Szarel, Genesis Shepherd + Umbral Collar Zealot

Szarel, Genesis Shepherd

Umbral Collar Zealot

How it works

1. Activate Umbral Collar Zealot by sacrificing a persist creature without a -1/-1 counter on it.
2. When the persist creature dies, its persist ability and Szarel trigger.
3. Resolve the Szarel trigger, putting a number of +1/+1 counters on the other persist creature.
4. Resolve the perist creature's trigger, returning it from your graveyard to the battlefield with a -1/-1 counter on it.
5. Resolve the Umbral Collar Zealot ability.
6. Repeat.

This clever loop harnesses the recursive engine of persist alongside Szarel, Genesis Shepherd, whose static ability lets you freely replay lands that end up in your graveyard while transforming your sacrifices into massive permanent growth. By using Umbral Collar Zealot as the sacrifice outlet, you don't just fuel an endless cycle of deaths and leaves-the-battlefield triggers—you also actively filter your draws with the zealot's built-in surveil ability. The interaction thrives because every time a creature enters the graveyard, Szarel is right there to pump up your other threats with +1/+1 counters based on its power, effortlessly turning a mechanical loop into an overwhelming board state.