I tend to recommend Evolving Wilds to those using Guildgates who don't want to spring for Shocks/Checks. Same amount of clunkyness, you grab the color you need and you thin your deck.
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I do want to move out the Deliverance, but I have avoided succumbing to the temptation of the thrag thus far and have yet to decide upon a suitable alternative. Gyre sage does come to mind there.
Have you considered mutilate?
Well, if they would give me a good wrath effect in black in standard, I could come down to 3. I mean really, no wrath for Dimir?As it is, I haven't playtested this at all yet, mostly just got it down as something to try out and see if it can actually lead somewhere. I highly doubt that will be the final land base, but I mostly see it as needing green mana early to make sure the Farseeks and Strangleroots get off early, then playing either aggro or defense depending on how the game goes.
The only real weakness I can see here is Black Sun's Zenith or Virulent Wound to pick off your druid Asceticism or not. Maybe sideboard some mana leaks or negates for that possibility?
This deck is seriously lacking its Gruesome Encore.