Chthonian Nightmare + Priest of Gix + Dark Ritual + Skullwinder

4-card combo · BG

Verdict

Yes — this 4-card loop generates infinite black mana and infinite death triggers while forcing a target opponent to recover every card in their graveyard.

Cards required: 4
Cheapest stack total: $404.40
Color identity: BG
Popularity: 6 decks
Format: Commander

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Chthonian Nightmare bounces between the battlefield and hand by spending three energy, sacrificing a creature to recur Priest of Gix, whose enters-the-battlefield trigger refunds three black mana. Skullwinder slots in as the second sacrifice target, returning Dark Ritual to hand each loop so the two black mana gap re-closes cleanly. The combo lives in black-green reanimator or aristocrats shells — Meren of Clan Nel Toth or Grist, the Hunger Tide — that already want all four pieces at low mana values.

Recipe

How it works

Prerequisites

You have at least three energy counters.

Steps

Activate Chthonian Nightmare by paying , sacrificing Skullwinder and returning Chthonian Nightmare from the battlefield to your hand, returning Priest of Gix from your graveyard to the battlefield.
When Priest of Gix enters the battlefield, it triggers, adding .
Cast Dark Ritual by paying , adding .
Cast Chthonian Nightmare by paying .
When Chthonian Nightmare enters the battlefield, it triggers, causing you to get .
Activate Chthonian Nightmare by paying , sacrificing Priest of Gix and returning Chthonian Nightmare from the battlefield to your hand, returning Skullwinder from your graveyard to the battlefield.
When Skullwinder enters, it triggers, returning Dark Ritual from your graveyard to your hand.
Cast Chthonian Nightmare by paying .
When Chthonian Nightmare enters the battlefield, it triggers, causing you to get .
Repeat.

Result

Infinite LTB; Infinite ETB; Infinite sacrifice triggers; Infinite death triggers; Infinite storm count; Infinite magecraft triggers; Infinite black mana; Target opponent returns all cards in their graveyard to their hand

Variations

Cheaper, tighter, alternate lines

The Skullwinder trigger does give an opponent their graveyard back on every loop, which matters against graveyard-light pods and can accidentally refuel the table's interaction; run it knowing that trade-off. Eternal Witness can substitute for Skullwinder if returning Dark Ritual to hand rather than graveyard is acceptable, though it loses the enters-the-battlefield symmetry. Pair the infinite black mana with a Torment of Hailfires or Exsanguinate as the closer — the loop is the engine, and the kill is elsewhere.