Ally

Ally is a creature type introduced in Zendikar. Allies are a class of people or creatures that have joined together in an association for mutual benefit or to achieve some common purpose. Allies were reused in Worldwake and returned in the Battle for Zendikar block.

Description
When an ally comes into play it triggers its own ability and the ability of other allies already in play. Originally, there were three types of allies, which R&D nicknamed after Dungeon & Dragons classes: Fighters (got +1/+1 counters), Wizards (had an ETB effect that scaled based on the number of Allies you had) and Clerics (created an effect which enhanced all your Allies for the turn).

Allies of Battle for Zendikar had the rally mechanic, which benefits not only other allies but all creatures under the player's control.

Allies of Oath of the Gatewatch had the cohort mechanic, which requires the player to tap the cohort-bearing creature and a second untapped ally.

Every party member in Zendikar Rising was handed off from vision design as an Ally in addition to its other class, but the type was removed in set design. The only mention appears on Tazri, Beacon of Unity. Mark Rosewater has every intention to have Allies return on any future return to Zendikar.

Rulings

 * Some Allies, such as Nimana Sell-Sword, have abilities that put +1/+1 counters on them. These abilities trigger when they enter the battlefield themselves, so even though Nimana Sell-Sword will enter the battlefield as a 2/2 creature, it will become a 3/3 creature almost immediately. But they'll be more vulnerable to instants and abilities while their triggered abilities wait to resolve.
 * Some Allies have abilities that, when they resolve, grant an ability to all Allies you control. These affect only Allies you control at the time the ability resolves.
 * Some Allies have abilities that, when they resolve, do something based on the number of Allies you control. These count the number of Allies you control as they resolve.
 * When an Ally enters the battlefield under your control, each applicable triggered ability of the Allies you control will trigger. You can put them on the stack in any order. The last ability you put on the stack will be the first one that resolves.
 * If more than one Ally enters the battlefield under your control at the same time due to some spell or ability, they'll all see each other enter the battlefield. For example, if two Nimana Sell-Swords enter the battlefield at the same time, each one's ability will trigger twice (once for itself and once for the other one), and they'll each wind up as 4/4 creatures.

Notable Allys

 * Theros
 * Gideon Jura (Gideon, Ally of Zendikar)


 * Zendikar
 * Akiri
 * Bruse Tarl
 * Drana
 * General Tazri
 * Mina and Denn, Wildborn
 * Munda
 * Noyan Dar
 * Zada, Hedron Grinder

Trivia

 * Root-Kin Ally doesn't have the subtype Ally.