this deck really wants to have phelddagrifs in it

You should really have at least 3 "bomb" creatures to tutor up with Gifts Ungiven . The way your deck stands now, your opponent is going to put Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite into your hand and Unburial Rites into your graveyard.

If you add two more big threats, then they have to put at least one of them into your graveyard, giving you a target for Unburial Rites . Having a Rites in the graveyard and a Norn in hand isn't going to do you any good.

I see that you have ways to discard should you end up holding Norn for too long, but those each require cards to do. If you put in two more threats, then you can do everything at once with just one card.

Your best bets are Griselbrand and Iona, Shield of Emeria for the other two bombs, btw.

thanks demongod. I totes agree. what else is better than a hippo with wings.

landgrafb - The Gifts Ungiven I use has "search for up to 4 cards," so grabbing Elesh and Rites is possible if needed. Elesh is the only bomb in the deck as of now for this ultra-control build since it's good in a lot of settings. Other bombs that I am looking for are cards like Iona and Terastodon, which add effects to my sideboard that are effective against a range of other decks.

The thing is that you only get to keep two of them. The other two go to the yard. The general combo here is to grab Unburial Rites and then force your opponent to fill your graveyard for you. Even if your opponent sends Unburial Rites to the graveyard, you can still cast it for its flashback cost.

If you only have one "threat" card, though, your opponent can just tell you to keep it. They'll tell you to put Unburial Rites in your graveyard, and keep Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite in your hand. This splits up your combo, and doesn't give you any targets for Unburial Rites.

You need at least 3 large creature targets, so that your opponent is forced to put one of them in your graveyard next to Unburial Rites.

Yes, you still keep Elesh Norn in your hand in your situation, but casting her for 7 is much, much harder than casting her for 4.

Do you know what up to means? You literally just ignored the entire post above you which was kindly explaining the whole point of the deck. Here's the deal; Gifts Ungiven says search for up to 4 cards in your deck. At least in English the phrase 'up to' includes any numbered amount between 0 and the number specified. Now that we have that first part cleared up, let's imagine what would happen if your opponent took advantage of the English language and showed you two cards. What does the card say to do? It says pretty explicitly to put them in the graveyard. This is the part where you seem to have a fundamental disconnect from the rest of the self-respecting Magic community.

And let me elaborate a little more on the situation you described. Even if we all just ignored how Magic works and your situation was how it worked, this deck would be total garbage. Dickmunch would just use Gifts, show his opponent rites and 3 creatures, and his opponent would laugh. I know what you're thinking though. Why would he laugh? He's just been shown his demise! That's just wrong. See in Magic when you give your opponent choices you're at a fundamental disadvantage. Dickmunch would tutor up his bombs and rites, get the good ones put in his hand, and be stuck reanimating a bad target. When he needed Elesh Norn he would get Griselbrand. When he needed Iona he would get Elesh Norn. This is the same reason that Vexing Devil is a bad card because it allows your opponent to make your cards do what is best for them rather than what is best for you. At least with cards like Fact or Fiction you get the card you want no matter what. You never want to allow your opponent to play your game for you, and the situation you're describing does exactly that.

My issue here was that linked Gifts Ungiven doesn't say "up to". And no, I didn't read the post directly above mine. At least, if I did, then I didn't read it properly.

I also understand that giving your opponents choices in MtG is fundamentally worse that denying them those choices. Common sense and what-not.

I would still recommend finding room for Griselbrand , Iona, Shield of Emeria , and perhaps Inkwell Leviathan in the mainboard. Giving yourself more options for controlling your opponent is always a good thing. Elesh Norn, Grand Cenobite is good in a lot of matchups, but not all of them. The other bombs will help in those cases.

FINE. THEN WHAT THE FUCK DOES SEARCH MEAN? IF YOU GET PATHED AND YOU DON'T HAVE A BASIC LAND DO YOU JUST LOSE?

No, you look for the fucking card and don't fucking get it. You then shuffle your fucking deck without freaking the fuck out. What the serious fuck, man? Calm the fuck down.

And you can always search out the bomb that's necessary rather than being forced to search out the only bomb you have. But only if you have them in the deck. At least, that's the way I see Gift decks being built.

Hey guys I've been working on my won gifts list, could you give me some pointers?

http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/4-color-gifts-11-08-13-1/

Gifts Ungiven doesn't say up to on the old versions.

Instead, it is hidden information. Because your opponent can't see your deck, you can fail to find 4 cards and instead just get two.

But yeah, you want 2 bombs at least. Iona is the other main one people play.

Since you have a decent number of useful permanents under CMC 3 you could theoretically find room for a Sun Titan .

Grave Titan is pretty damn scary to see too, especially if you have Elesh Norn out. Talk about win-more...

I LOVE THIS DECK OH MAH GAWSH. Seriously, good job. I've been wanting to see a gifts deck that I like, and you have made my dream come true :') LOL

Thank you, BLEATH. :> I really appreciate it.