Lesser Masticore + Serra Redeemer + Phantom Train

Lesser Masticore

Serra Redeemer

Phantom Train

How it works

1. Activate Phantom Train by sacrificing Lesser Masticore
2. When Lesser Masticore dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
3. When Lesser Masticore enters, Serra Redeemer triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Lesser Masticore
4. Resolve the Phantom Train ability.
5. Repeat.

This clever loop turns the mechanical friction of persistent death into an engine of continuous growth, fueled by Phantom Train's sacrifice outlet. Whenever you feed Lesser Masticore to the Train, its persist ability naturally brings it back with a -1/-1 counter, but Serra Redeemer steps in with a passive blessing that immediately counters that penalty by dropping two +1/+1 counters onto the returning Masticore. Because state-based actions cleanly annihilate the -1/-1 and +1/+1 counters simultaneously, Lesser Masticore is left completely clean and ready to be sacrificed all over again.