Phyrexian Altar + Thran Vigil + Obstinate Gargoyle

Phyrexian Altar

Thran Vigil

Obstinate Gargoyle

How it works

1. Activate Phyrexian Altar by sacrificing Obstinate Gargoyle.
2. When Obstinate Gargoyle dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
3. Thran Vigil triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Obstinate Gargoyle.
4. Repeat.

This clever engine turns the persistent return of Obstinate Gargoyle into a self-sustaining loop by feeding the gargoyle directly to Phyrexian Altar to generate infinite colored mana and death triggers. The true beauty of the alchemy here lies in Thran Vigil, whose passive ability triggers every single time the gargoyle leaves the graveyard. By turning that zone-change into a +1/+1 counter placed right back onto the returning Obstinate Gargoyle, the counter immediately neutralizes the persist mechanic's -1/-1 counter through state-based actions.