Dang, that ally is pretty sweet. I have no idea what colors I want to run for allies now. Turn three Warlord makes me wanna run Naya but Loremaster is so freakin good. Especially with this guy to play what you draw (well, at least have the colorless covered since its all one color).
Its a 4 mana soldier ally generator because soldiers are much more relevant now. Theres quite a few great soldier cards and a two mana instant soldier generator would be amazing for them. So they made it 4 mana, but then its terrible so they added ally to it and now its relevant in two senses. Allies gets a nice boost because its two triggers for three allies (cause you wont play this with a clean board unless things are seriously going downhill).
I dont really know why its not just straight allies, I could see that at 3 mana. Two mana would probly be too strong with all the amazing triggers you can get from it.
But I know next to nothing about standard having just started playing. Casual for so many years has tainted what "good" is in my mind.
So, Join the Ranks is kinda expencive but man, its instant allies. Don't think of them as soldiers, thats not really what the card is. Sup par soldier token generation. But it is instant allies which, in an ally deck like I have, can be devastating. With a Turntimber thats 3W for 4 creatures. instant speed Kabira triggers. "Surprise! My Umara is actually a 6/6, get out Baneslayer."
Basically its pretty great for allies, I don't know much about standard but it seems like this will help a lot. Chances are this will be a 4-of in my Bant Allies.
180 cards is a LOT and it doesn't even consider whether you have any other dudes to back him. I think that UBW Allies cold be a block deck to contend with, if you can bolster enough defense against Vamps and Bushwacker
180 is a lot, but I also think thats wrong.
As I understand it, the situation is you play an excavator with no other allies (1 card milled). Then you kick Rite of Replication on him (putting 5 copies of him into play). Each of those copies comes into play at the same time, so each copy sees 6 allies. Each ally will trigger for 6 cards, giving you 36, plus the one from playing the ally in the first place, so 37 cards tops.
Now thats more if you have allies on the field obviously, but assuming just the excavator and rite, only 37.
Its still a lot, and kicking a rite on almost any ally will probably result in a game win, but I dont think excavator will win you a 4 player FFA.
Ok, so I made this just for fun but then I took it to a FNM and actually got third. Loads better than I was expecting. So I figured I would try an work on it, Im not aiming for tier 2 and higher, but I would like it to be somethin viable in FNM and such.
So I went up against Aggro Vamps, Spread Em, my roommates 8 plains white weenie, and white tokens I guess? Might have just been a random white weenie.
Vamps: Did alright, game one he got mana screwed so that doesnt really count but my deck seemed to curve out pretty nicely. Game two was close, he was removing most of my allies and beating on me pretty hard but then I got a Cleric to stick and bounced back pretty easy from there. So I ended up winning 2-0 here.
Spread Em: Yeah this didnt work at all. Ive too much land that comes into play tapped so Ill need to work on that. Basically she locked me out and slapped me around with a jwar jwar sphinx while getting rid of the few allies I did get out. Game two was mostly the same but I got a few allies out before she locked me out. Then she played Baneslayer and I held on for as long as I could, would have won if I had gotten a plains or a glacial fortress (had a path in hand) but all I got were cipt lands. She got that 2-0.
White Tokens: Pretty easy games. His deck was basically Soul Warden and then throwing tokens and little dudes at me. I was able to ignore them mostly until I got my guys out and then just pick at him. He wrathed a few times over the match but I just had enough creatures for that to not matter. I went 2-1 (White Ajani with a lot of tokens makes for a bad time).
8 lands weenie: Its my roommates deck, basically its 8 plains and 8 fetches, the highest cost is 3. he got mana screwed first game and the second I just got creatures faster than he could. Went 2-0.
Ok, so my sideboard actually had 3 Day of Judgments and 4 Dauntless Escorts in it but that was before I had gotten some good testing for it. Those cards just didn't fit so Ive removed them. I know I need less lands that come into play tapped, so Im thinking Ill go with three each of the M10 duals, none of the uncommon duals from Zen, and upping the lands to 5 plains and forests. Might help.
Ill be takin this to another little tournament on Tuesday so Ill have some more results for ya then. Until then, what do you guys suggest?
Ok, so I made this just for fun but then I took it to a FNM and actually got third. Loads better than I was expecting. So I figured I would try an work on it, Im not aiming for tier 2 and higher, but I would like it to be somethin viable in FNM and such.
So I went up against Aggro Vamps, Spread Em, my roommates 8 plains white weenie, and white tokens I guess? Might have just been a random white weenie.
Vamps: Did alright, game one he got mana screwed so that doesnt really count but my deck seemed to curve out pretty nicely. Game two was close, he was removing most of my allies and beating on me pretty hard but then I got a Cleric to stick and bounced back pretty easy from there. So I ended up winning 2-0 here.
Spread Em: Yeah this didnt work at all. Ive too much land that comes into play tapped so Ill need to work on that. Basically she locked me out and slapped me around with a jwar jwar sphinx while getting rid of the few allies I did get out. Game two was mostly the same but I got a few allies out before she locked me out. Then she played Baneslayer and I held on for as long as I could, would have won if I had gotten a plains or a glacial fortress (had a path in hand) but all I got were cipt lands. She got that 2-0.
White Tokens: Pretty easy games. His deck was basically Soul Warden and then throwing tokens and little dudes at me. I was able to ignore them mostly until I got my guys out and then just pick at him. He wrathed a few times over the match but I just had enough creatures for that to not matter. I went 2-1 (White Ajani with a lot of tokens makes for a bad time).
8 lands weenie: Its my roommates deck, basically its 8 plains and 8 fetches, the highest cost is 3. he got mana screwed first game and the second I just got creatures faster than he could. Went 2-0.
Ok, so my sideboard actually had 3 Day of Judgments and 4 Dauntless Escorts in it but that was before I had gotten some good testing for it. Those cards just didn't fit so Ive removed them. I know I need less lands that come into play tapped, so Im thinking Ill go with three each of the M10 duals, none of the uncommon duals from Zen, and upping the lands to 5 plains and forests. Might help.
Ill be takin this to another little tournament on Tuesday so Ill have some more results for ya then. Until then, what do you guys suggest?
So I just saw this thread, late to the party and all that, but Ive always been a big fan of green. Its my favorite color, big beasts that smash face? Yes please!
That elephant looks like its about perfect for me. I wouldn't mind seeing that on a playmat, Im not one for fancy sleeves though, solid colors are sufficient.
It's so hard to believe that the official previews don't start until the 18th, with this season being so dry so far. Have preview weeks always been only two weeks long?
Anyways, we do know the release and pre-release cards from the mailing, don't we? If so, couldn't that be posted into the OP? I forget which order, but Comet Storm is release and Juraga Warcaller is pre-release?
I dunno anything about comet storm being one of the promos, but if the Joraga picture is accurate, its got the February date for the release. Which would make Joraga the release.
Plus I remember reading somewhere that the prerelease is always going to be a Mythic and the release will be a Rare. Dunno where that info is for backup, but the sets have been proving that so far.
I really dont expect to see cobra settle near baneslayer. The cobra is just too fragile. Sure he has potential for amazing amounts of mana but theres just so much removal around now. Also cobra isnt a threat in itself, its just the potential for a threat. Baneslayer gets hit by less removal and shes a threat just by herself. Thats why shes $25. I expect cobra will setting in the 12-16 range, its still really good, but I dont think its baneslayer good.
personally, I don't think KHE is really worthwhile... rather a waste of space. However, one card I think worth mentioning in your list is Vines of Vastwood. The ability to save your all-star, or pump for lethal is an amazing card to have.
I for one will be trying it over duress. The one downfall is that VoV does nothing against Day of Judgment whereas Duress can pluck it from their greedy lil paws.
Yeah, takin KHE out is something Ive thought about. It might serve me better as Duress. Then again, having an instant speed landfall trigger of two is tempting. Sure they see it, but havin it on the board makes a player think about how to block a lynx. I dunno, playtesting will have to commense!
DECISIONS.
I dont really know why its not just straight allies, I could see that at 3 mana. Two mana would probly be too strong with all the amazing triggers you can get from it.
But I know next to nothing about standard having just started playing. Casual for so many years has tainted what "good" is in my mind.
Basically its pretty great for allies, I don't know much about standard but it seems like this will help a lot. Chances are this will be a 4-of in my Bant Allies.
Man, I didn't believe you so I went to the rules thread, which confirms what you say.
Holy crap, thats... thats dumb. Rite of Replication is leaping back into my allies deck.
Also Ill probly side this guy into my deck against turbo fog.
Mill me? NO MILL YOU!
180 is a lot, but I also think thats wrong.
As I understand it, the situation is you play an excavator with no other allies (1 card milled). Then you kick Rite of Replication on him (putting 5 copies of him into play). Each of those copies comes into play at the same time, so each copy sees 6 allies. Each ally will trigger for 6 cards, giving you 36, plus the one from playing the ally in the first place, so 37 cards tops.
Now thats more if you have allies on the field obviously, but assuming just the excavator and rite, only 37.
Its still a lot, and kicking a rite on almost any ally will probably result in a game win, but I dont think excavator will win you a 4 player FFA.
Oh oh, and trample.
Man, and you cant forget first strike, this card sucks without those!
Come on people, its a common. Its raging goblin minus the relevant tribe that can fit everywhere on the curve. This is pretty good for a common.
Im pretty sure thats a Kor.
Id love to see a legendary Ally, but thats really cause I just like allies. I dunno if they'll ever be competitive but they'll always be fun for me.
3x Ondu Cleric
2x Kabira Evangel
4x Oran-Rief Survivalist
4x Umara Raptor
4x Kazandu Blademaster
3x Sea Gate Loremaster
3x Turntimber Ranger
Spells
3x Path to Exile
3x Stormcaller's Boon
4x Bant Charm
3x Vines of Vastwood
2x Sejiri Refuge
1x Ancient Ziggurat
2x Sunpetal Grove
2x Graypelt Refuge
2x Seaside Citadel
2x Glacial Fortress
2x Misty Rainforest
4x Forest
4x Plains
3x Island
4x Oblivion ring
4x Celestial Purge
How It Played
Vamps: Did alright, game one he got mana screwed so that doesnt really count but my deck seemed to curve out pretty nicely. Game two was close, he was removing most of my allies and beating on me pretty hard but then I got a Cleric to stick and bounced back pretty easy from there. So I ended up winning 2-0 here.
Spread Em: Yeah this didnt work at all. Ive too much land that comes into play tapped so Ill need to work on that. Basically she locked me out and slapped me around with a jwar jwar sphinx while getting rid of the few allies I did get out. Game two was mostly the same but I got a few allies out before she locked me out. Then she played Baneslayer and I held on for as long as I could, would have won if I had gotten a plains or a glacial fortress (had a path in hand) but all I got were cipt lands. She got that 2-0.
White Tokens: Pretty easy games. His deck was basically Soul Warden and then throwing tokens and little dudes at me. I was able to ignore them mostly until I got my guys out and then just pick at him. He wrathed a few times over the match but I just had enough creatures for that to not matter. I went 2-1 (White Ajani with a lot of tokens makes for a bad time).
8 lands weenie: Its my roommates deck, basically its 8 plains and 8 fetches, the highest cost is 3. he got mana screwed first game and the second I just got creatures faster than he could. Went 2-0.
Ok, so my sideboard actually had 3 Day of Judgments and 4 Dauntless Escorts in it but that was before I had gotten some good testing for it. Those cards just didn't fit so Ive removed them. I know I need less lands that come into play tapped, so Im thinking Ill go with three each of the M10 duals, none of the uncommon duals from Zen, and upping the lands to 5 plains and forests. Might help.
Ill be takin this to another little tournament on Tuesday so Ill have some more results for ya then. Until then, what do you guys suggest?
3x Ondu Cleric
2x Kabira Evangel
4x Oran-Rief Survivalist
4x Umara Raptor
4x Kazandu Blademaster
3x Sea Gate Loremaster
3x Turntimber Ranger
Spells
3x Path to Exile
3x Stormcaller's Boon
4x Bant Charm
3x Vines of Vastwood
2x Sejiri Refuge
1x Ancient Ziggurat
2x Sunpetal Grove
2x Graypelt Refuge
2x Seaside Citadel
2x Glacial Fortress
2x Misty Rainforest
4x Forest
4x Plains
3x Island
4x Oblivion ring
4x Celestial Purge
How It Played
Vamps: Did alright, game one he got mana screwed so that doesnt really count but my deck seemed to curve out pretty nicely. Game two was close, he was removing most of my allies and beating on me pretty hard but then I got a Cleric to stick and bounced back pretty easy from there. So I ended up winning 2-0 here.
Spread Em: Yeah this didnt work at all. Ive too much land that comes into play tapped so Ill need to work on that. Basically she locked me out and slapped me around with a jwar jwar sphinx while getting rid of the few allies I did get out. Game two was mostly the same but I got a few allies out before she locked me out. Then she played Baneslayer and I held on for as long as I could, would have won if I had gotten a plains or a glacial fortress (had a path in hand) but all I got were cipt lands. She got that 2-0.
White Tokens: Pretty easy games. His deck was basically Soul Warden and then throwing tokens and little dudes at me. I was able to ignore them mostly until I got my guys out and then just pick at him. He wrathed a few times over the match but I just had enough creatures for that to not matter. I went 2-1 (White Ajani with a lot of tokens makes for a bad time).
8 lands weenie: Its my roommates deck, basically its 8 plains and 8 fetches, the highest cost is 3. he got mana screwed first game and the second I just got creatures faster than he could. Went 2-0.
Ok, so my sideboard actually had 3 Day of Judgments and 4 Dauntless Escorts in it but that was before I had gotten some good testing for it. Those cards just didn't fit so Ive removed them. I know I need less lands that come into play tapped, so Im thinking Ill go with three each of the M10 duals, none of the uncommon duals from Zen, and upping the lands to 5 plains and forests. Might help.
Ill be takin this to another little tournament on Tuesday so Ill have some more results for ya then. Until then, what do you guys suggest?
That elephant looks like its about perfect for me. I wouldn't mind seeing that on a playmat, Im not one for fancy sleeves though, solid colors are sufficient.
I dunno anything about comet storm being one of the promos, but if the Joraga picture is accurate, its got the February date for the release. Which would make Joraga the release.
Plus I remember reading somewhere that the prerelease is always going to be a Mythic and the release will be a Rare. Dunno where that info is for backup, but the sets have been proving that so far.
Yeah, takin KHE out is something Ive thought about. It might serve me better as Duress. Then again, having an instant speed landfall trigger of two is tempting. Sure they see it, but havin it on the board makes a player think about how to block a lynx. I dunno, playtesting will have to commense!