MTG Salvation

INTRODUCTION
I built this list for playing with the local saturday EDH crowd. 3-5 player games
Technically casual, since we play for fun and not for wins (and people will take stuff out if it really doesn't feel fun) but we do run a relatively high level of optimization.
I started running Zegana as soon as Gatecrash released, and I've been working on it ever since. After bidding farewell to Sylvan Primordial, this is my current list.

THE DECK



DISCUSSION AND CARD CHOICES

The theme of this deck is abusing ETB abilities (it's been referred to as Value.dec by some of my friends). With powerful ETB triggers like Acidic Slime, Avenger of Zendikar, Craterhoof Behemoth, and of course Prime Speaker Zegana, there is a TON of value to be gained by re-using creatures. For this purpose I have Deadeye Navigator, Conjurer's Closet, and Cackling Counterpart to recur these powerful abilities. In addition, the mass removal in the form of global bounce spells is usually better for me than my opponents as re-casting creatures is profitable. Since we want our creatures hitting the battlefield as often and as many times as possible, I've included creatures like Soul of the Harvest, Fathom Mage, and Garruk's companion to get even more card advantage out of them.

I usually win by drawing half my deck with Zegana and using the resource advantage to protect my big tramplers while they beat face, but if necessary I can skip the combat step altogether and win with lab maniac and a draw engine (Usually Prime Speaker and Deadeye Navigator).

WHAT'S NEXT

I don't want any infinite combos (No Palinchron engines) or anything super expensive (No Jace TMS) but I'd like to hear the community's suggestions for the last few touches on this deck. There are a few things I have in just because I had them lying around (like Wash Out) or because I like the card (Like Vorapede) but aren't really better than anything else that could fit into that slot, so let me know what you think I could add or remove and why.

SUGGESTIONS I'M CONSIDERING
Psychosis Crawler, Rite of Replication

I ran Seedborn Muse and Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir in the days before Prophet of Kruphix, and I still do. Redundancy is never a bad thing.

Also, Psychosis Crawler. I'm obligated to mention this card every time I see a Zegana deck not running it. It's like Zegana was MADE to go with this thing.

The deck in my sig is designed differently from yours, but perhaps you can find some new ideas from it.

Nice, I love me some Zegana EDH. I have a few suggestions:

Riptide Laboratory is great for bouncing Zegana back to your hand. Recast her for profit!

Cavern of Souls ensures that she won't be countered (who cares if she's destroyed, all that matters is that she resolves).

While I'm not usually a fan of conditional counterspells, Familiar's Ruse is a pretty sweet way to return an ETB critter to your hand for recasting later. I'd recommend removing Dismiss to free up a slot for it.

At least in my meta, the lifegain from something like Venser's Journal is more often than not inconsequential, so I'd recommend taking that out and replacing it with Expedition Map. The E-Map will allow you to search for any of your important utility lands, such as Alchemist's Refuge, and you could also add Reliquary Tower for another way to eliminate your maximum hand size. An additional way to accomplish this would be Praetor's Counsel--expensive, but totally worth the 8 mana if you get to reuse your counterspells and ETB creatures that have been destroyed. It also has the added benefit of permanently eliminating your maximum hand size once it resolves.

Oran-Rief, the Vastwood can be tapped with Zegana's ETB trigger on the stack to net you an extra card.

IMO, Phyrexian Metamorph is a more versatile clone than Cackling Counterpart.

Wash Out can be replaced with Overwhelming Stampede, which can be game over in conjunction with the tokens from Avenger of Zendikar. It's almost like having a second copy of Craterhoof Behemoth.

I'm not a huge fan of Whelming Wave, because it also negatively impacts your own board state. I really like the versatility of Simic Charm--it's saved my skin (or scales?) countless times.

Garruk's Packleader is a bit underwhelming. I think Spike Weaver provides better utility in a 4-drop.

Vorel of the Hull Clade is cool, but I think it might be a little too slow. If you want to double Zegana's counters, it would cost you 8 mana. I prefer Champion of Lambholt in that slot. If he's in play by the time you resolve Avenger of Zendikar, then your creatures will become virtually unblockable. If you really want to double Zegana's counters, pick up a copy of Doubling Season, which also doubles the counters on your planeswalkers, doubles your tokens from Avenger, and makes Draining Whelk even scarier.

Speaking of doubling things, invest in Mana Reflection. You know you want to!

Simic Sky Swallower is strong, but very expensive to cast. Have you considered running Psychosis Crawler instead? Note that each of your opponents lose life every time you draw a card. If Zegana is paired with Deadeye and this guy's in play, that's GG.

For one reason or another, Zegana is the single EDH deck I haven't had the heart to disassemble. Every time I take it apart to use the cards in other decks, it gets rebuilt within a matter of days. I have the list up on TappedOut; if you're interested I can show you what I've brewed up over the past year or so.

I would add in a Rite of Replication. It will essentially be another wincon, given all those big fatties you run, all of which would be fun to cast this on.

I run Akroma's Memorial in my Zegana list. Ever since adding it to the deck, I have won every game that is has made it out. I run a Primal Surge list so of course it is helpful there, but it also allows all the big guys in this deck to attack evasively and still block. Also I have been knocking out opponents with Gen damage from Zegana because of it.

Also one thing I was very careful of is to not run anything that didn't have a lot of utility value in addition to being a big hitter like simi sky swallower.

Finally I found any later game card draw in addition to prime speaker is uselessly redundant. I haven't casted a consecrated sphinx once in my deck and I maybe would cut soul harvester for something that gives you a lot of bang for your buck while you let zegana handle your card draw. With deadeye and all the other bounce/blink she can draw your entire deck rather quick. I've won quite a few games psychosis crawler.