Edit: Just had a peek through your list as well. I dig it! Seems like a much more focused approach to the combo. I think if your deck ever gets an activation off you should just win.
Curio is some neat tech, especially with all the effects that put cards from your hand on top of your library.
As Darrenhabib mentioned earlier in the thread, if you've got the money LED might be worth consideration.
Another thing, you want some things you can hit off Staff in case Fblthp gets shuffled and you need to dig him out. I see Vedalken Shackles in your list which will help with this. I would also recommend the man-lands, Mutavault, Faerie Conclave, Blinkmoth Nexus, and Inkmoth Nexus as other ways you can do this.
I like new Jace in there as well, allows for Maniac win with out the creature gumming up the process.
I figured Cloudstone Curio, two mana rocks, and Paradox Engine makes for game over. It's slightly narrow for the deck, but may be fun trying to pull it off.
I like Lion's Eye Diamond, but that's a $200 expense that I don't need at the moment, lol. I already have some of the >$100 cards (like Mana Crypt), so that helps but LED is REAL expensive.
I'm not too worried about Fblthp getting stuck in the deck. I always have the choice to move him to Command Zone if he gets targeted before Staff comes down. I made sure to insert a couple of staff targets/token generators like Tezzeret, Artifice Master, Mirage Mirror, Vedalken Shackles, and Sculpting Steel (if needed). I had Mimic Vat and Trading Post on the list prior to cut downs, but wanted to focus on the combos more directly. I guess a Blinkmoth Nexus/Inkmoth Nexus wouldn't hurt too much.
I also wanted Laboratory Maniac as the only creature in the 99, but realized I still wanted it to be creatureless to be able to reorder the entire deck. New Jace is a good workaround.
Not certain how Cloudstone Curio + 2 mana rocks + Paradox Engine is lethal. Curio only triggers off nonartifacts. And Fblthp can’t return himself so... what am I missing?
New Jace and new Karn are fantastic for this deck, along with Tezzeret the Seeker. Was able to combo off on turn 6 with new Jace, Tezzeret, Top and two mana rocks. I had Dramatic Reversal in hand. -2 Tezzeret for Isochron Scepter, imprinting Reversal. Tapped Top to draw and then responded with activating the Scepter. Eventually I drew my 600 cards from top activations and won thanks to Jace.
My favorite deck I made from scratch was was a Jori deck that won my using Hive Mind and the variations of these cards. The trick is using a Stifle effect to once everyone else has resolved their copy.
Alternatively, you can wait until they resolve their Final Fortune and Hydroblast your copy still on the stack. One of the narrow ways to use counters productively with Hive Mind out.
Yes, I also use counterspells that cannot be countered using Hive Mind copies.
My favorite deck I made from scratch was was a Jori deck that won my using Hive Mind and the variations of these cards. The trick is using a Stifle effect to once everyone else has resolved their copy.
If you don't mind infinite combos, you could pick up a Phyrexian Altar, which will mill everyone out with Gravecrawler+ any other zombie. I believe it's about $20 for an UMA one. You could also pick up some fetches like Polluted Delta and the less expensive ones that are half fetches in Bloodstained Mire and Flooded Strand. Those are fairly reasonably priced and they can help you with consistency. Or you could blow it all on a Vampiric Tutor.
I'm not a huge fun of Endless Ranks of the Dead or Open the Graves. They are both 5 mana do-nothing enchantments that put a target on you before you've gotten much of any value.
I'll probably cut Massacre wurm from my deck It has given me so many moments but my mana is too bad for triple black and I have far too many 6 drops so this being 1 mana less matters. Plus my deck plays forbidden orchard that can start the chain if needed.
I think you have to play them together for flavor reasons.
I believe the point of Modern Horizons is to help Tier 2-4 decks improve. But that is pretty tough to do without being very deliberate in designing cards for a deck, which makes a Limited environment very difficult.
I hope hate is narrow enough to not be automatic sideboard fodder if you’re in a certain color.
Built a rough version on Cockatrice, and I won in a way so hilarious that it bears typing. I had Fblthp and did the Proteus Staff combo, but didn't bother stacking my deck. Kinda too slow online. But I did mana to Mindslaver an Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim player who just so happened to have Aetherflux Reservoir in hand. I was able to make it so the Ayli player got to exactly 1 after killing the others at the table and tapped him out. Little Fblthp then dealt the fatal blow. I imagine it was something like:
**Sees giant machine thing, and stares at it blankly. Pokes it with a tentative finger. A hinge breaks lose, and the entire thing collapses, sending a laser beam into the eyes of an unsuspecting Ayli.**
Ayli: Must destroy SCORPION!!
**Battle ensues, then a giant BOOM! leaving the Scorpion God dead, and Ayli gasping for breath, clinging to life.**
Fblthp: ???
**Fblthp walks over to see what made a loud BOOM! noise. Eye craned upwards to the pulsating tower, he does not notice Ayli gasping for breath as he stands confused upon debris which has fallen on her.
Dumping lands into play is something that people who have played a fair amount of Commander will raise an eyebrow at. Ramping is not frowned upon as a “dick move,” but it is a reason people will use to target you (similar to drawing tons of cards or building a big board).
Since you are just starting out, my best advice is for you to get as many format staples as possible. These would be lands and artifacts that make colorless mana, generally or have effects like Vedalken Orrey.
Yes, I also use counterspells that cannot be countered using Hive Mind copies.
I'm not a huge fun of Endless Ranks of the Dead or Open the Graves. They are both 5 mana do-nothing enchantments that put a target on you before you've gotten much of any value.
I think you have to play them together for flavor reasons.
I mean, it's basically Damnation with upside like... 60% of the time?
I hope hate is narrow enough to not be automatic sideboard fodder if you’re in a certain color.
**Sees giant machine thing, and stares at it blankly. Pokes it with a tentative finger. A hinge breaks lose, and the entire thing collapses, sending a laser beam into the eyes of an unsuspecting Ayli.**
Ayli: Must destroy SCORPION!!
**Battle ensues, then a giant BOOM! leaving the Scorpion God dead, and Ayli gasping for breath, clinging to life.**
Fblthp: ???
**Fblthp walks over to see what made a loud BOOM! noise. Eye craned upwards to the pulsating tower, he does not notice Ayli gasping for breath as he stands confused upon debris which has fallen on her.
Ayli: (cough) Help... (cough) me... (cough) plea-- (dies)
**Fblthp scratches his head, shrugs his shoulders and wanders off into the city, oblivious to the carnage he has wrought.**
Since you are just starting out, my best advice is for you to get as many format staples as possible. These would be lands and artifacts that make colorless mana, generally or have effects like Vedalken Orrey.