I will either third or fourth(whatever it's at) for the lifegain equipments (IE. Basilisk Collar, Loxodon Warhammer, etc.) These coupled with creatures that deal a lot of damage are just amazing, I use them both in my new Heartless Hidetsugu deck and they work with many direct damage-dealing creatures other than my general. Some examples being Lord of Shatterskull Pass and Jaya Ballard, Task Mage.
In general, you want your lifegain to be doing something else - something that you'd be sort of okay playing without the lifegain. (So Faith's Fetters is a yes, Douse in Gloom is a no). Lifegain on its own can be helpful, but few printed pure lifegain cards are really that nice, and most are horrible. Things with one-shot lifegain effects as riders are okay, but lifelink and old-triggered-lifelink are the big dogs; Basilisk Collar is super cheap and can easily be worth just tons of life, on top of making your tiny dorks deadly blockers. Warhammer and Sledge are similar.
*wait - I know Ageless Entity can't wear the mantle if it's shrouded, but does it still get the counters if you gain life while shrouded?
As long as the mantle goes on first, it would be fine. Shroud doesn't make auras/equipment fall off. It would also still get the counters, as it's not a targeted ability.
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[Pr]Jaya | Estrid | A rotating cast of decks built out of my box.
http://forums.mtgsalvation.com/showthread.php?t=307453
Chainer, Dementia Master:symb:-MBC/Graveyard shenanigans ------> Primer!
Rasputin Dreamweaver:symw:-Big mana/blink
Marton Stromgald:symr:-Token aggro
Animar, Soul of Elements:symug:-Combo/big dorks
Nath of the Gilt-Leaf:symb:-Discard/Elves
Grimgrin, Corpse-Born-Tribal zombies/Voltron
here are some more for consideration.
Bloodchief ascension
lightning helix
Transcendent Master
Vampire nighthwalk
searing meditation
ajani vengeant, pride made
balefire liege
fireman angel
Currently Playing (Standard - Legacy - Commander- Cube)
My Cube - Updated 12/31/2013
Driving Stick with Isochron Scepter.
Trinkets and Treasure: An Artificer's Toolbox.
Proc Drops: Playing with One Drops.
Deck Primer: Toshiro Umezawa
lol nice. Get a Shield of the Oversoul and a Canopy Cover on that Ageless Entity!
*wait - I know Ageless Entity can't wear the mantle if it's shrouded, but does it still get the counters if you gain life while shrouded?
Modern
RBig RedR
GMean GreenG
WWW AlliesW
BGScavengeBG
WUVenser SilenceWU
EDH
RWAurelia 1 vs 1RW
GWURoonGWU
GWSaffiGW
As long as the mantle goes on first, it would be fine. Shroud doesn't make auras/equipment fall off. It would also still get the counters, as it's not a targeted ability.
I know it sounds crazy building with a general that (you think) has NO synergy... but wait! There's more!
The idea is to have lifegain, and even life-doubling effects and have Darien there for repercussion.
Gain 14 life? Great. During your opponents turn (with Darien on the battlefield) you let them hit you.
You heard me right. Not to block.
If they deal 7 damage to you, you get 7 1/1 soldiers from Darien.
Late game cast a Peach Garden Oath, or Divine Congregation, things can get pretty crazy.
Win cons could be, Elesh Norn, or Devout Invocation (you're not tapping the 1/1's to block anyways)
Or Dragon throne of Tarkir on Serra Avatar. Oh? All my 1/1's are now 43/43's? Sounds good to me.
EDH decks: 1. RGWMayael's Big BeatsRETIRED!
2. BUWMerieke Ri Berit and the 40 Thieves
3. URNiv's Wheeling and Dealing!
4. BURThe Walking Dead
5. GWSisay's Legends of Tomorrow
6. RWBRise of Markov
7. GElvez and stuffz(W)
8. RCrush your enemies(W)
9. BSign right here...(W)