Nice on the Cradle get. I also got a Japanese LP one for $100 off normal price and was wanting to add it to Hapatra. Also just my two cents but I prefer Deathrite Shaman to Dowsing Dagger  ^Flip. I think now especially with Cradle the deck probably doesn't need Dagger and Shaman's great at graveyard hate but maybe that's just my meta with Gitgud frog and Muldrotha and Meren.

Have you tried Shisato, Whispering Hunter ? I want to try him, but I don't know how good he'll be. It seems decent if the game gets grindy. Also, I would love to know how Runic Armasaur has worked. It seems like a really good card, but it hasn't really worked out in my playgroup.

Also congrats on the cradle!

Also I was thinking today is Growing Rites of Itlimoc  ^Flip necessary if one has a Gaea's Cradle ? Seems like there's other cards that could be run in that slot instead if you do have a Cradle.

BlueAutomatic: I tested him, but he could only lock down 1 player, and even then only if my commander could reliably place counters AND someone had no blockers. He was a cool idea but didn't work in reality unfortunately :(

OptimalGreen: Yeah, Growing Rites of Itlimoc  ^Flip is getting the axe for Expedition Map in the near future.

Hey there, Daedalus! I'm really interested in diving into Hapatta, but I don't have the funds to dive deep just yet. Would you say the budget list is more or less optimized still? Or would you be willing to update it? I don't mean to add more to your plate, but you clearly know your stuff when it comes to the snake lady.

VarietyBlack: Hey! Welcome to one of the most fun commanders in the format ;) what's your budget and meta like? Honestly, the $25 version WORKS, but it's not my best creation ever (I haven't had a chance to go back and revamp it), but if I know your budget I can give better suggestions :)

I'm working with about $75-$100 to get it off the ground.

VarietyBlack: Okay, lemme think for a bit. You can definitely get most of the core of the deck for that, it's a much less tight budget than the $25 version (so you'll see much less of a power level drop)...

I completely forgot about Sylvan Scrying . I think it's a lot better than Expedition Map

OptimalGreen: It definitely is, and I'm kicking myself for not realizing that earlier. With that being said, I'm wondering if I should try and find space for BOTH. Beyond the obvious Gaea's Cradle line, the two cards can also tutor for evasion, land removal, graveyard hate, etc... not to mention basic lands for Earthcraft shenanigans.

Was thinking about it and wouldn't Contagion Engine be better than Eldrazi Monument ?

To add to my previous post I've never had great luck with Eldrazi Monument and never won because of it because it'll either get blown up or someone will board wipe and it'll blow up that way. Meanwhile Contagion Engine makes an insane amount of snakes just from being cast and than makes even more when it proliferates twice. I think it fits the overall strategy a bit more whereas Monument I feel is a bit redundant.

OptimalGreen: Honestly? I've found Eldrazi Monument to be stronger, since Contagion Engine often makes you only 4 snakes or so, and isn't really worth it until you also manage to activate the ability (at which point you've sunk 10 mana into it).

Meanwhile Eldrazi Monument tends to be a strong source of evasion and protects from most board wipes (via indestructibility). It's also one of my only ways to protect against fliers in any meaningful sense.

(I'm not sure what you mean by saying "someone will board wipe and it'll blow up that way"; that pretty much only happens with a Toxic Deluge ).

To be fair, I'm currently working on a cEDH version of this deck, which probably will cut BOTH of those for more stax pieces, haha.

@Daedalus19876 Oh are you going to try to fit Ad Nauseam into the deck? That seems like a black cedh staple :V

OptimalGreen: ...maybe. I want to clarify that the cEDH version of this is an entirely different deck, not replacing this one (which is more for semi-competitive pods). My issue is that I've found Ad Naus to require a bit of build-around, and my curve isn't QUITE low enough at the moment. We'll see how the cEDH version turns out!

I'm curious why take out Utopia Sprawl over Wild Growth ? It seems more versatile even though it's targets are more limited.

OptimalGreen: The limited targets were the issue, unfortunately. I just couldn't guarantee that I had a Forest / Overgrown Tomb reliably enough in the early game. If I ran more fetches and Bayou I'd probably keep it in.

Daedalus19876: Sick list dude! +1 from me!

My only suggestion for the slot you need is Archfiend of Ifnir . You only have Mox Diamond and Survival of the Fittest to proc its effect. I know about the Generous Patron combo, but you need both of them out and Survival/Full hand for it to work.

Unless I missed other discard outlets, I really don't see this working as effectively. Hope this helps ! :D

Inkmoth: Thanks for the comment! Honestly, I've found Archfiend of Ifnir surprisingly good, mostly because he can be cycled if unneeded (and reanimated post-cycling if you need him back).

Necropotence and Skullclamp are the other main ways to proc his effect, apart from the ones you identified (and are both very frequent targets of tutors), though I'm probably adding Faerie Macabre in the near future as well. I'll consider cutting him, though :)

Got any other thoughts on alterations to the list? :D

Tried to upvote but already did so long ago I don’t remember haha.

My thoughts for cuts were Dowsing Dagger  ^Flip for Trinisphere mainly because i personally don’t like it as much and I don’t feel you need the extra mana on the flip.

For the creature you want to add I’d take out Soul Snuffers . You do have recur potential but I feel like you’ll usually have better targets.

Taking out more -1/-1 counter producers sounds like a bad idea especially one that produces so many. I'd cut Dowsing Dagger  ^Flip though but I'm not sure about cutting it for Trinisphere . If you wanna Faerie Macabre dagger would be the thing to cut. I don't think it's as necessary now that you have Gaea's Cradle.

You could always do the crazy thing and cut Craterhoof Behemoth for the snake creature you want. (Can’t remember her name haha) I know he’s good but you already have pretty high over run potential so I feel like maybe he isn’t strictly necessary when compared to sheer card advantage the other girl will get you. And I don’t know how often you play against blue or black... but have you considered Snake Pit . Probably not necessary but it’s on theme haha

The one thing that really sticks out to me is Shred Memory . The ability can be good, but when it's not good it's really bad, as the sorcery speed transmute will slow you down for many of your premium 2-drops.

+1 Seshiro the Anointed

-1 Shred Memory

So how about Karn's Bastion?

Also you think that 4cmc kill/ramp spell might be playable? It has Seb Mckinnon art so I'm hoping it's good but it being 4cmc has me wondering.