Mikaeus, the Unhallowed + Thermopod + Lingering Tormentor

Mikaeus, the Unhallowed

Thermopod

Lingering Tormentor

How it works

1. Activate Thermopod by sacrificing Lingering Tormentor.
2. When Lingering Tormentor dies, its persist ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
3. Activate Thermopod by sacrificing Lingering Tormentor.
4. When Lingering Tormentor dies, its undying ability triggers, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter on it.
5. Repeat.

This clever loop exploits a fascinating rules interaction between two opposing mechanics: undying and persist. Thanks to Mikaeus, the Unhallowed granting its passive undying buff to your non-Humans, Lingering Tormentor alternates between returning to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter from its native persist ability and returning with a +1/+1 counter from undying, as each type of counter neatly neutralizes the other upon re-entry. Meanwhile, Thermopod serves as the engine's beating heart by turning each sacrifice of Lingering Tormentor into a steady stream of red mana.