W/B Ayli Allies (Standard MTG Deck)

This is a variant of w/b allies drain deck post OGW. Deck uses Ayli for its full value and adds a token/equipment element as well. Overall this is meant to be played with a midgame focus and by winning the game of attrition.

Deck is fairly cheap to construct as standard seems to go nowadays. It also only contains one mainboard card rotating when next set arrives (Sorin, Solemn Visitor), and most of it will be legal for a year. While boros R/W allies is easier to construct and more aggressive, this W/B seems more fun to play and has lot of synergy. Many cards interact with at least two others and properly using your mana effectively will be very important as opposed to just mindless card dropping.

Have primer below that further explains the deck, will try to expand and keep it updated.

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Creatures

Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim: Ayli is an interesting card for this deck. Using it first for its value as a 2/3 deathtouch at 2CC spot. It's first activated ability plays into the lifegain/drain focus of deck, can be used to sac blocked/blocking creatures, has synergy with Zulaport Cutthroat and Stone Haven Outfitter. Additionally despite not being an ally it shares a type with all creatures (either kor/cleric) except Drana, Liberator of Malakir and Zulaport Cutthroat. Therefore, equipping a Stoneforge Masterwork could be a very solid play as could easily be a 4/5 or 5/6 deathtouch.

Kalastria Healer: Great 2CC ally, great early drop. Synergizes with most of the deck generating drain/heal which principally helps fuel Serene Steward. Works great with new Captain's Claws and Gideon, Ally of Zendikar token generators

Stoneforge Acolyte : Recent addition, trying out. Allows use of fewer equipment and/or greater chance of accessing one in first few turns. Best as first turn drop. Several 2CC creatures are not intended to attack mainly so works well with acolyte as a turn 2 play.

Stone Haven Outfitter: Another recent addition. While the +1/+1 is likely to be better in a R/W Boros ally equipment deck, we can try to take advantage of secondary ability more. This has great synergy with Captain's Claws and Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim. Former is easy to re-equip and generates tokens and latter can use to sacrifice equipped creature intentionally (and gain 1 more life from the +1/+1)

Drana's Emissary: Card I've always liked, a solid 3CC creature. Has evasion with flying which works well with the aggressive Captain's Claws and can life/drain and play defense. Great synergy with Serene Stewart

Drana, Liberator of Malakir: Best creature pound for pound in the deck. If not blocked/removed (especially with an attached Captain's Claws) can get out of control quickly. Also due to its first strike if it hits player it will add the +1/+1 tokens to others attackers before they do/receive damage. Pushes a more aggressive style, but is a lightning rod and high chance of being removed.

Enchantments

Silkwrap : Great 2CC removal that also excels for exiling as opposed to killing. Weak against enchantment removal and high CC creatures like Siege Rhino

Stasis Snare: An upgraded Silkwrap at 3CC which is instant speed and can hit any CC creature. Negatives again weak to enchantment removal and the WW in cost can be issue occasionally

Oath of Gideon : Trying this out again, going more all in. The main draw is the +1 loyalty to the planeswalkers. It allows gideon to ultimate and stick around when it drops, and lets sorin ultimate turn after played (which should be pretty devastating for most opponents especially if done early). The negative of this card is if don't have planeswalker in hand (or mana yet to play) this can be a weak 2/2 essentially for 3CC. Sadly no way to really flicker this card, though we can play other copies over itself for more tokens. Just realized recently the tokens are "Kor Ally" not just Ally, which was another reason added back as tokens can boost an Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim with a Stoneforge Masterwork equipped

Artifacts

Captain's Claws: Very interesting new equipment. Allows another way to reliably generate allies. Kind of wish it didn't automatically attack, if I understand rules correctly. Great synergy with Kalastria Healer, Drana, Liberator of Malakir, and lesser extent the indestructible Ally state of Gideon, Ally of Zendikar. Important to note this can be used with Shambling Vent after a board wipe.

Stoneforge Masterwork: Trying this out, nice that it can be a turn 1 drop. Expensive to equip, and unlikely to do so till turn 4-5 regardless. I like it due to ability to turn a weenie creature into real threat. Additionally, along with Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim and Stone Haven Outfitter have mini combo where you can get increased life gain and card draw. Opens up real possibility in longer game to enable ayli's "ultimate" ability and go full control. Card is very weak vs. boardwipe and should be sided out if you expect to face that

Planeswalkers

Gideon, Ally of Zendikar: My favorite standard legal planeswalker. Gives us ally tokens, an anthem, and his indestructible ally form does seem better now with Captain's Claws around. Could easily run a full playset, and a minimum of 2. Multiple copies not dead cards as can anthem the first and then play the next making 3/3 tokens. Likely to attract a lot of hate.

Sorin, Solemn Visitor: Good one or two of in deck. Will be rotating out in few months (only card mainboard that will be). The partial anthem with lifelink feeds cards like Serene Stewart but especially Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim. Ability to generate additional flyers also good with Captain's Claws. Ultimate can be devastating on a non-aristocrat deck if can pull off. Secondary to Gideon though as can't consistently make tokens and tokens aren't allies.

Lands

Shambling Vent: Usually fine for first turn drop unless you have a Stoneforge Acolyte in hand. Provides mana stability, doesn't cause life loss, and can become a creature which can also equip Captain's Claws. Obvious 4 of in this deck.

Caves of Koilos: Helps flesh out mana for the double WW and BB cards. Pain can often be offset with Kalastria Healer

Ally Encampment: Used to be 4 of, but it gets worse as you add planeswalkers and removal. Still great with Drana, Liberator of Malakir both to help cast the 1BB and to protect her. If needed can use on gideon to reset back to full loyalty. Deck is mana intensive between equipment and Serene Stewart so don't want to use sacrifice ability unless have to (or drew lot of lands).

Swamp + Plains: Because.......Blood Moon ;)

Maybeboard

Serene Steward: An otherwise 2CC grizzly bear with an ability we can trigger often. Adding +1/+1 counters on the flyers (Drana's Emissary Drana, Liberator of Malakir) is strongest use of its ability. Good turn three drop, if nothing else, after a Kalastria Healer turn two. Main issue is this card is it's mana intensive and more so must use white mana.

Zulaport Cutthroat: A common pair with Kalastria Healer feeding the life/drain on death as opposed to ETB. Much weaker card to healer overall, but does offer some protection to board wipes and synergizes with Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim. Still this isn't an aristocrats or recursion deck. Love this card in EDH, not so much here.

March from the Tomb: Used to run a copy pre OGW. Between 4 planeswalkers, the Captain's Claws and Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim (not an Ally) this doesn't seem worth it mainboard anymore. If do use best value is re-triggering Kalastria Healer from grave and bringing back Drana, Liberator of Malakir.

Ruinous Path : Have used this before. Essentially its better than stasis field in that it can kill planeswalkers and can't be removed with a disenchant spell. But its worse in every other way especially being a sorcery. Also it was only non ally using BB so cost was issue in testing often

Grasp of Darkness: Like above worried about BB cost. Otherwise I could see it being better than silk wrap in a few cases. Potential sideboard card

Cliffhaven Vampire: Has come up number of times. I definately would run several if didn't have the planeswalkers or for different flavor. It's high toughness is intriguing for ayli, he's good defensively and with couple of Kalastria Healer out would likely be devastating. May try to work in couple of copies.

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Date added	8 years
Last updated	8 years
Legality	This deck is not Standard legal.
Rarity (main - side)	7 - 0 Mythic Rares 21 - 6 Rares 13 - 7 Uncommons 7 - 2 Commons
Cards	61
Avg. CMC	2.38
Tokens	Emblem Gideon, Ally of Zendikar, Emblem Sorin, Solemn Visitor, Knight Ally 2/2 W, Kor Ally 1/1 W, Vampire 2/2 B
Folders	ogw std
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