Stalwart Successor + Thermopod + Glen Elendra Archmage

Stalwart Successor

Thermopod

Glen Elendra Archmage

How it works

1. Activate Thermopod by sacrificing Glen Elendra Archmage
2. When Glen Elendra Archmage dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
3. When Glen Elendra Archmage enters, Stalwart Successor triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Glen Elendra Archmage
4. Repeat.

This clever loop turns Glen Elendra Archmage into an endlessly recurring counter-spell engine by exploiting the interaction between its persist mechanic and Stalwart Successor. Whenever the Archmage returns from the graveyard with a -1/-1 counter, the Successor steps in to place a +1/+1 counter on it; these opposing counters cleanly cancel each other out as a state-based action, leaving the Archmage completely reset and ready to persist again. Meanwhile, Thermopod acts as the sacrificial outlet that fuels the loop while generating an infinite supply of red mana and death triggers along the way.