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Ravnica Block (2005-6) Featured Combos.
Last updated 2/15/07 (112 Combos, 36 Deck LInks, 8 Infinite Combos)
NOTE: Due to errata, Time Vault & Flame Fusillade no longer combo together. (Thanks, YWN) ~Streetz~
Discuss this combo page in the forums! [Read the rules of the thread first, please].

Brink of Madness is definately a dollar bin rare.  Bottled Cloister isn't (yet) but here's a fun trick for you.  Brink of Madness triggers when you have no cards in hand at the beginning of your upkeep to mind twist them down to zero cards.  The Cloister removes your hand from the game at the end of each of your turns to return them at the beginning of your upkeep the following turn.  Stack the abilities so that Brink resolves first.  It will see that you have no cards in hand and your opponent will have to discard their hand all the while the cards that were in your hand return after Madness resolves.

Bottled Cloister also works well with Ensnaring Bridge if you like to keep your opponent from attacking you. Then there's always Imaginary Pet...

This is more synergy than anything else.  And, you can replace Glimpse with any other card that has "UB" in it's casting cost.  OK, so you have Circu (weird name BTW) in play.  Cast Glimpse and mill your opponent's library for ten.  Because of Circu's abilities, remove two cards from the top of your opponent's library from the game.  For the rest of the game, he or she can't play cards with those name (the two Circu removes, not the Glimpse).  Next turn cast Recoil, then Dimir Infiltrator, then Sleeper's Robe, then

In other news, if you don't feel like casting Circu... just Twincast Glimpse the Unthinkable... 20 cards for UUUB isn't bad at all!

I found this combo over on Derick's Magic Site and thus, many thanks to his combo listings there - I have incorporated some of the ideas there into combos already on this page.  

Everyone thought that Light of Sanction was a waste of a card.  Well, not really if you like the ability on Hammerfist Giant.  It's a shame the giant's ability kills itself too.  So, to keep your Hammerfist Loaf in play after his ability resolves, just have light of sanction in play.  All damage it would have dealt to itself and creature you control ... is prevented.  I'm liking Crater Hellion a little more. 

Can you believe Light of Sanction even combos with Sorrow's Path??

This combo was submitted by Cabal Patriarch & Shabbaman in the forums and they recommend enchanting the Empress with Lightning Greaves.  Moving along, to put this combo simply, with both cards in play the Empress translates into: UU, T: Gain control of target nonland permanent.  Sounds fun, especially if you can open up with Leyline in play at the beginning of the game.  Makes it easier to focus on getting the Empress in play faster. 

Other cards that are fun with the Leyline include: Arena of the Ancients, Blind with Anger, Karakas, Konda's Banner, Hero's Demise , Loyal Retainers, Sword of the Chosen, Vassal's Duty, Day of Destiny and Tsabo Tavoc. That's just a few of the more fun ones.

Search your library for any three creature cards and put them on top of your library... in any order and for only three mana - Congregation at Dawn seems cool enough.  To make full use of the Dawn, make sure you have Killer Instinct in play (and I'm talking about the card).  That way, during you next upkeep the card that you stacked on top of your deck is thrown into play to attack for a turn and then die.  Crater Hellion anyone?  Now remember that to stack the 3 creatures on top of your deck wisely.. the second one will be drawn and the third one will be thwarted into play the next turn thanks to Killer Instinct. 

Note: Sensei's Diving Top works VERY well with Killer Instinct.

Get the most out of your 'of the Nephilim' cards from Dissension and cast it either on a Nephilim, a Sliver Queen... or Transguild Courier (the cheaper of all other options).  In the case of Blessing of the Nephilim, the Courier would get +5/+5 for just one white mana.  Might of the Nephilim gives the Courier a whopping +10/+10!!! Where's the trample lovin'? 

According to Adrian, Govern the Guildless's Forecast ability works very nicely with the 'of the Nephilim' cards.

Let's also not forget about Coalition Victory.  Transguild Courier satisfies the requirement for having a creature of each color.  Getting a land of each basic land type should be easy.

Here's yet another way to maximize the efficiency of the hunted creatures from Ravnica.  With Leyline of Singularity, all of the tokens created by the Hunted creature have the same name and thus are all destroyed because of the Legend.  With this in mind (and with is applying to all by one of the hunted creatures) you get a nice creature for a cheap cost.  Once all of the tokens come into play, they die.  That's not bad.

Note: This Leyline works well with Sword of the Chosen, Kashi-Tribe Elite, Hero's Demise, Kitsune Healer, Yomiji, Who Bars the Way and/or Minamo, School at Water's Edge

Anything that let's you sacrifice an enchantment goes well with Hatching Plans.  There are specifically three creatures that do this well: Auratog, Phantatog and Thaumatog.  Auratog is the best of the bunch since it gets +2/+2 until end of turn whenever you do this.    If Atogs aren't your favorite creatuer type, try Claws of Gix... sacrificing a permanent was never more fun.  The deck link to the left using Claws of Gix with Hatching Plans.

Note: Crack the Earth also has some nice synergy with the Plans card.  Your opponent sacrifice a permanent and you sacrifice a permanent netting you 3 cards.  Not bad.  Thank Xander & CarrollN in the forums for that one.

Ink-Treader is like the mutant creature version of Radiate.  Whenever you target it with an instant or sorcery that only targets it, copy it for each other creature that spell could target.  Cards like Aether Mutation are cool and all, but why not net some serious card advantage?  Try any 'cantrip' spell.  There first one that came to mind was Aggressive Urge from Invasion.  It like Collective Unconscious on steroids for only two mana.  If you want to do the same, but deal simulate a Pyroclasm at the same time (note the Nephilim is a 3/3), try Electrolyze.  Not only is it standard, but it fits in with the colors of the Nephilim.

For those of you that don't know, a cantrip is any spell that has a small effect (usually) that also nets you a card.  Some other examples of cards that would work here include:

WHITE: Formation, Guided Strike, Lightning Blow, Shelter (not optimal unless you control every creature), Spiritualize and Withstand. BLUE: Leap, Quickchange, Shadow Rift, Touch of Invisibility and Updraft (worse than Leap!). BLACK: Afflict, Fevered Strength, Gravebind and Ribbons of Night (interesting choice). RED: Accelerate, Boiling Blood, Chaotic Strike, Ember Shot (not recommended... at all!), Flare, Panic, Stun and Zap. GREEN: Feral Instinct (the worse aggressive urge), Reality Anchor, Refresh, Sudden Strength, Touch of Vitae and Wildsize. GOLD: Fire/Ice

Mind you, these are the only uses for the Nephilim.  You could Boomerang your own Nephilim for a simulated Evacuation.  You could Last Gasp your Nephilim to creature a weenie wrath of god for all 3/3's and less.  You could even use Gigadrowse to tap down the boards.  This guy is combo-licious (perhaps I should have just written an article on this...)

This combo uses the same concept as Verduran Enchantress and bounce enchantments(auras) like Shimmering Wings and Flickering Ward.  With Celestial Ancient in play you can cast Shimmering Wings to put +1/+1 counter on each creature you control and then bounce it to your hand.  Basically it equates to "UU: Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control.".  Or for Flickering Ward: "WW: Put a +1/+1 counter on each creature you control." Not bad. 

Other cards that could replace Wings include Cage of Hands, Crown of Flames, Crown of Mourning, Natural Emergence, Shackles and Whip Silk.  There are, of course, more.  This combo was partially submitted by YWN.

When I first read Psychic Possession, I thought to myself, 'Huh?' and 'What good is this card?'  However, it lets you technically replace your draw step (should you have a card that skips it) with a new draw step that happens during your opponent's turn so that whenever they draw a card, you do too.  Then I realized, Solitary Confinement works wonders with Psychic Possession.  It create a sort of unstoppable lockdown as long as your opponent is drawing cards. 

Then there are cards like Vision Skeins and Skyscribing that will net you double the cards when casting (since you get to draw three cards and then you draw another three cards because your opponent is drawing too). Note: Prosperity works the same as Skyscribing but costs one less mana. 

Also, Teferi's Puzzlebox is a nice little card for Psychic Possession ... I'll let you figure that one out on your own.

Ghost Quarter... certainly not the new Strip Mine by any means, but it definitely has some combo potential.  If you activate the Quarter's ability on an opponent's land and then cast Shadow of Doubt,  your opponent will just lose the land and not be able to search for a new one.  If you use Quarter on a land you control, like Darksteel Citadel, you don't lose a land and still get to search your library for a basic land card and put it into play. 

Note: Crucible of Worlds works well with just Ghost Quarter too.

It's the green Horseshoe Crab!!!  And it's a lot uglier too.  Oh.. wow!  And it's a "WORM", not a "WURM".  Hmmm, since when did they bring back worms? In Green?

With Simic Ragworm, like it's blue predecessor, you make maximize any enchantment (or aura) that involves a tap and an effect.  With Ocular Halo, you can Draw a card for each blue mana you spend.  With Opposition, you can tap an opponent's board for each blue mana you spend.  With Glare of Subdual for you block lovers out there, you can tap an opponent's army and/or artifact horde for each blue mana.

I'd prefer to use a card like Hypervolt Grasp, Arcane Teachings or Viridian Longbow with the Ragworm, but I like damage.  If you like control, go with Opposition or Glare of Subdual!  This combo was partially submitted by YWN & Maleficent in the forum.

I had to post this in fear of getting 3000 emails about the same combo.  Many people have already submitted it via email and in the forum.  OK.  This is simple.  Enchant Niv-Mizzet with Curiosity.  Now, tap Niv-Mizzet to draw a card.   Niv-Mizzet deals 1 damage to target creature or player (preferably an opponent). Curiosity activates again, drawing you a card and thus dealing another point of damage - dealing up to infinite damage to an opponent.  Well, infinite in terms of as many cards are in your library infinite.  Thanks to everyone that submitted it.

Also note that there are many cards that work well with Niv-Mizzet.  Some cards that come quickly to mind include Invoke the Firemind, Greater Good and Mindmoil.  Have fun!  (Necrologia is also an interesting idea thanks to retarded_a_i in the forums.)

You will need to find a means to stop the infinite loop by either removing your toughness upper card or your Flash enchantment.  If you don't, it will be a loop you cannot stop and thus the game will be a draw.

The Rhystic cards from Prophesy were bad cards.  They allowed your opponent to pay mana to prevent you from maximizing certain spells.  However, if you combine them with a card like War's Toll, they will have to think twice about paying that extra mana to prevent you from playing the full effect of a Rhystic spell. If they do they will become tapped out for the rest of the turn.

Also, cards which give upkeep costs to permanents your opponents control, like Tabernacle of Pendrell Vale, also work towards the cause of locking up your opponent's lands with War's Toll.

Note: Hissing Miasma also works nice with the second ability on War's Toll.  Nettling Curse also works well with War's Toll.

There isn't anything terribly difficult about this pair of cards.  Urza's Armor prevents the one damage that Anthem would deal to you for each creature you attack with. 

Also, Tresserhorn suggests using One with Nothing as a means to empty your hand quickly for a surprise double-striking band of creatures.

How many cards return cards to your hand?  I don't know but there are lots, but there are at least a few that can do it on a consistent basis.  Cards like Trade Routes and Meloku the Clouded Mirror can do it multiple times in a turn depending on the number of lands you have in play.  Just pay 1 mana whenever you return something to your hand and draw a card.  Do this multiple times in a turn and you will see yourself drawing many-a-card per turn.

Other cards that can do it for you once a turn include (from Standard) Blood Clock, Skull Collector, Trusted Advisor and even the common guild lands from the Ravnica block! Partially submitted by YWN.

It's a pseudo-Final Judgment for a similar amount of mana unless the Graven's ability is activated from a Haunt.   Gotta love Gargoyles - there aren't enough of 'em.  Anyway, when this Gargoyle comes into play or the creature it haunts is put into a graveyard, all creatures become 1/1 until end of turn.  Follow that up with a Yamabushi's Flame and you remove all other creatures from the game (save any special effects that would prevent this from happening).  Come to think of it, this combo reminds me of False Prophet - except more expensive.    If you want alternatives to the Storm, try either Orzhov Pontiff or Night of Soul's Betrayal - they have similar effects.

Note: Wail of the Nim works terribly well with the Dominator too if you have the mana to pay for it.  Thanks Mart83 in the forums for that tidbit.

Use those little Sand? tokens to good use.  (Who ever heard of a 'sand' token?  Is it like animated sand???)  With Perilous Forays from Ravnica, you can use those creatures generated by the Nephilim to put more lands into play, and ultimately more Sand creature tokens into play.  Combine with Bravado and Overrun, and you have yourself a deck void of blue.  Now go off and create a casual deck! 

If Forays isn't your style, try Blasting Station (thanks Death_By_Beebles)... I think you can figure that one out!

Academy Researchers... like the Coil.  So does Nomad Mythmaker.  If you can manager to discard the new Wurmweaver Coil from Guildpact, you can pay one white mana and tap the Mythmaker to put into play on a creature you control. Then, pay GGG to sacrifice it before the end of your last opponent's turn and make a 6/6 green Wurm token.  Then, come your turn, use the Mythmaker to put it back into play.  Repeat for an army of 6/6 Wurm tokens.  Note: The Coil can only enchant a green creature... so be sure to have some of those on your side.

If this doesn't suit you, just try Auratouched Mage + Wurmweaver Coil + Shifting Sky.  Thank Mark Gottlieb for that one.

While this combo is expensive, it's a nice alternative to Blinding Angel.  You see, if you pay 3WB to play this 4/3 non-blocker, your opponent skips his or her next combat phase.  If you keep returning the Patriarch to your hand with the Shard each turn and following up your next turn by casting him again... and repeat.. you will shut down your opponent's ability to attack you.  Unlike the Blinding Angel, this guy doesn't have to attack to lock-down your opponent's combat phase.   You could always replace the Shard with Blood Clock if you want to save yourself a mana each turn.

You could also Skull Collector instead of Crystal Shard - and it's probably more efficient that way (and Standard legal).

This combo was submitted by 'Your Worst Nightmare' in the MDV forums.  Encourage your opponent to use Activated Abilities by playing permanents that any player can play.  For instance, there are a bunch of creatures from the Masques block such as Zerapa Minotaur and Vintara Elephant.  But even better are Flailing creatures in red (which work well with the Shaman) like Flailing Soldier, Flailing Ogre and Flailing Manticore.  There are many other off-color creatures with this 'Any player may play this ability' abilities.. but I won't bore you with them (now).

However, Lethal Vapors has to be the most fun.

What's nice about Dovescape is it's wording.  The way it's worded allows you to still get bird tokens even if the noncreature spell wasn't countered.  How do you accomplish this?  Play a spell that can't be countered.  There many a card that are 'uncountereable' like Last Word and Urza's Rage.  There's even a land known as Boseiju that grants uncounterable-ility. 

Note: Uncounterable isn't a real word.  It's means 'cannot be countered'.

The only thing I don't like about Necroplasm is that it kills itself just after a few turns.  However, if you play it correctly... in combination with Nature's Revolt, its an Armageddon for Golgari mages.  You see, during the first turn you've played the ooze, at the end of that turn it destroys each creature that costs zero to cast (i.e. lands that have been animated into creatures).  This counts for tokens too.  Natural Affinity is that card that makes all the lands creatures until end of turn - so cast it that same turn or have it in play before the ooze.  Bam.  At the end of your turn.. bye-bye lands and token.  Mind you, this affects your lands too, so be sure to have some mana batteries or something to give you the edge for the rest of the game.  This combo was originally submitted by JestingWizard except that he used Natural Affinity.  Question is, With your lands still be animated when the ooze's end of turn ability resolves?

If you want a little more control with your Necroplasm, that is to keep it from dying to its own ability, add Shambling Shell to the mix.  You can add another +1/+1 counter during your turn when it already has 3 counters.  That way, instead of destroying all creatures with a converted mana cost of 3 (like Necroplasm) it will destroy all creatures with a converted mana cost of 4.

Annex is great... but it costs 4 mana.  Vedalken Plotter is OK but you only get a 1/1/ for three mana (and the exchange of a land with an opponent).  Why not maximize the effect of the Plotter and make it like an Annex, except you eventually get your land you exchanged ... back!  You see, tap the Paradise to help pay for the Plotter and then exchange it with a land your opponent controls.  Regardless of who controls it, at the beginning of your next untap step, it returns to your hand.  

Note: Rainbow Vale also works, but isn't nearly as efficient as the Paradise.

According to CenturyChild533 in the forums, Kraj and March of the Machines makes for an interesting combo too. If you can get +1/+1 counters on your artifacts (there are many a way in Dissension) your Kraj will gain abilities from artifacts that he normally wouldn't be able to have.  Sunburst anyone?

Oh, let's not forget Cytoplast Manipulator...

Protean Hulk is quite an interesting beast.  There are many, many ways to maximize his usefulness, but this one seems nifty enough.  When he goes to the graveyard, search your library for 3 Pride of the Clouds and 4 Ornithopters.  Between those seven cards, the total CMC (converted mana cost) is 6.  Put them all into play and drool over your army.  Each of your Elemental Lions will be 7/7.   I see that as being 'drool'-worthy.

And then there are Kobolds... you get out an entire army of Kobolds with Protean Hulk if you build your deck right.

With these three cards, and a few extra cards in hand, Kindle the Carnage can kill your opponent. You see, when you discard the first card at random via the Kindle the Carnage card, it deals X damage to each creature.  Then, Repercussions will deal X*Y damage to your opponent (Y=the number of creatures he or she has). And, Light of Sanction will prevent any damage to your own creatures.  Light of Sanction isn't required, but it helps in case your opponent has any tricks up his or her sleeve. 

If that isn't enough for you, know the Selesnya Phytohydra is a mean card to pair up with Kindle the Carnage... even without Repercussions and Light of Sanction!

If you want something a little wackier with the Defiler, try the following combo by YWN: Rakdos the Defiler + Conspiracy + Natural Emergence + March of the Machines + 2 Opalescence.   Set Conspiracy to Demons.  The rest should make sense.  If it doesn't, you never have to sacrifice anything when attacking.

Novijen Sages has a cool ability - being able to recycle those excess +1/+1 counters into cards.  What better way to have excess +1/+1 counters than through Forgotten Ancient... I bet you forgot about him, didn't you?  Yeah, I know... this is more synergy than combo, but it's still fun.

Anyway, if you want something more a bit more Ravnica, try Golgari Grave-Troll.  Each time you dredge him he gets more counters and thus more chances to draw cards with the Sages.  Be careful not to mill yourself to death.