Doesn't Mikaeus And Walking Ballista Infinite Ping?

Asked by Mtg_Mega_Nerds 2 years ago

If both Mikaeus, the Unhallowed and Walking Ballista are in the graveyard, and I return them both with Victimize, doesn't walking ballista enter with 0 +1/+1 counters? So when it returns to the battlefield with a +1/+1 counter from undying, you can just remove that counter, pinging an opponent for 1, and repeating the process?

Caerwyn says... Accepted answer #1

This will not work with Walking Ballista. You return both to the battlefield. Walking Ballista is a 1/1 (Mikaeus also gives all non-human creatures a static +1/+1 boost) with no counters on it. As such, it will not die to 0 toughness, as it has that +1/+1 static boost.

You would want to use Triskelion to make the combo work. Unlike Ballista, Triskelion enters with 3 +1/+1 counters on it. You can use 2 of those counters to ping your opponent, then remove the 3rd counters to deal one damage to itself, killing it even though it is a 1/1 from Mikaeus' ability. Then it will have no counters on it at the time of death, will return due to Undying, and can be looped infinitely.

September 7, 2021 11:01 a.m.

Rhadamanthus says... #2

Alternatively, if you have another effect that benefits from Walking Ballista repeatedly dying and/or entering the battlefield (e.g. Blood Artist) you can remove the +1/+1 counter to target itself for 1 damage, similar to the last steps of the Triskelion combo.

And to be clear on the Triskelion combo: With Mikaeus' bonus, Triskelion is a 2/2 when it has no counters on it. In each iteration you need to have Triskelion deal itself 2 damage in order to die again.

September 7, 2021 1:31 p.m.

Caerwyn says... #3

To add one additional step to Rhadamanthus's post, you will also need some way to kill the Walking Ballista the first time to engage the loop and kick off the infinite enter the battlefield effects--Ballista will not have any counters when it enters due to Victimize, so it cannot independently kill itself to begin the loop of undying.

September 7, 2021 1:36 p.m.

Neotrup says... #4

I'd also like to point out that Triskelion does need to shoot itself twice, not just once, due to the +1/+1 from Mikaeus, the Unhallowed. While that combo does still work, I've seen a number of players get the combo out, shoot a player twice and Triskelion just once and have it sit there waiting to die to try combing again.

September 8, 2021 5:40 p.m.

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