MTG Salvation

I also have a similar deck, but uses the 7 one drops instead of the ritual.
Cloak and dagger make the 1/1's playable in late games, but for me if it's a late game need, I just put 2.

I have a random Leechridden Swamp for playtesting, and might put in 2 if proves useful.

I see in some decks use Sygg, River Cutthroat. I don't know if this is under $1 in your area, but if you can get even 1, it will give your deck a powerful draw engine.

For me, the Flitters don't work for me.

Another thing I am considering (but havent tested) is Raven's Crime. Usually you need just 3-4 lands in play and this card can give you some additional card advantage. Since it has retrace, 2 is probably enough.

the Kor ability (Warrior en-Kor) also are a form of banding.

Quote from Bogardan Mage

Well then it's a good thing that it wasn't the main theme for Masques block. Seriously, where does that even come from? "Ooh, Prophecy had a single horrible mechanic that had something to do with lands. Therefore the set's theme was lands! Therefore the block's theme was lands!" It wasn't! Masques had no theme!

Masques' mechanics mostly revolve around lands, tempo and mana. Alternate costs, rhystic spells, play all effects, and tapped land matters cards. Rishadan Port is even one of the format defining cards (though if you look at Block format banned lists, almost half are lands)

That said, its themes does not explicitly say "Land Theme", so I guess its still open for ZEN. Plus, "Unpredictable Mana" also hints as a land/mana related theme.

There are lots of mechanics that are not fully explored.
Ravnica mechanics, for example, are all limited to their respective guilds (and 2 colors). Any one of those can be expanded to all 5 colors (Ok, maybe Bloodthirst is not in flavor for all colors)

Future Sight mechanics of course are there as possible future mechanics.

I think you have too many sac outlets while few recurring creatures or token generators.

For recurring creatures, I would recommend Nether shadow, Ashen Ghoul or Necrosavant (sorry - old cards)
For recurring creatures, the aforementioned Spawning Pit fits the theme. (Sac outlet and a generator in one)

Disturbed Burial is really slow so why not Animate dead? Or since most of your creatures are CMC 3 or less, Unearth is a decent and affordable choice.

Flashbag Marauder as suggested works well in multiplayer even if you do not have Gravepact yet. To a lesser extent, Bone Shredder or Shriekmaw works too and is also 2 for 1 when Gravepact is out.

Dark Ritual is better than Culling of the Weak... i think you have enough sac outlets.

River of Tears seem to fit the unpredictable mana description; but I doubt it because of the symmetry. Perhaps a variant?

Tap: Add 1 to mana pool. If you played a land this turn, add 1 mana of any color to your mana pool instead.


EDIT: could be broken so maybe a CIBT drawback or something. Point is not the power level but the design.

Quote from Harbinger_

I remember a reference to falling stones and pieces of what seem to be broken obelisks terrorizing the denizens of Zendikar from the Compiled Info in ZEN. .

Falling stones does not mean Stone Rain will be reprinted, come on!

Quote from Harbinger_

With the mention of a lack of land destruction or close to it or at least efficient LD it would only make sense that Stone Rain would be a likely candidate for a reprint.

No it does not make sense. Does lack of efficient counterspells imply Counterspell will be reprinted? How about he lack of efficient board sweepers? Will Wrath of God be reprinted?

Im not saying Stone Rain can't get reprinted but your reasoning seems way off.

Quote from Cordio

Hmmmm, if I redirect dmg from magma spray to a creature it won't exile the creature, correct? Drat if so, would be neat!

Yes correct!

Hope this is worth ite, otherwise well just use the chaos deck our playgroup uses.

Well Technically most cards released come in Sets.. Beatdown, Duel Decks, From the Vault. (Look at Gatherer).

And them doing experimental sets is not unexpected of them. You are reading much into this.

Quote from Sabett

It could just say creatures, wouldn't that work?

Using correct template, the wording should be "All creatures without flying get -3/-0". There should be no "s" in get. Look at Meishin, the Mind Cage.

"Each" is only used when the spell has a different effect on each of the permanents.
Example, Coat of Arms affects each creature differently, thus used "EACH"
Same thing with Light from Within.
"Each" is also used when damage is concerned (Windstorm)
I dont know all the uses of "Each", but anyway this is not one of it.

EDIT: Either way, great card design. "All creatures with first strike gain +1/+0" or "All creatures with shroud gain +2/+2 until end of turn" are nice extensions.
EDIT: Surfpossum beat me to it with the 's', i didn't notice.

Quote from herohammer

Delve, as has been speculated in other threads, also matches the speculation that Zendikar may mechanical focus on Exile based and associated mechanics as it is one of the most logical ways for black to interface with exile given that it likes doing stuff in cheaty/free ways and like graveyard effects.

It was mentioned that the mechanical focus of Zen is something that players love doing, and I dont think Exile is one of those things. It's probable either: drawing, casting spells, or attacking.

Quote from no3

If you want to flip a bunch of coins , there's nothing better than Frenetic Efreet!

I second this. You may add Frenetic Sliver as efreet 5-8.
They work well on their own (dodges half of removal spells), although they kinda lose to the M10 combat rules.

I wouldn't recommend Mirrow Gallery as it has a chance of you getting 3 for 1'ed. Opponent Naturalizes your Gallery and you lose all thumbs.

They may have designed M10 in a vacuum but not during development.

That said, the lords in M10 does not imply any of the races in Zen.

Quote from Life Weaver

Turtle Island U (<- not a cc)
Land
T:U
T: ~ is a 3/5 blue Turtle creature with islandwalk, its still a land. (This effect does not end at the end of the turn).
Q: ~ is no longer a creature, use this only if ~ is a creature. (This effect does not end at the end of the turn).
Convertible turtle is convertible.

Infinite mana on turn 2?