Monk Gyatso + Animar, Soul of Elements + Lightning Greaves

3-card combo · RGWU

Verdict

Yes — this 3-card loop generates infinite ETB and LTB triggers along with unlimited +1/+1 counters on Animar once the engine is running.

Cards required

Cheapest stack total

$45.89

Color identity

RGWU

Popularity

24 decks

Format

Commander

Buy required cards on TCGplayer

Lightning Greaves equips for 0, which forces Monk Gyatso's airbending trigger to exile the targeted creature; the equip fizzles since the creature is gone, and Animar reduces the creature's recast cost, refunding the loop. Each cycle adds a counter to Animar, which further reduces future cast costs, meaning the engine accelerates after the first few rotations. This lives in Animar, Soul of Elements goodstuff lists that already run Monk Gyatso as both a value piece and a wincon.

How it works

Prerequisites

You control another nontoken creature. The starting cost can be reduced depending on the number of +1/+1 counters on Animar.

Steps

Activate Lightning Greaves's equip ability by paying , targeting another nontoken creature you control.
Monk Gyatso triggers, airbending the targeted creature.
The Lightning Greaves ability fizzles due to no longer having a legal target.
Cast the creature from exile by paying at most due to Animar.
Animar triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on it.
Repeat.

Result

Infinite LTB; Infinite ETB; Infinite storm count; Infinite +1/+1 counters on a creature

Cheaper, tighter, alternate lines

The loop needs at least one other nontoken creature to bounce, so redundancy in that slot matters — a cheap 0-drop like Memnite or Ornithopter keeps the loop running with zero mana investment once Animar has enough counters. Close out with Purphoros, God of the Forge or Impact Tremors already on the battlefield to convert the infinite ETBs into lethal damage; without a damage outlet in play the loop produces counters and triggers but no kill.

Monk Gyatso + Animar, Soul of Elements + Lightning Greaves

How it works

Cheaper, tighter, alternate lines

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