Lisforlucifer says... #2
Consider cards like Cloudshift and Ghostly Flicker
August 31, 2014 11:11 a.m.
Thanks for the comment, Tilwin; I've been thinking about this problem and given how diverse and powerful the graveyard-hate that exists is, I think trying to combat it directly is the wrong way to approach the problem. Instead, I've decided to experiment with building a sideboard that allows me to completely drop the combo strategy of the deck and turn it into a tempo deck. Plus, it's a good way to throw the opponent off guard and I've always wanted to have a go at building a trick sideboard.
Thanks for the suggestions, Lisforlucifer. For some reason, the site is bugging out and won't let me accept them, but I've incorporated them into my sideboard strategy.
September 1, 2014 4:45 p.m.
Livelyhound says... #5
"I figured it would be more effective to build a sideboard that allows me to change strategy completely"
Going with this line I thought you might prefer to sideboard Brago, King Eternal instead of the Angel of Glory's Rise and then change Unburial Rites to something like Aqueous Form . This would allow you to go from tossing allies into the graveyard to throwing them onto the battlefield. At which point you then are looking to hit once with Brago and bounce all your allies for the same combo mill effect. All whilst your opponent would be trying to counter the unburial by not killing your allies.
Similar to how I use Brago in my Windmill deck.
September 7, 2014 2:20 a.m.
I definitely like that idea, Livelyhound, I'll give it a try. Thank you.
September 7, 2014 11:34 a.m.
umlweatherman says... #7
What about Venser, the Sojourner to add to the ETB effects?
April 8, 2015 10:31 a.m.
Consider Immortal Servitude and Rally the Ancestors as solutions outside of AoGR. I've found them to be stellar in my remade esper mill ally.
April 8, 2015 10:48 a.m.
Rite of Replication I know it's hard in this deck to kick (I used to play UG Allies so it was easier for me), but it's insane.
April 8, 2015 11:15 a.m.
@Kravian, I've looked at Immortal Servitude before but I just don't think it's as good as Angel of Glory's Rise + Unburial Rites simply because it can't be cast from the graveyard.
@Nephilim, hard is something of an understatement; on average I would have to draw 20 cards before I would get enough land to be able to kick it. It's a powerful card, but it's just not practical in a deck without a lot of ramp.
April 8, 2015 2:08 p.m.
Boseiju, Who Shelters All
I know this isn't in your criteria of price, but to whomever is checking out your deck (which is AWESOME), it might be a nice reminder if they wanna spend a bit more on the deck.
I absolutely love Allies, and I love the way you put this together, definite +1!
May 6, 2015 5:07 p.m.
Another suggestion similar to Caechus for those seeking to make this awesome deck more competitive would be Cavern of Souls. Since 5 out of the 8 Allies that are being run in this deck are Humans it would work well with it.
May 18, 2015 4:51 p.m.
Hey, let's play tonight... my gamer tag is MadKat. Could you make it modern legal by 830 tonight?
September 13, 2015 6:24 p.m.
Hey, aubman02, I can't play tonight - it's already 11:30pm where I live and I'm pretty tired - but I'd be happy to show you the deck some other day. What time zone are you in?
September 13, 2015 6:34 p.m.
Are you free during the morning or afternoon on any day then?
September 13, 2015 6:46 p.m.
I'll be busy on Thursday between about 12:30pm and 5:30pm EST, but I'll be available the rest of the day.
September 13, 2015 6:58 p.m.
TEGHabibird says... #22
Flood plain is strictly worse than evolving wilds and terramorphic expanse.
You have no interesting islands or plains cards to fetch, and it enters tapped, and it also cant find your singleton swamp.
- -4 flood plain
- +2 evolving wilds
- +2 terramorphic expanse
June 22, 2016 10:14 p.m.
While admittedly very marginal, the Flood Plains do actually have some benefits over the other fetch lands in the deck:
- If you mulligan on the play, a turn 1 Evolving Wilds will shuffle a scryed card back into the deck, where a Flood Plain will let you draw it first.
- It lets you wait until the moment you actually need the mana to make the decision of what to fetch, which means you'll have slightly more information of what the best land to fetch is. For example, on turn 1 if your hand is Plains, fetch land, Kazandu Blademaster and a bunch of blue cards; if the fetch land is a Terramorphic Expanse, you would have to play and sacrifice it on the first turn for an Island so you can guaranteed play the blue cards in your hand, whereas if it's a Flood Plain, you can play it turn 1 and then wait to see what your turn 2 draw is before cracking it. If you draw an Island or the opponent's play makes it seem like an early Blademaster would be very good, it might be better to fetch another Plains so you can play the Blademaster on turn 2.
- You can leave a Flood Plain sitting in play uncracked as a shuffle effect for a future Brainstorm and not be punished if it turns out you actually need the mana at some point.
- Turn 1 with a hand of Brainstorm, Hada Freeblade, Island, Flood Plain and 2 cards you don't want; you can play the Flood Plain turn 1, then turn 2 play the Island, play Brainstorm and put the 2 unwanted cards on top, then crack the Flood Plain to shuffle the cards back into the deck and grab a Plains to play Hada Freeblade. With an Evolving Wilds, the Plains would come into play tapped and you wouldn't be able to play the Freeblade that turn.
Like I said, the benefits are marginal and possibly they don't outweigh the fact that the Wilds/Expanse can fetch the Swamp and aren't vulnerable to Wasteland, but it's not quite as simple as Flood Plain being strictly worse.
June 23, 2016 7:19 a.m.
titanreaver says... #24
Have you considered splashing green for Harabaz Druid and an alternate win con with Rite of Replication with the kicker? Thats how I do it in axis and.... I find it to be a pretty good win con. Love tribal though.
August 21, 2016 10:22 p.m.
Thanks, titanreaver. It's a decent combo but I don't think it's worth going into a completely different colour for.
Tilwin says... #1
Watch out for Graveyard-exile cards that could ruin your whole strategy - yep, I am referring to stuff like Tormod's Crypt , Rest in Peace , Nihil Spellbomb , Bojuka Bog or Deathrite Shaman (I know he is banned in modern).
Pithing Needle , enchantment removal and counterspells can help you here. Bojuka Bog is a bit trickier to deal with, since forced discard or disabling ETB effects is the only way to ensure it will not ruin your plan. But disabling ETB effects... well, you are kind of relying on that for your wincon....
August 31, 2014 9:45 a.m.