Thought Scour is a cheaper option to Pilfered Plans. One less card to draw, but playable earlier in the game. Hedron Crab is another cheap possibility. If you're playing friends which decks you know, Animate Dead will annoy the shit out of them. You'll have nearly all their creatures in the graveyard and can make a pick of your choice for 2 cmc.
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I see what you mean. A sacrifice mechanism will be needed to keep it going. But I think Carrion Feeder might be a better choice. Counters stays on and he helps the whole Zombie thing. Or maybe Culling Dais to add a faster game and control with drawing
Well Storm Crow might be a good card. But how come you haven't put hovermyr og leonin skyhunter on instead? Same manacost - more pros.