Retnyap

I have to say this looks like a solid deck. Your sideboard has a lot of answers to different types of decks and the main deck looks strong. I say you have a great version of the Rock Archetype. Will be interested to know how it plays.

It has indeed I have been fortunate with a couple of my boosters and have done some savvy trading. Have one Thoughtseize from a booster have a trade set for two more. Ebayed the specters before their price peaked insanely, I knew it looked like a good card it seems everyone else clicked at the same time lol. So far this has been built on a much tighter budget than the price would suggest. If It is almost impossible to pick up the last Thoughtseize I will be happy with a duress. I am looking forward to running it at FNM, got some great players who are helping me improve my game.

Thanks for all your help, above is the final product only a few cards away from completion. So far it has been running great.

Pithing Needles in for Mind Rot or Fade into antiquity. I have SB'd Pithing Needle over Mind Rot and not looked back. Duress and Thoughtseize are straight swaps too you probably won't need both. I am working on this at the moment for my devotion deck.

Aetherlings are a pain, SB some Pithing Needles to stop him. Or wait for the rare occasion where they tap out and kill spell them. Thoughtseize is a must add if you expand your budget and I see your point regarding the whip.

It depends on your local meta. I play Erebos in my devotion deck and it shuts down decks dependant on life gain. Plus I easily hit the devotion requirements for him to become a creature. I have played against Nylea a couple of times and she was never a game changer, it looks like you would gain more from Erebos than the other Gods, I am however biased as I prefer him. If you do consider him I would consider the whip as well for devotion and for the life link, also if required graveyard retrieval. Bear in mind a creature retrieved with the whip is exiled at the end step. Erebos lets you draw too if required, just encased you don't have the underworld connections out.

Dragon Mantle could be a nice addition. Give your critters fire breathing. Centuar Herald will help you get 3/3's onto the field without breaking your rules. Forced Adaptation can buff your creatures as well as Burst of strength. Technically Mist Cutter Hydro is 1CMC as you don't have to pay the x in the cost. So from a rules standpoint belongs in the deck.

The deck looks great. Looks like it will hit like a freight train.

I like ordeal of erebos as it buffs creatures and can make your opponent discard. However as an answer to control I think it is weak. I would look into mind rot for more immediate discard/card advantage. If you simply want it for those reasons. In all I like the look of your deck.

Also considering removing the staffs. But they do help me if I get a bit reckless when using my life to pay for spells. What do you think? Will play test without and see how it fares.

Added in dark prophecy, disciple and mind rot (bumped to 4). Added Ordeal of Erebos to sideboard and moved agent of the fates there too. Can add the Markers, agents and ordeal to main for the buff from heroic and possible extra discard. Death Touch is always good too. I have found read the bones is helping with my draw lot and may be over doing it with 4 Tutors so lowered to 2. Grim Return has been a great addition thanks for the heads up on that.

I have played with 4 Doom Blades. The Quag Sickness works well for me as I can deal with black creatures and indestructible with them. I do maindeck my downfall for planeswalkers. I do decently with mind rot, disciple of Phenax and shrieking affliction if anything I was considering more discard. Perhaps I can Sideboard these for Tutors as I somewhat you're saying about the one drops.
Re: the agent I can target him with rescue from the underworld and March of the returned, as far as i'm aware both trigger his heroic. Catches people off guard. Thanks a lot for your feed back. I will definitely play test your suggestions.

Re: the one off cards I do agree. I am building with what I own and have been fortunate to pull these from boosters and feel if I do draw them they could be a massive help. I have 4 Diabolic tutors do you think I should main deck or sideboard them to pull those one drop? Re: Grim Return I can trade for them easily enough so will definitely add them. We have a new store just starting so we're all just starting out at FNM only a few long term players down there.