Giada and Altar of Dementia are on the battlefield.
Twilight Shepherd is on the battlefield and has no -1/-1 counter.
Giada's replacement effect applies as Twilight Shepherd returns.
No mana is required once the battlefield is assembled.
Sequence
Sacrifice Twilight Shepherd to Altar of Dementia.
Persist returns Twilight Shepherd with a -1/-1 counter.
Giada makes Twilight Shepherd enter with at least one +1/+1 counter because Giada is already an Angel you control.
State-based actions remove one +1/+1 counter and one -1/-1 counter.
Repeat the sacrifice and persist sequence.
Interruption Points
Remove Giada before Twilight Shepherd returns.
Exile Twilight Shepherd from the graveyard before persist resolves.
Remove or disable Altar of Dementia.
Stop +1/+1 counters or -1/-1 counter cancellation with a relevant hate card.
Giada, Font of Hope role: Giada supplies the +1/+1 counter that cancels Twilight Shepherd's persist counter.
Timing: The loop uses battlefield sacrifice and persist timing.
Rules notes: This is the mono-white-legal Commander Spellbook record 1681-4140-5256. The Altar of Dementia line can win by milling opponents if enough legal targets remain. Viscera Seer variants are rejected because black color identity is illegal in Giada Commander. Giada rule 1: Giada counts Angels already controlled, including herself, but not the Angel that is entering. Giada rule 2: Giada's counter effect is a replacement effect and does not use the stack. Giada rule 3: Giada does not put counters on herself as she enters. Giada rule 4: Angels entering at the same time do not count one another as Angels already controlled. Giada rule 5: Angel tokens and changelings qualify if they are Angels as they enter. Giada rule 6: Giada's mana can be spent only to cast Angel spells. Giada rule 7: In persist loops, Giada's +1/+1 counter and persist's -1/-1 counter cancel as a state-based action. Giada rule 8: Bounce removes counters, while sweepers and commander removal reset the board Giada is trying to scale. Giada rule 9: Graveyard hate, exile removal, and counter-denial effects can interrupt the Twilight Shepherd persist lines.
Last reviewed: Jul 20, 2026
Infinite
Giada, Twilight Shepherd, and Phyrexian Altar loop
Verified
Infinite colored mana plus infinite enters-the-battlefield, leaves-the-battlefield, death, and sacrifice events. A payoff is required unless the deck can use the mana or triggers to win.
Twilight Shepherd is on the battlefield and has no -1/-1 counter.
The deck has a payoff or a way to use the mana and repeated triggers.
No mana is required once the battlefield is assembled.
Sequence
Sacrifice Twilight Shepherd to Phyrexian Altar for one mana of any color.
Persist returns Twilight Shepherd with a -1/-1 counter.
Giada makes Twilight Shepherd enter with at least one +1/+1 counter.
State-based actions remove one +1/+1 counter and one -1/-1 counter.
Repeat to generate mana and triggers.
Interruption Points
Remove Giada before Twilight Shepherd returns.
Exile Twilight Shepherd from the graveyard before persist resolves.
Remove or disable Phyrexian Altar.
Use counter-denial, graveyard hate, or instant-speed removal before the loop repeats.
Giada, Font of Hope role: Giada supplies the +1/+1 counter that cancels Twilight Shepherd's persist counter.
Timing: The loop uses battlefield sacrifice and persist timing.
Rules notes: This is the mono-white-legal Commander Spellbook record 1681-4050-4140. Phyrexian Altar makes mana, but a separate payoff is needed if the mana alone does not end the game. Phantom Train variants require separate review and are not collapsed into this record. Giada rule 1: Giada counts Angels already controlled, including herself, but not the Angel that is entering. Giada rule 2: Giada's counter effect is a replacement effect and does not use the stack. Giada rule 3: Giada does not put counters on herself as she enters. Giada rule 4: Angels entering at the same time do not count one another as Angels already controlled. Giada rule 5: Angel tokens and changelings qualify if they are Angels as they enter. Giada rule 6: Giada's mana can be spent only to cast Angel spells. Giada rule 7: In persist loops, Giada's +1/+1 counter and persist's -1/-1 counter cancel as a state-based action. Giada rule 8: Bounce removes counters, while sweepers and commander removal reset the board Giada is trying to scale. Giada rule 9: Graveyard hate, exile removal, and counter-denial effects can interrupt the Twilight Shepherd persist lines.
Last reviewed: Jul 20, 2026
Card Intelligence
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A verified combo explains a gameplay relationship. It does not prove that the combo is causing current price or inventory movement. Compare exact printing, condition, finish, seller depth, marketplace agreement, and Pricing Confidence separately.
