[Standard] Blue/White Allies

[browncoat]

I don't know. Its sort of cool if you are running harms way and basilisk collar but not really worth building around or adding all the cards to get it to work to allies. First you would have to add 4 harms way, then you would want either 3 collar or 3-4 stoneforge mystic. If you run the mystic you then will want to run a few other pieces of equipment to tutor up. At this point you realize you have diluted the deck and either had to remove critical allies or the rest of your support cards.

[valk]

1 evangel and 1 paladin to get in two loremasters?

Maybe Marshall's anthem sideboard for making a potential comeback from wraths? It's a nice recovery anyway, it bolsters your guys and the recall triggers your allies so, for 6 mana by the time it comes to cast, you should need it regardless.

[Deckbuilder]

I wouldn't actually modify the deck that much for the collar, i think that harms way is a good enough card to be played with or without the collar in play, and if you just throw maybe 2 or 3 in the deck it could really catch an opponent off guard and stall them long enough to get a mass of allies in play. I am currently playing this deck casually and the collar has seemed to prove itself very useful.

[Dark Wolf]

Too touchy. I'm no expert but I'd say you're trying to make the deck do too many things. The only reason the life gain is in there at all is because it keeps you alive while your Allies grow or if you're really on a roll it distances you enough from your opponent that they can't win. To effectively use Basilisk Collar I think it's pretty much necessary to constantly run a Stoneforge Mystic, or rather at least 2 or 3. It's a lot of cards to include to ask for one effect. Talus Paladin, regardless of anyone's experiences with or against him, is a beast. He pumps your other Allies, himself, and gives everyone lifelink in one fell swoop. With Join the Ranks as an instant speed trick, that gets really nice even for your blockers. Seagate Loremaster is underwhelming for his ability. A 1/3 body on turn 4 is not what you want to be using your mana for on turn 4. There's so many options Allies offer instead that he loses his value. Additionally, if everything plays out how you hope it will, you should be well on your way to winning by turn 4. Negate plus double Hada Freeblade or single Kazandu Blademaster are better options for turn 4, or if you really want to tap out, Join the Ranks.

[Disturbedone0777]

Just to note Dark wolf. Loremaster is a five drop.

[Dark Wolf]

Even worse then! Lol. Thanks for the heads up though .

[valk]

Yes, but honestly how many times does it all go to plan?

Point taken on his cost. He drops your momentum a bit. Still triggers your ally's though and the turn following you can see a hand refill. That's so tempting.

[browncoat]

But for the loremaster to be effective you have to assume that things are going to plan. To draw a meaningful number of cards you need a few allies on the field and if you have the allies on the field you really don't need to waste you mana on the loremaster. It is another win-more card that can improve how the deck performs in strange situations while lowering the overall effectiveness of the deck.

[Ferridge]

(2010-04-21 18:43 PM)Dark Wolf Wrote:  Talus Paladin, regardless of anyone's experiences with or against him, is a beast. He pumps your other Allies, himself, and gives everyone lifelink in one fell swoop. With Join the Ranks as an instant speed trick, that gets really nice even for your blockers.

I definately agree with you on this one, that is such a sick combo/trick to play. and if you have the Kabira Evangel your going to be taking alot of life from your opponent and giving yourself. Plus if your all out attack doesnt finish the off for some reason, you've got a good buffer to take an attack in return.

[Dark Wolf]

Agreed. I'm still working this deck and goldfishing it. I haven't had a whole lot of time lately, but I'm hoping it turns out well. Additionally, I think that a good blue/white or green/white aggro or aggro-control deck is waiting in the level up arena. I haven't yet decided how best to use them, but I'm hoping to get a good mix between the levelers and use Stoneforge Mystic to tutor some nice Equipment for them, maybe a few Umbras as well.

[Ferridge]

(2010-04-23 18:12 PM)Dark Wolf Wrote:  Additionally, I think that a good blue/white or green/white aggro or aggro-control deck is waiting in the level up arena. I haven't yet decided how best to use them, but I'm hoping to get a good mix between the levelers and use Stoneforge Mystic to tutor some nice Equipment for them, maybe a few Umbras as well.

I think the UW Level deck will probably be the best one, with training grounds and Venerated Teacher speeding up the higher levels.

I might be a little bit biased as i love playing blue.

[Dark Wolf]

Me too! Blue is my favorite color! I'm thinking that U/W is the way to go with these guys, and I'll be posting my concept for a leveling deck that I'll be testing and taking to FNM either this week or next within the next few days I hope.

[valk]

having gone to a local roe release event with my allies to play some standard once the draft was done, could seriously use loremaster. same thing happened twice. I could get early momentum but if he got any decent hand, allies copes poorly with a played out hand. Draw two lands in a row, and you're under pressure. Block and lose an ally or take the hit and hope you don't get another land? Elementalist was only saving grace (spare lands able to act as sizable throwaway blockers)

Paladin is a game turner. I was running WGR in order of count, mostly for the battlesingers. They should be called battleswingers because they soo swing games. get two out and cast join the ranks with the paladin out and I'm a happy camper.
My allies knocked down WW with baneslayer on turn 5. Lifelink battle kept it even but the battlesingers wth JTR just pressed it home in the end. 6/7 hada freeblade with +2 power (only one singer) was working great too. The elementalist benefits less in this situation but in other games he was good. So he stays. Loremaster would be nice though because by the time I had won, I was out of puff basically.

So my Queston: What's a good card draw for my WGR deck, And for the W/U allies if not loremaster?

[browncoat]

Can we see your decklist (either here or in its own thread)? None of the colors you are playing really support card draw. Harmonize has been long gone from standard. Momentous fall may be your best bet but you sacrifice your best ally for draw. In blue you have access to see beyond, ponder, treasure hunt, mindspring, Jace Beleren, Jace, the mind sculptor and to some degree spreading seas.

[Erik]

Hi everyone,

Got a few newbie questions for you on this deck.

1. What's the purpose behind Elspeth?

2. Why remove Jace?

3. What would you remove from the deck to add Join the Ranks (assuming that's a good idea)?