Still on the Theros: Beyond Death spoiler ride so let’s combine one of the new cards with a classic combo; Mesmeric Orb and Basalt Monolith.
- Devourer of Memory, Mesmeric Orb, and Basalt Monolith on board.
- Tap Basalt Monolith for 3 mana, then use the 3 mana to untap it.
- Mesmeric Orb triggers, put the top card of your library into your graveyard.
- Devourer of Memory trigger, gain +1/+1 until end of turn and it can’t be blocked this turn.
- Attack with Devourer of Memory and then repeat until it’s big enough to kill an opponent.
The can’t be blocked function makes this self mill nightmare an effective piece to one shot an opponent but the combo has been used with other pieces. Basalt Monolith itself can combo with a similar card to Devourer of Memory, Wake Thrasher. It triggers on untap so by tapping and untapping Basalt Monolith you can create an infinitely large Wake Thrasher though it can still be blocked.
Besides that the Mesmeric Orb combo allows you to mill your deck out perhaps for the win from Jace, Wielder of Mysteries or Laboratory Maniac. While Jace, Wielder of Mysteries can use their +1 to Thought Scour and win on the spot using Laboratory Maniac gives you an easier target to reanimate after milling yourself out via things like Dread Return or Sevinne’s Reclamation.
It’s a combo that fits in The Mimeoplasm, Sidisi, Brood Tyrant, Lazav, the Multifarious, Karador, Ghost Chieftain, and many other graveyard strategy decks. Mesmeric Orb can also be a win condition or at least disruption by having your opponents possibly lose pieces they did not want in the graveyard. A nice Leyline of the Void or Rest in Peace make things even worse for them and prevents things that would shuffle their graveyard back into their deck like Kozilek, Butcher of Truth. I’m thinking of just using this combo to dig until only having Nexus of Fate in your deck and a win condition on board. Anyways better stop now this can go on for awhile. Have you played this combo before? Comments? Questions? Let me know.
