DESPERATE STAND

Hold the line alongside the Allies of Zendikar with the "Desperate Stand" deck. Many creatures in this deck feature cohort, an ability debuting in Oath of the Gatewatch set. An Ally with cohort can team up with another Ally, tapping them to produce an effect. Continue to build an advantage with your Allies until you've amassed an army capable of overwhelming the opponent!

Some of your Allies are suited to specialized roles. Early on, use Ondu War Cleric to gain life while deploying more Allies onto the battlefield. Spawnbinder Mage taps an opponent's creature, either keeping a dangerous attacker at bay or neutralizing a potential blocker. Use some of the life your early defenses preserved to pay for Malakir Soothsayer's ability, which will help you draw more Allies. Once you have enough creatures, Munda's Vanguard can lead the team to victory.

The Oath of the Gatewatch set has many powerful cards that support your strategy. Make a Stand is a great spell for protecting your creatures from combat damage and removal spells. Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim gains life and also has the potential to exile opposing permanents. The mythic rare Linvala, the Preserver is an excellent finisher that's capable of soaring to victory over opposing blockers.