[EDH / Commander] Meren Infect/Wither deck

[TheCrazyPlayer]

Hey, folks.

I'm looking to put together a deck with Meren of Clan Nel Toth as the commander, and Infect/Wither as the primary mechanic. The idea went something like this: Meren gets XP counters; proliferate increases any type of counters; Isn't most infect in black/green?

To that end, the primary creatures of this deck are going to be things with infect, and its bastard cousin, wither. Creatures with either of these keywords are easy to look up, but I know there are older creatures with similar horrible mechanics to inflict on my enemies... I mean fellow EDH players. What are some awesome hidden gems in this category?

Once I stick people with -1/-1 counters and poison counters, I want to give them more! Thus, proliferate! Besides that wonderful, horrible mechanic, what other hidden gems allow me to either stick people with -1/-1 counters or add additional counters? Think artifacts, enchantments, soreries, and instants here. (I already know about the delicious Serrated Arrows.)

Of course, all that spreading counters across the board is going to get me massive hate, and thus board wipes (note the plural form; wipes), so I'm going to need some way to come back from that. This is why Meren is my commander, and not Hapatra, Vizier of Poisons; I want to inflict all those wonderful, horrible things on my fellow players all over again. To that end, besides Meren, what are some other good ways to get things out of the graveyard? Bonus item: good ways to stop graveyard hate?

Since I'm in green, might as well get some of that awesome "creatures as mana" action going on. Obviously, Cryptolith Rite is a must, but what are the other awesome green mana dorks I shouldn't be without in green/black?

Lastly, anything else in green/black that's just too good to pass up?

Thank you all for your time!

[TheCrazyPlayer]

Here is the current deck:
https://deckstats.net/decks/100833/918604-meren-infect

Currently, I'm 62 cards over EDH rules, and at least $100 over budget (if I can get under $100 total, awesome). Any help would be appreciated.

[Soren841]

There is a meren precon and a mtggoldfish $20 upgrade.. if u buy the upgrades and the precon u should be on budget

[ApothecaryGeist]

Only 9 lands!  Once you add in another 26 or so, you'll need to cut over 80 cards.  That's enough for a second whole deck.

Start by cutting the expensive cards that you don't already own.  Nobody knows which those are except you.

Then look for cards where you have way too much duplication.  For instance, how many "no maximum hand size" effects do you really need?  If you use Reliquary Tower you have that effect on a land.

When you have almost 100 extra cards, either you have too much duplication of effects, or your deck isn't focused enough.  (Typically a little bit of both.)  So you also want to narrow the focus a bit.  Do you want to primarily poison your opponents?  Or are you trying to clear the board via -1/-1's so that you can swing in clear with your creatures?  Or are you trying to accomplish something else?  When you have this many extras, pick just the cards that help achieve your primary objective.  Chuck the rest. 

Typically you want about 35 lands, 6-10 non-land mana sources/ramp and 4-10 removal card, and a few protection spells (like Lightning Greaves).  This accounts for about 50 cards in your deck.  That means only 50 cards that are accomplishing your goal.  Some decks want even more ramp, or more removal, or more protection, and have even fewer cards that are "on task".

Happy Brewing! 

[TheCrazyPlayer]

Ideally, the plan is to kill opponents with poison counters. I play against a lot of decks with giant creatures, so the fact that the damage from Infect/wither weakens their creatures in the long run is also useful. However, since their creatures are likely to be bigger than mine (also, EDH= board wipes), I need to be able to get them back again. That's the second priority: Good ways to get my infect/wither creatures back. A distant 3rd is to take advantage of the mana ramp that comes with playing Green.

The reason for more than 1 "No max hand size" cards is because you don't always get what you want, and a lot of the recursion cards put things into my hand.

Thanks for your time.