Zirda Cauldron Brewery

EDIT: Current Decklist - https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/3038830#paper

I will update the list as I get opinions and feedback. A few problems have arose, mostly at the sorcery speed reanimation being bad against control.

EDIT 2: A Rakdos version with Purphoros was proposed, and I figured Cavalier of Flame worked too (at least until rotation). Rakdos Decklist - https://www.mtggoldfish.com/deck/3044133#paper

This version doesn’t have Cyclone due to having less cyclers. Vilis, Broker of Blood could also be viable as a one or two-of, as a 8/8 flying threat that draws you cards when your opponents damage you or when you pay life to reanimate things with Cauldron (and if you draw too many you can discard the big creatures when you discard to hand size). Also adds a bit more interaction with his activated ability.

The amount of card draw also improves the chances of cycling Yidaro, Wandering Monster until you can cycle him to play him for free. You can also bin spare Yidaro with Cathartic or Thrill to reanimate with Cauldron.

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[[Zirda, the Dawnwaker]] as companion.

Add in new big cycling creatures that put counters on permanents when you cycle with them. [[Titanoth Rex]], [[Void Beckoner]], [[Sanctuary Smasher]]. Different combinations of counters also have very interesting effects: First strike and Deathtouch, for example. You can put these counters on Zirda or on something like a Paradise Druid. Zirda decreases the cycling costs. (EDIT: Interesting thing, those counters essentially make the creatures with them partially immune to Heartless Act. The counters will be removed but at least they won’t die.)

[[The Cauldron of Eternity]] (honestly, I almost forgot this card existed since it’s the least played of the cycle). Costs {2} less for each creature in your graveyard, with 5 creatures it’s only {B}{B}.

Cycling these big creatures early lets you cast Cauldron for cheap, and you don’t mind bottoming those creatures when they die because you can shuffle with Fabled Passage or something to redraw and cycle them, putting more counters on things and drawing more cards.

Activated ability is {2}{B}, Pay 2 life, {T} to return a creature card from your graveyard to play at sorcery speed. Costs only {B} and 2 life to bring back an 11/11 with trample. You also don’t have to worry too much about Zirda dying since you can easily cast Cauldron and bring him back.

Best case scenario you’re drawing extra cards via cycling, then bringing them back cheap and dealing big damage with huge creatures while making them into bigger problems thanks to those ability counters.

Jund seems to have the best combination of big cycling creatures, and also gives access to Thrill of Possibility, [[Cathartic Reunion]], Storm’s Wrath, etc. Cathartic and Thrill pitch cyclers and extra Cauldrons, and Cathartic can pitch two cyclers to speed up the “ramping” into Cauldron.

Have a single copy of [[Unpredictable Cyclone]] maybe just in cast things fall apart, which you can cycle if you don’t need it. Together with Cauldron, you’ll discard a creature you can reanimate, and then you’ll cheat into play another creature from your deck.

Probably just jank, with Agent of Treachery and Teferi terrorizing the format, and with Grafdigger’s being the best solution to countering those same Agent decks. The mana base is a bit wonky too, because Jund isn’t supported by a Triome and it’ll need a bunch of shock lands and temples. But maybe post-rotation this could be a bit more viable?