I'm friends with a Vampire!

Standard Allies Competitive Lifegain Midrange Tempo WB (Orzhov)

akki007

Creature (23)

• 2x Bloodbond Vampire
• 2x Brutal Hordechief
• 4x Drana's Emissary
• 4x Kalastria Healer
• 1x Kor Bladewhirl
• 2x Lantern Scout
• 1x Makindi Patrol
• 3x Serene Steward
• 4x Zulaport Cutthroat

Planeswalker (1)

• 1x Gideon, Ally of Zendikar

Land (23)

• 4x Ally Encampment
• 1x Blighted Steppe
• 7x Plains
• 2x Scoured Barrens
• 2x Shambling Vent
• 1x Sunken Hollow
• 6x Swamp

Enchantment (5)

• 2x Pacifism
• 1x Palace Siege
• 2x Silkwrap

Instant (7)

• 2x Celestial Flare
• 3x Encircling Fissure
• 2x Gideon's Reproach

Sorcery (1)

• 1x March from the Tomb

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Sideboard

Creature (2)

• 1x Lantern Scout
• 1x Makindi Patrol

Planeswalker (1)

• 1x Sorin, Solemn Visitor

Land (1)

• 1x Mortuary Mire

Enchantment (2)

• 1x Palace Siege
• 1x Quarantine Field

Artifact (1)

• 1x Aligned Hedron Network

Instant (7)

• 2x Complete Disregard
• 2x Fate Forgotten
• 2x Harsh Sustenance
• 1x Roil's Retribution

Sorcery (1)

• 1x Planar Outburst

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**Update**

After FNM_10302015, decided to update and change up the play style. The major factor that pushed me towards my losses was the fact that most of the times, I either didn't draw enough land, or had to hold on to expensive spells while I tried to survive and play creatures. Most of my enchantments never made it to the battlefield and remained in my hand because I was never in a strong enough board position to play them

So the new version will focus more on speed

Creature (23)

Bloodbond Vampire : Rally Triggers and Pumps himself; main beatdown creature.
Brutal Hordechief : Doesn't trigger Rally, but has the "You-lose-a-life-I-gain-a-life" symmetric for attacking. Best part is that the more allies attack, the more he triggers!
Drana's Emissary : Main flying defense. Also triggers Rally and has the "You-lose-a-life-I-gain-a-life" symmetric for existence. Very handy to just keep around the board.
Kalastria Healer : Has the "You-lose-a-life-I-gain-a-life" symmetric for Rally. Should be much more useful with more allies in the deck. Gideon, Ally of Zendikar works wonders with her.
Kor Bladewhirl : Triggers Rally and doles out First Strike Damage. Can be very handy for dealing with a certain Drana, Liberator of Malakir.
Lantern Scout : Rally Triggers with Lifelink.
Makindi Patrol : Rally Triggers with Vigilance.
Serene Steward : Triggers Rally and allows life gain to turn into stronger attacks. Very synergistic with has the "You-lose-a-life-I-gain-a-life" symmetric.
Zulaport Cutthroat : Triggers Rally and has the has the "You-lose-a-life-I-gain-a-life" symmetric for comrade death.

Enchantment (5)

Pacifism : Board control. Takes care of big Eldrazi with ease.
Palace Siege : Dragons mode gives double the "You-lose-a-life-I-gain-a-life" symmetric for existence. A more difficult to remove Drana's Emissary, and sets up an effective clock for your opponent.
Silkwrap : Board Control. more for pesky flyers and early game.

Land (23)

Ally Encampment : Allows for color fixing for allies and can save some from destruction in a pinch.
Blighted Steppe : Can add life for creatures. Plays well off of Gideon, Ally of Zendikar and triggers both Bloodbond Vampire and Serene Steward at instant speed.
Plains : Main source of White Mana
Scoured Barrens : Gains one life and triggers both Bloodbond Vampire and Serene Steward
Shambling Vent : Can become a life-link creature and gain life to trigger both Bloodbond Vampire and Serene Steward
Sunken Hollow : Can come into play untapped for Black Mana
Swamp : Main source of Black Mana

Instant (7)

Celestial Flare : Combat trick used before declaring blockers
Encircling Fissure : Combat trick used before declaring blockers
Gideon's Reproach : Combat trick used after declaring blockers

Sorcery (1)

March from the Tomb : Multiple Rally Triggers. Can be game ending.

Planeswalker (1)

Gideon, Ally of Zendikar : Main Rally Trigger source.

Sideboard (15)

Aligned Hedron Network : For the big Eldrazi Heavy decks
Complete Disregard : in case those early aggro creatures are getting big before they attack.
Fate Forgotten : For those enchantment and artifact playing decks.
Harsh Sustenance : In case you need more spot removal
Lantern Scout : In case you need more aggro and more life.
Makindi Patrol : In case you need more creatures to go aggro.
Mortuary Mire : in case you find yourself losing creatures to midrange.
Palace Siege : Extra copy in case you are playing control and want to speed up the clock.
Planar Outburst : Board wipe, in case you find yourself behind often.
Quarantine Field : Control Trick, in case games start going long and you find you lose reach in later stages.
Roil's Retribution : combat trick used to help control the game.
Sorin, Solemn Visitor : Lifelink ability useful against aggro.

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Figured I wanted to play around with life, and this set gave me a lot to work with!

Kalastria Healer and Zulaport Cutthroat have very symmetric effects, so creating chump blockers from Retreat to Emeria and Gideon, Ally of Zendikar really brings them to their full power. Having multiple on the field only enhances their effects, and once you do, a single Planar Outburst can quickly end the game. In case you need that extra reach, Defiant Bloodlord is more than sufficient. And of course, having creatures grow with you, like Bloodbond Vampire is also very nice.

Aligned Hedron Network and Nirkana Assassin are defensive cards to keep your opponent's board small. I imagine Scion attacks would be partially offset by the life gain, and your life gain is your opponent's loss of life. Complete Disregard , Gideon's Reproach , and Encircling Fissure are some neat combat tricks that will bring your game back to you.

Overall, it's fun to mess around with your opponent's life while augmenting your own. I don't think the lifegain is fast enough for Felidar Sovereign and I couldn't think of much else in terms of disruption and control to keep your opponent off balance while draining their life. Any suggestions are greatly appreciated!!

Date added	9 years
Last updated	9 years
Legality	This deck is not Standard legal.
Rarity (main - side)	3 - 2 Mythic Rares 11 - 4 Rares 22 - 1 Uncommons 9 - 8 Commons
Cards	60
Avg. CMC	2.70
Tokens	Emblem Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, Emblem Sorin, Solemn Visitor, Knight Ally 2/2 W, Vampire 2/2 B
Folders	inspirace, stuff to buy, Attempts at Standard