Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + Ashcloud Phoenix + Umbral Collar Zealot

Mikaeus, the Unhallowed

Ashcloud Phoenix

Umbral Collar Zealot

How it works

1. Activate Umbral Collar Zealot by sacrificing Ashcloud Phoenix.
2. When Ashcloud Phoenix dies, it triggers, as well as its undying ability if it does not have a +1/+1 counter on it.
3. Resolve the first trigger, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield face-down.
4. Resolve the second trigger, doing nothing.
5. Activate Umbral Collar Zealot by sacrificing Ashcloud Phoenix.
6. When Ashcloud Phoenix dies, it triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
7. Resolve the Umbral Collar Zealot abilities from steps 1 and 5
8. Repeat.

This clever loop harnesses Mikaeus, the Unhallowed to grant undying to Ashcloud Phoenix, turning its physical destruction into a continuous cycle of rebirth. Because Ashcloud Phoenix returns face down from its own death trigger—clearing any previously accumulated +1/+1 counters—it can repeatedly benefit from Mikaeus, the Unhallowed's static buff and recursion ability without ever being permanently locked out of undying. Meanwhile, Umbral Collar Zealot acts as the engine's sacrificial outlet and sorting tool, letting you repeatedly feed the phoenix to the altar to generate infinite death triggers, sacrifice triggers, and endless surveil triggers.