Introduction: Feeding Frenzy in the Multiverse
Imagine a scenario: your opponent, smug with their seemingly impenetrable board state, confidently declares their attack. They are sure of victory. But then, a subtle shift. A glint in your eye. You tap into your mana pool, and lay down a card: Food Chain. Suddenly, the tables turn. A never-ending cycle of creatures emerges from exile, fueled by this insatiable enchantment. Your opponent’s confidence crumbles as they realize they are about to be devoured by the Food Chain combo.
What exactly is Food Chain? In the sprawling universe of Magic: The Gathering (MTG), Food Chain is an enchantment card that allows you to exile creatures you control to generate mana of any one color. This mana, however, has a unique restriction: it can only be used to cast creature spells. This constraint might seem limiting at first, but clever players have discovered ways to exploit Food Chain to create potent, game-winning combos.
The essence of the Food Chain combo lies in its ability to generate infinite mana and cast infinite creatures. By repeatedly exiling creatures and recasting them using the mana generated, you can create a loop that ultimately leads to victory. The allure of this combo is undeniable. It’s a powerful engine capable of turning the tide of battle in an instant. Food Chain combos thrive particularly well in formats like Commander, where longer games and larger life totals make setting up complex strategies like this viable. You might also find it lurking within the competitive environment of Legacy, in specifically tuned archetypes.
This article will dive deep into the heart of the Food Chain combo. We will explore its essential components, dissect various variations, and equip you with the knowledge to wield this potent weapon effectively. We’ll also look at its weaknesses and teach you how to defend yourself if you find yourself on the receiving end of this voracious engine.
Core Components: The Recipe for Consumption
At the heart of every Food Chain combo lies the enchantment card itself, simply named Food Chain. This card’s ability text is straightforward, yet powerful. It states: “Exile a creature you control: Add to your mana pool one mana of any color that creature’s colors are. Spend this mana only to cast creature spells.” This seemingly simple ability unlocks a world of possibilities. For example, exiling a green creature with Food Chain nets you one green mana. Exiling a multicolored creature nets you one mana of any of the colors present on that card.
However, Food Chain’s power is not unlocked on its own. You also need the right creatures that act as the engine of the combo, fueling the never ending cycle. These creatures are the linchpin of the strategy, allowing you to repeatedly generate more mana than their casting cost when exiled with Food Chain. This is where the magic truly happens.
Consider, for example, Squee, the Immortal. This legendary creature can be cast from your graveyard at any time. While Squee doesn’t directly generate *more* mana than his casting cost when exiled with Food Chain, he is vital to the loop. The loop here is not about creating infinite mana directly, but about the ability to repeatedly cast Squee from the graveyard, which in some deck builds is more than enough value to create an overwhelming advantage and win.
Another prime example is Misthollow Griffin or Eternal Scourge. These creatures share the unique ability to be cast from exile. This means that after exiling them with Food Chain, you can use the generated mana to cast them again from exile, creating a loop that generates more mana with each iteration.
To truly understand the power of the Food Chain combo, let’s break down the loop step-by-step:
- You have Food Chain in play.
- You cast Misthollow Griffin from your hand for four mana.
- You exile Misthollow Griffin with Food Chain, adding four mana of any one color to your mana pool.
- You use four mana to cast Misthollow Griffin from exile.
- Repeat steps three and four to generate an unbounded amount of mana.
Variations: Different Flavors of Domination
The Food Chain combo isn’t a monolithic entity. It comes in various flavors, each with its own unique win conditions and strategic nuances. The most common application involves using the generated mana to unleash game-ending spells.
Many commander decks utilize the mana to cast their commanders, which can lead to game winning plays. For example, Prossh, Skyraider of Kher, a popular commander choice, can be repeatedly cast with the infinite mana generated. Each time it enters the battlefield, it creates a swarm of Kobold tokens, rapidly increasing your board presence. Prossh can also sacrifice the Kobolds to deal direct damage, ending the game swiftly.
If your commander does not provide an immediate win condition, you can incorporate specific cards in your deck that can do the job. X-cost spells like Torment of Hailfire or Walking Ballista are excellent choices. With infinite mana at your disposal, you can cast these spells for an arbitrarily large value of X, dealing massive damage or draining your opponents’ life totals.
Beyond infinite mana, Food Chain can also be used to cast infinite creatures. This is another method for obtaining victory. This strategy often involves overwhelming your opponent with a tidal wave of creatures. In certain situations, the sheer volume of creatures can win the game by combat alone.
Another way to use this strategy is with creatures that have powerful Enter the Battlefield (ETB) abilities. Each time these creatures enter the battlefield, they trigger a beneficial effect, such as dealing damage, drawing cards, or gaining life. By repeatedly casting these creatures, you can quickly overwhelm your opponents with these effects.
Strengths: An Unstoppable Feast
The Food Chain combo boasts a number of strengths that make it a formidable strategy. The potential for explosive wins is one of its most appealing attributes. With the right components in place, the combo can be assembled quickly and lead to a swift and decisive victory.
Depending on the specific build, Food Chain decks can be surprisingly resilient. Some variants incorporate redundant combo pieces, making them less vulnerable to individual removal spells.
One of the things that makes the Food Chain so appealing is its versatility. Food Chain can be adapted to a wide range of color combinations and play styles. This allows you to tailor the combo to your personal preferences and the specific meta you are facing.
Weaknesses: Every Chain Has a Weak Link
Despite its immense power, the Food Chain combo is not without its weaknesses. The enchantment card itself, Food Chain, is a prime target for enchantment removal spells. If your opponent can destroy Food Chain before you can execute your combo, your strategy crumbles.
Furthermore, your engine creatures are also vulnerable. Targeted removal spells can disrupt the loop and prevent you from generating infinite mana. If you are relying on Squee, the Immortal, your strategy is weakened against graveyard hate, because it will limit your ability to recast it.
Finally, stax or control decks can be troublesome opponents. These decks excel at slowing down the game and preventing you from casting spells. If they can keep you from assembling your combo, they can effectively neutralize your threat. Food Chain’s need for creature mana is also something to keep in mind.
Playing Against Food Chain: Breaking the Cycle
Facing down a Food Chain deck can be intimidating, but there are several strategies you can employ to disrupt their plans.
The most straightforward approach is to target Food Chain with removal spells. Removing the enchantment before the combo is assembled can completely shut down their strategy.
If you can’t remove Food Chain itself, you can target the engine creatures. Disrupting the loop by removing a key creature can prevent them from generating infinite mana. If facing the Squee engine, use graveyard hate cards to exile Squee.
Counterspells are also effective against key combo pieces. Countering Food Chain or a critical payoff spell can prevent them from executing their game plan.
Decks designed to slow down the game or prevent spell casting are effective. These decks can buy you time to find answers or overwhelm them with your own threats.
Hand disruption can also be used to strip away key combo pieces from their hand. This can disrupt their plans and buy you valuable time.
Tips and Tricks: Mastering the Hunger
Proper sequencing is critical when assembling the Food Chain combo. Make sure you have all the necessary components in place before attempting to execute the loop. Careful management of your mana is also essential. Ensure you have enough mana to cast your engine creatures and execute your win condition. Consider playing cards to protect Food Chain and your engine creatures from disruption.
Finally, learn to assess the risks and rewards of attempting the combo. Consider the board state, your opponent’s potential answers, and your overall chances of success before committing to the strategy.
Conclusion: A Legacy of Hunger
The Food Chain combo remains a potent and influential strategy in Magic: The Gathering. Its ability to generate infinite mana and cast infinite creatures makes it a game-winning engine that continues to captivate players. Food Chain has carved out its place in MTG history, solidifying its place across many playstyles.
From Commander tables to Legacy tournaments, Food Chain continues to leave its mark. This versatile and explosive combo is a force to be reckoned with, a testament to the creative possibilities within the world of Magic. Take the knowledge you have gained today, experiment with the Food Chain combo, explore its different variations, and discover the power of this ever-hungry engine for yourself. You might just find yourself devouring your opponents in a feeding frenzy of your own making.
