Submitted By: Niv-Mizzet the Firemind on 19/03/2006
As a programmer, I like the idea of infinite loops in MTG. They're even more exciting, however, when they can be tamed and bent toward a sinister goal... like wiping out all opponents and barely scratching you.
This one's a lot easier to pull off than the last one I posted (which involved foisting creatures onto your opponent and then exploiting them, and had too many colors and dependencies). This takes only one or two colors and 4 or 5 cards together to get going. It also slaughters all opponents instead of just one. Forgive me if it's been posted before.
1) Coalhauler Swine
2) Pariah's Shield or Pariah
3) That Which Was Taken or Shield of Kaldra (any appropriate way of making creatures indestructible)
4) Disenchant or Shatter or Erase (or any way to destroy Pariah)
5) (optional) Shock (any direct damage will do)
6) (optional) Also try adding any card that activates when a creature deals damage (like Spirit Link), though this may be moot. Spirit Link is nice however in case they poke your Coalhauler Swine before you're ready.
Once you have cards 1-4, start setting up.
1. Equip or enchant your Coalhauler Swine with whichever Pariah card you chose.
2. Now make the swine indestructible by equipping the kaldra shield or using That Which Was Taken.
Once this is done, you're ready. If your opponents attack you, they die. If you have any direct damage at your disposal, they die. If you attack with the swine and they deal it damage by blocking, they die. (you can also play Guilty Conscience and attack, though you'll want to destroy Guilty Consience once the combo starts or it might get out of control).
Now shock yourself or the swine. The 2 damage to you will instead be redirected to the Coalhauler Swine, who cannot die from the damage but will then damage you and all your opponents. However, the damage to you is again redirected back to the swine, and you have created an infinite loop of damage that will continue to occur until all your opponents are dead. Actually, it will continue even after that, which is why you brought the disenchant. You did bring a disenchant, didn't you? (otherwise you're screwed)
You must have the disenchant or some other artifact/enchantment destruction and 2 mana ready to end the combo at any time (by destroying Pariah) if that becomes necessary to save yourself if something goes wrong before you start the combo, and to avoid drawing the game (since an infinite loop that doesn't quit will end in a draw).
Also note that you won't get away unscathed. When you end the combo, you will take 2 damage (or however much you initiated the combo with), so don't pull this off when you're nearly dead.
One nice thing about this combo is it doesn't clutter up the stack -- each instance of damage must resolve before stacking up the next. It also lets you see where you stand at all times so you can end it with good timing.
This little combo could fit rather comfortably in another red or red/white deck that has other tricks up its sleeve, since relying on any one combo is a little vulnerable. Still, there's something to be said for instantly wiping out all your opponents with a 4 card, one- or two-color combo.
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