Magic: the Gathering

Deck Guide

Pioneer: Allies - Deck Tech & Sideboard Guide

, 0Comment Regular Solid icon0Comment iconComment iconComment iconComment icon

Allies gained enough support in Avatar to be a new typal deck in Pioneer. In this article, we present a guide to the archetype!

Writer image

translated by Romeu

Writer image

revised by Tabata Marques

Edit Article

Allies is a strategy that hasn't made significant waves in Pioneer yet. The main reason might be that Badgermole Cub, released in the same set, catapulted Selesnya Company as the only (or at least the primary) go-wide archetype in the format.

That doesn't mean there's no potential. Between static abilities and efficient ETB effects, the archetype benefits from Cavern of Souls and Collected Company while also leveraging Thalia's Lieutenant if we run only Human creatures — an easy task when the best cards in the archetype fit that category.

The Decklist

Loading icon

Maindeck

Loading icon

The one-drops interact with the rest of the list: they're mana dorks for Great Divide Guide, trigger the Lieutenants, and in post-sideboard games, enable Lifelink from Lantern Scout and graveyard hate from Boiling Rock Rioter.

Additionally, Earth Kingdom Protectors ensures our most important threats survive against removal, and Earthen Ally will usually be a 2/2 or 3/2, with the Earthbend ability serving as an excellent mana sink with Great Divide Guide.

Loading icon

Great Divide Guide turns all Allies into Birds of Paradise and fixes any issues in our mana base. It enables Collected Company on turn three and turns Earthen Ally into constant pressure with Earthbend.

Mai, Scornful Striker punishes the spellslinger decks that are on the rise, like Prowess and Izzet Phoenix. The 2/2 First Strike body also holds off the early beatdown from other Aggro decks, and she increases the clock in Control matchups.

South Pole Voyager holds off Aggro decks with a little life from each Ally we play. It easily turns into a card advantage source as the game progresses.

Loading icon

Earth King's Lieutenant and Thalia's Lieutenant are nearly the same card since every Ally we run is a Human, and the +1/+1 counters pile up quickly given our ability to flood the board.

Loading icon

Aang, Swift Savior mainly works as a Tempo play to delay key cards from Midrange and Control decks. If we transform him with Waterbend, we can take over the game in one or two attacks.

Loading icon

An Aggro archetype built around creatures wouldn't be complete without Collected Company, and with Great Divide Guide, we have ways to cast it as early as turn three.

Aang, at the Crossroads works as extra copies of Company while also being a creature with evasion and an ability that increases pressure on the battlefield every turn.

Loading icon

Cavern of Souls and Jasmine Dragon Tea Shop guarantee access to any color for Allies. Tea Shop also puts more bodies on the board in longer games, providing another mana sink for Great Divide Guide.

Loading icon

The split of Shock Lands and Fast Lands can change based on each list's needs. We prioritize Magic Symbol G and Magic Symbol W since they're the primary colors for the one-drops. Next is Magic Symbol U for Aang, Swift Savior and Aang, at the Crossroads. Finally, two black sources beyond the multicolored lands for Mai, Scornful Striker and Boiling Rock Rioter.

Sideboard

Loading icon

The only non-synergistic card in the list. High Noon is a necessity for a Metagame full of Prowess, Phoenix, and other archetypes that sequence multiple spells. In the worst case, it can turn into a Burn spell with Great Divide Guide or Starting Town.

Loading icon

Boiling Rock Rioter turns all Allies into graveyard hate. The ability to reuse an Ally matters in matchups like Izzet Phoenix, but I wouldn't use it against Midrange just for that purpose, since it's easy to answer with removal.

Lantern Scout grants Lifelink to all creatures whenever an Ally enters, helping to hold off the clock from Aggro decks like Mono Red or Prowess.

Chomping Changeling is an Ally (it has all creature types) and answers troublesome artifacts and enchantments. Primary targets include Unholy Annex, Witch's Oven, Monument to Endurance, and others.

Loading icon

Gideon, Ally of Zendikar creates a steady stream of threats, permanently increases all creatures' power, and turns into a recurring threat or a very efficient clock, all in the same slot.

Raise the Past can turn games around against Midrange and Control. A combination of Lieutenants with one-drops and two-drops means multiple triggers stacking all at once. If used at the right time, it's very hard for the opponent to recover.

Sideboard Guide

Mono Red Aggro

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Izzet Phoenix

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Abzan Greasefang

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Azorius Control

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Selesnya Company

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Golgari Midrange

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Izzet Prowess / Gruul Prowess

IN

Loading icon

OUT

Loading icon

Wrapping Up

That's all for today!

If you have any questions, feel free to leave a comment!

Thanks for reading!