Sultai Midrange (post rotation) (Standard)

I've been looking at possible midrange options to play post rotation. So far I've really dived deep into Abzan, which has some interesting cards. Abzan feels like it does not make proper use of turn 1 and turn 2 with enough consistency for my liking. Otherwise, it is a really strong deck.

Grixis midrange has an obvious issue. Blood Crypt is not in the format yet, and I would prefer that blue be the splash color in the three color combination. I've spent some time messing around with the deck and have come to conclude that it is not a strong option to play until you can really go Grixis splash blue.

Sultai is the third color pairing I'm going to look at in midrange. Black is the common color for both shock lands, which is perfect for the midrange cards I plan on playing. Furthermore, it offers the power of green early game creatures, blacks removal package, and blue's disruption. It also has fantastic finishers.

Step 1) Look at the midrange package.

a) The Eldest Reborn.
*three for one all-star.

b) Vraska, Relic Seeker.
*I'm slotting her in as the second best planeswalker in the format (yup, ahead of Karn due to playability with other cards in the format).

c) Carnage Tyrant
*playing a one of soul crushing finisher.

d) Underrealm Lich
*the card advantage and grave fill are so powerful.

e) Vraska's Contempt
*best removal in the format (yes, better than Assassin's Trophy)

f) Hostage Taker
*could just as easily be Ravenous Chupacabra, a total meta game choice.

g) Vine Mare
*bring on the hexproof, plus I expect black to be everywhere during GRN standard.

Step 2) Early game creatures.

a) Jadelight Ranger.
*card advantage for curving out.

b) Merfolk Branchawalker
*more possible card advantage on a stick

c) Thrashing Brontodon (flex slot)
*providing a little extra protection against Azcanta. This could be another creature if one becomes more relevant.

Step 3) Low cost removal and interruption.

a) Thought Erasure
*it's not true midrange unless you can tear apart the opponents hand.

b) Assassin's Trophy
*I've said before that people are overrating this card in standard. You do not want to be ramping the majority of these decks into their 5/6cmc cards.

c) Cast Down
*will kill the early game stuff, and a fair share of the late game.

d) Murder (flex)
*playing a one of until it becomes clear what the format will be.

Step 4) Mana base
straight forward, going to need at least 16 black- 13 blue- 17 green sources.
no turn 1 play, so that takes pressure off of being able to generate any color untapped on turn 1.

Step 5) Sideboard

a) Carnage Tyrant- make em pay to play slower decks
b) Deathgorge Scavenger- keep those sideboards in check
c) Disdainful Stroke- catches all the juice
d) Golden Demise- a sweeper for tokens/Goblins that goes under our deck.
e) Plaguecrafter- great versus hexproof and creatureless control decks.
f) Ravenous Chupacabra- great when Vine Mare isin't.
g) Vine Mare- one more for heavy removal decks.
h) Wildgrowth Walker- great against aggro, and stays after Golden Demise sweep.

Overall:
I think Sultai is the midrange colors you want to be playing post-rotation.
Abzan has a few decent creature options that Sultai is without, however the disruption spells offered by Sultai makes it feel like a true midrange deck that offers the best of everything.
Grixis does not come anywhere near the power level that Sultai offers at this point.
the true playability of the deck will be determined by how good aggro is in the format. The deck does not have access to Settle the Wreckage, but if the aggro deck is low enough then Ritual of Soot may be a solid sideboard option.
*I feel the deck matches up very well with control and other midrange decks due to the fact the deck plays midrange threats that are hard to remove.