Magic Deck Vortex: Time Spiral Combos

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Time Spiral (2006) Featured Combos. Last updated 2/14/07 (30/30 Combos, 14 Deck Links, 5 Infinite Combos) NOTE: This particular combo page won't include purple cards.. purple cards will get their own combo page! grin Discuss this combo page in the forums! [Read the rules of the thread first, please].
Vesuvan Shapeshifter - Brine Elemental
This combo was submitted by boiwithteeth. All hail the new STASIS!!! Seriously, this two card combo is capable. Whenever you turn the Shapeshifter face up, choose Brine Elemental. The Shapeshifter will turn face up as a copy of Brine Elemental and thus trigger it's "each opponent skips his or her next untap step" ability. At the beginning of your next upkeep, turn the Shapeshifter face down and repeat. Now, the trick is getting Brine Elemental into play fast enough to make the Stasis effects really hurt. For those that doubt, here is a bit from the Time Spiral FAQ: If Vesuvan Shapeshifter is turned face up, the process of turning face up includes (optionally) choosing another creature in play. You'll pay {1}{U} (not the morph cost, if any, of the new creature), then Vesuvan Shapeshifter will turn face up as a copy of that creature, plus the triggered ability it gives itself. It won't turn face up as a Vesuvan Shapeshifter and then change. If the copied creature has a "when this creature is turned face up" ability, it will trigger for Vesuvan Shapeshifter.
Magus of the Mirror - Wall of Blood or Soulgorger Orgg
Magus of the Mirror is too good. I almost won a draft once until my opponent Mirrored me down to two life. Argh. Anyway, what better way to switch life totals than when you are at one life and your opponent is at, say, 10 life. Wall of Blood can help make this happen faster than you think. You see, pay all but one life to make the Wall of Blood huge. Then sacrifice the Magus to switch life totals. Following up with a Shock is nice too. If Wall of Blood isn't your style, try Soulgorger Orgg. He works equally devastating to your opponent as Wall of Blood, except you get a big creature that can actually attack. Thanks for the addition to this combo, Barl Nicolay.
Spectral Force - Darkest Hour or Shifting Sky or Scryb Ranger
If you don't mind splashing some blue or black in your green beatdown deck featuring Spectral Force, the drawback on Spectral Force can be nullified. How? Just make all of your opponent creatures black (via Darkest Hour) or make all nonland permanents black (via Shifting Sky). This combo was submitted by many. If you do mind splashing other colors, do what Darcrom suggests, try Scryb Ranger to untap the Force.
Stonebrow, Krosan Hero - Gruul War Plow or Skarrg
I never realized that Gruul War Plow combo'd so well with Stonebrow until I saw a deck by Chris Millar. Stonebrow has this strategic little ability of granting +2/+2 until end of turn whenever that creature attacked... if it has trample. Gruul War Plow is an excellent way to give all of your creatures Trample so that the effect of Stonebrow is really taken advantage of... and then there's the smaller Skarrg, the Rage Pits to grant trample on a smaller scale.
Suspended Creatures - Sway of the Stars
Sway of the Stars is too symetrical to really combo with anything.. that is until Time Spiral. Time Spiral brings us a slew of new suspendable creatures. The combo? Suspend a bunch of creatures and then play Sway of the Stars. Even though everyone starts fresh with a new library, hand, etc... those creatures or spells you suspended stay suspended. Thus, you get an extreme upper hand some a few turns later when those cards become un-suspended.
Paradox Haze - Sporethower Thallid and friends
Paradox Haze is a fun card... so fun that it deserved several spots on the MDV Time Spiral combo page. Take thallids, for instance. Each one typically gets a spore counter during each of your upkeeps and can cash in three spore counters for a Saproling token at any time. If you throw a Paradox Haze into the mix and target yourself, suddenly your Thallids are producing spore counters and thus Saproling tokens twice as fast. Add Sporethrower Thallid into the mix and watch the Saproling army grow!
Magus of the Disk or Mangara of Corondor- Flickerform
I didn't think this combo worked, but according to Chris Millar @ www.wizards.com, it does. To quote him: Due to the unorthodox location of Mangara's colon (wedged between the tap symbol and the text instructing you to remove Mangara of Corondor from the game), you only have to remove Mangara when the ability resolves. This allows you to tap Mangara and respond with a number of effects. You can untap the RFG specialist with Freed from the Real (as Mark Gottlieb suggested on Monday) in order to squeeze in some extra activations. You can also remove Mangara from the game with something like Momentary Blink, Astral Slide, or Flickerform. When it's time to resolve, Mangara will be gone and all that will be left for you to do is remove an opponent's permanent from the game. Magus of the Disk works similarly. You can activate its ability, then remove it from the game with Flickerform. Even though the Magus won't be around, you will still get to destroy every creature, artifact, and enchantment in play. I believe this is in the Rules somewhere. There you have it!
Basal Sliver - Consume Spirit or Drain Life
While isn't REALLY a combo, it's some great synergy. Basal Thrull, back in the day, was still a good thrull. However, make it a sliver and everything gets better. You see, once this sliver is in play, every other sliver gains the ability to sacrifice itself for two black mana. What's the best thing to do with all of that possible mana? Drain Life or Consume Spirit them to death. That's fun. That's almost good enough to move beyond synergy and become a combo!
Greater Gargadon - Second Sunrise
Greater Gargadon is a hefty 9/7 for only 10 mana. Wait. That's not right. Let me rephrase that, it's a hefty 9/7 for only one mana and ten turns. Or one mana and not 10 turns. That is, you can sacrifice one of your non-enchantment permanents to remove time counters from it while it is suspended. The trick? Second Sunrise. Sacrifice a bunch of permanents to get the Gargadon into play faster, and then cast Second Sunrise to bring them all back into play. Sounds like a fair deal to me.
Endrek Sahr, Master Breeder - Conspiracy
Endrek Sahr has a spiffy Thrull-tastic first ability. His second ability, not so fantastic. You see, if you control seven or more Thrulls, you have to sacrifice Endrek. That's no fun. Enter Conspiracy! When it comes into play, choose any creature type but Thrulls. Maybe Nomads... maybe Splinter... whatever works. Because all creatures in play, in your library and so on, are not Thrulls, you'll never have to sacrifice Endrek. Thanks for the combo, Mist!
Saffi Eriksdotter - Crypt Champion - Soul Warden
This combo was submitted by mtg23. This combo is also infinite life if played corrected. Here's how it works: With both Saffi and Soul Warden in play, Sacrifice Saffi targeting Soul Warden. Play Crypt Champion and return Saffi to play. Be sure not to pay the red mana. In response, sacrifice Saffi targeting the Crypt Champion. The Champion dies as a triggered ability and returns to play when Saffi's effect resolves. Repeat this as many times as you like for up to infinite times. With Soul Warden in play, you've just gained infinite life. I hope I explained that right... If I didn't, just replace Soul Warden with Vengeful Dead and make the combo an infinite life loss for an opponent. Thanks sijijin for that variation of the combo.
Walk of Aeons - Crucible of Worlds - Azusa, Lost but Seeking
This combo was submitted by MANY. How to get infinite turns: Play Walk of Aeons and sacrifice three Islands to pay its Buyback cost. You now get another turn. During this turn, use Crucible of Worlds to play one of those three lands from your graveyard. Now, use Azusa to play two more. Play Walk the Aeons again, paying its buyback cost, and repeat for infinite turns. What's nice about casual: This combo hasn't rotated out. grin Note: Life of the Loam is an alternate card to use in place of the Crucible.
Curse of the Cabal - Mindslicer
The unfortunate thing about the Curse is that players will see it coming. Most likely, they will not play spells in an effort to limit the effect of the Curse. And thus, keeping cards in their hand. The trick here: Mindslicer. By sacrificing your Mindslicer to something (like Claws of Gix or Carrion Feeder) you will force your opponent to discard their hand and in the process, still get the effect of the Curse of Cabal. That's a mean combo ... so mean that I wouldn't recommend playing the deck you build around it too often... if you still want to have a group to play with.
Restore Balance - Greater Gargadon
As if Greater Gargadon wasn't already on this page... Anyway, this combo really helps out Restore Balance more than it does the Gargadon as he just becomes an added bonus. The trick is to suspend both cards and make sure your have more permanents than your opponent (or equal). Right before the Restore Balance loses its last time counter, use the Gargadon to sacrifice all of your permanents. What will happen is the Restore Balance will resolve and make your opponent(s) sacrifice all of their permanents and then the Gargadon comes into play - a nice 9/7 beatstick. With your opponent without anything to block with, you will most likely win the that turn or one turn later.
Paradox Haze - Dimensional Breach
Yes, Yes. I know. Paradox Haze combos with hundreds of cards. However, I thought this two card combos was terribly unique. The normal Dimensional Breach is, surprise, symmetrical. With Paradox Haze, while your opponent returns only one permanent to play every turn, you return two. That's terribly cool. Just make sure to return the Paradox Haze first...
Fool's Demise - Composite Golem - Pandemonium
This combo was submitted by Edrex with some help from YWN. This combo is also infinite damage (or capable of infinite storm...) by doing the following. With Golem and Pandemonium in play, enchant Golem with Fool's Demise. Sacrifice the Golem to add WUBRG to your mana pool. Fool's Demise will return the Golem to play and Demise back to your hand. Pandemonium triggers for four damage to any target. Use the mana you received from the Golem to play Fool's Demise on the Golem again and repeat for infinite storm or infinite damage. Thanks for the combo Edrex!
Bogardan Hellkite - Flickerform
Let pretend Bogardan Hellkite didn't cost eight mana. Whenever he comes into play, he deals 5 damage divided anyway you choose. Now, throw Flickerform on him. 2WW mana now equals 5 damage divided anyway you choose. Nifty. You could always substitute Firemaw Kavu for the Hellkite if you like spending less mana to cast the creature up front. However, it's not nearly as efficient as the Hellkite with Flickerform. Thanks for the combo, YWN! (YWN also suggests Pandemonium with these two cards...)
Magus of the Candelabra - Heartbeat of Spring - Freed from the Real
Infinite Mana. How it works: Have all three cards in play with Freed from the Real enchanting the Magus. Let's assume you have four lands. Tap four lands to add eight mana to your mana pool. At least one of this mana needs to be blue. Untap Magus using the Aura's ability for one blue. You now have seven mana in your mana pool. Use four mana and tap the Magus to untap your four lands. You have three mana left. Tap you lands for eight more mana and go on from there for infinite mana. This combo was submitted by Luthervamplord.
Barbed Shocker - Arcane Teachings or Psionic Gift
This was inspired by YWN's Fire Whip combo with Barbed Shocker, but those purple cards will get their own page soon enough. In the meantime, enchant Barbed Shocker with any of the Tim Auras (like Psionic Gift or the p/t enhancing Arcane Teachings) and Winds of Changing just one player is only a tap away. Remember that you can do an opponent, or you can do yourself.
Children of Korlis - Necropotence or Yawgmoth's Bargain
Oooh. This is a juicy one, and it was submitted by none other than YWN! As if Necropotence and Yawgmoth's Bargain weren't broken enough, add Children of Korlis to the mix. Now, say you paid 19 life to draw 19 cards in one turn, just sacrifice the Children to gain 19 life! Dangerous combo. Dangerous indeed.
Fungus Sliver - Pestilence
This combo was partially submitted by jaybeecc. With Fungus Sliver and a bunch of 2/2 or better slivers in play, activate Pestilence for one to put a +1/+1 counter on each sliver you control. Time the activations correctly and keep stacking counters on your slivers. As if help from Might Sliver wasn't enough. Jaybeecc actually recommends Subterranean Shambler.. although I thought Pestilence was more efficient.
Sudden Spoiling - Pyroclasm
Hey look! It's a plague wind for only five mana!!! Seriously, it is. Play Pyroclasm to deal two damage to all creatures. Your opponent will probably be like, "OH NO! You just didn't kill anything!" Then, be spiteful, and play the uncounterable Sudden Spoiling and watch all of your opponent's creatures die. That's fun. If any of your opponent's creatures have Pro: Red, cast Sudden Spoiling first. Thanks for another combo, YWN!
Your Combo Here!
You could have your combo featured in this spot right here!!! Email the webmaster with any combos you'd like to submit. Try to make sure your combo works and that there isn't already that combo on any other MDV combo page. You can always Search Magic Deck Vortex with the new search tool to make sure before submitting it. I greatly appreciate your efforts to make these combo pages better. Every once in a while I have a page chock-full of your submitted combos... although I will admit about 75% of all submitted combos are duplicates.
Stuffy Doll - Pariah
I would give credit for this one, but EVERYONE AND THEIR MOTHER has submitted this combo to me via email. The concept is simple: Enchant Stuffy Doll with Pariah and watch your opponent kill themselves. Other cards that combo well with Stuffy Doll include Guilty Conscience (for infinite damage), Repercussions (for infinite loopage and damage), Pariah's Shield, Pestilence, and many, many more. Check out my article about Stuffy Doll for some more info and combos! NOTE: Guilty Conscience works terribly well with Stuffy Doll too!
Ophidian Eye - Niv-Mizzet, the Firemind
Remember that little infinite damage/drawing cards combo with Niv-Mizzet and Curiosity? Well, it's back... only this time it's legal in Standard thanks to Ophidian Eye. Ophidian Eye and Curiosity are the same card except Ophidian costs 2 more mana and has Flash. How does this work? Enchant Niv-Mizzet with Ophidian Eye. Tap Niv-Mizzet to draw a card and deal one damage to your opponent. Ophidian Eye lets you draw a card which deals another damage to an opponent, and so on and so on for infinite damage and infinite card drawings (as infinite as card drawing can be based on the size of the your decklist).
Scion of the Ur-Dragon - Zombify
Scion of the Ur-Dragon is quite a powerful card. But, the most intriguing part is the search your library for a Dragon card and put it into your graveyard. Black cards LOVE this kind of an ability. Conspiracy being one of them... as it allows you to turn any card into a dragon. But that's not the focus here. The real focus is taking that card you just put into your graveyard, maybe some nice big dragon like Shivan or a Hellkite, and then reanimating it into play - via a card like Zombify. Patriarch's Bidding works nice too! Oooh, Oooh. Reito Lanterns works wonders with this Scion if you plan on copying the same dragon multiple times.
Pentarch Paladin - Darkest Hour or Shifting Sky
Surprise! This combo was submitted by YWN (Your Worst Nightmare). Big surprise, eh? I've asked him to just write a combo page for MDV... but in the meantime, let me talk about this combo. Pentarch Paladin is CRAZY. Remember the Paladins of direction: Eastern, Western, Northern and Southern? Well, Pentarch is like the father of all! However, he is limited as you can only choose one color to target when he comes into play. That isn't so bad if you combine him with either Darkest Hour or Shifting Sky. That way, all permanent will be the color you chose when the Pentarch Paladin came into play, and thus you can kill anything on the board. Mind you, Darkest Hour only affects creatures but Shifting Sky affects all nonland permanents.
Evangelize - Radiate
This combo was submitted by 'relentless poker'. Who doesn't like ten mana combos? If you raised your hand, just play with Heartbeat, Mana Flare or any other card that doubles your mana sources. Cast both and take control of all of your opponent's (or s') creatures. Works best in a multiplayer game. Of course, you could always play Insurrection... but that costs eight and only gives you the creatures for a turn. NOTE: Willbender also works well with Evangelize if you don't want to pay the huge mana to make a huge combo. Willbender will allow you to change the target of Evangelize so you still get a creature you want.
Jaya Ballard - Squee, Goblin Nabob
QUICK DISCLAIMER: Squee works will ALL Spellshapers. With that out of the way, Squee works fantastically well with Jaya. Want to destroy a blue permanent, deal three damage to target creature or player, or deal six damage to each creature and player.... every turn? Combo these two cards up! Squee goes back to your hand whenever he is in the graveyard at the beginning of your upkeep. Thus, discarding him to a spellshaper's effect doesn't do you any card disadvantage. Oh, quick note: Light of Sanction loves cards like Jaya Ballard and her mass damage effect.
Deathspore Thallid - Saproling Symbiosis or.. or...
Phyrexian Plaguelord meets his match! Via, Deathspore Thallid that is. Deathspore Thallid is a potent black control card capable of killing even a Stuffy Doll. However, the more saproling cards you have, the better this common Thallid from Time Spiral gets. The best way, in my humble opinion, is Saproling Symbiosis. However, cards like Fertile Imagination, Supply/Demand, Aether Mutation, Death Mutation, Spontaneous Generation, Artifact Mutation, Aura Mutation, Flash Foliage, Scatter the Seeds, Seed Spark and Night Soil work well too (to name a few).
Paradox Haze - Eternal Dominion or Enduring Ideal or...
Paradox Haze combos with so many cards... everything from Fatespinner to Howling Mines. However, one set of cards that jumps to mind as a powerful combo are the Epic spells from Saviors of Kamigawa thanks to Dreager_Ex. The Epic spells prevent you from playing spells and give you something during your upkeep like searching your library for an enchantment spell and putting it into play (as detailed on Enduring Ideal). However, with Paradox Haze in play, technically you get to search your library for TWO enchantment cards, in the case of Enduring Ideal. Don't expect this to be the last time you see Paradox Haze in a combo page on MDV.
Did you know...?
To the right and left of this text is something called the MDV Deck Link. You will only find these link buttons on the combo pages. When you click on a MDV Deck Link it will take you to a deck related to the combo where you found it. If the button is to the left of the combo text, this means there is a deck already linked. If the link is to the right, there is a deck found or that is going to be posted. Or it is a combo I am currently looking for a deck using it. Mind you, not all decks links are going to center around that particular combo, although most do. Remember, I strongly encourage you to not copy any deck on MDV, but to use it as a reference or inspiration for your own. Enjoy the combo pages! ~John Streetz~