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Phantom Train + Hardened Academic Combo

  • Prerequisites

    What do I need to start this combo?

    • All permanents on the battlefield.
  • Steps

    How does this combo work?

    • 1
      Activate Phantom Train by sacrificing the creature with persist.
    • 2
      When that creature dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
    • 3
      Hardened Academic triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on that creature.
    • 4
      Remove a +1/+1 counter and a -1/-1 counter from that creature as a state-based action.
    • 5
      Resolve the Phantom Train ability from step 1.
    • 6
      Repeat.
  • Results

    What do I get from this combo?

    • Infinite +1/+1 counters on a creature
    • Infinite creature ETB
    • Infinite creature LTB
    • Infinite creature sacrifice triggers
    • Infinite death triggers

Combo Metadata

Decks

Combo Rank

Commander Bracket Information

In which Commander Bracket(s) am I allowed to play this combo?

1-2

Exhibition and Core

(no 2-card combos)

No early game, 2-card infinite combos, but the community hasn't weighed in yet if this one counts.

3

Upgraded

(no early game 2-card combos)

No early game, 2-card infinite combos, but the community hasn't weighed in yet if this one counts.

4-5

Optimized and CEDH

(all combos are allowed)

All combos are allowed.

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