Stalwart Successor + Shilgengar, Sire of Famine + Gravelgill Axeshark

Stalwart Successor

Shilgengar, Sire of Famine

Gravelgill Axeshark

How it works

1. Activate Shilgengar by sacrificing Gravelgill Axeshark
2. When Gravelgill Axeshark dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
3. When Gravelgill Axeshark enters, Stalwart Successor triggers, putting a +1/+1 counter on Gravelgill Axeshark
4. Resolve the Shilgengar ability.
5. Repeat.

This gruesome engine harnesses Gravelgill Axeshark's persist ability to constantly feed Shilgengar, Sire of Famine, generating an endless stream of Blood tokens along the way. Every time Gravelgill Axeshark returns from the dead with a -1/-1 counter, Stalwart Successor steps in with its triggered ability to place a +1/+1 counter on it for the first counters put on it that turn. These opposing counters immediately annihilate each other through state-based actions, leaving the Axeshark pristine and ready to be sacrificed to Shilgengar, Sire of Famine all over again.