomerang that I think I should re-add. I have a lot of blue counterspells and the like in my physical collection and was going to hone and polish my sorceries and instants tonight.

Perhaps a Capsize?

I like the idea of sending things back to owner hands since that is where Braids pulls (and it's usually cheaper). Having to force someone to use their freebie each round on something they already put out seems like a good way to build tempo and advantage.

Okay, crunch time. I put in all the cards I actually own and took out what I thought I could but I'm still 12 over. I think I'll sleep on it and try again tomorrow.

No, not cutting cards! I have to stop building at 99, rather than take things out later. I get more sleep at night, that way.

Capsize is amazing, though your group may hate you out upon casting... I guess it depends upon how oppressive it gets. This deck may be innocuous enough to make it work, though.

I don't think Lux Cannon works well without some sort of Proliferate-type theme. Otherwise, it's too slow.

Perhaps you have enough removal; I know I tend to err on the side of too much in my decks. I suggested the Obelisk as it was nearly a 'free' slot, doubling as ramp.

Haha I totally glossed over the fact that it is also a mana ramp! I might try to squeeze it in

It isn't updating properly but the deck is definitely 100 cards.

Hiya! Since you were nice enough to +1 one of my decks here's one for you as well as a link to my rather extensively tested Braids deck hopefully to give yo some ideas! H. P. Lovecraft Community College

You cant sac an opponents creature

One can sacrifice a creature one controls but doesn't own. It goes directly to the owner's graveyard.

What made you even decide to mention that, anyway? Did someone delete a comment?

"Once it's out, Elder Deep-Fiend might be okay. Its stats aren't great and its ability is upon cast. I should be able to cast it for the Emerge cost, preferably sacrificing an opponent's creature, but it still isn't much better than cheating in a Ulamog's Crusher or something similar."

You never mentioned having control over an opponents creature in that section so i thought you meant you could sac an opponents creature without having it. My bad, guess i assumed where i shouldnt have XD

Ah, no :) I just meant saccing a controlled opponent's creature to be cheeky :D

I think switching Library of Leng for a Thought Vessel might be an upgrade. I could keep the former in my side board for black and Dimir decks.

I've been looking to build a Group Hug deck that isn't Kruphix, God of Horizons or Phelddagrif. I have most of these cards sitting around so I'm going to throw together something similar and see how it goes. Thanks for the inspiration!

My pleasure!! Thank you for the up-vote!!

suneater There is another commander you could use, Edric, Spymaster of Trest. Hes a sort of huggy guy, as he incites people attacking anyone BUT you and drawing

Athraithe He's definitely good for Group Hug but I am trying to avoid him since he's already pretty popular, I don't like playing with or against him, and he's banned in one of my groups. Thanks for the tip though

Can't wait to see more updates. :) What are your future changes; do you have any ideas yet?

Thran Dynamo, Caged Sun, Void Winnower, Rhystic Study (already own one now!), Darksteel Colossus, Nykthos, Shrine to Nyx, Winding Canyons, Vedalken Orrery, Capsize, Duplicant, Psychosis Crawler, Gilded Lotus, Thought Vessel are all very very likely to go in once I upgrade. The deck needs much more ramp in order to function smoothly I believe. Getting Braids out just before my turn would help immensely too. I feel that if Braids is shut down my deck is neutered since my average CMC is a whopping 5. The deck needs to run on its own without Braids--her group-hug aspect is rarely seen as beneficial, it seems. Blue isn't the best color for ramp but at least it's a mono-colored deck. Also, being able to raw-cast my fatties along with a free one will help a lot with board-presence, which is an issue. A lot of times I finally get a bomb out and it's removed promptly.

Perhaps a Sword of the Animist as well. Gauntlet of Power is perfect but a bit expensive. Same with Doubling Cube, although that one is much more affordable. Might splurge on one. Might also throw in a Mind Stone and a Hedron Archive. On the fence about Sapphire Medallion.

Walk the Aeons and Time Warp would be good but they're so pricey. Might be worth it if I want this deck to be casually competitive. I do love my Braids, Conjurer Adept!

Phyrexian Metamorph is on the short list of upgrades but perhaps not the next big wave (see what I did there?). Same with Akroma's Memorial and Platinum Emperion

Also, might by a foil Braids for good measure.

The hard part is the cuts, obviously. I love my creature base but with my card-draw I could use a few less. That will require lots of balancing, I'm sure.