Cloudshift is actually not that good in Modern allies. If you're playing against a deck who's only removal is 4 Path to Exile or something similar, than yes you can keep one of your allies alive, get protection, etc...
However, most top tier modern decks run far more removal than that, (Splinter Twin, BGx midrange, RDW, Jeskai control...) or are much much faster (Affinity, Soul sisters, Boggles...).
In the first case, you will only have 3-4 allies on the board at once. If you have any more than that, your opponent is either land flooded or you've already won. If you do, you'll only be saving 1 ally, getting 4-8 life, and a few +1/+1 counters. Now that seems great, but all of that can be accomplished by playing another ally. On the flipside, if you have no allies in play because they've all been killed, a topdecked Cloudshift gives you nothing. You have to have good board position to use it effectively.
Against Affinity or something similar, Cloudshift gives you nothing at any point in the game. If it's in your opening hand, its another card that can neither block nor attack nor kill your opponent's creatures.
Add all of this on top of the fact that Cloudshift can't be gained from allies best card advantage spells (Collected Company, Tracker's Instincts, Lead the Stampede) whereas more allies can. Nearly every time you'll get more worth over replacing Cloudshift with another ally.
May 6, 2015 3:13 p.m.
JLenzen - You make many good points here. (sorry about late response. The notification got hidden.)
May 7, 2015 9:07 p.m.
Probably not Rocknj06 as it is not an ally and I think in this deck Collected Company is strictly better. Resto Angel's body isn't super helpful here as it doesn't add counters and it won't get any. Thank you for the suggestion though :D
May 8, 2015 10:47 p.m.
The problem with Avatar of the Resolute is that he requires other creatures to already be on the field to be really good. 2 mana for a 3/2 reach trample is really good but other cards (like Oran-Rief Survivalist) will be ok on their own but will get better as I play creatures and will buff my other creatures as well.
Avatar of the Resolute is still an interesting option and I will consider it! Thanks
May 10, 2015 5:25 p.m.
I'm pretty open-minded when it comes to this deck right now as long as the change doesn't double the price of the deck xD
There are a ton of cards I am considering and that I want to include into the deck right now.
May 10, 2015 6:07 p.m.
kinghehehee says... #9
Descendants' Path for shenanigans? Gives you a possible free ally. O-ring is good but probably a little slow
May 14, 2015 11:52 p.m.
Not an ally but great in counter decks. Avatar of the Resolute
May 15, 2015 11:33 a.m.
3 Melira, Sylvok Outcast? I can understand one, but three? Do you have a lot of infect in your meta?
May 17, 2015 8:22 p.m.
@Maringam - I have been considering her in the past. She was bad when I tested her but I will try again.
CYborghb - Infect wins quick so I need to be able to get Melira within the first few turns. I have been considering running Vines of Vastwood instead of her in the sb. I can't afford Spellskite quite yet.
May 17, 2015 8:24 p.m.
How has Collected Company been performing for you? You might want to consider adding more. That card is absolutely bonkers.
May 18, 2015 1:55 a.m.
@ynalak7 - the card is great but it's 10 dollars so it's gonna take me a while to acquire more
May 18, 2015 6:30 a.m.
I tried playtesting this a bunch (love the idea), but the manabase seems really shaky to me. 21 lands feels really light...lots of 1-landers. Lots of hands had plains and forest with Kazandu Blademaster waiting multiple turns to bolster his crew on the battlefield. Additionally, you can get some really awkward openers with Gavony and Wooded Bastion.
Maybe add some more fetches?
May 18, 2015 7:44 a.m.
EDIT: Actually, this may have been RNG at work. I ran another 20 or so hands and things looked much better.
May 18, 2015 7:46 a.m.
Yah you must've been quite unlucky! The tappedout play tester screws me over a lot
May 18, 2015 8:15 a.m.
Taikomochi says... #24
very awesome concept, very inspirational :) i play magic to take mini vacations into my imagination but its nice to see the comaradrie too when i visit. job well done!
Nef says... #1
I've been looking for a place for Cloudshift since the birth of this deck. I could probably replace the Oblivion Rings for it but I still need to do some testing
May 6, 2015 10:07 a.m.