Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + Yawgmoth, Thran Physician + Gray Merchant of Asphodel
Produces: Infinite card draw, Infinite draw triggers, Near-infinite death triggers, Near-infinite ETB, Near-infinite lifegain, Near-infinite lifegain triggers, Near-infinite lifeloss, Near-infinite LTB, Near-infinite sacrifice triggers
- Color identity
- B
Prerequisites
Your life total is at least 2. You control at least one additional nontoken non-Human creature with toughness two or greater.
Steps
- Activate Yawgmoth by paying 1 life and sacrificing Gray Merchant, targeting any other nontoken non-Human creature you control.
- Gray Merchant dies, triggering its undying ability, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- Gray Merchant enters the battlefield, causing each opponent to lose life equal to your devotion to black, and causing you to gain life equal to the life lost this way.
- Resolve the Yawgmoth ability from step 1, putting a -1/-1 counter on the additional creature and causing you to draw a card.
- Activate Yawgmoth by paying 1 life and sacrificing the additional creature, targeting Gray Merchant.
- The creature dies, triggering its undying ability, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
- Resolve the Yawgmoth ability, putting a -1/-1 counter on Gray Merchant and causing you to draw a card.
- Repeat.
How to execute this combo
The "Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + Yawgmoth, Thran Physician + Gray Merchant of Asphodel" combo takes 8 steps in order. Make sure you have the mana open and permanents listed in the prerequisites before you start — opponents can respond between steps.
The end result: Infinite card draw, Infinite draw triggers, Near-infinite death triggers, Near-infinite ETB, Near-infinite lifegain, Near-infinite lifegain triggers, Near-infinite lifeloss, Near-infinite LTB, Near-infinite sacrifice triggers.
Practice the line offline: lay out the cards, walk through each step, and note where you can lose the combo (summoning sickness, lack of priority, removal on a key permanent). In game, announce each step clearly; in casual play you can offer to shortcut after demonstrating the loop.
The best window is a turn when opponents are tapped out or after they commit a spell — hold protection (a counter, Vexing Shusher) if the combo wins on the spot.