[Developing] Fun in the Sun with Doom and Gloom

[EpicLevelCommoner]

4 Brain Maggot
3 Tidehollow Sculler
4 Fiend Hunter
3 Banisher Priest
4 Detention Sphere
4 Mana Leak
4 Rune Snag
3 Gifts Ungiven
2 Sun Titan
3 Unburial Rites
2 Thassa, God of the Sea
1 Thraben Doomsayer
1 Intruder Alarm
4 Marsh Flats
3 Godless Shrine
2 Hallowed Fountain
2 Watery Grave
4 Swamp
4 Plains
3 Island

Hey y'all: as you can probably guess, I'm very new to modern, so I'm not too sure how well this list would work in any given meta. However, it seems to suit my style (creature/removal-based control) and has a fun alt-win con in the form of Doomsayer + Alarm. I have no idea how to work the sideboard unfortunately, so I can't exactly provide a full 75.

I welcome all comments and criticisms ^_^

[Timber]

I'm all about unique deck names, but you should put that this is a Gifts Deck in its title. Maybe like this

[Developing] Fun in the Sun with Doom and Gloom(Esper Gifts)

Check out this thread about Mr. Safety's Gifts experiment:

http://www.mtgthesource.com/forums/showthread.php?26588-SCD-Gifts-Ungiven/page2

The first page is less relevant now that Deathrite Shaman is banned.

You can also check out the Esper Gifts thread on MTGsalvation along with these Patrick Chapin mentions (need premium):

http://www.starcitygames.com/article/27983_Dredge-Gifts-In-Modern.html
http://www.starcitygames.com/article/28029_The-Next-Wave-Of-Modern.html

Now, onto discussion:

I'm working on a similar deck. I think that Iona, Shield of Emeria and Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite are the correct Rites targets. I've tried Griselbrand and he doesn't affect the board upon entry like Elesh Norn, which is bad because you're behind a lot on turn 4/5.

I like the idea of using the Scullers and Maggots as tempo plays, but I'm not a fan of the Fiend Hunters, Banisher Priests and Thraben. Why not just kill their guys and then go all-in on the Gifts-Unburial Rites combo?

I find Liliana of the Veil is really good in this build. Also, Creeping Tar Pit and/or Celestial Colonnade are good backup win conditions.

My build is a control deck with combo finish. Still tweeking, but here's the list:

2 Creeping Tar Pit
2 Darkslick Shores
1 Godless Shrine
2 Hallowed Fountain
3 Island
2 Marsh Flats
1 Misty Rainforest
1 Plains
1 Scalding Tarn
1 Sunken Ruins
3 Swamp
2 Tectonic Edge
1 Urborg, Tomb of Yawgmoth
2 Verdant Catacombs
1 Watery Grave
2 Inquisition of Kozilek
2 Path to Exile
2 Serum Visions
2 Spell Snare
2 Thoughtseize
1 Devour Flesh
1 Doom Blade
4 Mana Leak
1 Smother
2 Snapcaster Mage
2 Liliana of the Veil
1 Lingering Souls
1 Damnation
4 Gifts Ungiven
1 Makeshift Mannequin
1 Mystical Teachings
1 Supreme Verdict
1 Wrath of God
2 Unburial Rites
1 Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite
1 Inkwell Leviathan

SIDEBOARD
1 Ghost Quarter
1 Engineered Explosives
2 Relic of Progenitus
2 Disenchant
2 Stony Silence
1 Banishing Light
1 Detention Sphere
1 Drown in Sorrow
1 Oblivion Ring
1 Consume the Meek
1 Teferi, Mage of Zhalfir
1 Zealous Conscripts


Sideboard is a first stab and mana base needs work (not enough white). Weird Fetches, Inkwell and lack of Cryptic Command is because they're what I have available to me.