Introduction
Tired of playing fair in Magic: The Gathering? Ever dreamt of generating seemingly endless mana with a single, unassuming card? The Food Chain combo is a fascinating puzzle for kitchen table players and a potent strategy in formats like Commander. It’s a method of converting creatures into a cascade of mana, leading to game-winning scenarios. In this guide, we’ll delve deep into the heart of the Food Chain combo, examining its fundamental mechanics, the creatures that fuel its engine, the methods of achieving victory, and its strengths and weaknesses within the diverse landscape of Magic: The Gathering. This article aims to offer a comprehensive understanding of the Food Chain combo, encompassing its core components, adaptable variations, and its standing in various competitive and casual formats.
The Core Mechanics: How Food Chain Works
Food Chain is an enchantment with a seemingly simple ability: you can exile a non-Humanoid creature you control, and add mana of any one color equal to that creature’s mana cost to your mana pool. The mana produced can only be used to cast creature spells. While this might seem like a limitation at first glance, this mana restriction is what unlocks the true potential of Food Chain and allows for explosive turns.
Essentially, Food Chain lets you exchange a creature you have on the battlefield for mana. This exchange comes at the cost of card advantage and board presence, since you’re sacrificing a permanent to gain mana. However, the crux of the combo lies in leveraging this ability to generate *more* mana than the initial creature cost to cast.
The core loop centers around the “exile and recast” strategy. You exile a creature with Food Chain, receiving mana in return, and then use that mana to cast another creature that generates a larger quantity of mana when exiled. This process is repeated, generating an ever-increasing mana pool.
The critical ingredient for creating this infinite mana engine lies in the presence of creatures that generate more mana than they cost when cast with Food Chain’s restriction. These creatures are the fuel that propels the entire combo forward. Without a reliable source of positive mana generation, the Food Chain will only lead to an empty board.
The All-Stars: Key Creatures and Partners
One creature particularly well-suited for this purpose is Prossh, Skyraider of Kher. Prossh is a commander option that synergizes spectacularly with Food Chain. Prossh’s ability creates a multitude of Kobold tokens upon entering the battlefield, the number of which is dependent on the mana spent to cast him.
The synergy arises from the Kobolds that Prossh creates. You can exile the Kobolds using Food Chain to generate mana to cast Prossh again. As you continue to cast Prossh with mana generated by the Kobolds, the number of Kobolds increases as well.
However, the most reliable engine in the Food Chain arsenal is Squee, the Immortal. Squee’s unique ability allows him to be cast from exile, making him the linchpin of many Food Chain combo decks.
Let’s consider the math: You exile Squee, the Immortal, for three mana of any color. You can then use the three mana generated to recast Squee from exile. This creates infinite creature mana of any color since Squee’s casting cost is the same as the mana produced when he is exiled. This is the most common and reliable way to generate infinite mana using the Food Chain.
Eternal Scourge shares a similar ability to Squee, granting it the ability to be cast from exile and generating infinite mana when used with the Food Chain.
Outside of these main creatures, there are other creatures that can work with Food Chain, but they might require specific conditions or support. For example, Misthollow Griffin functions similarly to Squee and Eternal Scourge because it can also be cast from exile. But many alternative creatures that may only function if you can repeatedly return them to your hand.
Winning the Game: Payoffs and Win Conditions
Having infinite mana and the ability to continuously cast creatures is powerful. However, it isn’t the same as winning. You need a way to translate that advantage into a decisive victory. This can be achieved through a variety of methods, each leveraging the infinite resources generated by the Food Chain combo.
One common method to win is by utilizing creatures with powerful “enters the battlefield” (ETB) or “leaves the battlefield” (LTB) triggers. Because you can recast creatures an infinite number of times using Food Chain, you can trigger these abilities repeatedly to devastating effect. Creatures like Grave Titan or Blood Artist can generate value and win you the game with this win condition.
Another method is through overwhelming combat damage. When you have access to infinite creature mana, you can cast a large creature with a high power and trample to deal lethal combat damage.
Alternatively, you can use your mana to pay for direct damage spells and abilities that can deal infinite damage to your opponent. In this scenario, infinite mana can be converted into a stream of damage that overwhelms your opponent.
Variations and Synergies
The Food Chain combo exists across different formats within Magic: The Gathering, including Legacy and Commander. While the core mechanics remain the same, the specific card choices and deck archetypes can vary significantly.
In the Commander format, Food Chain is often utilized in decks built around specific commanders who naturally synergize with the combo. One particular example is that the Food Chain is often used to synergize with commanders such as Prossh, Skyraider of Kher.
Besides the creatures that are essential to the Food Chain combo, there are several other cards that can significantly enhance its effectiveness. Tutors allow players to fetch Food Chain from their library, increasing consistency. Counterspells and creatures with hexproof provide protection, shielding the combo from disruption. Mana doublers amplify the mana generated by Food Chain, accelerating the combo’s progression.
Strengths and Weaknesses of the Food Chain Combo
The Food Chain combo is a powerful tool, but it’s not without its drawbacks. Understanding both its strengths and weaknesses is crucial for playing it effectively and for knowing how to play against it.
One of the main strengths of the Food Chain combo is its potential speed. With a favorable starting hand and a bit of luck, it can win games in the early turns, catching opponents off guard. Certain versions can be difficult to disrupt due to a combination of redundancy and protection spells.
However, the Food Chain combo is also susceptible to disruption. Opponents can use exile removal spells to eliminate key combo pieces, preventing the infinite mana engine from firing. Counterspells can disrupt the casting of Food Chain or essential creatures, stalling the combo. Even creature removal can be effective against certain variations of the combo. The combo often requires the use of multiple colors of mana.
Tips and Tricks for Playing the Food Chain Combo
When playing the Food Chain combo, careful mulliganing is essential. Look for a hand with a reasonable mana base, one or more key combo pieces (Food Chain itself, Squee, Eternal Scourge, or a suitable commander), and possibly a tutor.
The order in which you play your cards can make a significant difference. Prioritize setting up your mana base and protecting your key combo pieces. When deciding whether to go for the combo, assess the risks and rewards. If your opponent has a lot of mana open or known disruption, it might be best to wait for a better opportunity.
Be aware of the common tactics opponents use to stop the Food Chain combo. Learn how to play around removal spells, counterspells, and other forms of disruption. This might involve holding back key cards, baiting out removal, or using counterspells of your own to protect your combo.
Conclusion
The Food Chain combo is a captivating strategy that rewards careful planning, precise execution, and a deep understanding of Magic: The Gathering’s mechanics. While it has certain weaknesses, its raw power and flexibility make it a force to be reckoned with in various formats. As you explore the Food Chain combo, I hope that you will try different variations and adaptions. The Food Chain combo will continue to hold a lasting presence in the realm of MTG strategy.
