Gev, Scaled Scorch + Phantom Train

Gev, Scaled Scorch

Phantom Train

How it works

1. Activate Phantom Train by sacrificing the creature with persist.
2. The persist ability triggers, returning that creature to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it, as well as a +1/+1 counter due to Gev.
3. The +1/+1 and -1/-1 counters on that creature are removed as a state-based action.
4. Resolve the ability from step 1.
5. Repeat.

This clever loop relies on a creature with persist acting as fuel for Phantom Train, letting you sacrifice it over and over to continuously grow the Vehicle and generate an endless stream of sacrifice and leave-the-battlefield triggers. Each time the sacrificed creature returns via its persist ability, Gev, Scaled Scorch steps in to grant it a +1/+1 counter because an opponent lost life (or simply by leveraging the synergy of the setup), which immediately cancels out the creature's incoming -1/+1 counter as a state-based action. Because these counters annihilate each other, the creature's persist ability is never permanently shut off, allowing you to feed it back into Phantom Train indefinitely.