I used to play bant allies and it was okay for casual metas but anything competitive it just straight lost to 80% of the time if not more. Switched to Merfolk for tribal competitiveness and sometimes goblins. Still fun deck though

i just beat abzan, I'd say I've found a pretty competitive tier 1 compatible allies build. but usually if you stay with two colors its not enough, even 3, so I see where you are coming from. I have to run all 5 to work, but I still curb stomp much of the meta.

Sorry to comment so much guys! My All-in-allie deck got posted online here: http://magic.wizards.com/en/articles/archive/mtgo-standings/modern-daily-2015-02-21 I'm listed as MadKat, and I went 3-1. I just wen't 3-1 today too. I made a play mistake, so i think i coulda gone 4-0. Anyway, I just wanted to post this so you guys would know the deck is tier 1 compatible.
-Aubrey

Allies were my standard deck way back. I know it is not great, and I made the cantrips/lands more modern like, but The Axis of Allies won quite a bit for me then. I know it is not competitive, but is fun. I could make it better, but meh.

I wish I did have the vials though. That would be ideal.

They did have to face Big Papa Jace when they were in standard, so that is a big reason. If they were in standard at the moment, it would be a different story.

My allies deck was posted again, same link I think, for those who are interested.

Hey! I think its great to see an actual ally primer, its gave me a few ideas for my ally commander deck. Anyway I am working on a competitive modern ally deck, i was wondering if you could check it out? Its a mainly esper colored deck woth a splash of green for Oran-Rief Survivalist and the always important Harabaz Druid, what i am aiming for is to stall and survive untill i have either a Hagra Diabolist or Halimar Excavator and kick a Rite of Replication targeting them and mill there library out or ping em for 180 damage. Please check it out.http://tappedout.net/mtg-decks/new-five-colors/

Also, if i may make a suggestion, maybe add a section to the primer for cards that complement allies such as Rite of Replication, Ghostway,Conspiracy

All of those are mentioned at some point in the Primer, I may put in a dedicated section for support spells at some point.

Very nice read. I've loved (and my friends have loathed) ETB effects since Gray Merchant of Asphodel. Since we've sworn not to go complete dick-mode against each others decks (like running Back to Nature against Constellation) I've been considering to build a budget allies deck and this primer will certainly help out.

Since mana bases tend to cut into a wallet like a hot knife, I'm considering to do something two-color, like U/W defensive with some blink. The mentioned example shell contains some pretty non-college-student-budget cards, so I'll be brewing for a while, just wanted to let you know that I appreciate the effort! +1

+1 for this list, good sir! Allies are what I learned to play Magic with, and will always have a special place in my heart.

+1 for the effort you have put in this list. But it seems like you have missed the Hardened Scales. This card is HUGE in each green ally-deck...

[Emphroy], I actually mention Hardened Scales in each of my green ally example decks. Though considering its power, I will probably be adding a support spells section in every color sometime soon. I hadn't realized how effective it was until playtesting aubman02's All-in-Allies.

Well, ive used the search function so sorry for that.

New cards look amazing, and like they're going to cost quite a bit of cash xC

I've been trying to make a very low-budget U/W late game allies deck with some control. My inability to choose and lack of experience in making control-type decks is playing up though. Could you maybe take a look?

I too went crazy for Collected Company. Ojutai's Command seems okay... but as you aid, the mana cost is a bit high on it. It could potentially take the spot of some Talus Paladins though. Avatar of the Resolute looks like it could be good in more green oriented builds, and Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit could find a spot in a more white focused build. Mirror Mockery could be interesting as well. But really the big one is for sure Collected Company. That card is going to be nuts in modern in general.

Thats what I think too, some people don't think Collected Company is going to make much of a difference, but I think they're crazy. I think Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit could go really well in a GW deck with Hardened Scales, if you have both out, any ally that would normally enter with a +1/+1 counter now enters with 4.

I've been seriously considering Mirror Mockery since it can be used both offensively in allies, and defensively against any big threat like Siege Rhino. I'm not sure if I'll be able to find a spot for it though.

hey, check the articles out on me Allies deck!http://puremtgo.com/articles/old-new-brew-modern-5-color-allieshttp://magic.tcgplayer.com/db/article.asp?ID=12423

I am trying to make a midrangy azorius deck Expectations

I hope you don't mind but I linked this primer in my deck You're Never Alone - A Motivational Deck :D

Not at all! Thanks for the reference :)

i made mono white, but i went for a tempo-ey build. what do you think? i strayed from some popular choices, but i dont think that hurts it. W'allies

You think Congregation at Dawn or Juniper Order Ranger have a place in my selesnya, counter based ally deck??

Congregation at Dawn no, I think its outclassed at that mana-cost by Lead the Stampede. Although allies can be situational, you rarely need 3 specific ones all at once. If you're interested in playing an Ondu Cleric or Kabira Evangel at instant speed, I'd throw in 2 Chord of Calling. I've been using it in my competitive allies deck, and its working really well, especially with Harabaz Druid.

Juniper Order Ranger however could be good. You can ramp into him as early as turn 3, and he nets you 4 counters with Hardened Scales. However, Anafenza, Kin-Tree Spirit has a very similar effect for 3 less mana. Granted its one fewer counter since the Ranger puts one on himself, but I would say the 3-mana difference isn't worth that, unless you're running token generators. (Which could work well)