Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + Cryptic Trilobite + Skullclamp

3-card combo · B

Verdict

Yes — this 3-card loop draws your entire library and generates near-infinite colorless mana locked to ability activation in any black undying shell.

Cards required
3
Cheapest stack total
$102.67
Color identity
B
Popularity
483 decks
Format
Commander
Buy required cards on TCGplayer

Mikaeus, the Unhallowed grants undying to Cryptic Trilobite; draining its +1/+1 counters via its own activated ability funds the Skullclamp equip cost, the equip drops Trilobite to zero toughness, and undying bounces it back with a fresh counter to start the loop again. Every iteration draws two cards and produces near-infinite restricted colorless mana — any deck running Mikaeus as the commander or in the 99 already wants this line.

Recipe

How it works

01

Prerequisites

02

Steps

  1. Activate Cryptic Trilobite's first ability by removing a +1/+1 counter from it, adding {C}{C} that can only be spent to activate abilities.
  2. Repeat step 1 until Cryptic Trilobite does not have any +1/+1 counters on it.
  3. Activate Skullclamp's equip ability by paying {1}, attaching it to Cryptic Trilobite.
  4. Cryptic Trilobite dies as a state-based action due to having zero toughness, triggering its undying ability and Skullclamp.
  5. Resolve the Cryptic Trilobite trigger, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
  6. Resolve the Skullclamp trigger, causing you to draw two cards.
  7. Repeat.

03

Result

Infinite card draw; Infinite draw triggers; Near-infinite colorless mana that can only be spent to activate abilities; Near-infinite death triggers; Near-infinite ETB; Near-infinite LTB

Variations

Cheaper, tighter, alternate lines

Devoted Druid replaces Cryptic Trilobite as the zero-toughness undying target if the Trilobite is exiled, though it requires green. The mana generated can only activate abilities, so pair the loop with Torment of Hailfire as the kill, or funnel the colorless into a Walking Ballista or Exsanguinate with black mana already on board — Skullclamp draws into either with ease.

Verified on Commander Spellbook · Combo ID cryptic-trilobite-mikaeus-the-unhallowed-skullclamp

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Updated . Data from Commander Spellbook, Scryfall, and EDHREC.