<p>Activating the <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4610">Grindstone</a> when you have a <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=146022&amp;type=card">Painter's Servant</a> in play will mill an opponent's entire library in a single shot. The scarecrow turns all cards that aren't in play a single shared color; the Grindstone mills two cards from your opponent — and if those cards share at least one color, it recurs.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-21T05:30:48.177Z
This answer would be more complete if you offer one or many ways to get 3 mana on turn one.
Sparr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2017-01-24T07:53:45.987Z
@Sparr Three is not enough, you would need another three to activate the Grindstone's ability. So, two Black Loti FTW!
M.Herzkamp
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-06T14:28:00.063Z
My first thought too.
AndSoYouCode
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-06T19:22:45.967Z
That's disgusting.
JSBձոգչ
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-06T12:51:15.030Z
2011-12-06T12:59:13.157Z
2011-12-06T12:59:13.157Z
Jadasc
<p>To cite a famous example, this is actually how the <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bTolarian%20Academy%5d">Tolarian Academy</a> decks of Urza-block standard and extended worked. Here's a <a href="http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/bb45" rel="nofollow noreferrer">sample decklist</a>, played by Tommi Hovi to win PT Rome (the first major tournament at which this sort of deck was legal):</p>

<ul>
<li>4  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4636" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ancient Tomb</a></li>
<li>3  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=220963" rel="nofollow noreferrer">City of Brass</a></li>
<li>4  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=8883" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tolarian Academy</a></li>
<li>4  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202424" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tundra</a></li>
<li><p>4  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202442" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Volcanic Island</a></p></li>
<li><p>3  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4563" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Abeyance</a></p></li>
<li>3  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4707" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Intuition</a></li>
<li>4  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4614" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lotus Petal</a></li>
<li>4  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202538" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mana Vault</a></li>
<li>3  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=6076" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mind over Matter</a></li>
<li>4  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5193" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mox Diamond</a></li>
<li>3  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=26658" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Power Sink</a> </li>
<li>2  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4628" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Scroll Rack</a> </li>
<li>4  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5677" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Stroke of Genius</a> </li>
<li>4  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=10423" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Time Spiral</a> </li>
<li>3  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5547" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Voltaic Key</a> </li>
<li>4  <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=7168" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Windfall</a> </li>
</ul>

<p>This deck can easily put together a first-turn win, and all it needs is an above-average number of Lotus Petals and Mox Diamonds, which while unlikely, did happen often enough to get about a quarter of this deck banned. Here's a (hopefully somewhat realistic) example turn:</p>

<ol>
<li><p>Opening hand:<br>
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=8883" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tolarian Academy</a>,
2x <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4614" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lotus Petal</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5193" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mox Diamond</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5547" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Voltaic Key</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202424" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tundra</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=7168" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Windfall</a></p></li>
<li><p>Play <strong>Lotus Petal</strong> #1 and <strong>Lotus Petal</strong> #2</p></li>
<li>Play <strong>Mox Diamond</strong>, discarding Tundra</li>
<li>Play <strong>Tolarian Academy</strong></li>
<li>Tap Mox Diamond to play <strong>Voltaic Key</strong></li>
<li><p>Tap Tolarian Academy to play <strong>Windfall</strong>. ({U} floating) Draw 7 cards:<br>
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4614" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lotus Petal</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=26658" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Power Sink</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202538" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mana Vault</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4707" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Intuition</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5547" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Voltaic Key</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202442" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Volcanic Island</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5677" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Stroke of Genius</a></p></li>
<li><p>Play <strong>Lotus Petal</strong> #3 ({U} floating)</p></li>
<li>Play <strong>Mana Vault</strong></li>
<li>Tap Mana Vault for 3 colorless mana ({C}{C}{C} floating)</li>
<li>Use Voltaic Key to untap Mana Vault ({C}{C} floating)</li>
<li>Tap Mana Vault again for 3 more colorless mana ({C}{C}{C}{C}{C} floating)</li>
<li>Play <strong>Voltaic Key</strong> #2 ({C}{C}{C}{C} floating)</li>
<li>Use Voltaic Key #2 to untap Mana Vault ({C}{C}{C} floating)</li>
<li>Tap Mana Vault again for 3 more colorless mana ({C}{C}{C}{C}{C}{C} floating)</li>
<li><p>Sacrifice Lotus Petal #1 to play <strong>Stroke of Genius</strong> (X=4). Draw 4 cards:<br>
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=7168" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Windfall</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5193" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mox Diamond</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202538" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mana Vault</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4628" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Scroll Rack</a></p></li>
<li><p>Play <strong>Mox Diamond</strong> #2, discarding Volcanic Island</p></li>
<li>Tap Mox Diamond #2 to play <strong>Mana Vault</strong> #2</li>
<li><p>Tap Mana Vault #2 and sacrifice Lotus Petal #2 to play <strong>Windfall</strong>. (C floating) Draw 7 cards:<br>
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4563" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Abeyance</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=6076" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mind over Matter</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=220963" rel="nofollow noreferrer">City of Brass</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5193" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mox Diamond</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=10423" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Time Spiral</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202538" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mana Vault</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5547" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Voltaic Key</a></p></li>
<li><p>Play <strong>Mana Vault</strong> #3</p></li>
<li>Play <strong>Mox Diamond</strong> #3, discarding City of Brass</li>
<li>Tap Mana Vault #3 to play <strong>Voltaic Key</strong> #3 ({C}{C} floating)</li>
<li>Use Voltaic Key #3 to untap Mana Vault #3 ({C} floating)</li>
<li>Tap Mox Diamond #3 and Mana Vault #3, and sacrifice Lotus Petal #3, to play <strong>Time Spiral</strong>. Draw 7 cards:<br>
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4563" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Abeyance</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4707" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Intuition</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202424" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tundra</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=10423" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Time Spiral</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=7168" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Windfall</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=8883" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tolarian Academy</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=220963" rel="nofollow noreferrer">City of Brass</a><br>
Untap Tolarian Academy.</li>
<li>Tap Tolarian Academy to play <strong>Intuition</strong>. ({U}{U}{U}{U}{U}{U} floating) Search for Mind Over Matter.</li>
<li>Play <strong>Mind Over Matter</strong>.</li>
<li>Use Mind Over Matter, discarding City of Brass, to untap Tolarian Academy.</li>
<li>Tap Tolarian Academy for 9 blue mana. ({U}{U}{U}{U}{U}{U}{U}{U}{U} floating)</li>
<li>Repeat the last two steps four more times, discarding Abeyance, Tundra, Tolarian Academy, and Time Spiral. (45x{U} floating)</li>
<li>Play <strong>Windfall</strong>. (42x{U} floating) Draw 7 cards:<br>
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4636" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Ancient Tomb</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4614" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Lotus Petal</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=26658" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Power Sink</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4628" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Scroll Rack</a>,
<a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5677" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Stroke of Genius</a>,
2x <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202442" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Volcanic Island</a></li>
<li>Repeat steps 26-27 six times, discarding everything but Stroke of Genius (96x{U} floating)</li>
<li>Play <strong>Stroke of Genius</strong> (X=93) on your opponent, making him/her draw 93 cards.</li>
</ol>

<p><sup>Mana symbols should render as images using <a href="https://boardgames.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1245/board-games-se-mana-symbols-a-userscript-for-auto-conversion-of-mana-symbols-to">this userscript</a>.</sup></p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-06T23:25:46.233Z
I like that you use the most expensive lands in existence purely as discard fodder. I realize it's a competitive deck without perfect luck, but in the stacked deck case it's pretty funny.
Gregor Thomas
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-17T21:49:44.797Z
'Most expensive lands in existence'?  I suppose in their Beta versions, but I can get my hands on a Tundra much more cheaply than I can a Mishra's Workshop, Bazaar of Baghdad, or even Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale, and Karakas (an uncommon!) is getting close...
Steven Stadnicki
CC BY-SA 4.0
2011-12-06T00:26:49.460Z
2019-05-12T16:27:50.420Z
2019-05-12T16:27:50.420Z
David Z
<p>With perfect draws, you can <strong>win on the first upkeep of each game</strong>. Basically take any first-turn-kill deck, add <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bLeyline%20of%20Anticipation%5d">Leyline of Anticipation</a> to allow you to play everything at instant speed, add a card that will force your opponent to draw on the spot, and use non-lands for your mana.</p>

<p>Let's go with <a href="https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/a/5638">the Helm plan</a> since it's a two-card combo and blanks cards like Emrakul.</p>

<p>Here's an example that can kill your opponent before they even get a single draw step, taking advantage of the entire MTG card pool (Vintage-legal):</p>

<p>Starting hand: <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bLeyline%20of%20Anticipation%5d">Leyline of Anticipation</a>, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bLeyline%20of%20the%20Void%5d">Leyline of the Void</a>, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bBlack%20Lotus%5d">Black Lotus</a>, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bDark%20Ritual%5d">Dark Ritual</a>, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bHelm%20of%20Obedience%5d">Helm of Obedience</a>, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bAncestral%20Recall%5d">Ancestral Recall</a>, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMox%20Sapphire%5d">Mox Sapphire</a>.</p>

<p>Before the first turn:</p>

<ul>
<li>Put both your Leylines into play (5 cards in hand).</li>
</ul>

<p>On the first upkeep (either player's turn):</p>

<ul>
<li>Cast Black Lotus, sac it for black mana (4 cards in hand, BBB in your mana pool).</li>
<li>Cast Dark Ritual (3 cards in hand, BBBBB in your mana pool).</li>
<li>Cast Helm of Obedience (2 cards in hand, B in your mana pool).</li>
<li>Activate the Helm with X=1, which will exile your opponent's entire library (2 card in hand).</li>
<li>Cast and activate Mox Sapphire (1 card in hand, U in your mana pool).</li>
<li>Cast Ancestral Recall to force your opponent to draw cards, which will win you the game (0 cards in hand).</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-19T13:07:18.910Z
2019-05-12T16:29:22.993Z
2019-05-12T16:29:22.993Z
Alex P
<p>If you can play any Vintage-legal card and have perfect control over your draws, you can always execute a turn-1 storm combo win off of <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=47599" rel="nofollow">Brain Freeze</a>.</p>

<p>90% of the deck would be the same cards that make up <a href="http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/vintage/12009_The_Fastest_Deck_Ever_By_Far_Meandeck_Tendrils_Revisited.html" rel="nofollow">Vintage Tendrils combo decks</a>.</p>

<p><em>Without</em> the "perfect draw" assumption, storm combo's probably the strongest first-turn kill deck just because most of the cards are nearly interchangeable. You can get unlucky with too much "draw a card" and not enough "make some mana" or vice versa, but it's more consistent than trying to assemble a classic multi-part combo.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-06T14:34:01.807Z
This is probably the way to go if you want the most effective deck.
AndSoYouCode
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-05T21:01:24.333Z
2014-12-31T06:58:20.753Z
2014-12-31T06:58:20.753Z
Alex P
<p><a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mindcrank">Mindcrank</a>, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Duskmantle%20Guildmage">Duskmantle Guildmage</a> and any card that will force opponent to mill at least one card will start an infinite combo loop. They will mill cards and lose life until they run out of cards or lives.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-27T03:30:49.577Z
2013-06-27T21:30:50.167Z
2013-06-27T21:30:50.167Z
KSutter82
<p>Play <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ghost%20Quarter">Ghost Quarter</a>. Opponent plays a land. Tap Ghost quarter to destroy the land they just played. They search for a land and put it into play. You drop 4 <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Archive%20Trap">Archive Trap</a>s on them for 52 cards.  If they are running 60 cards, that would be their entire deck.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-21T15:13:06.593Z
If you did this once in a tournament then every future opponent would know not to search for a land after you used Ghost Quarter on them. So, a one turn win, but only once, so not nearly as good as other answers.
Sparr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-27T07:52:13.437Z
@Sparr is having ghost quarter play as strip mine (in modern no less) really that bad? this concept of deck is reasonably viable in modern, i suggested it in an answer to a similar question
Patters
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-27T18:21:22.473Z
@Rawrgramming oh, it's surely only slightly less viable due to my objection, but we are already talking about unbelievable odds (you need 5 specific cards in your opening hand for this one), so the difference is notable.
Sparr
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-28T07:52:35.483Z
@Sparr true enough, in terms of turn 1 mill this isnt the avenue to take. in terms of actual viable mill deck for playing in tournaments (at least, in modern), ghost quarter/archive trap is giving your opponent a choice between 2 effects that are very bad for them. A real deck doesnt just play a combo and lands, and this fits in well with a deck that has a mill kill and a general controlling playstyle.
Patters
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-04-19T23:10:32.430Z
2013-04-19T23:51:48.890Z
2013-04-19T23:51:48.890Z
Charles Cannon
<p>Is it cheating to use three-turn infinite mana combo?</p>
<h2>Opening hand:</h2>
<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/9AqZf.jpg" alt="Paradise Mantle" />
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/h4e90.jpg" alt="Forest" />
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/kJGz3.jpg" alt="Elvish Pioneer" />
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/FnpdO.jpg" alt="Island" />
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/MHqm8.jpg" alt="Pili-Pala" />
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/W3Kdr.jpg" alt="Heartstone" /></p>
<h2>+ One of these:</h2>
<p><img src="https://i.sstatic.net/jNoU6.jpg" alt="Blue Sun's Zenith" />
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/py2Ly.jpg" alt="Psychic Drain" />
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/96n64.jpg" alt="Braingeyser" />
<img src="https://i.sstatic.net/esCaM.jpg" alt="Stroke of Genius" /></p>
<ol>
<li>Turn 1: Play Forest, Paradise Mantle, Elvish Pioneer, Island</li>
<li>Turn 2: Draw another land, Play land, Pili-Pala, Equip Paradise Mantle</li>
<li>Turn 3: Draw something. Play Heartstone, tap Pili-Pala for [U], Pay [U] to Untap it for [U], repeat (target player's library size + 4) times, (make sure to add a black mana in the cycle if you use Psychic Drain.) Play Psychic Drain, Blue Sun's Zenith, Braingeyser, Stroke of Genius, or whatever other spell that does the trick. Boom.</li>
</ol>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-05T21:01:56.577Z
It's not cheating, since the "rules" didn't specify against it. However, non-infinite-mana combos are what I was hoping to get. I do like the solution, however, and infinite mana combos are always fun to use.
cdeszaq
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-04-18T00:28:49.857Z
I'd take out green entirely, along with the Heartstone and Paradise Mantle, and just use Grand Architect.
Stephen Belanger
CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-09-30T14:17:03.610Z
Pili-Pala doesn't have haste either, so this mill deck would require 2 turns to pull off.
user1873
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-05T20:54:26.920Z
2011-12-05T20:59:54.833Z
2020-06-17T09:01:24.697Z
ghoppe
<p>No infinite combos, (mostly) red deck, almost 600 cards milled on first turn. But I took you at your word and allowed myself 4 copies of Power 5 cards.</p>

<p>Deck List:</p>

<ul>
<li>4 <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=205271" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Sorcery: Untap all creatures that attacked this turn. After this main phase, there is an additional combat phase followed by an additional main phase.">Relentless Assault</a></li>
<li>1 <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=80250" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Instant — Arcane, You may put a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield. That creature gains haste. Sacrifice that creature at the beginning of the next end step.">Through The Breach</a></li>
<li>1 <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=83076" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Enrage</a></li>
<li><p>4 <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202558" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Wheel of Fortune</a></p></li>
<li><p>1 <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=247390" rel="nofollow noreferrer" title="Legendary Creature — Vampire, 5/5, Flying If Szadek, Lord of Secrets would deal combat  damage to a player, instead put that many +1/+1 counters on Szadek and that player puts that many cards from the top of his or her library into his or her graveyard.">Szadek, Lord of Secrets</a></p></li>
<li><p>4 <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bBlack%20Lotus%5d">Black Lotus</a></p></li>
<li>4 <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bLotus%20Petal%5d">Lotus Petal</a></li>
<li>4 <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMox%20Ruby%5d">Mox Ruby</a></li>
<li>4 <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMox%20Diamond%5d">Mox Diamond</a></li>
<li>1 <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=8883" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Tolarian Academy</a></li>
<li>4 Mountain</li>
</ul>

<p>Opening hand: 3 Mox Ruby, 1 Mox Diamond (discard Mountain), Black Lotus, Wheel of Fortune. Play all, tapping 3 Moxes.</p>

<p>Mill count: 7</p>

<p>Draw 7: Mox Ruby, 2 Mox Diamond (discard 2 Mountains), Black Lotus, Wheel of Fortune, play all, tapping 3 Moxes.</p>

<p>Mill count: 14</p>

<p>Draw 7: 1 Mox Diamond (discard Mountain), 2 x Black Lotus, 2 x Lotus Petal, Wheel of Fortune, play all tap last 2 Moxes and sac 1 Lotus Petal.</p>

<p>Mill count: 21</p>

<p>Draw 7: 3x Lotus Petal, Tolarian Academy, tap out, Through the Breach -> Szadek, Wheel of Fortune.</p>

<p>Mill count: 28, 15U, 15R floating</p>

<p>Draw 7: Enrage -> Szadek +13/+0 = 18/5. Attack!</p>

<p>Mill count: 46, 2U 14R floating, Szadek 36/5</p>

<p>Relentless Assault (1) Attack! MC 82, Szadek 72/5</p>

<p>Relentless Assault (2) Attack! MC 154, Szadek 144/5</p>

<p>Relentlass Assault (3) Attack! MC 298, Szadek 288/5</p>

<p>Relentless Assault (4) Attack! MC 586, Szadek 576/5</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2011-12-06T10:49:10.743Z
2019-05-12T16:27:57.777Z
2019-05-12T16:27:57.777Z
Gregor Thomas
<p>I've always done four <a href="https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=383313" rel="nofollow noreferrer">Mind Sculpt</a>s plus four <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bArchaeomancer%5d">Archaeomancer</a>s, plus four <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bCurse%20of%20the%20Bloody%20Tome%5d">Curse of the Bloody Tome</a>. So every upkeep they'd mill 8, and then if you play all the Archaeomancers and Mind Sculpts, that's mill 56.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2012-10-16T13:56:32.353Z
2019-05-12T16:27:55.273Z
2019-05-12T16:27:55.273Z
Emma
<p>Here's the best I can find (based around the <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bHalimar%20Excavator%5d">Halimar Excavator</a> Ally):</p>

<p>Turn 1:</p>

<ul>
<li>Island</li>
<li><a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMothdust%20Changeling%5d">Mothdust Changeling</a></li>
<li>Running mill total: 0</li>
</ul>

<p>Turn 2:</p>

<ul>
<li>Island</li>
<li>Halimar Excavator (mill 2)</li>
<li>Running mill total: 2</li>
</ul>

<p>Turn 3:</p>

<ul>
<li>Island</li>
<li>Halimar Excavator (mill 6)</li>
<li>Mothdust Changeling (mill 8)</li>
<li>Running mill total: 16</li>
</ul>

<p>Turn 4:</p>

<ul>
<li>Island</li>
<li>Halimar Excavator (mill 15)</li>
<li>Halimar Excavator (mill 24)</li>
<li>Running mill total: 55 (win)</li>
</ul>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2011-12-05T20:53:51.897Z
2019-05-12T16:28:00.130Z
2019-05-12T16:28:00.130Z
cdeszaq
<p>What always works for me in my mill deck is having cards like <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bTome%20Scour%5d">Tome Scour</a>, <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMirko%20Vosk%2c%20Mind%20Drinker%5d">Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker</a> or traumatize to mill a pretty good amount of their deck. In the meantime I have my fog banks and <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bKraken%20Hatchling%5d">Kraken Hatchling</a> doing a little blocking while I am searching my library for <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bConsuming%20Aberration%5d">Consuming Aberration</a> using <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bDiabolic%20Tutor%5d">Diabolic Tutor</a>. I then use either <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bDying%20Wish%5d">Dying Wish</a> or <a class="mtg-autocard" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer" href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bRite%20of%20Consumption%5d">Rite of Consumption</a> to sacrifice consuming aberration alowing to do damage equal to its toughness to the opponent. </p>

<p>Dead.</p>

CC BY-SA 4.0
2013-06-26T21:38:23.167Z
2019-05-12T16:27:47.623Z
2019-05-12T16:27:47.623Z
bob
<p>Opening hand:</p>

<ul>
<li><a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=205013">Leyline of the Void</a></li>
<li><a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=184550">Helm of Obedience</a></li>
<li>2 <a href="http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=221510">Dark Ritual</a>s</li>
<li>1 Swamp</li>
</ul>

<p>Turn 1:
<br>Start with Leyline of the Void on the battlefield. Play a Swamp, then a Dark Ritual. Use one black mana to play another Dark Ritual. You will now have BBBBB in your pool. Play the Helm of Obedience and activate it for 1 mana. Your opponent's entire deck will be milled out because none of the cards ever goes to the graveyard.</p>

<p>Had someone use this against me in MTGO once and it took me a minute to work out how it had happened. Takes some serious luck to get this going on Turn 1, but if you can pull it off, it's definitely fun.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2012-10-19T20:03:52.917Z
That is so beautifully wrong and evil.
Allen Gould
CC BY-SA 3.0
2011-12-06T16:58:03.680Z
2011-12-06T16:58:03.680Z
edsobo
<p>I have been working on putting together a Mill deck and it occurred to me that there are likely much faster Milling decks out there. So, what is the fastest Milling win condition that can be achieved?</p>

<p>Deck limitations: Standard 4-card limit, and all cards except those from the Un-sets (Unglued and Unhinged) are legal.</p>

<p>Goal: Fastest win by Milling</p>

<p>Other considerations: You have perfect luck (you always draw the cards you need), your opponent won't be doing anything to disrupt you, your opponent has a 60-card deck that is susseptible to milling (ie. doesn't have any of the "shuffle your graveyard into your library" cards)</p>

<p>Also, if this sort of question isn't appropriate for this site, please let me know.</p>

CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-26T21:47:42.013Z
Poke. Cdeszaq, you've now seen multiple takes on a turn-1 combo kill. I think it's time to accept an answer. ;)
Alex P
CC BY-SA 3.0
2013-06-27T15:20:59.777Z
Heh, sry. my bad :) fixed.
cdeszaq
<magic-the-gathering><deck-building>
What is the fastest MTG Mill deck that can be made?
cdeszaq
# What is the fastest MTG Mill deck that can be made?

(Asked by: username_0 on 2011-12-05)

I have been working on putting together a Mill deck and it occurred to me that there are likely much faster Milling decks out there. So, what is the fastest Milling win condition that can be achieved?

Deck limitations: Standard 4-card limit, and all cards except those from the Un-sets (Unglued and Unhinged) are legal.

Goal: Fastest win by Milling

Other considerations: You have perfect luck (you always draw the cards you need), your opponent won't be doing anything to disrupt you, your opponent has a 60-card deck that is susseptible to milling (ie. doesn't have any of the "shuffle your graveyard into your library" cards)

Also, if this sort of question isn't appropriate for this site, please let me know.

**Tags:** magic-the-gathering, deck-building

> **Comments:**
> **username_1**: Poke. Cdeszaq, you've now seen multiple takes on a turn-1 combo kill. I think it's time to accept an answer. ;)  
> **username_0**: Heh, sry. my bad :) fixed.  

---

## 12 answers

### Answer by username_18 on 2011-12-06. Score: 48 | Accepted answer

Opening hand:

* [Leyline of the Void](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=205013)
* [Helm of Obedience](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=184550)
* 2 [Dark Ritual](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=221510)s
* 1 Swamp

Turn 1:
  
Start with Leyline of the Void on the battlefield. Play a Swamp, then a Dark Ritual. Use one black mana to play another Dark Ritual. You will now have BBBBB in your pool. Play the Helm of Obedience and activate it for 1 mana. Your opponent's entire deck will be milled out because none of the cards ever goes to the graveyard.

Had someone use this against me in MTGO once and it took me a minute to work out how it had happened. Takes some serious luck to get this going on Turn 1, but if you can pull it off, it's definitely fun.

> **Comments:**
> **username_19**: That is so beautifully wrong and evil.  

---

### Answer by username_2 on 2011-12-06. Score: 26

Activating the [Grindstone](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4610) when you have a [Painter's Servant](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Handlers/Image.ashx?multiverseid=146022&type=card) in play will mill an opponent's entire library in a single shot. The scarecrow turns all cards that aren't in play a single shared color; the Grindstone mills two cards from your opponent — and if those cards share at least one color, it recurs.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: My first thought too.  
> **username_6**: That's disgusting.  
> **username_3**: This answer would be more complete if you offer one or many ways to get 3 mana on turn one.  
> **username_4**: @username_3 Three is not enough, you would need another three to activate the Grindstone's ability. So, two Black Loti FTW!  

---

### Answer by username_7 on 2011-12-06. Score: 16

To cite a famous example, this is actually how the [Tolarian Academy](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bTolarian%20Academy%5d) decks of Urza-block standard and extended worked. Here's a [sample decklist](http://www.wizards.com/Magic/Magazine/Article.aspx?x=mtgcom/daily/bb45), played by Tommi Hovi to win PT Rome (the first major tournament at which this sort of deck was legal):

* 4 [Ancient Tomb](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4636)
* 3 [City of Brass](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=220963)
* 4 [Tolarian Academy](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=8883)
* 4 [Tundra](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202424)
* 4 [Volcanic Island](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202442)
* 3 [Abeyance](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4563)
* 3 [Intuition](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4707)
* 4 [Lotus Petal](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4614)
* 4 [Mana Vault](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202538)
* 3 [Mind over Matter](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=6076)
* 4 [Mox Diamond](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5193)
* 3 [Power Sink](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=26658)
* 2 [Scroll Rack](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4628)
* 4 [Stroke of Genius](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5677)
* 4 [Time Spiral](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=10423)
* 3 [Voltaic Key](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5547)
* 4 [Windfall](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=7168)

This deck can easily put together a first-turn win, and all it needs is an above-average number of Lotus Petals and Mox Diamonds, which while unlikely, did happen often enough to get about a quarter of this deck banned. Here's a (hopefully somewhat realistic) example turn:

1. Opening hand:  
   [Tolarian Academy](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=8883),
   2x [Lotus Petal](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4614),
   [Mox Diamond](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5193),
   [Voltaic Key](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5547),
   [Tundra](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202424),
   [Windfall](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=7168)
2. Play **Lotus Petal** #1 and **Lotus Petal** #2
3. Play **Mox Diamond**, discarding Tundra
4. Play **Tolarian Academy**
5. Tap Mox Diamond to play **Voltaic Key**
6. Tap Tolarian Academy to play **Windfall**. ({U} floating) Draw 7 cards:  
   [Lotus Petal](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4614),
   [Power Sink](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=26658),
   [Mana Vault](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202538),
   [Intuition](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4707),
   [Voltaic Key](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5547),
   [Volcanic Island](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202442),
   [Stroke of Genius](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5677)
7. Play **Lotus Petal** #3 ({U} floating)
8. Play **Mana Vault**
9. Tap Mana Vault for 3 colorless mana ({C}{C}{C} floating)
10. Use Voltaic Key to untap Mana Vault ({C}{C} floating)
11. Tap Mana Vault again for 3 more colorless mana ({C}{C}{C}{C}{C} floating)
12. Play **Voltaic Key** #2 ({C}{C}{C}{C} floating)
13. Use Voltaic Key #2 to untap Mana Vault ({C}{C}{C} floating)
14. Tap Mana Vault again for 3 more colorless mana ({C}{C}{C}{C}{C}{C} floating)
15. Sacrifice Lotus Petal #1 to play **Stroke of Genius** (X=4). Draw 4 cards:  
    [Windfall](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=7168),
    [Mox Diamond](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5193),
    [Mana Vault](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202538),
    [Scroll Rack](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4628)
16. Play **Mox Diamond** #2, discarding Volcanic Island
17. Tap Mox Diamond #2 to play **Mana Vault** #2
18. Tap Mana Vault #2 and sacrifice Lotus Petal #2 to play **Windfall**. (C floating) Draw 7 cards:  
    [Abeyance](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4563),
    [Mind over Matter](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=6076),
    [City of Brass](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=220963),
    [Mox Diamond](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5193),
    [Time Spiral](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=10423),
    [Mana Vault](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202538),
    [Voltaic Key](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5547)
19. Play **Mana Vault** #3
20. Play **Mox Diamond** #3, discarding City of Brass
21. Tap Mana Vault #3 to play **Voltaic Key** #3 ({C}{C} floating)
22. Use Voltaic Key #3 to untap Mana Vault #3 ({C} floating)
23. Tap Mox Diamond #3 and Mana Vault #3, and sacrifice Lotus Petal #3, to play **Time Spiral**. Draw 7 cards:  
    [Abeyance](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4563),
    [Intuition](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4707),
    [Tundra](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202424),
    [Time Spiral](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=10423),
    [Windfall](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=7168),
    [Tolarian Academy](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=8883),
    [City of Brass](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=220963)  
    Untap Tolarian Academy.
24. Tap Tolarian Academy to play **Intuition**. ({U}{U}{U}{U}{U}{U} floating) Search for Mind Over Matter.
25. Play **Mind Over Matter**.
26. Use Mind Over Matter, discarding City of Brass, to untap Tolarian Academy.
27. Tap Tolarian Academy for 9 blue mana. ({U}{U}{U}{U}{U}{U}{U}{U}{U} floating)
28. Repeat the last two steps four more times, discarding Abeyance, Tundra, Tolarian Academy, and Time Spiral. (45x{U} floating)
29. Play **Windfall**. (42x{U} floating) Draw 7 cards:  
    [Ancient Tomb](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4636),
    [Lotus Petal](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4614),
    [Power Sink](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=26658),
    [Scroll Rack](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=4628),
    [Stroke of Genius](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=5677),
    2x [Volcanic Island](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202442)
30. Repeat steps 26-27 six times, discarding everything but Stroke of Genius (96x{U} floating)
31. Play **Stroke of Genius** (X=93) on your opponent, making him/her draw 93 cards.

Mana symbols should render as images using [this userscript](https://boardgames.meta.stackexchange.com/questions/1245/board-games-se-mana-symbols-a-userscript-for-auto-conversion-of-mana-symbols-to).

> **Comments:**
> **username_8**: I like that you use the most expensive lands in existence purely as discard fodder. I realize it's a competitive deck without perfect luck, but in the stacked deck case it's pretty funny.  
> **username_9**: 'Most expensive lands in existence'?  I suppose in their Beta versions, but I can get my hands on a Tundra much more cheaply than I can a Mishra's Workshop, Bazaar of Baghdad, or even Tabernacle at Pendrell Vale, and Karakas (an uncommon!) is getting close...  

---

### Answer by username_1 on 2012-10-19. Score: 14

With perfect draws, you can **win on the first upkeep of each game**. Basically take any first-turn-kill deck, add [Leyline of Anticipation](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bLeyline%20of%20Anticipation%5d) to allow you to play everything at instant speed, add a card that will force your opponent to draw on the spot, and use non-lands for your mana.

Let's go with [the Helm plan](https://boardgames.stackexchange.com/a/5638) since it's a two-card combo and blanks cards like Emrakul.

Here's an example that can kill your opponent before they even get a single draw step, taking advantage of the entire MTG card pool (Vintage-legal):

Starting hand: [Leyline of Anticipation](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bLeyline%20of%20Anticipation%5d), [Leyline of the Void](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bLeyline%20of%20the%20Void%5d), [Black Lotus](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bBlack%20Lotus%5d), [Dark Ritual](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bDark%20Ritual%5d), [Helm of Obedience](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bHelm%20of%20Obedience%5d), [Ancestral Recall](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bAncestral%20Recall%5d), [Mox Sapphire](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMox%20Sapphire%5d).

Before the first turn:

* Put both your Leylines into play (5 cards in hand).

On the first upkeep (either player's turn):

* Cast Black Lotus, sac it for black mana (4 cards in hand, BBB in your mana pool).
* Cast Dark Ritual (3 cards in hand, BBBBB in your mana pool).
* Cast Helm of Obedience (2 cards in hand, B in your mana pool).
* Activate the Helm with X=1, which will exile your opponent's entire library (2 card in hand).
* Cast and activate Mox Sapphire (1 card in hand, U in your mana pool).
* Cast Ancestral Recall to force your opponent to draw cards, which will win you the game (0 cards in hand).


---

### Answer by username_1 on 2011-12-05. Score: 7

If you can play any Vintage-legal card and have perfect control over your draws, you can always execute a turn-1 storm combo win off of [Brain Freeze](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=47599).

90% of the deck would be the same cards that make up [Vintage Tendrils combo decks](http://www.starcitygames.com/magic/vintage/12009_The_Fastest_Deck_Ever_By_Far_Meandeck_Tendrils_Revisited.html).

*Without* the "perfect draw" assumption, storm combo's probably the strongest first-turn kill deck just because most of the cards are nearly interchangeable. You can get unlucky with too much "draw a card" and not enough "make some mana" or vice versa, but it's more consistent than trying to assemble a classic multi-part combo.

> **Comments:**
> **username_5**: This is probably the way to go if you want the most effective deck.  

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### Answer by username_10 on 2013-06-27. Score: 2

[Mindcrank](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Mindcrank), [Duskmantle Guildmage](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Duskmantle%20Guildmage) and any card that will force opponent to mill at least one card will start an infinite combo loop. They will mill cards and lose life until they run out of cards or lives.


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### Answer by username_11 on 2013-04-19. Score: 2

Play [Ghost Quarter](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Ghost%20Quarter). Opponent plays a land. Tap Ghost quarter to destroy the land they just played. They search for a land and put it into play. You drop 4 [Archive Trap](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?name=Archive%20Trap)s on them for 52 cards. If they are running 60 cards, that would be their entire deck.

> **Comments:**
> **username_3**: If you did this once in a tournament then every future opponent would know not to search for a land after you used Ghost Quarter on them. So, a one turn win, but only once, so not nearly as good as other answers.  
> **username_12**: @username_3 is having ghost quarter play as strip mine (in modern no less) really that bad? this concept of deck is reasonably viable in modern, i suggested it in an answer to a similar question  
> **username_3**: @Rawrgramming oh, it's surely only slightly less viable due to my objection, but we are already talking about unbelievable odds (you need 5 specific cards in your opening hand for this one), so the difference is notable.  
> **username_12**: @username_3 true enough, in terms of turn 1 mill this isnt the avenue to take. in terms of actual viable mill deck for playing in tournaments (at least, in modern), ghost quarter/archive trap is giving your opponent a choice between 2 effects that are very bad for them. A real deck doesnt just play a combo and lands, and this fits in well with a deck that has a mill kill and a general controlling playstyle.  

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### Answer by username_13 on 2011-12-05. Score: 1

Is it cheating to use three-turn infinite mana combo?

## Opening hand:

![Paradise Mantle](https://i.sstatic.net/9AqZf.jpg)
![Forest](https://i.sstatic.net/h4e90.jpg)
![Elvish Pioneer](https://i.sstatic.net/kJGz3.jpg)
![Island](https://i.sstatic.net/FnpdO.jpg)
![Pili-Pala](https://i.sstatic.net/MHqm8.jpg)
![Heartstone](https://i.sstatic.net/W3Kdr.jpg)

## + One of these:

![Blue Sun's Zenith](https://i.sstatic.net/jNoU6.jpg)
![Psychic Drain](https://i.sstatic.net/py2Ly.jpg)
![Braingeyser](https://i.sstatic.net/96n64.jpg)
![Stroke of Genius](https://i.sstatic.net/esCaM.jpg)

1. Turn 1: Play Forest, Paradise Mantle, Elvish Pioneer, Island
2. Turn 2: Draw another land, Play land, Pili-Pala, Equip Paradise Mantle
3. Turn 3: Draw something. Play Heartstone, tap Pili-Pala for [U], Pay [U] to Untap it for [U], repeat (target player's library size + 4) times, (make sure to add a black mana in the cycle if you use Psychic Drain.) Play Psychic Drain, Blue Sun's Zenith, Braingeyser, Stroke of Genius, or whatever other spell that does the trick. Boom.

> **Comments:**
> **username_0**: It's not cheating, since the "rules" didn't specify against it. However, non-infinite-mana combos are what I was hoping to get. I do like the solution, however, and infinite mana combos are always fun to use.  
> **username_14**: I'd take out green entirely, along with the Heartstone and Paradise Mantle, and just use Grand Architect.  
> **username_15**: Pili-Pala doesn't have haste either, so this mill deck would require 2 turns to pull off.  

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### Answer by username_8 on 2011-12-06. Score: 1

No infinite combos, (mostly) red deck, almost 600 cards milled on first turn. But I took you at your word and allowed myself 4 copies of Power 5 cards.

Deck List:

* 4 [Relentless Assault](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=205271 "Sorcery: Untap all creatures that attacked this turn. After this main phase, there is an additional combat phase followed by an additional main phase.")
* 1 [Through The Breach](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=80250 "Instant — Arcane, You may put a creature card from your hand onto the battlefield. That creature gains haste. Sacrifice that creature at the beginning of the next end step.")
* 1 [Enrage](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=83076)
* 4 [Wheel of Fortune](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=202558)
* 1 [Szadek, Lord of Secrets](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=247390 "Legendary Creature — Vampire, 5/5, Flying If Szadek, Lord of Secrets would deal combat  damage to a player, instead put that many +1/+1 counters on Szadek and that player puts that many cards from the top of his or her library into his or her graveyard.")
* 4 [Black Lotus](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bBlack%20Lotus%5d)
* 4 [Lotus Petal](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bLotus%20Petal%5d)
* 4 [Mox Ruby](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMox%20Ruby%5d)
* 4 [Mox Diamond](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMox%20Diamond%5d)
* 1 [Tolarian Academy](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=8883)
* 4 Mountain

Opening hand: 3 Mox Ruby, 1 Mox Diamond (discard Mountain), Black Lotus, Wheel of Fortune. Play all, tapping 3 Moxes.

Mill count: 7

Draw 7: Mox Ruby, 2 Mox Diamond (discard 2 Mountains), Black Lotus, Wheel of Fortune, play all, tapping 3 Moxes.

Mill count: 14

Draw 7: 1 Mox Diamond (discard Mountain), 2 x Black Lotus, 2 x Lotus Petal, Wheel of Fortune, play all tap last 2 Moxes and sac 1 Lotus Petal.

Mill count: 21

Draw 7: 3x Lotus Petal, Tolarian Academy, tap out, Through the Breach -> Szadek, Wheel of Fortune.

Mill count: 28, 15U, 15R floating

Draw 7: Enrage -> Szadek +13/+0 = 18/5. Attack!

Mill count: 46, 2U 14R floating, Szadek 36/5

Relentless Assault (1) Attack! MC 82, Szadek 72/5

Relentless Assault (2) Attack! MC 154, Szadek 144/5

Relentlass Assault (3) Attack! MC 298, Szadek 288/5

Relentless Assault (4) Attack! MC 586, Szadek 576/5


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### Answer by username_16 on 2012-10-16. Score: 1

I've always done four [Mind Sculpt](https://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Card/Details.aspx?multiverseid=383313)s plus four [Archaeomancer](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bArchaeomancer%5d)s, plus four [Curse of the Bloody Tome](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bCurse%20of%20the%20Bloody%20Tome%5d). So every upkeep they'd mill 8, and then if you play all the Archaeomancers and Mind Sculpts, that's mill 56.


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### Answer by username_0 on 2011-12-05. Score: 1

Here's the best I can find (based around the [Halimar Excavator](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bHalimar%20Excavator%5d) Ally):

Turn 1:

* Island
* [Mothdust Changeling](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMothdust%20Changeling%5d)
* Running mill total: 0

Turn 2:

* Island
* Halimar Excavator (mill 2)
* Running mill total: 2

Turn 3:

* Island
* Halimar Excavator (mill 6)
* Mothdust Changeling (mill 8)
* Running mill total: 16

Turn 4:

* Island
* Halimar Excavator (mill 15)
* Halimar Excavator (mill 24)
* Running mill total: 55 (win)


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### Answer by username_17 on 2013-06-26. Score: -3

What always works for me in my mill deck is having cards like [Tome Scour](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bTome%20Scour%5d), [Mirko Vosk, Mind Drinker](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bMirko%20Vosk%2c%20Mind%20Drinker%5d) or traumatize to mill a pretty good amount of their deck. In the meantime I have my fog banks and [Kraken Hatchling](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bKraken%20Hatchling%5d) doing a little blocking while I am searching my library for [Consuming Aberration](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bConsuming%20Aberration%5d) using [Diabolic Tutor](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bDiabolic%20Tutor%5d). I then use either [Dying Wish](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bDying%20Wish%5d) or [Rite of Consumption](http://gatherer.wizards.com/Pages/Search/Default.aspx?name=%2b%5bRite%20of%20Consumption%5d) to sacrifice consuming aberration alowing to do damage equal to its toughness to the opponent.

Dead.


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