Counters aren't a problem because the cast trigger will still work. Pacifism gets solved by either sac'ing kozilek : High Market, Miren, the moaning well, Helm of possession,.. or by using spot removal on it: Spine of ish sah, Karn Liberated, ... And opponents know this. They won't let a kozilek live because there's a pacifism on it, if I can get it off it's going to swing and beat hard quite fast!
A small edit:
This is all an answer to the original question of what happens when such measures get used for Kozilek, but mind you, this deck can fully function without Kozilek.
It can easily switch to a more control-oriented playstyle and start using other beaters or artifact synergy/combo's. Kozilek is mainly used early and mid-game.
One wrong move and a guy will sacrifice 4 permanent. can't wait to test this deck out.
What's the plan if koz got tucked in somehow? tutor with ugin? Better use kuldotha forgemaster and call planar portal, no?
One wrong move and a guy will sacrifice 4 permanent. can't wait to test this deck out.
What's the plan if koz got tucked in somehow? tutor with ugin? Better use kuldotha forgemaster and call planar portal, no?
My advice would be to switch playstyle. You can still hold tempo but not as much as before, hence, build up a machine. After a tuck, best is to start going for interactions and combo's. You will be amazed by what all those artifacts on your board are capable of doing and your mind is going to explode just thinking on what the best choice would be. There has been multiple times I could actually win with my board position but only saw it a turn later, which is probably the same time my opponents see it.
Keep your mind fresh and start acting a bit more like a control player.
The only exception would be that if they're really low on resources already and you have stuff like mimic vat/ echo chamber on the field with Ulamog, the infinite gyre in your hand. If that's the case just carry on with the beat-down.
You will notice that, after Kozilek has established your board, may it be by mana ramp and a little bit of utility artifacts, that from then on out it's easy to switch to late-game and act accordingly, get that engine running!
And I might repeat myself by saying this but I can't stress it enough, this deck does way more than just using Kozilek as a beat-down win-condition. His main purpose is and always will be card draw and tempo.
After all these questions I'm pretty sure I need to add a "Synergy and Combo's" section now, might have put too much on Kozilek's shoulders to bear.
You may expect it soon!
Now that Staff of Domination has been unbanned, I think it deserves a spot in here - with the crazy amount of mana you produce would be a good way to draw cards and tap creatures (could be a 4th "Maze Of Ith" effect!). Can probably gain more life than Pristine Talisman but you probably won't be using it for that much.
Really fun list though, been playing a version of it online and can viably get Kozilek out by turn 4 or 5 every single game lol.
Now that Staff of Domination has been unbanned, I think it deserves a spot in here - with the crazy amount of mana you produce would be a good way to draw cards and tap creatures (could be a 4th "Maze Of Ith" effect!). Can probably gain more life than Pristine Talisman but you probably won't be using it for that much.
Really fun list though, been playing a version of it online and can viably get Kozilek out by turn 4 or 5 every single game lol.
Yeah, I like the staff but it doesn't have much use in here. I feel that if i want to use it for the tap I could use Icy manipulator as well, only reason to run staff of domination would be to combo out. And that's not something I want this deck to aim for, when I combo, it's accidental, with a lot of different cards and like I said not aimed for. Staff, would change this playstyle. And running staff purely for utility, well, look at it, it doesn't bring much utility for this deck.
Gaining life? Not really necesary, could be handy, worth it? no.
Untap a creature? Can't seem to find a decent target in this deck.
Tap a creature? Overcosted
Draw a card? Neat, but I have Kozilek. Combo out? I'd rather win in another way than abuse this. May it be by beat-down or by 12-card field combo's.
TLDR, Staff is kinda cheesy and if I want to combo out I want to do it with an epic play.
Have you considered Mercadian Atlas as another way to draw cards? It does mean skipping land drops, but if you're using artifact mana that may not be a problem.
Have you considered Mercadian Atlas as another way to draw cards? It does mean skipping land drops, but if you're using artifact mana that may not be a problem.
I actually haven't considered it, I recall seeing this somewhere in the past but have never really stopped and thought about it.
I don't like it though.. Let me explain.
The way I see it, there's two different situations.
When Kozilek is around: I'm playing a game where no one has tucked my general, great! This is awesome and the deck should work as intended, it's my 8th turn and I draw a Mercadian Atlas.. It's a dead card. As long as Kozilek is around I seem to have enough draw-power to my disposal, why would I waste 5 mana on this one and not play those lands I drew? Eventually I'll get to a staff of nin or mind's eye.. Maybe just a filter like scroll rack. Better options are available, this card would stay in my hand and remain there for the rest of the game...
When Kozilek gets tucked : I'm playing a game where my general got tucked, the draw-power of this deck has lowered, I might even say halved. I topdeck this and have the ability to play it (for 5 mana still) and if I don't play a land I can draw another card EOT. Now first off, with the amount of draw-power gone I cannot afford to continually miss land drops cause I won't be drawing mana rocks like crazy anymore. Of-course there's a possibility doing this for three turns and rebuilding my hand but this would be enormously slow in a tempo deck. This wouldn't even be handy when it's in it's prime.
IF I wanted more draw options added to the deck there's a bundle of choices, my favorite being Serum Tank. Serum tank is a silent hero, he really is. He can drop down on the board and not be used for 5 turns and still be effective when I need it because of the counters keep being added. When I have an untap effect and lots of mana ready for it, it gets THAT much better due to the fact that I can draw multiple cards in the same turn (and not EOT while we're at it). Like this I'd keep up the tempo and in return give more counters to Serum tank. Serum Tank works early, mid and late game for whenever I'm in need of a draw.
But even Serum Tank hasn't even made the deck. I find that this deck doesn't need any more draw-power and can work fine as it is.
Hence, I would advise you not to play Mercadian Atlas if you're ever to build a Kozilek/colorless deck of your own but maybe you can prove me wrong?
Yeah - for me, it's just too conditional at 5. If it was a nonbasic land that tapped for 1 with the mercadian atlas ability, we'd seriously be in business ! (Look ma, a fixed Library of Alexandria !)
But seriously, This would have to cost 1 or 2 for me to even think about needing it - and I still might not play it.
Im in love with this deck. So much so that I might just drop $400 @scg and buy it. Still any thoughts on All is Dust? Or that colorless Eldrazi counterspell? Also why aren't you running Emrekal?
Im in love with this deck. So much so that I might just drop $400 @scg and buy it. Still any thoughts on All is Dust? Or that colorless Eldrazi counterspell? Also why aren't you running Emrekal?
Emrakul is banned. Also, I would shop around before dropping 400 on this deck. SCG is notoriously expensive on popular cards. EDH staples included.
I was thinking about building the deck myself but my only major concern is that my group doesn't allow Partial Paris mulligans. Can the deck function well without them?
-If it was a nonbasic land that tapped for 1 with the mercadian atlas ability, we'd seriously be in business ! (Look ma, a fixed Library of Alexandria !)-
Yeah, I feel a need coming for more cool colorless non-basic lands, where's that torpor orb land wizards?! Where is it?!
I was thinking about building the deck myself but my only major concern is that my group doesn't allow Partial Paris mulligans. Can the deck function well without them?
Personally I find it a bit harsh not to allow such a thing. The edh committee has it there for a reason. First of all, it allows for more beat-down players to compete in EDH. Second, it's a 100-card singleton format it's really hard to get a curve in your deck without the partial paris. Third, it's mainly made to be a casual format, some decks aren't made to be cutthroat and this rule helps those players not stay behind on early turns.
However, if your group has their house-rules there's an easy solution. Run more mana rocks. You'll have to fine-tune the deck a bit more towards your house-rule by adding (my suggestions) Helm of awakening, Mox opal, and like three extra mana rocks. (this shouldn't hurt the deck too much) You'll lose some of the end-game cards but considering the rule, they're losing early-game and you'll beat them even harder because of their own rule. (show them who's boss and why that rule is idiotic)
I'm actually in a helm of awakening test run and it might even make the main deck!
On a side note:
I've obtained my mana crypt! IT WAS GLORIUS
Edit: Mana crypt update, some of the synergy section and edit to the playtest section coming tomorrow, stay tuned.
Already done a few changes to the main-thread and decklist.
Here's the new In's and Out's. OutJunk DiverInTormod's Crypt OutMyr RetrieverInRelic Of Progenitus
Removed these choices of recur with choices of grave-hate. However good recur is, in here it's not as good as colored decks, combat it instead!
OutKarn, Silver GolemInHelm of Awakening
Karn wasn't doing it lately, high mana investment. Without the reliable possibility of getting infinite mana/infinite untaps and combo-ing out he does way less.
Usually I have to tap the board to animate it, counter-productive. Helm of awakening is sick ramp in here, definitely after a kederekt leviathan or cylconic rift!
Added just a small glimpse of the new Synergy/Combo Section!
Edit: moved the combo section and cleaned it up.
It should be easier to read now and not clogging up the main thread
Still heavily in construction and only a couple of synergies on it ATM
Removed the Combo/synergy section
I found that, there's actually so much synergy and combo's in this deck it's impossible to list it all.
What I did was list a few and I kept adding some over time, but I felt that, by listing only a few it looked like this deck could only handle a few. This is not the case and I don't want people to think such a thing.
Hence, the section got removed.
If people want to feel this deck and it's power I suggest you print it/make it on MTGO/cockatrice and play a couple of games with it. May it be solitaire or vs opponents, eventually you'll get the hang of the whole package that this deck brings. Just read the thread carefully and always check back on the "Piloting this deck" section of the main thread.
How does Kozilek stack up against other T1 decks in edh?
Well, there's small-time commander tournaments around here sometimes and I participate with this deck most of the time. (4-man tables)
Last tourney it got second place, first place was an arcum daggson combo deck.
Is there any specific generals you have questions about? Certain meta-warping cards around your LGS?
Are you speaking 1v1 or multiplayer tables? How many players/table?
I think it's worth having a Combos/Synergy section even if you specifically state that you only include some of the more obscure/your favourite/the best synergies.
I understand it can be difficult to limit them (believe me, I keep finding new synergies in Animar) but having some rather than none is more beneficial to people interested in the deck and figuring out how it works. For some players having some synergies pointed out to them excite them enough to build and play with the deck, however an advantage of not listing them all is that people get excited when they discover ones you haven't talked about. Just my two cents.
Well, there's small-time commander tournaments around here sometimes and I participate with this deck most of the time. (4-man tables)
Last tourney it got second place, first place was an arcum daggson combo deck.
Is there any specific generals you have questions about? Certain meta-warping cards around your LGS?
Are you speaking 1v1 or multiplayer tables? How many players/table?
Usually we play with 4 people per table. I guess the ones I've seen that constantly cause headaches are Sharrum, Jarad and Skittles (in multiplayer), Jenara and Geist(in 1v1 games).
I think it's worth having a Combos/Synergy section even if you specifically state that you only include some of the more obscure/your favourite/the best synergies.
I understand it can be difficult to limit them (believe me, I keep finding new synergies in Animar) but having some rather than none is more beneficial to people interested in the deck and figuring out how it works. For some players having some synergies pointed out to them excite them enough to build and play with the deck, however an advantage of not listing them all is that people get excited when they discover ones you haven't talked about. Just my two cents.
Yeah, you might have a point there, but I feel that when I list some combo's, newer players will aim to get those out and not see the ones they already have assembled. As such I want a really big list to start with and not a small one that grows.
Another factor is that, when experienced players read it and there's super-obvious combo's listed, they might think it's a worse deck than it is. How can I solve this? Difficulty rating?
Usually we play with 4 people per table. I guess the ones I've seen that constantly cause headaches are Sharrum, Jarad and Skittles (in multiplayer), Jenara and Geist(in 1v1 games).
Sharuum shouldn't be a problem, if it's known to be a truly strong sharuum combo deck, the table will just turn towards it and beat on it. You'll be the one beating hardest, he won't come back from it. I find that re-animator sharuum is stronger than it's combo counterpart.
For Jarad, both Tormod's crypt and Relic of Progenitus should be enough hate already. Even if it's filled with green goodstuffs, there's so many ways to deal with these kind of decks. Should not be a problem at all. I actually find Jarad, Golgari Lich lord a bigger threat in a The Mimeoplasm deck than as a general. It also depends on your meta. Does your meta respond with removal? Or will you be the only one running grave-hate? Will you be the only one running Torpor Orb? I have noticed that some playgroups are more of a "let's play solitaire" kind of group without noticing they can easily win if they run a little bit of answers.
When someone drops a Skittles down on the table it will get removed just as fast as my Kozilek, when it stays this deck should have an answer for it anyway. Get it off the board as soon as possible, Duplicant, Karn liberated, Spine of Ish sah, All is Dust, Predator, Flagship, .... I find that, if Skittles is a problem in your playgroup, Kozilek will be a bigger one for them.
All in all, you should just react to your meta and act accordingly. This deck can easily drop down a Torpor Orb and not be affected by it. There's also cards like Cursed Totem to stop certain strategies, etc.
In 1v1 the decklist will need adjustments, but if it's against another deck that's tuned for multiplayer, it should be fine.
Ah ok , that sounds pretty reasonable. I'll probably build 2 lists, one for 1v1 and one for multiplayer. Or just break out Rafiq for 1v1s
Have you considered skyship Weatherlight as another tutor? It seems it might be good due to the low creature density of the deck as well of answers on demand from saccing/recurring it, the only problem is that it's mana intensive, which this deck is not worried about. Or platinum angel in addition to platinum emperor.
Ah ok , that sounds pretty reasonable. I'll probably build 2 lists, one for 1v1 and one for multiplayer. Or just break out Rafiq for 1v1s
Have you considered skyship Weatherlight as another tutor? It seems it might be good due to the low creature density of the deck as well of answers on demand from saccing/recurring it, the only problem is that it's mana intensive, which this deck is not worried about. Or platinum angel in addition to platinum emperor.
If I truly wanted to tutor, I'd go for planar portal. But in this deck card draw HIGHLY over classes tutoring. Better get multiple parts of an engine than one specific one. What would you want to tutor for? and why waste a card spot on it?
Running Platinum Angel seems a bit absurd, unless your deck has lifegain it won't really have much effect. You'll get one extra turn at max and only on some occasions. It's a dead card every other time.
Walking Atlas would need some testing but, this deck doesn't have many lands in it. However, when you're drawing like hell with Kozilek, it might actually be useful, I'll look into it.
I like Palladium Myr less than the atlas because the atlas's ramp is "permanent". Another thing is, people know that this deck wants to ramp, when you get that palladium myr out early, they can use creature based spot removal to actually stop you from ramping. Is this bad? No. But it does slow you down a bit. However, I'll test it out some too.
If I truly wanted to tutor, I'd go for planar portal. But in this deck card draw HIGHLY over classes tutoring. Better get multiple parts of an engine than one specific one. What would you want to tutor for? and why waste a card spot on it?
Running Platinum Angel seems a bit absurd, unless your deck has lifegain it won't really have much effect. You'll get one extra turn at max and only on some occasions. It's a dead card every other time.
Walking Atlas would need some testing but, this deck doesn't have many lands in it. However, when you're drawing like hell with Kozilek, it might actually be useful, I'll look into it.
I like Palladium Myr less than the atlas because the atlas's ramp is "permanent". Another thing is, people know that this deck wants to ramp, when you get that palladium myr out early, they can use creature based spot removal to actually stop you from ramping. Is this bad? No. But it does slow you down a bit. However, I'll test it out some too.
I'd like to add a vote for Walking Atlas as great. I have it in a lot of my non-green decks and can attest to the power of it. While our mana rocks are our main source of ramp, lands survive a board wipe more often than artifacts. Not to mention that with the card draw this deck gives I often have extra lands in hand. As a bonus, he has been fixed to be an artifact creature and thus can work with untap shenanigans.
Additionally I've been getting great results with Fireshrieker, in case you're stll thinking about it.
Private Mod Note
():
Rollback Post to RevisionRollBack
My Decks:
Aggro: WUBRGHorde of Notions Goodstuff, RUBCheesy Aggro, GR Xenagod Gruul Goodstuff
Control: GWBGhave, Guru of Adaptability, UBWrexial, Milling Deep UAzami, Lady of No Infinite Combos GWU Derevi, Tempo Beats
Other: URGRiku of Too Much Mana, WUBRG Sliver Queen Enchantress
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Counters aren't a problem because the cast trigger will still work.
Pacifism gets solved by either sac'ing kozilek : High Market, Miren, the moaning well, Helm of possession,.. or by using spot removal on it: Spine of ish sah, Karn Liberated, ... And opponents know this. They won't let a kozilek live because there's a pacifism on it, if I can get it off it's going to swing and beat hard quite fast!
A small edit:
This is all an answer to the original question of what happens when such measures get used for Kozilek, but mind you, this deck can fully function without Kozilek.
It can easily switch to a more control-oriented playstyle and start using other beaters or artifact synergy/combo's. Kozilek is mainly used early and mid-game.
[Primer] Kozilek, Butcher with Juice.
What's the plan if koz got tucked in somehow? tutor with ugin? Better use kuldotha forgemaster and call planar portal, no?
My advice would be to switch playstyle. You can still hold tempo but not as much as before, hence, build up a machine. After a tuck, best is to start going for interactions and combo's. You will be amazed by what all those artifacts on your board are capable of doing and your mind is going to explode just thinking on what the best choice would be. There has been multiple times I could actually win with my board position but only saw it a turn later, which is probably the same time my opponents see it.
Keep your mind fresh and start acting a bit more like a control player.
The only exception would be that if they're really low on resources already and you have stuff like mimic vat/ echo chamber on the field with Ulamog, the infinite gyre in your hand. If that's the case just carry on with the beat-down.
You will notice that, after Kozilek has established your board, may it be by mana ramp and a little bit of utility artifacts, that from then on out it's easy to switch to late-game and act accordingly, get that engine running!
And I might repeat myself by saying this but I can't stress it enough, this deck does way more than just using Kozilek as a beat-down win-condition. His main purpose is and always will be card draw and tempo.
After all these questions I'm pretty sure I need to add a "Synergy and Combo's" section now, might have put too much on Kozilek's shoulders to bear.
You may expect it soon!
[Primer] Kozilek, Butcher with Juice.
Really fun list though, been playing a version of it online and can viably get Kozilek out by turn 4 or 5 every single game lol.
Yeah, I like the staff but it doesn't have much use in here. I feel that if i want to use it for the tap I could use Icy manipulator as well, only reason to run staff of domination would be to combo out. And that's not something I want this deck to aim for, when I combo, it's accidental, with a lot of different cards and like I said not aimed for. Staff, would change this playstyle. And running staff purely for utility, well, look at it, it doesn't bring much utility for this deck.
Gaining life? Not really necesary, could be handy, worth it? no.
Untap a creature? Can't seem to find a decent target in this deck.
Tap a creature? Overcosted
Draw a card? Neat, but I have Kozilek.
Combo out? I'd rather win in another way than abuse this. May it be by beat-down or by 12-card field combo's.
TLDR, Staff is kinda cheesy and if I want to combo out I want to do it with an epic play.
[Primer] Kozilek, Butcher with Juice.
I actually haven't considered it, I recall seeing this somewhere in the past but have never really stopped and thought about it.
I don't like it though.. Let me explain.
The way I see it, there's two different situations.
When Kozilek is around: I'm playing a game where no one has tucked my general, great! This is awesome and the deck should work as intended, it's my 8th turn and I draw a Mercadian Atlas.. It's a dead card. As long as Kozilek is around I seem to have enough draw-power to my disposal, why would I waste 5 mana on this one and not play those lands I drew? Eventually I'll get to a staff of nin or mind's eye.. Maybe just a filter like scroll rack. Better options are available, this card would stay in my hand and remain there for the rest of the game...
When Kozilek gets tucked : I'm playing a game where my general got tucked, the draw-power of this deck has lowered, I might even say halved. I topdeck this and have the ability to play it (for 5 mana still) and if I don't play a land I can draw another card EOT. Now first off, with the amount of draw-power gone I cannot afford to continually miss land drops cause I won't be drawing mana rocks like crazy anymore. Of-course there's a possibility doing this for three turns and rebuilding my hand but this would be enormously slow in a tempo deck. This wouldn't even be handy when it's in it's prime.
IF I wanted more draw options added to the deck there's a bundle of choices, my favorite being Serum Tank. Serum tank is a silent hero, he really is. He can drop down on the board and not be used for 5 turns and still be effective when I need it because of the counters keep being added. When I have an untap effect and lots of mana ready for it, it gets THAT much better due to the fact that I can draw multiple cards in the same turn (and not EOT while we're at it). Like this I'd keep up the tempo and in return give more counters to Serum tank.
Serum Tank works early, mid and late game for whenever I'm in need of a draw.
But even Serum Tank hasn't even made the deck. I find that this deck doesn't need any more draw-power and can work fine as it is.
Hence, I would advise you not to play Mercadian Atlas if you're ever to build a Kozilek/colorless deck of your own but maybe you can prove me wrong?
[Primer] Kozilek, Butcher with Juice.
But seriously, This would have to cost 1 or 2 for me to even think about needing it - and I still might not play it.
Emrakul is banned. Also, I would shop around before dropping 400 on this deck. SCG is notoriously expensive on popular cards. EDH staples included.
I was thinking about building the deck myself but my only major concern is that my group doesn't allow Partial Paris mulligans. Can the deck function well without them?
GWUBAtraxa, Praetor's Voice PrimerGWUB
GWURoon Bant Blink WhateverGWU
BRGLord Windgrace LandsBRG
All is dust is awesome! Best wipe ever, it's in the deck and in the individual card discussion. What's the exact question?
Too conditional.. Just let Kozilek die and recast him netting 4 extra cards.
Yeah, I feel a need coming for more cool colorless non-basic lands, where's that torpor orb land wizards?! Where is it?!
Personally I find it a bit harsh not to allow such a thing. The edh committee has it there for a reason. First of all, it allows for more beat-down players to compete in EDH. Second, it's a 100-card singleton format it's really hard to get a curve in your deck without the partial paris. Third, it's mainly made to be a casual format, some decks aren't made to be cutthroat and this rule helps those players not stay behind on early turns.
However, if your group has their house-rules there's an easy solution. Run more mana rocks. You'll have to fine-tune the deck a bit more towards your house-rule by adding (my suggestions) Helm of awakening, Mox opal, and like three extra mana rocks. (this shouldn't hurt the deck too much) You'll lose some of the end-game cards but considering the rule, they're losing early-game and you'll beat them even harder because of their own rule. (show them who's boss and why that rule is idiotic)
I'm actually in a helm of awakening test run and it might even make the main deck!
On a side note:
I've obtained my mana crypt!
IT WAS GLORIUS
Edit: Mana crypt update, some of the synergy section and edit to the playtest section coming tomorrow, stay tuned.
[Primer] Kozilek, Butcher with Juice.
Here's the new In's and Out's.
Out Junk Diver In Tormod's Crypt
Out Myr Retriever In Relic Of Progenitus
Removed these choices of recur with choices of grave-hate. However good recur is, in here it's not as good as colored decks, combat it instead!
Out Karn, Silver Golem In Helm of Awakening
Karn wasn't doing it lately, high mana investment. Without the reliable possibility of getting infinite mana/infinite untaps and combo-ing out he does way less.
Usually I have to tap the board to animate it, counter-productive. Helm of awakening is sick ramp in here, definitely after a kederekt leviathan or cylconic rift!
Out Trading Post In Swiftfoot Boots
Out Blinkmoth Well In Mana crypt
Out Crystal Ball In Mimic Vat
Covered most of this in the main thread, any questions be sure to ask
Thinking of a good way for a "combo/synergy" section and finishing "Other ways of playing Kozilek" section soon.
Edit: Sorry! Mixed up the IN with OUT and vice versa, sorry, fixed!
[Primer] Kozilek, Butcher with Juice.
Added just a small glimpse of the new Synergy/Combo Section!Edit: moved the combo section and cleaned it up.It should be easier to read now and not clogging up the main thread
Still heavily in construction and only a couple of synergies on it ATM
[Primer] Kozilek, Butcher with Juice.
I found that, there's actually so much synergy and combo's in this deck it's impossible to list it all.
What I did was list a few and I kept adding some over time, but I felt that, by listing only a few it looked like this deck could only handle a few. This is not the case and I don't want people to think such a thing.
Hence, the section got removed.
If people want to feel this deck and it's power I suggest you print it/make it on MTGO/cockatrice and play a couple of games with it. May it be solitaire or vs opponents, eventually you'll get the hang of the whole package that this deck brings. Just read the thread carefully and always check back on the "Piloting this deck" section of the main thread.
[Primer] Kozilek, Butcher with Juice.
Well, there's small-time commander tournaments around here sometimes and I participate with this deck most of the time. (4-man tables)
Last tourney it got second place, first place was an arcum daggson combo deck.
In my playgroup there's things like Azami, lady of scrolls combo, Rafiq of the many aggro, Maelstrom wanderer goodstuffs and all around good generals like Animar, soul of elements and The Mimeoplasm and this deck can handle most/all of them.
It's main weakness is mono-green, never seem to be able to out-tempo an Asuza, lost but seeking that's throwing Acidic Slimes at me as soon as turn 2. However, that is solely in 1v1 scenarios.
Is there any specific generals you have questions about? Certain meta-warping cards around your LGS?
Are you speaking 1v1 or multiplayer tables? How many players/table?
[Primer] Kozilek, Butcher with Juice.
I understand it can be difficult to limit them (believe me, I keep finding new synergies in Animar) but having some rather than none is more beneficial to people interested in the deck and figuring out how it works. For some players having some synergies pointed out to them excite them enough to build and play with the deck, however an advantage of not listing them all is that people get excited when they discover ones you haven't talked about. Just my two cents.
Usually we play with 4 people per table. I guess the ones I've seen that constantly cause headaches are Sharrum, Jarad and Skittles (in multiplayer), Jenara and Geist(in 1v1 games).
Yeah, you might have a point there, but I feel that when I list some combo's, newer players will aim to get those out and not see the ones they already have assembled. As such I want a really big list to start with and not a small one that grows.
Another factor is that, when experienced players read it and there's super-obvious combo's listed, they might think it's a worse deck than it is. How can I solve this? Difficulty rating?
Sharuum shouldn't be a problem, if it's known to be a truly strong sharuum combo deck, the table will just turn towards it and beat on it. You'll be the one beating hardest, he won't come back from it. I find that re-animator sharuum is stronger than it's combo counterpart.
For Jarad, both Tormod's crypt and Relic of Progenitus should be enough hate already. Even if it's filled with green goodstuffs, there's so many ways to deal with these kind of decks. Should not be a problem at all. I actually find Jarad, Golgari Lich lord a bigger threat in a The Mimeoplasm deck than as a general. It also depends on your meta. Does your meta respond with removal? Or will you be the only one running grave-hate? Will you be the only one running Torpor Orb? I have noticed that some playgroups are more of a "let's play solitaire" kind of group without noticing they can easily win if they run a little bit of answers.
When someone drops a Skittles down on the table it will get removed just as fast as my Kozilek, when it stays this deck should have an answer for it anyway. Get it off the board as soon as possible, Duplicant, Karn liberated, Spine of Ish sah, All is Dust, Predator, Flagship, .... I find that, if Skittles is a problem in your playgroup, Kozilek will be a bigger one for them.
All in all, you should just react to your meta and act accordingly. This deck can easily drop down a Torpor Orb and not be affected by it. There's also cards like Cursed Totem to stop certain strategies, etc.
In 1v1 the decklist will need adjustments, but if it's against another deck that's tuned for multiplayer, it should be fine.
[Primer] Kozilek, Butcher with Juice.
Have you considered skyship Weatherlight as another tutor? It seems it might be good due to the low creature density of the deck as well of answers on demand from saccing/recurring it, the only problem is that it's mana intensive, which this deck is not worried about. Or platinum angel in addition to platinum emperor.
Walking Atlas and Palladium Myr also seems to fit into the ramp theme of the deck.
If I truly wanted to tutor, I'd go for planar portal. But in this deck card draw HIGHLY over classes tutoring. Better get multiple parts of an engine than one specific one. What would you want to tutor for? and why waste a card spot on it?
Running Platinum Angel seems a bit absurd, unless your deck has lifegain it won't really have much effect. You'll get one extra turn at max and only on some occasions. It's a dead card every other time.
Walking Atlas would need some testing but, this deck doesn't have many lands in it. However, when you're drawing like hell with Kozilek, it might actually be useful, I'll look into it.
I like Palladium Myr less than the atlas because the atlas's ramp is "permanent". Another thing is, people know that this deck wants to ramp, when you get that palladium myr out early, they can use creature based spot removal to actually stop you from ramping. Is this bad? No. But it does slow you down a bit. However, I'll test it out some too.
[Primer] Kozilek, Butcher with Juice.
I'd like to add a vote for Walking Atlas as great. I have it in a lot of my non-green decks and can attest to the power of it. While our mana rocks are our main source of ramp, lands survive a board wipe more often than artifacts. Not to mention that with the card draw this deck gives I often have extra lands in hand. As a bonus, he has been fixed to be an artifact creature and thus can work with untap shenanigans.
Additionally I've been getting great results with Fireshrieker, in case you're stll thinking about it.
Aggro: WUBRGHorde of Notions Goodstuff, RUB Cheesy Aggro, GR Xenagod Gruul Goodstuff
Control: GWBGhave, Guru of Adaptability, UBWrexial, Milling Deep UAzami, Lady of No Infinite Combos GWU Derevi, Tempo Beats
Other: URGRiku of Too Much Mana, WUBRG Sliver Queen Enchantress