Modern Allies - Primer (Updated for BfZ!)

Modern JLenzen

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BFZ is coming, news update —Sept. 10, 2015

Hey all, thanks for staying so active while I've been away. I've cleaned up the comments just because there were so many, but please feel free to keep discussing.

AN UPDATE IS COMING. I'm planning on revamping this entire Primer with all the new allies, as well as a host of "support cards" that go well with allies. Expect that to happen around the same time BfZ is released!

So far the Battle For Zendikar allies have been disapointing, with a few key exceptions. I'll list the ones I find can be played below, feel free to refute or agree with my claims.

Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, obviously not an ally, but this is all I could have hoped for in an ally planeswalker. Ally tokens every turn.

The new Drana - Art not released yet, if you haven't seen her, the new Drana will be [1][B][B], 2/3 Flying first strike, whenever ~ deals combat damage to a player, put a +1/+1 counter on each attacking creature you control.

Zada, Hedron Grinder - Basically an ink-moth nephilim, her ability with cards like Cerulean Wisps or simply Cloudshift could be very exciting.

I'm currently thinking about two decks to run this fall, 4-color midrange-aggro allies using Alesha, Who Smiles at Death, and a 3-color creature combo deck using Zada, Hedron Grinder and Halimar Excavator.

Chascarrillo says... #1

As someone who began in MTG playing allies, I love this primer.
Check out my list: tappedout.net/mtg-decks/adventure-awaits-budget-naya-allies/

May 13, 2015 8:19 p.m.

Nef says... #2

Link to Chascarrillo's deck -> :)

May 13, 2015 8:20 p.m. Edited.

You got some CMCs wrong in the black section.

May 13, 2015 8:23 p.m.

RoarMaster says... #4

No Abzan/Junk color builds?

May 13, 2015 8:39 p.m.

Nef says... #5

You think my deck will make it into the primer one day? ;O

May 13, 2015 10:06 p.m.

Yeah, 'bout the G/W Aggro (which you actually say you don't have a list for), Nef's fun deck right here is a great example.

May 13, 2015 10:12 p.m.

Nef says... #7

:3

May 13, 2015 10:14 p.m.

@ RoarMasterI am sure I could brew up an Abzan build... Abzan is my favorite wedge. But black just doesn't offer much in the way of allies. It has excellent support in targeted discard and efficient removal, but Hagra Diabolist, Agadeem Occultist, and Bala Ged Thief are all fairly meh.

May 13, 2015 10:54 p.m.

RoarMaster says... #9

Yeah, but bojuko brigand is a perfect fit for aether vial, and easy to splash with Ancient Ziggurat if you want to ditch on Abrupt Decay reliability. But that also opens up pretty much five color when combined with, ahhhhh Im drunk ass all hell right now, but you know the land, tribal, all colored cant be countered thingy. Anyway, allies love that stuff, and its always easy five color, or at least should be IMHO because there is such a reliable tribal land base available.

Ahhh, bojuko brigand not linking and cba to fix sry guys. Preview error.

May 14, 2015 3:58 a.m.

Bojuka Brigand is perfect with vial as most of the best allies are CMC 2... but that is the problem with him. Of all the 2 CMC allies, he is one of the worst ones. Oran-Rief Survivalist, for example is strictly better since he can block. The only ones he might arguably be better than are the red ones, Highland Berserker, and Akoum Battlesinger. But unlike them, the brigand doesn't really have much of a niche.

May 14, 2015 6:30 p.m.

JLenzen says... #11

Honestly the only reason Nef's deck isn't on here is because I haven't updated in a long time. Had finals and a bunch of other stuff going on. I'm going to do a pretty big overhaul soon-ish though, probably within a week or two, and I'll add several more lists.

May 14, 2015 9:09 p.m.

Nef says... #12

I was kinda making a joke but thank you!

May 14, 2015 9:34 p.m.

ehuez says... #13

Hey guys! Have you ever considered playing Akroma, Angel of Fury for its morph cost in ally decks? Many ally decks use cards like Cloudshift Momentary Blink Ghostway Ghostly Flicker Turn to Mist Otherworldly Journey which can turn it face up for 1 or 2 CMC.

May 28, 2015 10:01 a.m.

Nef says... #14

That is actually a really interesting idea ehuez! It would help for white control decks that run Path to Exile :D

May 29, 2015 7:14 p.m.

I don't like it. It is very much a one trick pony. You won't have other morph creatures, so once people see it, they will always see it coming. As such, it is kind of a win more. It will punish people that are bad at the game and you would likely win against anyways, but doesn't solidify match ups against people that know what they are doing.

May 29, 2015 9:27 p.m.

Also, I have been playing around with Mentor of the Meek over Sea Gate Loremaster. They both have obvious strengths and weaknesses, but I am kind of liking the mentor more and more. He might deserve a mention in the list of cards that ally decks in white can use.

June 6, 2015 1:17 p.m.

Johanson69 says... #17

Thoughts on a Mill-heavy Deck in Bant Colours using the spoilered Sphinx Tutelage? Would build on the existing Allies of Kruphix (Competitive), possibly include Sea Gate Loremaster (although he is quite costy), and more of the trigger-heavy type cards Ghostway and Rite of Replication. If you get some cheap Allies with counters, maybe Inspiring Call?

June 19, 2015 5:18 p.m.

Chascarrillo says... #18

That might work, and let's not forget about Halimar Excavator

June 19, 2015 6:11 p.m.

Johanson69 says... #19

Yeah I omitted that obvious choice :D

June 19, 2015 6:20 p.m.

Johanson69 says... #20

On Hagra Diabolist:I'm certain that you can not play a Diabolist, make all your other creatures copies of him, and have them trigger off of him entering the battlefield. After all, he has to already be on the battlefield in order to be a valid target for Mirrorweave.

June 27, 2015 9:50 p.m.

He means the ally and Mirrorweave -- not necessarily the diabolost. As in already have a Hagra Diabolist in play, play Mirrorweave, and then play any other ally. That would make all your creatures Hagra Diabolists, and any ally entering play after that would likely result in a win.

June 27, 2015 10:16 p.m.

Johanson69 says... #22

Oh that of course would work. The insecurity in the way it was phrased had me think it was the other way.

June 27, 2015 10:33 p.m.

pyroteknic11 says... #23

i dont know if any one else has commented this but Turntimber Ranger and Xenograft combo will basically win the game once out

July 1, 2015 6:10 p.m.

pyroteknic11 says... #24

sorry didnt read all of it before i commented its already in the post

July 1, 2015 6:40 p.m.

Nef says... #25

I want to try out Managorger Hydra... like... a lot.

July 3, 2015 8:35 p.m.