Here you go guys, all the Ally cards in BFZ.

My opinion on the way these additions look: I am pretty disappointed with how they stripped the growth mechanic away.

Now there are a bunch of ability-granting triggers (Hero of Goma Fada with indestructible @4W, Kor Bladewhirl with first strike @1W, Lantern Scout with Lifelink @2W, Chasm Guide with Haste @3R, Firemantle Mage with Menace @2R, Ondu Champion with Trample @2RR, Resolute Blademaster with double strike @3RW), out of which I find Firemantle Mage to be the strongest, followed by Lantern Scout and Chasm Guide. These 3 are imo the most likely to get picked up, Chasm Guide maybe the least as he can't be flipped by CoCo. Kor Bladewhirl is just a tiny bit better Highland Berserker, which to my knowledge didn't see play in constructed.

In terms of good beaters we get Drana, Liberator of Malakir (1BB), Skyrider Elf (XGU), Veteran Warleader (1GW). I am partial to Skyrider Elf, as it is a good curvefiller and effective most of the time, but can't be flipped with CoCo. Expedition Envoy (W) is not good enough imo, maybe in a Mono W deck with Honor of the Pure, not sure how White Wheenie Allies looks right now. Both Drana and the Warleader seem to be able to push the beatdown plan decently. Of course Gideon, Ally of Zendikar should be mentioned, but he sort of does everything.

Other interesting cards include Retreat to Emeria (3W), which turns land-topdecks into Allytriggers. In the end likely won't play it, but the idea looks alright. There is also Unified Front (3W), which can give up to 4 Ally triggers at once. With Halimar Excavator, Ondu Cleric, etc you get at least 20 points of triggers (cards milled, life gained, etc). I am not sure how I should feel about the "Whenever you gain life"-triggers, but it might be worth it to pursue in a WB combination. My gut feeling though is that it would be too fragile. March from the Tomb (3WB) looks decent enough, though Return to the Ranks does basically the same and is a bit more flexible. Card choice here (if you want Recursion at all) depends on where the curve stops. Ally Encampment, as already discussed, will likely be a 4-of auto-include. Munda, Ambush Leader (2RW) is a decent value engine with cards like Descendants' Path, but might come a bit late. At least he has Haste though.

The rest of the cards I think aren't really suited for Modern play, but please correct me if I oversaw an important strong card. Well, now starts the time of brewing, though I feel like not that much might change with existing lists.

@Above me: I think Chasm Guide might be playable as a 2-of similar to Talus Paladin, after all there is no benefit to having multiples of it. In the end though, I don't see myself using him that much in serious decks. Looks fun with Sea Gate Loremaster + Harabaz Druid though... Like I mentioned, I'll give Unified Front a try, 3-4 Triggers are easily achievable and can thus basically be CoCo 5-8 (I know I know, it isn't nearly as good, but still), especially if they can grow with Drana on the field.

Imo, 4-5c Allies are the way to go. Getting the real good stuff now sort of requires that. With Ally Encampment, Cavern of Souls, Ancient Ziggurat and Reflecting Pool give a pretty damn decent manabase.

They give a decent manabase, but don't most don't allow to play support cards. After trying, I'd like to stick to 3 colors if possible, it has enabled me to play better sideboard cards or maindecked cards, like Abrupt Decay in the Abzan version or Dromokas Command, Path to Exile and other awesome stuff.

I love the way my deck is looking right now. I'm excited to get the cards and test it out

Nef Add my deck as well!

Decklist here

kk will do

My latest Abzan Allies build

If it can be added, I'd appreciate it. Any other help/advice would be appreciated too, especially with the sideboard.

@TranSpyre You have exactly 6 creatures to use Oran-Rief, the Vastwood for. I'd much rather play a second copy of Gavony Township, as it can be used turn after turn if you only topdeck lands. I'm not certain on the topic of Manlands, though they to become a Manasink as well as Manafix... make sure to report how it goes.

You also already play a whole lot of +1/+1 counters-matter cards, why not bring Hardened Scales into the Mainboard? Not quite certain on what to cut down on though, maybe Gideon and Inspriring Call?

On Sideboard tech: I'm by far not experienced enough to construct a proper Sideboard, but I did compile a list of possible Sideboard cards (not only for Allies). Maybe it is of use to you. Here's the link.

I think Abrupt Decay is great for abzan allies.

@Johanson69

I switched the Oran-Rief to another Gavony Township, then moved the MB Inspiring Call and the 3rd Path to Exile to the side for 2 Hardened Scales MB.

Then in the sideboard I dropped the 2 Scales, the Abzan Ascendancy, and the Qasali Pridemages for a Gaddock Teeg, the Path, the Inspiring Call, and 2 Pithing Needles.

Thoughts?

Nef, I don't think Allies has much room for another non-two drop spell. I could be wrong; have you play-tested how it would work? I would think you would have to miss a turn of playing an ally in order to keep mana open for the card, which I think is undesirable.

You're probably right aubman. I need to really look at it when I get home

I try to be open to being wrong on this. I know I tend to see the deck as one way...if the deck can afford not winning turn 4 as consistently, at the benefit of taking away mainboard hates then that would be cool. Or maybe it can go sideboard.

Decay is probably gonna be at least in my sideboard. I think it's just really good.

Guys, any help on the sideboard? I'm pretty solid on the following cards, but I have a few more slots which are still flexible.- 2x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar- 1x March from the Tomb- 2x Nature's Claim- 3x Ondu Cleric- 2x Return to the Ranks- 2x Stony Silence- 3x Suppression Field

The issue I am having is that I'm not sure if Gideon is actually as strong as it is on paper. Athreos, God of Passage is actually good on paper, but against JUND, it failed miserably. Long story short on that match-up; my opponent whom is an acquaintance, is a far much better player than me. He easily played past Athreos and rendered him useless. He later told me that the card on paper is actually good. But, against better players, the card is a dead card. Hence, from there I want to know if Gideon is in the same line of quality.

Secondly, I know Tuktuk Scrapper may not be a good card against affinity, but I'm still kind of hoping he would make it into sideboard against affinity. Yes, the 2x Stony Silence is better, but they are essentially there in any deck that plays white. Trust me when I say they ARE expecting those in game 2. 2x Nature's Claim works well, but they are in there for other decks as well, so that will stay.

Thirdly, Hibernation is a hidden card tech that I am trying out against Jund, Elves, Abzan, Boggles. what do you guys think?

Return to the Ranks is good actually. But, having 2x of that plus a 1x March from the Tomb overkill? Plus, it's 5 mana, it's a little taxing on my 20-land mana base.

Any advise will be great on how to tune or change my SB thanks! Meta call here is Jund, Abzan, TRON, Affinity, Merfolk, Tribals, Grixis Control/Delver, Elves, Twin. Occasionally see RDW, Living End, Bloom Titan, Coco Abzan.

I would let the March from the Tomb go. Maybe throw in the Scrapper for that?

What do you think about Thalia, Guardian of Thraben in the deck ?

I keep 2 in the MB in my Naya build but consider moving them to the SB to add some non-creature support like Boros Charm.

It depends on your meta. If you have a lot of control there then go for it.

Ok, so I just made a suuuuuuuper crazy deck. Its called Kamakaze Allies. Kinda appropriate for fighting the eldrazi. What do you guys think?

Repeating my comment from your thread, but at that point you're playing sub-par Aristocrats, not Allies.

I looked up aristocrats. There was only three listed. can you link?

These allies do seem to gain a lot of life pretty quick though. This may be a hidden strength. of course i havent playtested it yet.

Hey everyone, to those of you who have an allies deck on tappedout.net, could you make sure that if your deck has a strong resemblance to my original deck I brewed a while ago that you acknowledge me at the top of your deck description please? I'm not great at putting together attractive pages like Nef or JLenzen, so I rely on the common courtesy of people acknowledging that they are using my original idea in their deck. I look to you guys to help spread the word that I'm a good brewer in modern. Thx for doing this for me!

-Aubrey

I realize now that a lot of other people have put a bunch of work into the allies too. You guys can disregard the previous post. Sorry yall, my bad.

No problem. You're a fine brewer. I would argue that you are far better than most.

Thx man, that means a lot :-) . Brings a smile to my face.