Serra Avatar + Swords to Plowshares + Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose

3-card combo · WB

Verdict

Yes — this 3-card line kills a single opponent in one action as long as Serra Avatar's power matches or exceeds their remaining life total.

Cards required

Cheapest stack total

$24.87

Color identity

Popularity

1,996 decks

Format

Commander

Buy required cards on TCGplayer

Serra Avatar's power equals its controller's life total, so a single Swords to Plowshares targeting it returns that same number as life gained — Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose then mirrors that gain as loss to a chosen opponent. The combo lives in Orzhov lifegain shells, typically under commanders like Ayli, Eternal Pilgrim or Oloro, Ageless Ascetic, where the life total is inflated enough to one-shot at least one player at the table.

How it works

Prerequisites

Your life total is higher than or equal to an opponent's.

Steps

Cast Swords to Plowshares by paying , exiling Serra Avatar and gaining life equal to its power.
Vito triggers, causing target opponent whose lifetotal is less than or equal to Serra Avatar's power to lose life equal to the life you gained.
The opponent loses the game due to having zero or less life.

Result

Near-infinite lifegain; Near-infinite lifeloss for target opponent; Target opponent loses the game

Cheaper, tighter, alternate lines

Sanguine Bond is the direct swap for Vito if Vito is removed — same trigger, enchantment instead of creature, harder to bolt but slower to assemble. To extend the kill beyond one opponent, add Exquisite Blood: once Vito or Sanguine Bond is on board, Exquisite Blood creates an infinite loop with either at a single point of damage, making the Serra Avatar line redundant but the Exquisite Blood package a faster backup plan.

Serra Avatar + Swords to Plowshares + Vito, Thorn of the Dusk Rose

How it works

Cheaper, tighter, alternate lines

Other combos sharing these cards