I have been a fan of Black and White decks before by piloting a B/W Strangler list in BFZ Standard. This time I have found that love in the form of Allies. I have listed this deck build after checking on the Standard Pauper version of Allies for our next local tournament. Its basic strategy is setting the board while taking advantage of the Rally triggers. Oath of the Gatewatch offered Cohort mechanic as another method to use and I included two cards from the new set in Ondu War Cleric and Drana’s Chosen. The cleric is another way to trigger Serene Steward and Drana’s Chosen gets you out of the way in stalled board situations.

Here is version one of the deck B/W Allies:

Creatures
2 Ondu War Cleric
2 Lantern Scout
4 Expedition Envoy
4 Serene Steward
4 Kalastria Healer
1 Drana, Liberator of Malakir
4 Drana’s Emissary
2 Brutal Hordechief
3 Kor Bladewhirl
1 Drana’s Chosen

Spells
1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
2 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Grasp of Darkness
1 Ruinous Path
2 Silkwrap
2 Stasis Snare
1 Valorous Stance

Lands
2 Windswept Heath
4 Shambling Vent
2 Bloodstained Mire
4 Ally Encampment
1 Blighted Fen
3 Caves of Koilos
4 Plains
3 Swamp

During yesterday’s Saturday Standard tournament, I opened a Firemantle Mage from my prize booster pack and thought about its potential use in the Allies deck archetype. Today I have decided to build the first version of the deck on Magic Workstation and here is what I came up with:

Mardu Allies by Mark Ian Alloso
Standard

Creatures
4 Drana’s Emissary
4 Drana, Liberator of Malakir
3 Firemantle Mage
4 Kalastria Healer
2 Ire Shaman
2 Lantern Scout
4 Serene Steward
3 Zulaport Cutthroat

Spells
1 Valorous Stance
3 Gideon, Ally of Zendikar
1 Sorin, Solemn Visitor
2 March from the Tomb
1 Outpost Siege
1 Murderous Cut
1 Roast

Lands
3 Nomad Outpost
4 Bloodstained Mire
4 Caves of Koilos
2 Swamp
1 Mountain
2 Shambling Vent
3 Plains
1 Smoldering Marsh
4 Ally Encampment