My version of reanimator. Contrary to popular opinion this is not a one trick pony deck counting solely on early, hasty Ulamog's Crusher. When I can't get an Eldrazi turn 1-3 I still can build a solid boardstate with Gurmag Anglers and Imps. Also I'm not trying to marry this deck with control or delver. In this version I'm burning through cards but with 8 Contingency Plans and 4 Careful Studies my draws really count.
Lotus petal - Helps to exhume turn 2, Gurmag Angler turn 2, fixes your mana. Sometimes 1 land and a petal is enough to get deck going. Petal into Contingency Plan/Taigam's Scheming is a very strong turn 1 play.
Island, Swamp - Going lower than that would hurt my opening hands. Can't go higher because deck space is so precious. Some 1 basic land hands are acceptable. 2 basic land hands are best. Don't need many lands because my pay off cards (Exhume and Angler) are cheap and graveyard cards are my main resource.
Dismal Backwater - I tried Dimir Aqueduct but hands where the only land was aqueduct were annoying so now I'm fixing with 2 Dismal Backwaters. Still not a fan of CITP lands but not a fan of getting four swamps in a row neither.
Putrid Imp - Often worse than Careful Study but can save you from edicts, eat a removal, deal some damage or chump block. Mainly he is extra 2, sometimes flying, damage.
Careful Study - Great dig/discard card. Gurmag Angler + this + Lotus Petal = Gurmag Angler turn 2. It is worth fetching with Contingency Plans if you have cards that need to go to yard on hand.
Tome Scour - Most people prefer thought scour but this or memory sluice is my choice. I don't need any cards, I need only the right cards and self milling 5 gives me angler on turn 2 or good chances for exhume.
Exhume - Of course. Love artwork by Carl Critchlow.
Taigam's Scheming/Contingency Plan - Great turn 1, turn 2 and whole game basically. Each plan has 61% to put at least 1 exhume target in a graveyard (including angler) and big chance to dig for anything you need while filling the graveyard with what you don't need. If you don't find what you want, you have a big chance to at least hit another plan for further digging. Not drawing a card is rarely an issue since mana restrictions would only allow you to cast your find the next turn most of the time anyways.
Dragon Breath - Tried Gift of Orzhova but yeah, this is the best. Too bad red has too much discard and too little dig and selfmill because I'd love to use this card to its full potential.
Gurmag Angler - You need Crusher in the yard and Exhume for plan A. Gurmag Angler is your plan B. Coming on turn 2 he can sometimes win games on his own, especially with a Dragon Breath or followed up with Stinkweed Imp for blocking. Later in the game you can easily spam Anglers for B and who would say no to extra creatures, especially 5/5s for B. Gurmag Angler is also a last resort Exhume target.
Eldrazi Devatator - I'm torn between this and Hand of Emrakul as a secondary Exhume target. 6 Eldrazi seems like a correct number to me. Greater Sandwurm is also worth considering but it's evasion is very poor.
Ulamog Crusher - Exhume Target number one. His attacks are devastating, even with fog and whatnot.
