Infinite
Bloodchief Ascension and Mindcrank
Infinite mill with near-infinite opponent life loss and near-infinite life gain for the Bloodchief Ascension controller.
Required Cards
Setup
- Bloodchief Ascension is on the battlefield with three or more quest counters.
- Mindcrank is on the battlefield.
- You have a way to make an opponent lose life.
- Cards must be put into that opponent's graveyard for Bloodchief Ascension to trigger.
- Replacement-based exile such as Leyline of the Void or Dauthi Voidwalker must not replace the relevant graveyard entry.
No mana after both permanents are on the battlefield and the initial life-loss event happens.
Sequence
- Cause one or more opponents to lose life.
- Mindcrank triggers for each life-loss event and mills that player for that much.
- Bloodchief Ascension triggers for each card put into that player's graveyard.
- Each Bloodchief Ascension trigger makes that player lose 2 life and you gain 2 life.
- Mindcrank sees that life loss and repeats the loop.
Interruption Points
- Remove Bloodchief Ascension before its trigger resolves.
- Remove Mindcrank before the next life-loss event.
- Counter or prevent the initial life-loss event.
- Use graveyard replacement effects carefully, because replacing the graveyard entry can also stop Bloodchief Ascension from triggering.
- Shuffle graveyard cards or replacement effects may change the loop depending on exact card text.
Timing: Bloodchief Ascension must already have three quest counters before the relevant graveyard triggers matter.
Rules notes: Leyline of the Void and Dauthi Voidwalker replace cards going to graveyards, so the Bloodchief trigger may never see those cards enter a graveyard. Planar Void triggers after cards enter graveyards, so it is not the same kind of effect as Leyline of the Void. Umbris is not required for the Bloodchief Ascension plus Mindcrank combo. This combo should be disclosed in the pregame conversation for upper Bracket 3 and above. Umbris counts all opponent-owned cards in exile: Wizards release notes specify that Umbris counts all cards your opponents own in exile, not just cards exiled by Umbris's triggered ability. Replacement exile and Bloodchief conflict: Leyline of the Void and Dauthi Voidwalker replace graveyard entry. If cards never enter the graveyard, Bloodchief Ascension does not trigger from those cards. Planar Void distinction: Planar Void is a triggered exile effect after graveyard entry, so it must be evaluated separately from replacement effects. Kicked Rite of Replication: Rite of Replication is a clone effect unless the deck has enough mana to support the nine-mana kicked line; it is not a deterministic combo by itself.
Last reviewed: Jul 18, 2026
