Ghastclamp/Intuition/Demigod

[RecklessEmbermage]

Yes, yet another list that searches for a way to abuse bloodghast and skullclamp.

I'm posting in a separate thread for two main reasons: I seem to be the only one on this forum (yet) thinking demigod of revenge has a merit in this line of decks. Rather than pollute other threads with more (relatively) unrelated lists of my own, I'm asking you for help in developing this particular one here.

Secondly, I play in a non-proxy meta, and I'm on a budget, meaning I'm not really looking for the "optimal" deck (though you're of course welcome to suggest powered versions with bazaars or whatever juice you get to proxy up in the states or wherever you live).

Core idea: Use intuition to either load up on bloodghast or, when mana is available and you think the coast is clear: Demigod of revenge and hit for lots. Either that or tendrils for life-cushion or win (tendrils also has pretty nice synergy with ghast if you can pump it to four-five storm).

I'm thinking 7-8 rituals (cabal ritual without threshold should be decent in this list) in addition to chrome moxen, duress, counters and combo-cards. Something like this:

3 bloodghast
3 demigod of revenge

3 skullclamp
1 necropotence

4 duress
3 cabal therapy
1 demonic consultation
1 demonic tutor
1 yawgmoth's will
3 tendrils of agony

4 force of will
3 repeal
4 intuition
1 breakthrough
1 frantic search

4 dark ritual
3 cabal ritual
3 chrome mox
1 sol ring
1 lotus petal
4 bloodstained mire
2 polluted delta
2 blue fetch (preferably polluted delta 3-4)
3 watery grave
1 island
3 swamp
1 phyrexian tower (You saw it here first!)

The list should have a decent chance of playing intuition turn two and either deal 15 (if coast is clear) or start drawing cards like crazy turn three. Duress and clamp are the first-turn plays leading up to one or the other.

There are a number of issues here, and I'm sure that I'm blind to some of them, but:
-This list is 64 cards. Where can I cut? Can I cut mana? (those of you familiar with TEPS should atleast have a better understanding than I do)
-I've got only 13 blue cards for fow. More breakthrough could be good? Any other idea about how to fix this and what number I should settle on?
-My manabase isn't pretty, but can you see any updates not costing an arm and a leg?
-I've got 3 tendrils for intuition. Would it be unwise to go down to 1 or 2?
-What amazing intuition-packages am I missing out on?
-Any ideas about sideboard? (ichorid hate isn't too important)

[Beralt]

Phyrexian Tower is interesting Tech.  If you want to up your Blue count, could consider Daze adding Daze, as replaying the Island will give you another Landfall trigger.  Staying within budget I don't think that a Vampiric Tutor is too expensive, but I think that it might be a bit better then Consultation.

Sideboard since your non-proxy which usually means a fair amount of Aggro, Massacre is great. 

Cards to cut is a hard question, might go to 3 Duress since you do have 3 Cabal Therapy.

[hvndr3d y34r h3x]

how do you feel about everyone's 7 ichorid hate sb cards all spashing over on this and kicking you in the nuts?

[RecklessEmbermage]

Phyrexian Tower is interesting Tech.  If you want to up your Blue count, could consider Daze adding Daze, as replaying the Island will give you another Landfall trigger.  Staying within budget I don't think that a Vampiric Tutor is too expensive, but I think that it might be a bit better then Consultation.

Sideboard since your non-proxy which usually means a fair amount of Aggro, Massacre is great.  

Cards to cut is a hard question, might go to 3 Duress since you do have 3 Cabal Therapy.

You're right about vampiric vs consultation. I always play aggro and regard consultation very highly, but in this deck, it's drawback is actually substantial.

I'll keep massacre in mind. Yes, the deck needs some kind of answer to aggro.

Cabal therapy isn't as good a first turn play as duress, except for in a few match-ups (oath being the most obvious I can think of). In this deck in particular, I would also need some luck to follow up with a flashback turn two, which leads me to believe that the third therapy is the weakest of my discard spells. If I find that seven 1cc discard is a bit much, I'll probably cut a therapy.

Thank you!

EDIT: Hydr34: You might notice that I'm not asking for anti-ichorid sideboard help. Simply because ichorid isn't an issue in my meta (people don't own bazaars where I live).

Graveyard strategies do pop up though, and something like dragon may cause people to load up on gy hate, which would kick me in the nuts. What I think about it? This deck is vulnerable to graveyard hate during certain windows of time. I can either try to play around it or lean more heavily on less-affected parts of the deck (tendrils). Either approach could get some help from the sideboard, but I have the time to watch what gy hate people lean towards using and build accordingly.

However: If I was to take this to a meta where more than half the decks played 4 leylines and either crypt or jailer, I'd probably play echoing truth (2 main, 2 side) over repeal. Whenever I thought such a package would be boarded in against me (after loosing to it game 2 or similar), I could board out 4 intuition, 1 demigod, 1 clamp for 2 truth and 4 dark confidant. That would slow the deck down substantially, but give it yet another draw engine to fuel harcdasted demigod or tendrils, while the opponent would be relying on dead cards. Does that sound ok?

[RecklessEmbermage]

If you want to up your Blue count, could consider Daze adding Daze, as replaying the Island will give you another Landfall trigger. 

Ah.

I of course thought about daze, but I don't know if it's a good fit in the deck. I'd want to counter on my own turn more often than not, when daze looses a bit of its virtue. And I'm concerned about the loss of mana.

On the other hand, I have first turn to duress without loosing tempo, so I thought that should be better.

Any thoughts on this? Is daze ever played in TPS or other blue ritual decks?