Near-Death Experience + Channel + Leyline of Anticipation

Near-Death Experience

Channel

Leyline of Anticipation

How it works

1. On the end step prior to your turn, cast Channel by paying .
2. Activate Channel by paying 1 life, adding C.
3. Repeat step 2 until you have exactly 1 life.
4. At the beginning of your upkeep, Near-Death Experience triggers, causing you to win the game.

This vintage-legal win condition relies on sidestepping sorcery-speed restrictions to pull off a lightning-fast surprise victory. With Leyline of Anticipation already on the battlefield from your opening hand, you gain the ability to cast spells as though they had flash on the preceding end step. This lets you cast Channel safely outside of your main phase, immediately activating its life-paying ability over and over until you safely whittle your life total down to exactly 1. Because you survived straight into your turn, Near-Death Experience triggers at the beginning of your upkeep to instantly claim the game.