Pauper Allies

Title kind of speaks for itself, doesn't it?

Trying to build up a couple of Pauper decks, and thought Allies would be a good way to go. With all their pumping and other mass effects, the potential is certainly there to overpower other common-filled battlefields.

I chose Naya because the commons in black and blue didn't seem worth reaching for. In black, Bojuka Brigand and Nimana Sell-Sword are both weaker than their same-costed green counterparts Oran-Rief Survivalist and Greypelt Hunter. In blue, Halimar Excavator isn't what I'm going for, and while Umara Raptor was VERY tempting, it was hard to consider reaching for a fourth color, in Pauper, just for that.

Plus Naya has a lot to offer: mass pumps, haste, first strike, trample, vigilance, and mass lifegain. (And Avian Changeling is a consolation flying prize for leaving out Umara Raptor). Not to mention Join the Ranks to drop a pair of allies at once.

A few tricks to mention as well. Rootborn Defenses is your best kill/wipe protection...a full playset seemed like a must for a deck that relies on having lots of creatures on the field. And hey, it can populate your ally tokens as a bonus! Roar of the Crowd and Weight of Conscience are great, flexible ways for you to eliminate THEIR creatures. Otherworldly Journey can go both ways: save your own and get a bonus counter (and retrigger ally abilities when it re-enters) or, in a pinch, take one of their creatures out of the battle for a turn.

The sideboard is mostly for control of pesky artifacts, enchantments, and/or creatures that may be bugging you. There's also Crown of Awe, which is obviously awesome if you're facing black and/or red.

So what do you think? Would this stand a chance in a real Pauper showdown?

• Pauper
• Tribal
• Allies
• Naya