Merciless Executioner is also a great sacrifice effect. After you've stacked the +1/+1 counters for a while, Black Sun's Zenith can be played to kill your opponent's creatures while keeping yours alive. Plus, when a creature's toughness is reduced to 0 it gets sacrificed, activating Mazirek. Cauldron of Souls can allow for some nasty combinations once you cancel out the - counters with + ones.

Lanzo493, I love your suggestions. Just like Black Sun's Zenith, Mutilate also works as a good removal spell. The problem is that I don't know what to take out to make room for those cards.

Titania's Boon is just a bad card. You can live without it. You'll almost never be able to activate Plaguemaw Beast so you can remove that too.

[Lanzo493], I see your point. I like [Plaguemaw Beast] because it's basically a free Proliferate. I'll drop [Titania's Boon], although I'd rather drop something black for [Mutilate] or [Merciless Executioner].

Lanzo493, I see your point. I like Plaguemaw Beast because it's basically a free Proliferate. I'll drop Titania's Boon, although I'd rather drop something black for Mutilate or Merciless Executioner.

Oops, I thought Plaguemaw Beast had to sacrifice an artifact. My mistake.

I thought of a nasty combo. You use Retribution of the Ancients to kill creatures, but the way you kill them results in them being sacrificed so you get more +1/+1 counters to do it again! Hardened Scales makes the combo that much nastier.

Lanzo493, both of those are great. Vastwood Hydra would also be good. The problem is finding space. I already took out Titania's Boon so I'm not sure what else should go.

On top of what I've said earlier, your commander is very capable of getting big so Rogue's Passage would be very good.

Looking at your mana curve, I think you could go without some of your 5 cmc cards. Of them, Brood Butcher seems weak because he won't be able to kill many creatures with his ability, just your own. I also dislike Slitherhead and Chlorophant simply because they may fit the theme, but they don't help it forward. One big creature that can be chump blocked and a small creature with scavenge are not very strong.

Lanzo493, I see your point. I'll take out Chlorophant for Vastwood Hydra and Slitherhead for Hardened Scales. I think Brood Butcher would be nice removal, because with enough mana and enough tokens I could kill anything, but eventually it gets pretty expensive. I think I'll take it out, and maybe Rise of the Dark Realms as well, since I don't have that much removal and I don't plan on sacrificing my important creatures either.

Maybe try out Zulaport Cutthroat for Blood Artist or in addition. Cutthroat drains all opponents, whereas Artist only drains one.

don't know Worm Harvest do ya?

I'd throw in a Khalni Garden to produce a free token, and Chainer's Edict, Grave Pact and Abyssal Gatekeeper seem to fit nice with what you want accomplished.

jeshwa, I like your suggestions. But what do you think I should take out for them?

-1 swamp for Khalni Garden
-1 Dark Impostor (creatures are exiled) for Abyssal Gatekeeper because he can get multiple triggers
Grave Pact is just 1cmc cheaper than dictate but lacks flash so that one is up to you my friend!

Thanks for the help jeshwa. I also took out Bramblewood Paragon for Harrow.

Bramblewood Paragon gives your tokens trample once they build up, Harrow is just a ramp spell.
Your average cmc isn't that high but I could see how you may need it, I suggest take out Wolfcaller's Howl and put paragon back in, and consider replacing Harrow with Wood Elves.

You could also try adding Primal Vigor if we can free up a spot.

I see your point about the Bramblewood Paragon, jeshwa. But Harrow is good because it has a sacrifice ability, which combos with Mazirek. Wolfcaller's Howl is also good because it makes tokens, although I could see taking it out. I'm not adding Primal Vigor because I'm trying to keep this deck on a budget and because my playgroup uses a lot of +1/+1 counters. Would taking out Fertilid work?

Completely forgot the text read "...sacrifices a permanent" for sure needs to stay in, Fertilid could be replaced with Bramblewood Paragon.

Wolfcaller's Howl, to me, would just force your opponents to play what is in hand more than it would make tokens, possibly try using Necrogenesis instead, should be a fair amount of things to exile. I figured there was a reason Primal Vigor was not included, but if it ever drops in price, I would try it out for politics around your playgroup.


EDIT: forgot Fertilid comes into play with 4 counters on it with Corpsejack Menace , Hardened Scales etc so maybe take out Spidersilk Armor?

jeshwa, I think I might take out Wolfcaller's Howl for Bramblewood Paragon, and keep Fertilid, because you're right about all the +1/+1 counters it could have. I love Necrogenesis though, so I might take out Shrine of Boundless Growth, which is a one-time sacrifice on an artifact that could easily be destroyed before it reaches enough counters to be useful.

And what about Ulvenwald Mysteries?

Excellent! Ulvenwald Mysteries is great to help you draw and fits the theme nicely, Shrine of Boundless Growth can go

May i suggest trying to fit Avenger of Zendikar in the budget? He would be fairly powerful in the build.

Good suggestions as always jeshwa. Avenger of Zendikar is pretty good late game, and combos well with Nissa, Voice of Zendikar. It's a bit cost intensive though. What should I take out for it and Necrogenesis?

Death's Presence is a little high on the cmc as well so that would bea good swap for avenger, and you should go ahead and take out Shrine of Boundless Growth for Necrogenesis

jeshwa, I'm a bit hesitant to take out Death's Presence due to all the synergies it has in this deck. It might make more sense to take out either Plaguemaw Beast or Hooded Hydra. I'll probably take out Ooze Garden or Triumph of Ferocity for Ulvenwald Mysteries.