Kenrith, the Returned King + Smothering Tithe + Parallel Lives + Elspeth, Storm Slayer

4-card combo · WUBRG

Verdict

Yes — this 4-card loop decks one or more opponents out by forcing infinite draws on a self-funding mana loop.

Cards required

Cheapest stack total

$40.30

Color identity

WUBRG

Popularity

56 decks

Format

Commander

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Kenrith, the Returned King's 3U activation draws a card for a target opponent; if that opponent can't pay Smothering Tithe's trigger, Parallel Lives and Elspeth, Storm Slayer together double and then double again the resulting Treasure tokens — four Treasures recoup the 3U to loop immediately. The table sees a board of four specific permanents assembled in a 5-color shell, which means heavy enchantment and planeswalker removal is the answer, not counterspells after the loop starts.

How it works

Prerequisites

An opponent cannot pay for Smothering Tithe's trigger. Eventually the opponent will lose the game due to drawing from an empty library. You can repeat this loop with other opponents that also cannot pay for Smothering Tithe's trigger.

Steps

Activate Kenrith's fourth ability by paying , causing an opponent who cannot pay for Smothering Tithe's trigger to draw a card.
Smothering Tithe triggers, causing you to create four Treasure tokens due to Elspeth, Storm Slayer and Parallel Lives.
Activate the Treasures by tapping and sacrificing them, adding .
Repeat.

Result

Infinite draw triggers for any number of opponents; Infinite card draw for any number of opponents

Cheaper, tighter, alternate lines

Strionic Resonator can copy Kenrith's activated ability's draw trigger in certain builds, but Elspeth, Storm Slayer is load-bearing here — without her emblem the tokens don't reach four. There is no cheaper swap for Parallel Lives that clears the mana threshold; if either doubler is absent, the loop collapses. The win is library elimination, so any opponent running a shuffle effect like Elixir of Immortality survives indefinitely.

Kenrith, the Returned King + Smothering Tithe + Parallel Lives + Elspeth, Storm Slayer

How it works

Cheaper, tighter, alternate lines

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