Hi folks,
When Zendikar was around, UW allies seemed like one of the more promising color combinations (at least for casual; I do believe Naya allies was the only one that was close to being competitive) - and with a few new cards in recent sets, I decided to take another look at it. Pretty happy with the result. :-)
The Azorius Alliance // Lands - 21
1 x
Island 
1 x
Plains 
4 x
Cavern of Souls 
4 x
Mystic Gate 
4 x
Hallowed Fountain 
4 x
Flooded Strand 
3 x
Reflecting Pool 
Pretty standard stuff.
// Creatures - 24
4 x
Hada Freeblade 
4 x
Jwari Shapeshifter 
4 x
Kazandu Blademaster 
4 x
Umara Raptor 
4 x
Kabira Evangel 
4 x
Talus Paladin 
And a pretty standard UW ally suite. If I was looking to make cuts/swaps, could definitely live without the fourth Evangel or Paladin.
// Noncreatures - 16
4 x
Swords to Plowshares 
4 x
Counterspell 
4 x
Cackling Counterpart 
4 x
Rootborn Defenses 
And we come to the two newer cards which made me come back to allies - Cackling Counterpart and Rootborn Defenses. Both cards can be a 1-for-1 under not-ideal circumstances - getting another ally, or saving a creature from removal. But both can generate some nice card advantage. Counterpart plus Evangel can save a creature from removal, and even just the pump at instant speed can be a combat trick or save from burn. Flashback itself offers CA, though I'm hopefully ending the game by about the time I hit land 7. Defenses makes creatures indestructible - usually a good effect - but if I've got a Counterpart token, I also get a creature out of the deal. Pretty neat for 3 mana, and the indestructibility alone has won me a game before (opponent played
Tornado Elemental 
to wipe the skies and try to stabilise, Rootborn Defenses in response to the trigger for an extra Raptor, sweep prevention, and the win).
A fun deck - nothing too special, but some good synergies and besides lands - which can easily be swapped with cheaper substitutes - quite inexpensive. Enjoy!
Jax
